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Students and staff share their most extreme moments pages 5,8,9

In the studio:

2005 Dexter graduate, Luke Frutig, talks about his album and touring with Jason Upton

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page 6

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Dexter High School - 2200 N. Parker Road - Dexter, Mi 48130

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November 28, 2006 - Volume XVII - Issue 3 -

2

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Squall

news

School cracks down on drinking Rawlin Myers staff writer

Photo by Ryan Winchester

Taking the test: School liaison deputy Paul Mobbs holds a Breathalyzer. Mobbs said students cannot beat a Breathalyzer test by chewing gum, using mouthwash or chewing on batteries or pennies.

Making her way through the crowd at the chilly Oct. 13 football game, Jane Berbick* was suddenly approached by DHS liaison officer Deputy Paul Mobbs.

He said he had heard that Berbick had been drinking and that she was going to receive a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT, more commonly known as a Breathalyzer test). “They said they heard I was passing around a drink,” Berbick later said. “I was scared.”

Based on incidents like the one with Berbick, rumors concerning breath testing are familiar to students. Each year they are a frequent topic of conversation at dances and sporting events, and according to Mobbs, situations involving students using alcohol at school events have been consistent at DHS from year to year. He also thinks there is a lot of false information circulating concerning breathalyzer tests.

“If I see a student stumbling around, if I make physical contact with them and I can smell it on their breath, or if I hear they are using alcohol, I

will ask them to submit to a PBT,” Mobbs said. He “In general, if the subject is 15 or 16,” Mobbs also said any officer administering the test must said, “we will contact their parents, although jail have probably cause to do so. PBTs, he said, are time is a possibility.” not given randomly or to large groups such as ev“From there, if the subject is 17 or 18, contactery student at a dance. ing their parents or jail time are both likely posA PBT involves the subject blowing continu- sibilities.”

Also, if a student fails a Breathalyzer test eiously into a small electronic device (the Breathalyzer), which measures their ther at school or at a school blood alcohol content. event, district policy states Why do you have This is possible because alcothat they must be suspendto go drinking to ed for 10 days. hol is not processed right after a football game?

However, this can be reconsumption, so some of the blood containing alcohol moves duced to three days if the It’s a sad fact that across and collects in the lungs, student agrees to and folkids have to rely on causing the presence of alcohol lows through with a coundrinking.” in the breath. seling program.

According to Mobbs, since Although incidents rePaul Mobbs, a subject’s reading essentially sulting in this are rare, liaison officer comes from their blood, mints, Mobbs still finds the situachewing gum, mouthwash, battion slightly discouraging. teries, pennies, running up and “Why do you have to go down stairs and even charcoal tablets cannot low- drinking to go to a football game?” he said. er it.

“It’s a sad fact that kids have to rely on drinkIf the subject, being a student age 15-21 and not ing.” operating a motor vehicle, blows a reading over .02 percent, one of several things will happen. *Name changed at request of student

“

Band rides Getaway buses to festival Controversy ensues after unneeded school buses arrive as well Caitlin Henderson staff writer

The band went to festival at Flat Rock High School on Oct. 9 on Getaway buses instead of school buses.

But because band director Gerald Woolfolk didn’t cancel the school buses before reserving the Getaway buses, the band may have to pay for both the cost of the Getaway buses and the district transportation services.

Woolfolk originally scheduled the band to ride school buses to the festival.

However, after finding out that there is a no-eating rule on Dexter school buses, Woolfolk scheduled the band to take Getaway buses instead, thinking that it would be easier, speeding up the trip, to have the band eat dinner on the way home instead of stopping at a fast food place.

District transportation manager Robert Poor said, “Students cannot eat on buses due to safety issues.”

Because food allergies are becoming more common among students, Poor said it is not safe for students to be exposed to these foods.

Photo by Spencer Ryan

Return to sender: School buses were sent away form the band’s recent trip to Flat Rock in favor of Getaway buses, despite the district’s policy that if school buses are available, they must be used.

Students with these allergies can react to the oils because school buses would be busy at this time.

Because Dexter buses were available for the left behind from foods so even if no one in the band had allergies, students who ride the band’s trip, Poor said, Woolfolk was bus on regular school days could be not allowed to cancel the Dexter bus affected. service.”

I just want to And if Dexter buses are available Neither Woolfolk nor fellow keep everyone for service, school programs are reband director Ken Moore respondhappy.” quired to use their service, based on ed to repeated requests for coman agreement between the school ment on the issue.

- William ‘Kit’ Moran, and the transportation services.

So on the morning of the ninth principal If Dexter buses cannot do the both the Dexter buses and the Getaway buses showed up at the High trip, the organization taking the trip may then use a charter service such School to take students to their fesas Getaway. tival.

For example, sports teams who have games in Woolfolk then had to make a decision about the middle of the day may schedule Getaway buses whether to take the Dexter or the Getaway buses.

“

He chose to take the Getaway buses, leaving the Dexter bus drivers angry.

This also leaves a big problem for Principal Kit Moran.

Because Dexter buses had to spend a half hour of their time coming to the school the morning of festival, and then had to drive back to the garage, the school was charged for this time.

The school was also charged with a fee by Getaway which actually took the kids on the all-day trip.

And now Moran must find a way to pay for both of these services.

Moran said he hasn’t yet decided how to handle the situation but did say, “I just want to keep everyone happy.”

Wells honored for dedication to profession What is the Pfizer American Chemical Society High School Chemistry Teacher Award?

• awarded based on dedication to school, students and the profession of teaching chemistry • the award is co-sponsored by Pfizer and the American Chemical Society

Scott Sarver staff writer

Chemistry teacher Cheryl Wells received the Pfizer American Chemical Society High School Chemistry Teacher Award on Thursday, Sept. 26. Wells and fellow chemistry teacher Jeff Dagg attended a meeting in Ann Arbor with representatives from over 40 other schools where Wells was presented the award

by EMU professor and president of the local section of the American Chemical Society, Larry Kolopajlo.

The award is based on many different aspects like dedication to school, students and the profession of teaching chemistry and is sponsored by the American Chemical Society, an organization for anyone in the field of chemistry, and Pfizer, a major medical research company in Ann Arbor.

Wells was nominated for the award last year by Interim Principal James Bannan. And in addition to her teaching duties, Wells is currently involved in many activities, including National Honor Society

adviser, science department chair, Women in Science adviser, Science Olympiad coach and Ocean Bowl coach.

Current Principal William Moran said Wells deserves this award.

“Mrs. Wells inspires on a daily basis and lives and breathes teaching,” Moran said. “Most importantly, she cares about kids. She’s great at science, but her actions indicate the students are why she does it.”

Students seem to agree. Senior Jonothan Wike, a member of Wells’ Ocean Bowl team said, “Mrs. Wells is very dedicated to her students. She is also a great coach for all of the science clubs.”

And Wells is proud of her award. “I am glad that the award was based on something that I love to do,” she said.

“I enjoy working with all of the clubs, like Women in Science, the Ocean Bowl team and the Science Olympiad team.”

Wells said she enjoyed the ceremony and especially what happened afterwards.

“Another great thing,” she said, “was that after the meeting, Pfizer opened up one of their warehouses and let all of the teachers fill their cars up with old equipment that the company doesn’t use anymore.”

Wells said she picked up many old test tubes, flasks and old equipment that she and Dagg will be able to use in their chemistry classes.

This donation is extremely important to the school Moran said. “Unfortunately, public schools never get enough of what we would like,” he said.

“We are always operating on limited budgets. Business usually have an incredible amount of equipment compared to high schools.”

Among many other things, this award brings recognition to the science department in Dexter, where the Science Olympiad team placed 11th in a recent state-wide competition and the Ocean Bowl team competed at a national competition in Monterrey, California.

“Wells is a great chemistry teacher,” senior Bobby Adams said. “Mrs. Wells is a chemistry goddess.”

Cheryl Wells: Was given the Pfizer American Chemical Society High School Teacher Award

3

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Squall

news

Closed bridge causes difficult commute

BRIEFS

NEWS

Squall, designer win awards

Students and staff are forced to find new, longer ways to and from school Rachel Moir staff writer

The Parker Road bridge may not be the only bridge out in Washtenaw County, but it is the one that affects high school students the most. The structure has been closed since April 28, forcing anyone living past the bridge to take daily detours.

“I have to take the congested route on Baker Road,” Language arts teacher Krista McDonnough said. “It’s very frustrating, every single morning.”

Baker Road, which many area residents now take instead of Parker, isn’t particularly ideal.

Road construction will be taking place there until Nov. 17, and even without the extra traffic, Baker increases the drive time more than it should, thanks to multiple traffic lights and a roaring truck stop.

“It takes an extra 10 minutes because of lights and traffic,” junior Kelsey Lau said. “It makes me upset. I don’t get enough sleep.”

Considering that the bridge has been shut down before, on a temporary basis, many are wondering why the bridge wasn’t fi xed before the structural crisis reached the point where the bridge was impassable for cars.

“I’ve been driving to Dexter for the last seven years, and I bet you it’s been out two or three times,” McDonnough said. “They never really fi xed the big problem, just repaired the little ones, which didn’t work. It should have been repaired

Photo by Sean Wallace

New way home: The bridge on Parker Road has been closed since April 28 due to a structural crisis. Its closing has caused frustrating commutes for teachers and students alike. long ago when they initially tried to fi x it.”

The biggest complication is money. According to Kelly Jones, a bridge engineer for the Washtenaw County Road Commission, the damage on the Parker Road bridge is extensive enough that it will have to be completely replaced.

This will take much more cash than the work over the past few years to try to lengthen the bridge’s life span.

“We’ve been applying for funding for years and years and years,” Jones said. “We hadn’t received anything. It’s based on how critical the other bridges (in state) are compared to ours, so it’s not as easy as just asking and getting it.”

Fortunately those inconvenienced by the bridge’s current state, the road commission has finally been given the funding to bring the bridge, which was closed to all traffic after some of the beams collapsed, back up to working condition.

Unfortunately, there is a catch. The $1.3 mil-

lion grant is for 2009, which leaves Parker Road commuters with more than two extra years of detours on their plates.

“They’re building homes. They’re doing all kinds of things around Dexter which are seemingly good for the city,” McDonnough said. “ But they need to work on the roads first, so more people can actually commute. I know that a lot of people on Parker Road are starting to get frustrated because there are times during the day when they can’t even leave their homes.”

The WCRC is attempting to flip flop the construction dates of other projects, which would then bring Parker Road to the top of the to do list.

“If the request for Parker Road bridge to be moved to 2007 is granted by the Local Bridge Program, construction could start as early as next summer,” Jones said. “We’re doing the best we can, and I appreciate the patience.”

MEAP testing consumes staff time Heather Siller staff writer

Superintendent Evelynn Shirk: Concerned about the amount of testing for young students.

This is the second year that Michigan school districts will give the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) to grades 3-9. Students have been taking the MEAP for years, but now students take the MEAP as a annual event, which means the current third graders will take the MEAP for seven consecutive years.

Grades 5-8 will take a test from the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) for the first year.

