0607-5

January 30, 2007 - Volume XVII - Issue 5 -

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

The world of

letterboxing

ua ll

• Squallers take a journey into Ann Arbor in search of a tupperware container • Tips for your letterboxing adventure • Warm up to The Squall’s letterbox located somewhere in the school

pages 8 and 9

THE Budget cuts: District faces the decision about where to cut funds

page 2 Progress Report: Staff members start a band in hopes to make musical fusion

page 4 Finding Carl: Carl the moose finds himself replaced, and so will his replacement

page 7 Athlete spotlight: Up and coming Dexter athletes discuss their sports

page 10

q S

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Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Squall

news

CORSE brings new ideas to district budget Heather Siller staff writer

Because the district’s budget projections for the next two years show expenses exceeding revenue of $800,000 for the 2007-08 school year and $1 million for the 2008-09 school year, the board of education is due to adopt a budget which will likely include cuts.

The district has an annual budget of approximately $40 million. $30 million of the annual budget goes to teacher and support staff salaries.

The other $10 million is funding for non-classroom related programs. So in order to make the necessary cuts, board members have put together the Committee On Revenue growth and Saving cost for Education (CORSE) which they say is designed to help set the direction for district viability.

CORSE is made up of a steering committee and eight subcommittees that explore possible options for cutting costs in non-classroom related projects.

These subcommittees include: trans- include ideas such as putting corporate portation; building, grounds, mainte- ads on the new electronic scoreboard at nance, and utilities; technology; athletics; Wylie Pool, increasing pay-to-participate community services, community educa- in sports programs and cutting the curtion children services, theaters: center for rent funding for sports programs.

According to Superintendent Evelyn performing arts (CPA), Copeland, etc.; Food and Nutrition; Shirk, student board all programs outside members Alison the regular class time Warr and Nathan (The community) related to extra-duty; Magyar represent will be experiencing and alternative fundthe student interest difficulties with the ing options. during the vote for According to the the new budget prouse of community posals. Even though board packet from Dec. facilities such as the these two members 18, the committees’ job pools.” do not have an actual is to propose solutions - Nathan Magyar, vote, Shirk said they for the current budget junior help the seven board dilemma which will be members who have adopted for the 2007been elected by the 08 district budget.

The committees have come up with community understand the position of the many suggestions to reduce costs and student body.

Shirk also said students who raise money for the district’s non-classroom related programs. take an interest in board deCORSE suggestions for raising money cisions can report their

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interest to the student board members or they can attend a board meeting, where the board offers audience participation to the community.

One of CORSE’s other recommendations is raising money for the district by asking tax payers for millage, where the district asks tax payers to vote for a tax increase to help fund the schools. The district can ask for a recreation millage, a bond millage or a sinking fund millage.

If the community does turn down a millage, Shirk said “eventually it means that we can’t repair and improve technology for student use in an increasingly technological learning environment.”

CORSE? • CORSE is a citizenled, district-supported activity to find ways to cut money from the districts budget • Annual budget for Dexter Community Schools is approximately $40 million • 2007-2008 school year budget projection has expenses over revenue of $800 thousand

Trimesters possible solution to scheduling Kelsey Schultz entertainment editor

The high school staff is considering changing the school year from semesters to trimesters next year due to the new Michigan Merit Curriculum.

Among other things, the new curriculum requires four years of math and science in order to graduate from any Michigan high school, leaving few elective options for students and even fewer options if the students fails a class and has to make it up.

“If you are a four year band or foreign language student you don’t have many opportunities available,” Principal Kit Moran said. “We don’t want to take away choices when we already don’t have enough.”

So trimesters may be one solution to this problem according to Moran.

Over a four year span a student at Dexter High School currently has the opportunity to take 48 classes.

With trimesters the school year would be divided into three trimesters and students would

Stroke Facts • Every 45 seconds someone in America has a stroke.

• About 700,000 Americans will have a new or recurrent stroke this year and over 163,000 of them will die (making it the third leading cause of death in the USA).

• The economic impact of stroke is estimated to cost $40-$70 billion per year source: http://www.st-johns.org

take five classes per trimester. Over a four-year AP Calculus my recommendation would be to period, students would have the opportunity to leave it as a year-long course,” Scott said. “Most take 60 classes. schools I have looked at that have trimesters “The trimesters would be divided by 12 run AP classes for the full year. If we did that, I weeks and the classes would be lengthened to think it would really benefit AP classes.”

Despite these concerns, Moran said trimes72 minutes,” Moran said. This compares to ters have some other bencurrent classes, which are efits.

53 minutes long. These “It’s really cool how it’s adjustments could poWe don’t want to set up,” he said. “If you tentially cause problems take away choices are studying French 1 your for classes such as math when we already freshman year, you could and Advanced Placement, don’t have enough.” finish the class second however. semester and then start “The math department French 2 the third semester would definitely need to - Kit Moran, and continue French 2 your look at our current curprincipal sophomore year.” riculum and make some For Scott, in spite of his decisions as to what are the most important conconcern, trimesters ulticepts in our classes,” math mately give students more teacher Dewey Scott said. options. And he thinks that’s a good thing.

“We would need to teach classes that are “Whatever we end up doing with the schednormally 18 weeks in 12 weeks.” ule I hope that we find something that gives As for AP classes the debate is whether to students more options so they can individualize teach them for two or three trimesters. “For their schedules to meet their needs,” he said.

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Quick read • Each trimester would be 12 weeks long as opposed to 18 weeks under the current schedule.

• Classes in each trimester would be lengthened from 53 minutes to 72.

• With trimesters students have the opportunity to take 68 classes in four years rather than 48.

Frosh coach faces health issues Jake LaRosa staff writer

Freshman basketball coach Brock Rickner has faced health issues recently, after he experienced what may have been a stroke.

Rickner did not return phone calls requesting comment on his condition, but some of his players were willing to discuss what they heard happen.

“He said it started at a Christmas party,” freshman Alexander Dobbs said.

“