Superintendent Evelynn Shirk said grades 5-8 should finish the first round of NWEA testing by the end of November, and teachers will have the results with 24 hours after the close of the testing window.

The added MEAP testing is taking a lot more time out of the district staff’s schedule according to Shirk. For example, she

said Creekside Principal Mary Marshall has spent many hours on the weekend processing MEAP materials and getting them ready for distribution and then return to the State.

“During MEAP season I spent about 30 hours of time over three weekends sorting, boxing, checking and counting test books and answer documents,” Marshall said.

“This does not include the time I spent on testing students who were absent or the time spent before or after school.”

State regulations regarding the security of MEAP are meant to ensure every test is original and is taken by the student it was meant for, which consumes a lot of the district’s time.

Each test booklet and each answer sheet is barcoded so prior to handing out the test, each student must be assigned a specific test booklet. The number of the booklet must be written on an accounting sheet.

Shirk said everything is then recorded precisely and meticulously to state standards, and if not, the district will get a phone call and be reprimanded. When all the tests are finished and recorded, materials must be boxed up and then sent back to the scoring company.

“It would be very beneficial if we could afford to hire someone to check in all the materials and then account for them after testing and get them ready to be returned,” Shirk said.

“The added testing would be OK if we got the results in a timely manner. We generally don’t see them until some time in February. At that time only three months remain in the school year in which to make adjustments to curriculum.

“I’m concerned about the amount of testing, especially for the younger children,” Shirk said. “It seems like they could become overwhelmed.”

World series boosts local economy Josh Ball staff writer

As St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright threw the final pitch of the 2006 Major League Baseball World Series, thousands of Detroit Tigers fans hopes were crushed.

The Tigers excelled their way through the regular season and looked nearly invincible.

Until they reached their match, a little red bird perched upon a baseball bat.

The Cardinals beat the Tigers four games to one.

People throughout Michigan mourned and drowned their sorrows in local taverns, and most business owners did the same.

They weren’t necessarily upset because of the Tigers’ tragic ending.

They were upset because they were things changed, though, Flyn said.

“By the time July came around, no longer going to reap the benefits from having an influx of customers jerseys, hats and shirts were all moved to the front of the store bebrought in by the series.

Endorphin-filled fans and rich cause of the new high demand,” he said. In all Flyn travelers coming said there were to view the World about 10 times Series rushed in Next year’s more Tigers and began helping sales will be apparel than Michigan businessjust as good, if Champs had cares immediately. not better.” ried in the past.

The businesses The trend able to benefit the seemed similar at most from all these - Stephanie Martin, other stores.

Lids customers were Lids assistant manager is a small store in the sports apparel Briarwood that stores. only carries hats.

“At the beginning of the year, we had a couple “We always carried a lot of Tigers shirts, but not a large selection,” hats because they are the local team, Brandon Flyn, a manager at Champs but all of a sudden we started selling out of all the different styles,” Lids Sports in Briarwood Mall said.

Once the Tigers began to win Assistant Manager Stephanie Mar-

“

tin said.

Martin said she noticed many people were jumping on the Tigers bandwagon, but it was beneficial.

In fact, from Sept. 1 through Nov. 12, seven of Lids’ top 10 items sold were some style of Tigers hat.

Many other businesses throughout lower Michigan experienced the same economy boost and Flyn and Martin both said sales will continue like this for future Tiger seasons.

“Next year we will carry a lot more jerseys and hats to satisfy the new fan base the team has built,” Flyn said. And many Michigan businesses can hardly wait for Tiger season to sweep the state once again.

“With the signing of (Gary) Shefield and other exciting off season moves to come, next year’s sales will be just as good,” Martin said. “If not better.”

The National Scholastic Press Association named the Squall a Pacemaker winner at its fall convention on Nov. 11 in Nashville. Only 26 high school newspapers in the country were named Pacemaker winners.

2006 graduate Kendall Goode also won first place for front page design from NSPA. The Pacemaker is often called the Pulitzer Prize of scholastic journalism.

“This award puts a little bit of pressure on me as the • Goode’s first place editor this year, but not design that much because we have won other newspaper design awards, and it’s not the first,” senior and editor Robert Kuzon said.

Administrators lock doors The door to the stairwell at the front of the school and the doors next to the library are now locked during school hours.

According to Principal Kit Moran, the biggest reason for locking the doors is so someone dangerous cannot easily enter the building. Moran said, •Security notice “It’s a good practice to on doors be secure, especially after all of those school shootings.”

Walk for Wil donations collected Drama and video production teacher Matt Martello walked 80 laps around the track, or 20 miles, on Oct. 20 to raise money in the name of former drama teacher Harry Wlicox. Martello said he raised more than $4,100. A portion of the money is going to the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, and a smaller portion of the money is going towards a theater scholarship for the drama club’s New York trip. Martello said, “The purpose of Walk for Wil for me personally was to give back to Mr. Wilcox because he has given so much to the kids.”

• Martello

Granholm signs testing bill

• Granholm

Last year Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a law to give high school junior students a free ACT test to replace the MEAP. Juniors will now take the Michigan Merit Exam (MME) which includes a free ACT test and a test for other subjects not covered by the ACT. Students will take the MME starting on Tuesday, March 17 over a two day period. The state will also pay for one free retake of the ACT. Counselor Gerry Holmes said, “This will help some kids get into college that might not have gotten in without it.”

4 Discovering

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Squall

feature

the

Michelle Chirby staff writer

Dreadnaughts The Hart Sisters

It’s one thing for sisters to share secrets or clothes. be a drawback since an older sibling’s reputation can But sharing high school? It happens every day for sis- affect theirs. “When I was a freshman, my oldest sister ters Danielle, Connie and Kelsey Hart. And although got into drugs,” she said. “I got the same type of reputhey are in different grades, they say going to school tation.”

Connie was adopted into the Hart family when she together has its ups and downs. was four, along with four of her Every day after school, the girls other siblings. “It doesn’t make a pile in to junior Danielle’s truck. difference,” she said. “The three of “It annoys the crap out of me when When I was a us have been really close.” they take so long,” Danielle said, freshman, my They haven’t always been this looking sharply at her sisters. “I left oldest sister got way, however. Connie said last year without them twice this week.” into drugs. I got the they fought more often. “They still Besides transportation, howsame reputation.” make fun of me sometimes,” she ever, freshman Kelsey thinks her said, playfully punching her sisters first year in high school has been who laughed at her stories. easier sharing it with her sisters. “I - Connie Hart, “We’ve always been there for like being the youngest one here. sophomore each other, though,” Danielle said.

I get my way,” she joked. “And the “A lot of people know not to mess teachers all know me because I’m with us because of our siblings.” a Hart. Sometimes they even get In and out of school, the Hart sisters have become Danielle and I confused since we look so much alike.”

The Harts, three in a family of nine, have had three accustomed to sharing lives. Kelsey and Danielle, for other siblings attend Dexter High School, making the instance, dance together on the JV and varsity dance family well known. Sophomore Connie said that can teams. “Last year, Connie and I were on JV together,

“

Danielle, ‘08

and we argued all the time,” Danielle said. “It’s better now that Connie quit and Kelsey and I are on separate teams, or we would fight a lot more.”

Danielle also shares her job with Connie at the Grand Traverse Pie Company but says she looks forward to her alone time. In the morning Danielle attends cosmetology school in Ann Arbor. “I spend so much time around my family that I’d rather have my own thing,” she said. “Cos is time away from them.”

Regardless of the amount of time they spend together, the Hart sisters are three very different people.

“We all have our own style,” Kelsey said. “I’m the prep; I always care how I look.”

“People could label me as ‘emo’,” Connie said, making quote marks around the word “emo” in the air.

“And Danielle’s more like, ‘Whatever, I don’t care,’” she said, as Danielle rolled her eyes. “It’s pretty clear that we’re all different.”

Despite their major differences, the Hart sisters said going to high school together has taught them a lesson. “It’s important that you don’t make your family your enemy,” Connie said. “They’re the ones that are going to be there for you when you grow up.”

Connie, ‘09

Kelsey, ‘10

Senior searched for ecstasy at homecoming Krystyna Taheri staff writer

The deep, loud bass screamed through the commons as hundreds of students moved on the dance floor at the homecoming dance.

It was too loud to even hear your own voice, and there were too many students to even move.

But this didn’t concern school liaison deputy Paul Mobbs as he fiercely pushed his way through the masses to get to a student he suspected of being under the influence, senior Sean King.

King said he was dragged off the dance floor and thrown into the main office by Mobbs.

Principal Kit Moran, Assistant Principals Tim Authier and Mollie Sharrar and Mobbs followed close behind.

“They said they had an anonymous tip that I had

At the end of the pat down, King said adminisecstasy and was passing it around the dance,” King said. “They first began with a line of questioning, trators and Mobbs were left empty handed. The only thing left was King searching and then it got a little awkward.”

According to King, next they for his belongings.

“I think the search and pat began to quickly search him.

I felt violated and “They made me take off my down was completely unnecinfringed upon. I pants, shoes, hat and unbutton essary and pointless,” he said. also think it made my shirt,” he said.

“I felt violated and infringed the administration “Next they patted me down. upon. I also think it makes It was a little awkward,” he said. the administration look bad, look bad.”

“They then continued to tell me as well as stupid.”

King wasn’t the only stuthat if they did find anything - Sean King, that then they would have to foldent to be questioned and senior low the expulsion rules.” searched at the dance either.

A junior who requested anAuthier said neither he, Mobbs, nor the other administraonymity was in the same boat. tors could comment on what happened at the dance This junior said he arrived at the dance already slightly intoxicated. He said he began dancing with due to the confidentiality of student discipline.

“

some girls, but apparently he wasn’t suppose to be dancing with a certain girl.

“A student got mad at me for dancing with his cousin and then went and told Mobbs about me being drunk,” he said. “Then (Mobbs) came and got me, pulled me into the office and immediately gave me a breathalyzer test.”

The junior failed the breathalyzer and was immediately given an MIP ticket. The junior’s father was also soon called to come to the school and pick him up. The student was then suspended for three days.

“During my three day suspension I had to go to and alcohol and marijuana evaluation meeting as part of my punishment,” he said.

“But the worst part is I can’t wrestle the first two weeks in wrestling,” he said. “I wish I didn’t go to that dance in that state. It was a bad idea.”

Mobbs keeps students in line School liaison deputy patrols schools but remains friendly with students

Jake LaRosa staff writer

Photo by Spencer Ryan

Layin’ down the law: School liaison deputy Paul Mobbs enjoys patrolling and protecting DHS. “Certain things may happen, which may or may not involve me,” he said. “I have to stay on my toes and be ready to work with anything that might come up.”

From thefts and threats to fist and food fights, school liaison deputy Paul Mobbs is quickly on the scene at every building in the district.

“I am not a regular officer,” he said.

“I work completely within the school system 40 hours per week.”

Mobbs doesn’t go out on patrol like a normal officer but deals solely with school issues.

He still has the normal authority of a police officer and can ticket accordingly.

He said the things he does vary every day.

One day he could be counseling,

while the next could be dealing with upset parents.

Thefts, substance, threats and security are just a few things Mobbs deals with in his day.

“I even do some custody battles between elementary school parents,” he said.

“A typical day for me is anything but typical. Certain things may happen, which may or may not involve me.

I have to stay on my toes and be ready to work with anything that might come up.”

Sophomore Jean Snyder thinks Mobbs has one of the hardest jobs in the district.

“It must be hard holding the school together,” Snyder said. “It’s quite mar-

veling.”

When he is not busy with police business, Mobbs said he often stops into classrooms to chat with students.

“One day he came into my math class, and we just talked with him about random stuff,” sophomore Tyler Baird said. “He’s a good officer for the school, and a fun guy to be around.”

Moving between buildings is a daily routine for Mobbs.

“Mostly I just float from building to building,” he said.

“My main job is to make an appearance in each school, solve any problems there, and move on. It’s a pretty demanding job, and that’s why I enjoy it.“ And administrators agree Mobbs plays an essential role in the office.

“He is a fantastic person to work with,” secretary Joan Whitehead said.

“Whenever he is needed, he takes time out of his busy schedule to do what ever he can for us. He is really an essential part of this administration.

He provides back up for me whenever needed.”

Principal Kit Moran also said Mobbs works well with students.

“He’s a professional, student-centered officer,” Moran said. “He really aides students who need help.”

Mobbs says he enjoys every day of his job here at Dexter.

“My job feels brand new everyday I come to work,” he said. “I never know what issues lie ahead, but I am always ready to tackle them.”

& QA

5

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Squall

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Fancy that, facial hair Scott Campbell copy editor

There are 1171 students at Dexter High School.

Of that, roughly 600 are male. Narrowing the student body down further, somewhere in the range of 150 male students have facial hair in some form or another.

This could be a little goatee, the Vin Diesel “chin-strap”, the often seen “dirtstache” or even a full blown beard.

Social studies teacher Ken Koenig has had his share of experience with pupils and their facial hair. “Hey, grow it if you can,” Koenig said about his take on beards in the student body. “I grow little patches.”

And Koenig isn’t the only staff member to let his whiskers loose. Science teacher David Callaghan, math teacher Brian Baird and math

teacher Jason Miller all either have a beard all ready or have the potential to grow one, in Baird’s case based on prior beard sightings.

“If Baird shaved this morning, he’d have a beard by the afternoon,” Koenig said with a laugh.

Among students, a handful stand out from the crowd with their furry faces. Seniors Tom Swederske, Louis Rudner and Zach Cowden, along with junior Phil Huddleston, make up the most recognizable names on the subject.

Swederske, who was in Graphic Arts teacher/ Fu Man Chu owner Dennis Stockwell’s class when interviewed, has been growing his for about a year and a half, and it shows. Long and thick, he knows it’s his most defining outward quality.

“That’s pretty much how everyone knows me,” he said. “I love my beard. It’s my mark of pride.”

He loves it so much, in fact, he demands a sum of at least $10,000 to shave it off.

Jesus had a beard I’m pretty sure, so that gives them a good name.”

- Caroline Buckley, freshman

Swederske isn’t the only one who is a fan of face ferrets though. Seniors Katy Baty, Katie Buckley and Sarah Oliver, along with freshman Caroline Buckley, all appreciate a little stubble. “I like the scruffy look,” Katie said.

Oliver, Buckley and Baty all agreed in unison, but warn against letting it go too much.

“A little bit is good but not out of control,” Baty said.

“Jesus had a beard I’m pretty sure, so that gives them a good name,” Caroline said, adding, “there weren’t razors around back then, so he must have had one.” Oliver mentioned Abraham Lincoln, Santa and Dexter graduate Dan Buckley as others who give beards a good reputation.

Good street cred or no, facial hair is still an inescapable part of the world. “Mutton chops are coming back,” Rudner said. “I’m seriously considering growing some.”

Name that beard Think you know your Dexterian facial hair? Our photographers scoured the school for the coarsest, thickest and most lumberjacklike facial hair specimen DHS has to offer. Put your facial hair recognition skills to the test and identify these four hairy students.

B

C

D

A: Sean King, B: John Wells, C: Tom Swederske. D: Dan Seiling

A

DeWaele goes skydiving for 18th birthday Katie Johnson advertisment manager

For senior Dan DeWaele, the words “strip club” and “tattoo” didn’t flash across his mind when he turned 18. For him, 18 meant something different. It meant he could finally fulfill his dream of skydiving.

“When I was 16, I really got the idea to go skydiving,” DeWaele said.

“My family and I went to Orlando, and I saw Sky Venture, a skydiving simulator, and that’s when I seriously started considering it. It looked sweet.”

DeWaele’s desire to skydive came from his love of adventure.

“I just love the thrill of adrenaline,” he said with a grin. “Cedar Point is my favorite place.”

However, DeWaele said since his parents didn’t approve of his dream to go skydiving, he had to lie

to them on the day of his adventure. didn’t take a lot of training. “I did “I told my parents I was going to see a tandem jump, which is where you a movie (the day I went skydiving), are strapped to another guy,” he so I had to sneak out,” he said. “I said. “For training we had to watch a short video.” told them I reHe also said ally wanted to go the jump was (skydiving), but I told my parents like nothing he they said no.” that I was going to had ever expeDeWaele said rienced. he then went see a movie, so I “It was aweto Sky Dive Tehad to sneak out.” some,” he said cumseh for his with a huge first jump. “I was -Dan DeWaele, smile.

“You just really exsenior can’t describe cited because it it. It was more was something than I expected.

I wanted to do,” It was great.” he said. “As the Even after plane took off, you got high really quick. When he was done, though, DeWaele said you’re kneeling over the door, you’re his parents didn’t want to hear about right there. You know there’s no go- his experience.

“When I got home, I wanted to ing back.”

And DeWaele said his jump show them the video. They didn’t

“

want to see or talk to me. It took them a couple of days to warm up,” he said with a laugh.

However, Dan’s father, Tim DeWaele didn’t find anything funny in his son’s choice. “He didn’t have approval from his parents,” he said.

“That’s all I have to say.”

Still, DeWaele hopes to sky dive again. “The season is over now, but I definitely want to go again,” he said.

“It’ll be cheaper if I get my license, $20 a jump. But to get a license you have to take an advance free fall class, where you do 25 jumps with an instructor, but it’s thousands of dollars.”

Regardless of the cost, DeWaele encourages other teens to do something special for their 18th birthday.

“Just go for it,” he said. “You’ve got the opportunity now, so why not? If you’re 18, you have to do some crazy stuff.”

Woods' swimming opens college options Sydney Ross news editor

What if your life goal was to get a full ride to the University of Michigan, and it actually happened.

Maybe you’d have to pinch yourself to make sure it was real. But for senior Adrienne Woods, no pinching is necessary.

Woods got a letter telling her she had received a full ride acceptance to Michigan for swimming.

Usually this would be a joyous occasion, but for Woods, it became something that would stress her out until Nov. 8 when she is supposed to sign to a school.

You see, Woods was not only recruited by Michigan but by Stanford and the University of Texas as well.

She ruled out Stanford because she said Stanford was looking at her current swimming times

Subway 8135 Main St Dexter, MI 48130 734-426-4957

feature

and not her future potential, unlike both Michi- I sign, so that only makes it more stressful,” she said. gan and Texas.

The choice for Woods isn’t really an “in state or “It’s been what I’ve been thinking about almost every waking hour,” Woods said of her decision out-of-state” choice like it is for most people, but between Michigan and Texas. “When I decided it does have an effect on the decision.

“I love Michigan, but I’ve to not go to Stanford, it felt like lived here my whole life and goa huge weight had been lifted off ing to Texas would be a new and my shoulders.”

It’s incredible, great experience,” she said.

She realizes, though, that athtruly amazing.

Woods is swimming towards letes would feel lucky to be reNow I just have to her A cuts (the fastest cuts for cruited by one college let alone make a choice.” scholarships) for the NCAA afthree. ter already having the B cuts “It’s incredible, truly amaz- Adrienne Woods, (the second fastest) in the bag. If ing,” Woods said. “Now I just have senior that all goes well Texas will offer to make a choice.” more of a scholarship.

Woods must make a decision “I have a full ride offer at Michigan, and a 40 about which school to sign with by Nov. 8-15, the percent offer at Texas,” she said. “If I get my A cuts signing period.

“I have to verbally commit to a school before that should help me at Texas.”

“

With Alexis Sobczak

By: Frank Dufek Q: What’s this? What’s happening?

What’s going on here?

A: I don’t know.

Q: Can you make any shapes with your tongue?

A: I can make a hot dog.

Q: What are your opinions on obese people?

A: That they’re obese.

Q: Would you rather make out with Kim Jong Il or Rosie O’Donnell?

A: Kim Jong Il. Rosie O’Donnell’s gross. Who’s Kim Jong Il?

Q: What’s your favorite TV show?

A: “Gilmore Girls.”

Q: Propose a solution to global warming right now.

A: People ... can ... hmm ...

Q: If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you “like like” someone?

A: Yeah.

Q: Is it a guy?

A: Yes ...

Q: Now let’s try some free association. I give you a word, and you tell me the first thing that comes to your mind. Paris Hilton: A: That’s hot.

Q: Ferris Bueller: A: Driving a car backwards.

Q: Conundrum: A: I don’t know what that means.

Q: Hillary Clinton: A: Weird.

Q: Sea Otter: A: Arf! Arf! (flails arms like an otter)

Q: Kirk Cameron: A: What?

Q: Provolone: A: Cheese.

Q: Titanic: A: The blue heart thing.

6

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Squall

entertainment THE TRICKLE

This months Trickle is a matching game. All you have to do is correctly match the word with the correct definition, courtesy of urban dictionary.

__ 1. An old person.

2. A wrinkly person.

3. Someone similar to a raisin.

4. A soggy person...

5. OLD! __ A happy, relaxing fart. __ How old people in Alabama and possibly in other Southern states insult younger people. __ A Japanese cartoon about a cute hamster with orange and white fur. __ The state of exhilaration that a poor or homeless person feels when he or she finds $5 on the ground.

Frutig makes music with God The Frat Dexter graduate Luke Frutig records his own album, travels across the country with a Christian artist, increases his understanding of the Lord Kelsey Schultz entertainment editor

“We got most of the stuff done,” he said. “It’s just frustrating getting it all together with the instruments.” Currently Frutig has embarked on a cross-country trip to Fingers gingerly strike ivory keys to produce an eclec- broaden his musical interests.

He has been shadowing Christian recording artist Jatic sound as an electronic beat fades in to form a unique sounding song. Not something someone would expect son Upton and his band as they travel from Calgary, AlDexter High School graduate Luke Frutig to create. berta to Seattle, Wash. Frutig said it is an honor to travel Frutig, who has been making music for years, has re- with Upton. cently switched up his sound as he is recording his first “He is in my opinion one of the most anointed worship leaders of our time,” he said. album.

“I’ve changed a lot,” Frutig said. “I used to listen to a Besides being an educational trip on music, Frutig lot of Dave Matthews, and now I’ve almost completely said this trip has opened his mind to a new view on stopped listening to him.”

Christianity.

Frutig also said artists he previ“I felt like the Lord really used When I go back, I’ll ously didn’t listen to now are influthat time to kind of deprogram my be playing for money mind of all the doctrine and just encing him. “Radiohead has been my and sending the CD confusing teaching that the church top choice,” he said. And other things had so imbedded into my brain,” he regarding Frutig’s sound have also off to different record said. been subject to change. companies.”

Frutig is in Seattle visiting “I don’t really play guitar anyfriends but then will be going to more,” he said. “The past four songs - Luke Frutig, North Carolina.

I’ve written are on piano. Everything 2005 graduate “I was offered by (Upton and) the is a novelty on piano.” band to come to Charlotte to sit in However, Frutig said his music on the making of their new album is still acoustic rock but the instruand to just to experience a really ments used give a deeper sound.

The recording process for his new album started in unique recording session,” he said.

After that Frutig will return back to college to conlate September. Frutig said recording the album has been a learning experience for him, but he has enjoyed tinue the music process. it.

“When I go back, I’ll be playing for money and send“It’s really laid back recording the songs,” he said. ing the CD off to different record companies,” he said.

“There’s no time schedule. We let the creativity flow as After that it’s hard to say what will happen in Frutig’s it comes.” life. “There are a lot of things I could do,” he said.

All of the recording should be wrapped up by Thanks“I’m at a fork right now with trying to balance makgiving, which Frutig said is an achievable goal. ing and creating music and what I can do with it.”

“

Luke Altomare cartoonist

Luke Frutig: Has played at Foggy Bottom numerous times and has now recorded an album.

Frutig Facts:

• Started playing guitar seriously his freshman year of high school • Wants to eventually move to Seattle • Inspiration for songs comes from life, religion and sometimes girls • Recorded an acoustic rock album with electronic influences • Wrote his first song freshman year of high school • Traveled to Calgary, Alberta and Seattle, Wash. with Christian Rocker, Jason Upton and his band check out www.lukefrutig.com and www.jasonupton.com for more information

Unique, interesting eats Restaurant: Earthen Jar Location: 381 5th Ave, Ann Arbor Price Range: $5-8 for a regular sized meal.

__ The piece of skin that can be found on the human elbow. It comes in all shapes, sizes and textures.

photo by Heather Siller

A. Poorgasm B. Noof C. Soggy Bag D. Communist E. Wenis F. Hamtaro

photo by Heather Siller

Quality of Food: The food is good if you enjoy spicier foods. When you enter the restaurant, you grab a tray and load it up with the array of foods on the hot food bar. Then you weigh your food on a scale and pay for your food by how much it weighs.

Condition of Restaurant: The restaurant is well kept and clean.

It is basic and not extravagant.

Restaurant: Jamaican Jerk Pit

Quality of Food: The food is tasty and original. This is a restaurant that gives the consumer something different in experience and enjoyment.

Price Range: Under $10 for regular orders, $15-20 for large orders.

Type of Food: Caribbean food from Dread products.

Restaurant: Le Dog Location: 410 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor and 306 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor Price Range: $2-6 for most items sold. photo by Heather Siller

Heather Siller staff writer

Type of Food: Indian Vegetarian Cuisine.

Location: 314 S. Thayer, Ann Arbor

Pack takes Hollywood

Does Vince Vaughn tickle your funny bone? Does Will Ferrell make you giggle? Do you think the Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller duo is the best thing to happen to comedy since the knock-knock joke? Is “Anchorman” your favorite movie of all time? If so, then chances are you’re a fan of the Frat Pack.

The Frat Pack is the unofficial name for a group of Hollywood actors who have appeared in a number of comedy movies since the ‘90s. It’s a play off of the Rat Pack in the ‘50s, which included Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and the Brat Pack in the ‘80s, which included Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez. The group has had many names, but the name “Frat Pack,” coined by USA Today, is the one that has become the most widely known.

So who are the Frat Pack you ask?

The members of the Frat Pack include Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Jack Black and, most recently, Steve Carrell.

The Frat Pack also has “pledges” who have been in several Frat Pack movies, or movies with at least one Frat Pack member. Pledges include Seth Rogen (“Anchorman,” “The 40-Year-Old-Virgin”), Paul Rudd (“Anchorman,” “The 40-Year-Old-Virgin”), David Koechner (“Anchorman,” “Talladega Nights”), Jason Bateman (“Starsky & Hutch,” “Dodgeball”) and Justin Long (“Dodgeball,” “The Break-Up”).

In order for a movie to be a Frat Pack movie, it needs to have at least two Frat Pack members involved, either acting or producing. A movie may also be a Frat Pack movie if it includes one Frat Pack member and several pledges. Frat Pack movies all share “an absurdist sense of humor,” according to the Frat Pack tribute web site, the-frat-pack.com.

The first Frat Pack movie was “The Cable Guy,” with Black in a supporting role, Stiller as the director and Owen Wilson in a cameo role. Various “classic” Frat Pack movies include “Meet the Parents,” “Old School,” “Zoolander” and “Starsky and Hutch.” “Anchorman” is considered the ultimate Frat Pack movie, featuring all the Frat Pack members except Owen Wilson.

Stiller is considered the founding member, starting the trend by directing his and Owen Wilson’s appearance in “The Cable Guy” and for his appearance in “The Suburbans.” He also produced and directed several movies for which he hired Frat Pack members. Stiller’s key Frat Pack roles include “Zoolander” and “Starsky & Hutch.”

Ferrell’s key Frat roles include “Old School” and “Anchorman.” Vaughn is best known for his roles in “Dodgeball” and “Wedding Crashers.” Owen Wilson’s signature roles include “The Royal Tenenbaums” and “Starsky & Hutch.” Black’s main roles are in “Envy” and “Orange County.” Luke Wilson’s few Frat Pack roles include “Bottle Rocket” and “Old School.” Carell’s main role is in “The 40-Year-Old-Virgin.”

If you can’t get enough of the Frat Pack, then look for their upcoming movies. “Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny” and “Night at the Museum” which are set to be released later this year. “Blades of Glory” and “The 40-Year-Old-Virgin” sequel “Knocked Up” are set to be released in 2007.

The Frat Pack • Will Ferrell

Condition of Restaurant: The restaurant is clean and has good hours. The atmosphere is bright and makes you feel happy.

Quality of Food: The food is tasty and fresh. Most of the items sold are made from scratch by the owner.

• Ben Stiller

• Jack Black

• Luke Wilson

• Owen Wilson

• Steve Carell

• Vince Vaugn

Condition of Restaurant: This restaurant is actually just a booth. There is no seating. You just order and go.

Type of Food: This restaurant focuses on home made soups and hot dogs.

Answers (in order): c, b, d, f, a, e

7

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Squall

reviews

OVERRATED

'Expecting to Fly'

Boredom and murder don’t usually go together.

However, in “Murder By Numbers”, boredom was the only motive.

Richard Haywood (Ryan Gosling, “The Notebook”) and Justin Pendleton (Michael Pitt, “Finding Forrester”) are two rich high school kids looking to prove their superiority by getting away with the perfect murder.

These are affluent kids with absent parents who are their own worst enemies. Their arrogance leads them to play games with the cops to show how smart they are.

Their plan is to pick a random victim so there would be no link between the corpse and the killer. Not too skinny, not too tall, an average victim with a house in the suburbs.

They had alibis and witnesses who would see them elsewhere at the time of the murder. The only flaw in their plan was Cassie Mayweather (Sandra Bullock).

Cassie, the central character, is a good cop but a person with deep emotional scars. She is the only cop who believes that the two high school students are involved in the homicide.

She believes the evidence is too perfect for the homicide to be spontaneous.

Cassie and her partner Sam (Ben Chaplin) arrive on the case to find a body wrapped in a plastic bag, a middle aged woman named Olivia Lake.

They believe the murder was spontaneous and not planned.

The affluent murderers specifically planted evidence on the body to frame the most likely suspect, the janitor at the high school.

Bullock does an excellent job portraying a woman struggling with her case and struggling with herself.

She has a wide array of emotions that show when she goes from sarcastic flirt to depressed.

Gosling is also amazing playing the manipulative, popular rich kid. And Pitt does well, acting as the intelligent, ignored rich kid. These three actors make the movie seem as real as can be.

“Murder by Numbers” is a movie filled with loneliness, hate and betrayal. This movie has many twists and turns that lead to the final cliff-hanging scene. The two minors finally got what they were longing for, a life without boredom.

Katie Fricke features editor

Lisa Ritchie staff writer

It all began with her first hit of acid and became a trip that would forever change her life. “Expecting to Fly” is a vivid memoir written by Martha Tod Dudman on her reckoning of the 60’s.

Dudman uses her personal experiences to write an outstanding memoir about the high and low times of growing up during one of America’s most unique eras.

“Expecting to Fly” is a story of a girl caught up in the midst of drugs, sex and freedom. As Dudman says in her book, “Drugs and peace and free love and civil rights and the starving Biafrans-weren’t all those things sort of linked together with long hair and sandals and flowers and garlands on your head and San Francisco and the East Village Other?”

Dudman, now a middle aged woman, reflects on her youth using powerful flashbacks that make it hard for readers to set the book down.

She relives her childhood journey, her own words jumping off the page making readers feel as if they were there when her father left for the Vietnam War, when Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot and riots broke out everywhere, or when she was lost and confused coming down from her countless acid trips.

“Expecting to Fly” is a book, that has not only gives more knowledge on the ‘6os, it also gives readers the wisdom to apply situations in their own lives.

The book really shows how times have changed since the ‘60s, but Dudman still deals with issues most teenagers face today including issues of acceptance, drugs and sex. Just like Dudman was going through 40 years ago.

Everyone should take a trip back 40 years ago and educate themselves on one of the most influential time periods in American history by reading this book.

'Murder by Numbers'

Weber's Scott Crompton staff writer

The classic, old-time look of the sign out front gives the impression that Weber’s restaurant on Jackson Avenue is a quality place to enjoy a meal. However, can you really judge a restaurant solely on how the sign out front looks? In this case, no you can not.

The country club feel of the lobby and the fact that there were not many people in the large dining room gave a sense of the place belonging to an exclusive, high class group.

On the other hand, perhaps the fact that there were not many people in the large dining room should have set off a mental alarm that maybe, just maybe, this place does not reach the quality of the sign out front.

And, surprisingly enough, it isn’t.

Feeling comfortable in a restaurant is important for customers, and Weber’s does a very good job of that, until you sit down.

The environment is nice, but the seats are very uncomfortable.

What felt like a less-than-90 degree angle of the seat and the lack of softness were probably the biggest contributors to that uncomfortable feeling.

Also, the tables are too close to the booths, making it difficult to get in and out of the seat.

At the end of the meal, it might not be a bad idea to make an appointment with the chiropractor because of the difficulty getting in and out and the fact that the seats are so hard and a such a steep angle.

While patiently waiting for the meal to arrive, it is impossible not to notice the giant fruit hanging from the ceiling.

Of course, the fruit is not real. But the fact that a giant pear and giant grapes were hovering over the table made me worry for my safety.

After a long, rigorous wait of 45 minutes and the disappointment of the waiter forgetting my appetizer, the food was finally set on the table ready to enjoy.

With the perfectly cooked, famous Weber’s prime rib in your mouth and a scrumptious lobster tail on your plate, it is easy to forget about the long wait.

And the main course is not the only good thing Weber’s has going for it. The desserts are delicious.

With such a wide variety of items to choose from, it may be hard to decide. But each and every dessert is made from scratch, with no substitutes added.

Unfortunately, with live piano playing during supper hours, the atmosphere of Weber’s restaurant begins to become the cheesy place that it really is.

In fact, the giant fruit hanging from the ceiling and the terrible 90’s music over the intercom system before the live piano playing, contributes to the cheesy, fake, atmosphere that Weber’s provides you with.

So despite the tasty food, the below average service, the uncomfortable seating, and the cheesy, fake atmosphere make Weber’s a restaurant for most students to avoid.

When most people think of hip-hop, they think of the obnoxious rants of Lil’ Jon, the played out rhymes of Yung Joc, or any stripclub themed song by the Ying Yang Twins. In an age dominated by Cadillacs on 22’s and crunk music, Common is one of the few rappers keeping the genre true to its roots.

From the first dusty jazz piano loop to the last, Common doesn’t lose his momentum as he moves over smooth Chicago blues and jazz-infused beats filled with some of the most clever and meaningful wordplay ever committed to silicon, on “Resurrection”.

“Resurrection”, especially today, is a shot of life into the corpse that we call modern hiphop. You aren’t going to find any songs starting with 40 seconds of gunshots. You won’t find any songs that use, ‘drank’ as a noun instead of a verb. You won’t find songs based around instructions on how to bend over. The album is simply Common opening himself up to the world in a poetic fashion.

This is where Common’s metaphorical skills come in. On, “I Used To Love H.E.R,” Common weaves an elaborate tale about a girl he met when he was a child and how his love for her disappears as she changes. He draws a parallel between the degradation of women and the degradation of hip-hop, and it works beautifully.

The album’s wordplay is so complex, it’s impossible to listen to it twice and not pick up something you missed the first time. Simple punchlines such as, “I can like a pop machine” provide quick laughs also, but it’s a great feeling on an album when the lyrics make no sense because you don’t get it, not because the lyricist is terrible.

In terms of flow, “Resurrection” has more of Common’s signature style. He takes a while to find the beat and sort of sprawls his voice haphazardly over tracks until he does find it.

It’s when Common finds the beat that he truly gets in the zone. For example, on “Book of Life,” there is a long beat-break, normally a time when songs lose their flow. Common, however, comes back guns blazing on the song with lines so well integrated with the beat it’s like listening to machine gun staccato in slow motion.

All wordplay aside, the album also shines musically. Unknown DJ’s Ynot and No I.D. produce the album, and they completely outshine Kanye West as Common’s current producer.

The beats are complex, and no two songs sound the same. The soundscapes of the songs vary from tight drum-based tracks to spacey jazz fusions without losing unity.

“Resurrection” might be best because it sounds about as far away from hip-hop as possible while still fitting the genre. It is an unrecognized classic of true hip-hop music. So, regardless of whether or not you have an understandable prejudice against modern hiphop, ignore it and give this album a chance.

Common’s messages are good enough that they deserve to be heard.

Ryan Aliapoulios staff writer

'Resurrection'

UNDERRATED

8

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Squall

the spread

Taking it to the Doyle takes a wild dive in the sky

e t

Austin Shapiro managing editor

They may seem buttoned up and boring between 7:40-2:31, but teachers have their wild sides just like students do. They too like to test the limits. They like to have a good time. And in some cases, they like to do extreme sports.

On her 18th birthday, counselor Kristy Doyle threw inhibition to the wind, literally, and jumped out of a plane. Per the suggestion of her great uncle, Doyle went skydiving to celebrate her coming of age.

“My great uncle liked to do extreme things, and he asked what I wanted for my birthday,” Doyle said. “At first I said I didn’t know, and then he suggested I go skydiving, and he’d pay for it.”

Although Doyle had never been skydiving prior to that day, she had thought about it. “I had always thought it would be a lot of fun to do, but it was around $300, which when I was 18 was a lot of money,” she said.

Confidence wasn’t an issue for Doyle, though, because extensive training was provided before she got in the plane. “They give you a ton of training before you go up,” she said. “I got to the place at like 7 a.m., and we trained all morning and in to the afternoon. We didn’t even get into the plane until around 1 p.m.”

While some people’s greatest fear would be the skydiving itself, Doyle’s was the ascent. “The plane you go in is really small, and I was terrified of being in it,” she said. “Generally, you jump based on weight from heaviest to lightest and there was only one other woman on the plane, so I was going to be jumping last . But I was so scared of being in the little plane that I asked my instructor if I could jump second because if I didn’t get out, I was going to lose it. I was actually more nervous about being in the plane than jumping out of it.”

Doyle said most people’s perception of how skydivers jump is skewed from what actually happens. “People think you just jump out a door,” Doyle said. “But you actually walk out on the wing. It has this bar attached to it, and you dangle yourself off . I’m not very strong so I was nervous about hanging off the wing. I thought I’d mess up.”

Luckily, everything went according to plan. “I was fine when my feet were dangling,” she said. “Then they count to three, and you let go.”

Once out of the plane Doyle’s worries turned to the landing. “I didn’t jump tandem,” she said. “I went by myself, and the parachute automatically opened, so I wasn’t worried about that. But I was worried about the landing. I thought I was going to break my leg or something.

Luckily, it all went pretty smoothly.

No broken bones or anything.”

Unlike senior Dan DeWaele, Doyle told her parents she was going skydiving.

“There was no getting around them knowing,” Doyle said. “But it was all right because they were really supportive. They just didn’t want me to get hurt.”

Although she hasn’t yet made a return trip, Doyle would like to go skydiving again. “I’d go again, but I can’t find anybody to go with me,” she said. “When I went to college, I asked people if they wanted to go with me, but everything thought I was nuts. People get pretty freaked out when I tell them I’ve been skydiving.”

Kristy Doyle: Skydiver and counselor, Doyle enjoyed skydiving and hopes to do it again.

St

Taking the risk: Senior Dan DeWaele (also pictured on the cover) takes a ride through the sky while skydiving in Tecumseh. This was DeWaele’s first time skydiving.

Read DeWaele’s story on page 5.

9

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Squall

e

the spread

Marsh lives on the edge of freestyle jet skiing on the lake to perform, it’s a great feeling. Other boats on the lake make the waves, and it’s my job to put on a show.”

Marsh admits that learning tricks can take a Barrel rolls, nose stabs and fountains may be foreign words to most, but to junior Bret Marsh long time though.

“I started learning how to do a barrel roll last they are tricks he performs while freestyle jet skiing. summer, and I still haven’t got it down,” he said.

According to Marsh freestyle jet skiing is much “It can be really frustrating and it takes a lot of time and practice.” different than typical jet skiing.

Marsh mostly partic“For one there is no seat,” he said.

“And there is also a movable hanipates in free ride comdle pole that allows the rider to do petitions in Michigan, I started learning tricks.” however he has been to how to do a barrel Influenced by his older brother Florida and Georgia for roll last summer, competitions as well.

Jeff, Marsh started freestyle about and I still haven’t two years ago.

And even though gotten it down.”

Marsh said that first getting infreestyle jet skiing gives him an unexplainable volved in the sport was tough, but rush, he said at times it has turned into something that -Bret Marsh the sport can be danhe really loves. junior gerous as only a life “I’m really glad that I stuck with the sport,” Marsh said. “Now that vest and sometimes a I’m more experienced I enjoy it helmet are worn while more.” performing tricks.

He has only been in one situation where he said And despite the fact that Marsh is a young rider compared to most who do this sport, he has he felt like he was truly in danger. a definite love for the extreme.

“When my friends and I were riding out to a big “I like freestyle jet skiing because it is some- boat I ran out of gas,” he said. “Luckily I was only thing no one else does,” he said. “When you go out in Lake Michigan, and it was a calm day. Things

Celia Kuzon sports editor

“

could have turned out a lot worse. I know people who have been seriously injured. I’m lucky because I haven’t personally been injured.”

Marsh said competing in the ocean makes him most anxious.

“When I competed in Florida, the waves in the ocean were really big,” he said. “I have to admit that they made me a little nervous. I get timid when I go out there at first, but after I get a feel for the waves I get more comfortable.”

Marsh said freestyle jet skiing is a very expensive sport. “I had to buy my ski which was expensive,” he said. “And after I bought the ski I put almost 2000 more dollars into it to fix it up.”

And in addition to the cost of the ski, it also costs money to enter tournaments and travel.

“It is probably one of the most expensive sports out there,” Marsh said.

And although Marsh is just getting into the sport, he has big dreams for the future.

He hopes to become involved in higher competition.

“Right now I am competing in the teen league,” Marsh said. “But I hope to go amateur pro or even professional.”

And Marsh thinks that his dreams are realistic. “I’m pretty good for my age,” he said. “I compete with a lot of people in their upper teens and 20’s, and I can stick with them.”

Bret Marsh: has competed in free ride competitions in Michigan and Florida.

treme

tudents

Other extreme sports:

• Scuba diving • Demolition derby • BMX racing • Extreme ironing • Extreme croquet • Extreme unicycling • Extreme wheelbarrowing

• Paragliding • Rock climbing • Ice climbing • Surfing • Agressive skating • Airsoft • Bouldering

and tea chers s how

Conor Daining staff writer

• Bungee jumping • Hang gliding • Parkour • Whitewater kayaking • Zorbing • Stunt pogo • Skysurfing

off thei r

daring s ides

Daining faces fear of heights with rock-climbing

A day I thought I could put behind me forever has come back with a vengeance. I stared up at the looming wooden wall, it stared back … and chuckled. My intense fear of heights stared me right in the face, taunting me.

Seventh grade camp was an eventful time for me. Many remember it for the fact that 9/11 happened during it, and some will relate it to my early removal. I will always relate it to my short but frightening time on the climbing wall.

I waited in line like everyone else until it was my turn to belay (using a rope to stop a climber from falling) and then my turn to climb.

Everyone watched me as I moved to take the first step. I began my ascent. I kept reaching from peg to peg and willed myself not to look down. I began to sweat as I moved higher and higher.

My hands became sweaty, and the pegs began to slip from my grip. From below someone yelled, “Go faster!” I pretended not to hear them and looked up at my destination.

A lanky boy on the other side shot up past me as I climbed.

He reached the top and jumped back off like an agent from “The Matrix”.

I kept going. After a few more pegs I found I was unable to stop myself from looking down, so I did. The sight was too much for me, and I knew I could do no more.

“My shoes untied, I gotta come down,” I yelled down to them. The belayer shrugged and loosened the slack on the rope, allowing me to climb back down. The moment my feet hit the ground, I felt like my soul had returned to me.

Thanking God for my safe return, I stumbled to the back of the line as if I wanted to go again, but we had to go back to our cabins before I even got close.

Later that day someone told me I had made it to the sev-

enth peg, which is apparently only four and a half feet off the ground.

It has been years since that day and my fear of heights hasn’t changed. I still wake up every morning hoping I won’t be asked to stand on a chair to reach something at school.

So I was selected to do an article on extreme sports a few weeks ago and naturally my editor chose rock climbing at Planet Rock.

After locking myself in the little boys room for 15 minutes and crying, I decided I would be able to do this. It’s been 5 years, I thought. Maybe I can do this now.

So on Tuesday Nov. 7 my editor Robert Kuzon, me and my father met at Plant Rock during fourth hour newspaper and signed some waivers.

The walls went up and up, obviously much higher than the wall at seventh grade camp. We all stood on the mat and stared up at the huge walls covered in hand grips.

“You know, a climbing expert just died the other day from falling,” my father said. “You know what it was? Bad ropes.”

I walked around and examined the other side so he couldn’t elaborate on the story. More straight up walls welcomed me.

I got dizzy.

As we went to leave, I asked about accidents that have happened here from falling. “Not many at all,” the employee responded.

“Has anyone died?” I asked.

The woman said no, and we turned to leave. “You know Conor, there’s a first for everything,” my dad said on the way out. We went back later that day after school to climb. This time it was me, Kuzon and senior Carl Burhop. I was strapped into a harness, and it was attached to a carabiner on the automatic belay rope.

The auto-belay is made so no one has to hold the rope, and if you fall, you’ll fall slowly. I was worried about soiling myself after I began the climb so I ran to the bathroom for a moment.

When I came out, Burhop and Kuzon were waiting for me expectantly. I stared at the hand grips on the wall. Earlier I told the employees about my intense fear of heights so they all stood around watching me I grabbed the first notch and pulled myself off the ground.

I pulled and pulled over and over. I was actually doing it.

I passed seven grips and moved towards eight. I didn’t look down, but I knew it was more than 10 feet.

I went up until I couldn’t really grip anymore of them easily.

Once again my extreme fear took over, and I knew I couldn’t stay here for long before I let go. The employees yelled up at me, “Just let go man. It’s fine!”

“Yeah, HELL NO. I’ll climb down,” and as I said this I looked down to see I was about 20 feet off the ground. This would be a long climb down.

I gripped the notch and attempted to reach a meditative state of mind or possibly just pass away up here so I didn’t have to worry about going down. I came back to my senses after a few moments to realize everyone was still yelling at me.

I told my mind to shut its face and let go. I free fell for only a second before the auto-belay kicked in, and I fell slowly and safely to the padded mat. I found myself lying on the ground being congratulated.

It felt pretty swell. I accomplished what I said I would.

Sadly that didn’t affect my fear of heights. I still cry when thinking about escalators and the Seattle space needle. But I delved briefly into extreme sports, and it paid off. I didn’t have to write a real article, and I got to skip fourth hour.

10

sports

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Squall

Zukowski leads by cowbell Kyle Boren staff writer

The ringing of a cowbell. The cheering of eager students.

Students crowd surfing. This mosh pit known as the student section at football games contains everything from crazed Dreadnaughts with painted bodies to the whole section jumping around, singing “Hey Baby.”

But there are some individuals who emerge from this rowdy section, such as the cowbell man, sophomore Eddie Zukowski, who attends most Dexter sporting events, cowbell in hand.

“I love how Dexter is so enthusiastic, and all the students are awesome,” he said. Zukowski said he got the cowbell idea from other student sections he saw. “It’s not like everyone is waiting for me to whip out the cowbell, but I can tell people like it,” he said.

Zukowski is not the only student who attends most of the games now either. “I remember people at football games used to walk on the grass outside the stands, and we barely ever even watched the game,” he said. “Now the student section has gotten too big, and people don’t even get any seats. I think the reason that people are actually cheering now is because they realized enthusiasm is fun, and it is a rowdy good time.”

For Zukowski the student section is a good time because of all the other students, but sophomore Haley Brewster said Zukowski makes the student section more fun.

“He is one tall goofy kid. I love that cowbell,” Brewster said. “He always is a fun, spiritfilled guy to be around.

His spirit just really glows in the student section. It just makes the student section an even more fun place to be around then it already is.”

After visiting other stadiums, regardless of his contribution to the student section, Zukowski said Dexter students are more enthusiastic then others.

“Whenever we travel to the other schools or stadiums, it’s easy to say we have more enthusiasm than them,” he said.

“I remember when the football team went to Pioneer.

They have like 3800 kids at their school, compared to 1100 in our school, and it still seemed like we were louder than the other school.”

So whether students are joining the student section because the sport teams are doing better or it’s just a great place to go crazy and scream, Zukowski said he still hopes to have students

Illustration by Rachel Moir

Illustration by Rachel Moir

Despite her injury Johnson helps lead team Ryan Aliapoulios staff writer

Every year, coach Mike Bavineau is forced to pick captains for the season’s varsity girls basketball team. This year Bavineau chose junior Kelsey Johnson as one of his captains, despite her age.

Senior captain Chantel Jennings said there was no tension among teammates at Bavineau’s decision to make a junior a captain. “Kelsey and I are good friends, and we all respect her a lot,” Jennings said. “Even though she’s hurt this year, she’s still showing up at every practice, and she still helps off-court. It shows she has a lot of pride in our team.”

Bavineau agrees. “ I didn’t hear of any tension on the team after Kelsey became a captain because all the players respect her,” he said. “Even the seniors had picked her on the surveys.”

Making things difficult for Johnson is the fact that she is unable to play this year because of a knee injury. “I remember I was jumping for a shot in a game a while ago and I fell the wrong way,” she said. “When I landed, my patella popped out

of place. I tried to play on it again, and so I’m out building, which Bavineau did by taking his team bowling. for the season.”

“Sometimes as coaches we spend too much Even though she is injured, Johnson said she is still having a good season. “The best part of this time correcting people, and it starts to fall on season was when we beat Pioneer,” she said. “We deaf ears,” he said. “I wanted to do something different, since the girls are on the team to have played with a lot of intensity that game.”

Jennings agrees with Johnson. “We hadn’t fun, too.”

Johnson agrees with beaten Pioneer in almost Jennings, though, that the 10 years,” she said. “This basketball team has been season has been even better This season has been able to come together as a than last, mostly because we even better than last, team this year. “Everyone are all so much closer than mostly because we gets along,” she said. “ We’ve we were last year.” are all so much closer been able to mold all the This closeness is good for than we were last different classes together Johnson, because in the high year.” really well.” school sporting community Molding together as a it can be a faux pas when -Kelsey Johnson, team is important for success, someone who isn’t a senior according to Bavineau. is made a captain. “You junior captain “The most important definitely have a different thing on a team is trust,” he role on the team when you’re a captain,” she said. “You have to be working hard said.

“If you can get your teammates to trust each all the time and making sure all the girls are other, they will want to play for each other, and working hard.”

Part of being a closer team comes from team that’s when you’ll be successful.’

Who’s Lasecki’s Tiger?

Name: Magglio Jose Ordonez Born: January 28, 1974 Height: 6-0 • Lasecki

Weight: 215 lbs.

Age: 32 Bats: Right Throws: Right Position: Right field

• Ordonez

Salary: $16,200,000 Batting AVG: .298 Home Runs: 24

SMITH

The WORD

Press

“

photo by Rachel Pape

Looking for help: Senior Heather Bradshaw searches for a teammate to pass the ball to, as a Lincoln defender presses hard. Fellow senior Chantel Jennings readies for a shot.

Detroit Tigers back on track Students enjoy the fact that the Tigers sweep the ALC series and are back to their winning ways after 22 year absence from the World Series Charlie Pettit staff writer

Just three years after the second worst season of all-time, the Detroit Tigers made their way to the World Series for the first time in 22 years.

And hopes were high going into the 2006 World Series for junior Jordan Evans. “I thought that they were going to win it all, they had the best record in the AL for a long time,” he said.

Many sports experts were predicting the Tigers would win the World Series in five or six games, but it ended up the exact opposite for the young team.

The St. Louis Cardinals won the series in five games at St. Louis and left the Tigers and their supporters watching the “enemy” spray each other with expensive champagne on the field.

“The team will have more desire to win

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next season because they blew it with major held at Comerica Park. So for Lasecki to get errors in very crucial parts of the games,” the tickets, she had to work at it a little bit.

“My brother Ryan and I went through an Evans said.

Despite all of the heartache in the end, out- of- state, online Ticketmaster,” Lasecki said. “We ordered the Tigers had their them at 10 in the moment to shine in game morning the first two, where they defeated I’m already saving day that the tickets the Cardinals 3 -1. my money for next were even up for “It was freezing and year’s World Series.” sale, and they were rainy out,” said sophomore $169 a piece for the Colleen Lasecki, who cheapest tickets. attended the game.

-Colleen Lasecki, Now I only have $7 “Everyone was wasted and sophomore to my name, but it jumping around trying to was definitely worth keep warm. After the game all the money.” people were blasting ‘Oh’ The recent What a Night’ throughout success from the Detroit, and the traffic was impossible because the people took over the Tigers has fans like Lasecki thinking about the seasons to come. streets.”

“I’m already saving my money for next Not everyone in the metro Detroit area, however, was fortunate enough to get tickets year’s World Series,” she said. “I’m hoping to to either game one or two which were both get tickets again for sure.”

“

11

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Squall

sports

Boys varsity soccer wins states in overtime thriller Unity Christian. Despite falling behind 1-0, Dexter battled back to take a 2-1 half time lead on goals from senior Carl Burhop and junior Peter Jebson.

There’s a new top dog in the battle for Dexter Dexter went on to win the game 3-1 with senior athletic supremacy, and it’s not the boys cross Scott Ruhlig adding a goal.

Now all that was between Dexter and the country team, though they did win their fifth straight state championship on Nov. 4. championship was the defending champions from The new comer in Dexter’s clique of dominant East Lansing. sporting programs isn’t women’s swimming.

Once again Dexter went into the game as a heavy They’ve been a powerhouse for the better part of a underdog, but remained confident they could win. decade.

“We were the underdog in most our games,” It isn’t mens water polo. However they are sophomore Stephen Zenas said. “But we just stayed making strides towards becoming a perennial confident in ourselves and knew what we had to do.” contender.

That confidence paid off as Dexter hung on The new champion is men soccer.

After defeating second-ranked East Lansing through regulation and two overtimes to force a shootout. on Saturday, Nov. 4 the kickers After Kuzon stopped East claimed Dexter’s first soccer state championship.

Lansing’s star forward, Ali Philmon, “We knew that The Dreadnaughts compiled junior Adam Umstead netted his if we played our shot to put Dexter ahead 1-0. a 16-2 record during the regular East Lansing countered, scoring season and stormed through game no one three district matches outscoring on their second shot, but Dexter could beat us.”

Coldwater, Jackson NW and regained the lead when Jebson put Chelsea a combined 15-0. his shot past the keeper.

- Ross Seagram, Following their third shutout An East Lansing shooter and junior victory against Chelsea, the Dreads senior Kriss Petrovskis exchanged had a date with destiny, facing top goals to bring the score to 3-2. ranked Mason in the regional semi final.

After EL’s fourth shooter put his shot wide, Behind two goals from junior Ross Seagram Dexter had a chance to seal the victory with Nati and the winner from senior James Nati, the coming up. However, Nati’s shot sailed just right of Dreadnaughts prevailed 3-2 in overtime. the goal post.

“We were all really pumped going into the game,” Rejuvenated with new life, EL’s final kicker Seagram said. “We knew that if we played our game, stepped to the line and calmly booted a shot past no one could beat us.”

Kuzon to tie the score at three with one shooter Despite their victory, the Dreads still had another remaining.

As he stepped to the line, Seagram realized the hurdle to claim, their first regional title.

On a cool Saturday morning they lined up against magnitude his next shot carried.

Holland Christian and were once again victorious.

“I stepped up to the ball, and it hit me that if I Senior goalie Rob Kuzon posted his 11th shutout scored we won states,” he said. of the year, and Seagram scored his 30th goal in the “I was confident I was going to score because I Dreadnaughts 1-0 victory. had taken a bunch of penalty kicks for my club team The competition didn’t stop there. prior to this one.”

Waiting for Dexter was fifth ranked Hudsonville Seagram’s confidence was well deserved as he Austin Shapiro managing editor

“

Photo by Eric Bucci

Kicking butts and winning championships: Senior James Nati winds up to pass off as junior Phil Huddleston and a rival East Lansing player look on. The Dreads defeated the Trojans 4-2 in overtime to win the Division II state soccer championship.

buried his shot in the bottom left corner, giving the championship to the Dreadnaughts.

“After I scored, we all went nuts,” Seagram said.

“We all ran over to the student section and started celebrating.” According to Seagram, the student section helped to energize them before the game.

“All the people that were there really pumped us up,” he said. “It was the most people we’d ever had come to a game, so it definitely gave us a little jolt

when we went out on the field.”

No matter how unforeseen their victory was by others, the Dreads knew they had a chance to win it all.

“Nobody thought we’d go this far,” Zenas said.

“After we beat Mason we knew we could beat East Lansing or anybody else we’d play.

“Beating Mason was definitely huge, because after that no one else seemed intimidating.”

Swim team searches for coach during season Krystyna Taheri staff writer

Nate Cook: Part of the interview committee in charge of finding a new coach for swim team

As Nov. 20, the opening day of their season, draws near, the mens swim team is frazzled.

Last year’s coach, Mike VanRhee, accepted a new teaching job.

So the team is in desperate search for a new coach to help them begin what they hope to be a great season.

“It upset me when I heard that our coach was leaving,” senior captain Kirk Kumbier said. “We all really liked him, and I hope we find some one equally as good. So far we have two candidates up for the job. We are interviewing now, and we hope to find someone we like.”

Kumbier and co-captain Nate Cook are

both on the interview committee.

Although the interview process seems long and strenuous to Cook, there is no other option. “We have to find a coach,” he said. “Our old coach was a good guy. He was into swimming and fun to be around. We hope to get a new coach just like him, maybe even better.”

Athletic Director John Robinson said experiences is the key quality he is looking for in a new coach.

“We are looking for some one with experience. Someone who has been a swimmer hopefully at the college level,” he said. “It would also be ideal if we found a coach who has experience with coaching high school students.”

And Robinson said he is a bit frustrated with how often he’s had to look for a new swim coach. “This is the third time we have had to

hire a mens swim coach,” he said. “The main team?

“Every coach has different styles and foreason is because coaches are usually looking for a teaching job too, and if they can’t find one cuses,” Cook said. “Some coaches like to focus more on dry land and othhere, they will leave to wherers maybe more on distance ever another district is willswimming. It just depends.” ing to give them a job.”

“We just run Kumbier agrees. “It will Because they don’t have a the team like affect our season having a coach, the two captains have we normally new coach,” he said. “With a been running practice and would.” new coach comes new ideas keeping everyone in line. for practice, but hopefully the “We just run the team like - Kirk Kumbier coach will help to improve us.” we normally would, like we senior co-captain So while they know havhave been taught,” Kumbier ing a new coach will affect the said. team, both captains say they But both captains woncan only hope for the best. der how their new coach will Kumbier said, “Hopefully we will have one change the entire team. What will the new coach do differently? How will this affect the soon and it will all work out.”

“

Boys cross country win record-tying fifth championship Hunter Lyons staff writer

A good athlete must have dedication and work hard. But to be ranked number one in the mid-west, coach Jamie Dudash believes it’s so much more.

“It’s the mindset,” Dudash said. “They knew they’ve put in the work and that when their team needs them, they will be there.”

And hard work and this mindset seems to have paid off. On Nov. 4 the boys won the state championship for the fifth year in a row, and they did it in record time breaking state records of total points in a state meet, scoring 28, breaking the previous record held by the Dreads.

But this wasn’t even the best part “Having the fastest sophomore (Jason Bishop), junior (Bobby

Aprill), and senior (Dan Jackson) in the state was definitely a highlight.” Dudash said.

But for Aprill, this just wasn’t good enough.

“My goal was to break 15 minutes at states, and I ran a 15:15,” he said. “But due to weather conditions I didn’t. I’m still happy with how we finished though.”

But when you’ve been so good for so many years, how do you set goals for yourself? Dudash said he and his guys have raised the bar even higher for the end of the year. “Our final goal for this season is to be ranked in the top 5 in the nation,” he said. As of Nov. 6 the Dreads were ranked fourth in the nation, and Dudash said it’s unlikely that they would drop out of the top five.

Though it might be a bit premature, people are already asking about a sixth straight title for him and

his runners, and with four varsity runners leaving, Aprill says they need younger guys to step up.

“We need younger guys stepping up in the next few months,” Aprill said. “They have eight months until the season so it’s gonna take hard work.”

Dudash is optimistic. “There is a state championship team walking these halls somewhere,” he said.

“It’s just who wants it the most. It’s theirs for the taking.”

But Dudash also wants to live in the moment.

“Those guys should celebrate for the next two or three months and then get back to work,” he said.

“They tied the record for most consecutive cross country state championships with Charlevoix which was set from 1987-1992 and should be proud. But when they get done celebrating in a few weeks, it’s right back to work.”

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Fast facts, fast team • Dexter had runners in the top two places: junior Bobby Aprill and senior Danny Jackson.

• Jackson was given the “Mr. Cross Country” award for being the fastest senior at the meet.

• The 1987-1992 Charlevoix cross country team held the record for most consecutive state titles; Dexter tied that record this year.

12

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Squall

opinions

Dear Michigan Militia Members

In the spirit of Ted Nancy's book "Letters from A Nut", Editor Rob Kuzon e-mails random letters to people to get their reaction

Robert Kuzon editor-in-chief

I

nspired by Ted L. Nancy’s “Letters from A Nut,” I thought it might be funny to write several emails to lesser known people or groups.

It was hard for me to decide who I would write to at first, keeping in mind that I wanted a response.

Eventually I decided on Mr. Dan Mulhern, “First Gentlemen” of Michigan, as my first target.

Next, as I was perusing the Michigan Militia website, I came across a link labeled “Militia Babes”. Intrigued, I clicked the link and to my surprise I found a gallery of women dressed in revealing military attire, holding large firearms. I found this down right foul. So I e-mailed them.

Unfortunately I did not receive any responses from either Mr. Mulhern or the Michigan Militia, but I think the letters themselves may be humorous.

I hope you enjoy.

Dear Mr. Mulhern, Hi, my name is Robert Kuzon, and I am a citizen of Dexter, Mich., which is located just outside of Ann Arbor.

Anyway, the reason that I write is because I have

an idea. I know that being the First Gentleman, you are a major tool in your wife’s campaign. You have to look your best at all times and be prepared to answer any questions that might be thrown your way.

You see, I got to thinking, and with the elections coming up I thought it might be beneficial for you to grow a mustache.

You may think that this is an odd statement, but I work in public relations and studies have shown that a mustache is looked at as a sign of masculinity.

A powerful stigma is associated with a mustache.

Think of all the powerful people who have had mustaches.

One thing that you want to be careful of is growing the wrong kind of mustache that will trigger the wrong stigma.

To avoid this, do not grow the kind of bushy, black mustache such as Fidel Castro or Joseph Stalin. Instead, look for more of a Burt Reynolds or Geraldo Rivera.

Furthermore, if you are looking to appeal to the younger voters, it may be in your best interest to grow a full beard. Not a Santa Clause beard, but a thin model type of beard. The type of beard that

screams, “I am trying hard to look like I am not trying at all!” Like Colin Farrell.

I hope you take the time to consider my advice, and I would also like to hear what you think about my thoughts.

Sincerely yours, Robert Kuzon Dear Mr. Mulhern, Several days ago I sent you an e-mail concerning your public relations. I asked you for your opinion and since then you have failed to respond to me.

I think you are very rude. I would like you to know that your arrogance has lost your wife my vote. I was an avid supporter of Jennifer but now I hope that she is not elected and in her place is Sir Richard DeVos. Robert Kuzon P.S. Tell your wife she did a really great job on the economy! (Joke).

Finding Carl

Dear Michigan Militia members, Hi, I am a resident of Michigan living just outside of Detroit.

I was looking at your website, michiganmilitia. com, and I came across your “militia babes”.

I am an 18-year-old male and am currently attending a community college to get my bachelor’s degree in performing arts, but what I really want is to be a model, and I think that this could be just what I need to break onto the modeling scene. This could really open a door for me.

I know on your website you only have women models, but I think that a male presence could be beneficial.

If you think about it, women can be just as valuable to men in a militia, even if it is not necessarily on the battlefield, and I think that my tan skin and washboard abs would be a great recruiting tool.

Please let me know how you would feel about this.

Thank you, Robert

by Rawlin Myers

Sean Wallace staff writer

Plug it in

School spends too much on useless accessories

F

Same issue, different faces

Ryan Winchester staff writer

Students overreact to Pisano’s ‘Emo’ article David Pisano’s column in the last issue of The deal with in the real world.

For those of you who don’t know, John Kerry Squall made quite a few people upset. Rather than spell out every section of the paper for those who was not on any ballot earlier in the month and had don’t know, I’d like to compare Pisano’s situation essentially no reason to even be in the news at the with another issue that has been overblown and moment. taken out of proportion, a line from a recent John Because he said something that may offend Kerry speech. people who don’t care to listen to logic or reason, Kerry said, “Education, if you make the most it was the top story on countless news channels, of it and you study hard and you do your home- web sites and blogs.

But both Kerry’s comwork, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If ments and Pisano’s comyou don’t, you get (us) stuck in ments were to be taken as a Iraq.” joke. Some understood the People shouldn’t be Later Kerry said this was a joke, got over it and went on so concerned and with their lives. botched joke and he accideneasily upset at what Others used their radio tally left out the word “us.”

Immediately people were shows to say how unpatriotic one person with a and inappropriate the comoutraged, quick to overreact public outlet has to ments were, and others dewithout giving a second to find say.” out what, exactly, he was trying cided to try to get physical in to say. the hallway.

I see countless similarities With Pisano, many anbetween this and what Pisano gry but altogether pointless wrote and the reaction to his column. phone calls were made to administrators expressIn his situation, Kerry refused to apologize but ing concern and outrage.

What exactly is that supposed to accomplish? said he was sorry if anyone was offended by what The column was printed, no rules were broken, was said.

And he has no reason to apologize. and it was one person’s opinion.

Neither does Pisano. Just because a select vocal It seems some people love to make something few don’t agree with something that one person out of nothing because they have nothing better to says is no reason to retract a statement. People do with their time. disagree. It’s one of those tough truths you have to Something that needs to be realized, in both

“

of these cases and many others, is that these were personal opinions.

Just because The Squall printed Pisano’s column does not mean that every staff member agreed with what was said, and just because a television network aired the speech does not mean that they agree with what Kerry said either. Each was a single opinion.

People shouldn’t be so concerned and easily upset at what one person with a public outlet has to say.

Pisano shouldn’t have to deal with crumpled up articles being thrown at him just as Kerry shouldn’t have to deal with being mocked by the president.

Why? Because they both have every right to say how they feel, just as you have every right to be outraged at what was said.

So, what’s the solution here? How about this: don’t waste your time. People only have as much power as you’re willing to give them.

If you stop paying attention to something negative, it’ll go away, and your life will remain unchanged and just as normal as it was the day before anything happened.

And why not try to look on the bright side?

Don’t let negativity get to you. Pay attention to the positive.

I understand that for some of you it’s hard to stomach that someone out there might disagree with you and openly talk about it.

But it’s part of that pesky little thing called free speech.

Reaction to John Kerry’s “Stuck in Iraq” comment “The senator’s suggestion that the men and women of our military are somehow uneducated is insulting, and it is shameful.

The members of the United States military are plenty smart and they are plenty brave -- and the senator from Massachusetts owes them an apology.”

“I’m sick and tired of these despicable Republican attacks that always seem to come from those who never can be found to serve in war, but love to attack those who did. I’m not going to be lectured by a stuffed suit White House mouthpiece standing behind a podium.”

• Pres. George W. Bush

• Sen. John Kerry

irst, they cut down on staff. Then, they cut down on electricity by closing the school early. All to save money for the school’s budget.

But I’m left here scratching my head at the problems the school still has. I’d like a meeting with the “budgetdeciders” and tell them a thing or two. Hear that slight buzz when you’re passing the lunch room?

Look between the Coke and the granola bar vending machine. You don’t remember what’s there? Well, the school’s electric bill does. It’s an empty refrigerated vending machine, fully lighted, all day, every day.

Not only does the vending machine always have lighting, it has more than any of the other vending machines combined. This is hard for me to grasp. Why is this happening?

I saw on the news that a school got rid of their vending machines because it cost them too much money to keep them plugged in. If this is true, then we either have Mr. Monopoly as our financier or the school is overlooking something a teenager with a little free time has noticed.

And what about the freakin’ lite-brite board that says student council has a meeting later in the week. Cool!

There’s a little gavel and everything. Man, technology sure is great.

You know what else is great? Having a calendar, e-mail and weekly meetings so everyone remembers the date of activities without anyone looking at that thing. Who seriously forgets something and looks up there for the event updates? That one kid at table #3? Maybe, maybe him.

Other than him, that thing is there for no reason at all.

I went to EMU, CMU and WMU, and they all had these useless little lite-brites. The lights probably don’t cost as much as leaving the football lights on an hour before each game. However, we stopped repairing the sign out front, which is a plus. That thing is useless too.

Still, I’d love slightly cheaper cafeteria food or, honestly, I’d like the bathroom on the second floor to not take two months to fix. I don’t need a high-class, shiny marble, butler-serviced bathroom, but one that has a door that allows male students to enter and pee in a bowl.

I wasn’t looking for anything fancy, but since when is it acceptable for a bathroom, one of two on said floor, to not work? Come on! If you even wrote a pass to get there, you probably missed something important, and there is not enough passing time to go downstairs to the other bathroom.

And while I’m at it, who put the girls bathrooms next to each other and the guys on opposite ends of the school?

Guy-girl-girl-guy. Yeah. That makes sense.

As you cross your legs, looking at the teacher for mercy, remember why you’re in pain. It’s the eighth wonder of the universe, the lighted vending machine near the cafeteria.

The lite-brite? Still going. While some students (and that kid at table #3) are informed of the diving team practice and the student council meetings, others are digging their eyes out just to have a second of relief.

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Squall

editorial

THE

Squall EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Robert Kuzon MANAGING EDITOR: Austin Shapiro DESIGN: Kim Wiesner EDITORS FEATURES: Katie Fricke ENTERTAINMENT: Kelsey Schultz NEWS: Sydney Ross OPINIONS: Frank Dufek PHOTO: Maria Brundage SPORTS: Celia Kuzon COPY: Scott Campbell

all

MANAGERS ADVERTISEMENT: Katie Johnson STAFF WRITERS Ryan Aliapoulios, Josh Ball, Kyle Boren, Michelle Chirby, Scott Crompton, Conor Daining, Caitlin Henderson Jake LaRosa, Hunter Lyons, Rachel Moir, Brent Muse, Rawlin Myers, Charlie Pettit, David Pisano, Lisa Ritchie, Scott Sarver, Heather Siller, Krystyna Taheri, Sean Wallace, Ryan Winchester AD DESIGNER: Spencer Ryan CARTOONIST: Luke Altomare ADVISER: Rod Satterthwaite POLICY: The Squall is distributed monthly to 1,186 students and is estimated to reach 4,744 people with each issue. The Squall is printed by The Owosso Argus Press in Owosso, MI and produced by the fourth hour newspaper class.

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 letters@thesquall.com WEB SITE www.thesquall.com

Squall THE

Many Dexter teachers deserve our respect We have many staff members who are exceptional teachers.

And recently some of them have been recognized for this beyond Dexter High School.

Debora Marsh, Cheryl Wells, Stephanie Nolan, Cory Bergen and Rodney Satterthwaite have all recently been recognized for the outstanding work they do in their respective fields.

Marsh was named the Division 1 Debate Coach of the Year and Wells was named the Pfizer High School Chemistry Teacher of the Year.

Nolan was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Bergen was named the Division 2 Swim Coach of the Year.

Satterthwaite was named as one of the “20 under 40” movers and shakers in Dexter and its surrounding communities by Heritage Newspapers.

We commend these teachers on a job well done, and we appreciate their dedication and passion toward educating the students of DHS. We feel education is the most valuable and important gift a person can receive and feel fortunate to attend a school where the staff feels the same way.

While only a few teachers have been given awards for their talents, the majority of the staff does a praise-worthy job of keeping everyone on the right track.

Despite facing challenging schedule changes, sometimes unruly students and many other difficulties prone to arise at school, the greater part of the staff consistently maintains an air of competence and professionalism.

Most of our teachers constantly show the key

D R E A D S

-07Andrea Wolverton

Q: WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE TEACHER AND WHY?

-09-

-08“Mr. Parker because he makes class fun and easy.”

characteristics teachers must posses in order to successfully educate a class.

First, most teachers are passionate about the material they cover in class.

It’s hard for students to be interested in something when their instructor couldn’t care less or appears to not care.

Secondly, most of our teachers can appropriately relay the information they already know to their class. Unique teaching methods are often the ones that work best.

Third, most of our teachers give students the impression that they care about our success.

It is counterproductive to the learning process for a teacher to appear passive or apathetic about a student’s concerns with material, grades or any other matter.

Finally, our teachers generally remain impartial and just at all times. Favoritism, after all, breeds nepotism.

When we see teachers giving extra help or accolades to someone due to a personal relationship with this student, we feel that the entire student body is ultimately being unfairly treated.

We are pleased with the collective efforts and accomplishments of our school staff.

We may whine and complain with more frequency than necessary, but at the end of the day we are appreciative of what is done for us within the confines of DHS. Congratulations and kudos to all of the great teachers at Dexter High School. Your hard work is greatly appreciated.

in the hall

Jimmy Hamby

“Mrs. Wolsefer because she’s taught me for t wo years, and she’s really nice.”

call

Cecelia Abbott

“There are a lot that I like because they all present the students with good values.”

Dee Braden

-Paraprofessional-

“Mrs. Bauer because she really connects with the students.”

“Mr. Lindke because he’s a pretty relaxed guy, and he snowboards.”

-10Max Laski

14

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Squall

photostory

24 hours: Juniors Nathan Magyar and Chelsea Reardon star in “Time Flies”. “I’m a mayfly,” Reardon said. “It’s about two bugs who go to a big party.

They go home and watch TV and find out they’re going to die, so they try to escape death.”

Monkey business: Sophomore Kyle Chomic’s monkey character plays on a tire swing in “Words, Words, Words.” “It’s about three monkeys who are part of an experiment that’s trying to probe that if monkeys were given typewriters and told to type forever, they would eventually produce ‘Hamlet’,” Chomic said.

“I’m on the tire swing because I was bored.”

gin

All in the tim

XII

IX

III VI

Encylopaydia: G e r m a n exchange student Teresa Isigkeit reads an encyclopedia entry to senior Andrew Ellwood in “Variations on the Death of Trotsky”. “I couldn’t pronounce ‘encyclopedia’ the first days,” Isigkeit said. “They were laughing when I said it, (but) all the drama kids are really nice, like a second family.”

Spoken opera: Senior Andrew Keller portrays composer Phillip Glass in a spoof of contemporary opera.

“I’m in the middle of a desperate love affair while trying to buy bread,” Keller said. “(The skit) ‘Phillip Glass’ requires a deep understanding. I think people would see (the play) three times because it’s so cool”

Photos by Sean Wallace, Spencer Ryan, Ryan Winchester

Martello takes over for 'All in the Timing' Drama productions under new direction David Pisano staff writer

As spectators enjoyed the first school play of the year, most of them probably weren’t aware of the change behind the curtain. Video teacher Matt Martello took over the Drama Club adviser position as well as directing duties.

Friend and fellow teacher,

Harry Wilcox, the long time director, has not been able to as he is battling cancer.

Martello, who helped out with past productions, seemed like the obvious candidate for the job.

“I thought it would have been a good idea to step in and take over the reins because

I’ve been around with the kids for a while,” Martello said.

This will be his first time directing at Dexter High School, but Martello is not new to the role. He directed plays for five years before coming to Dexter. “(Wilcox and I) are really good friends, and we both expect the kids to work hard, but I think we have different philosophies when it comes to rehearsal schedules and such,” he said.

The production, “All in the Timing,” is a series of one-act plays. It was performed four times, from Nov. 15- Nov. 18.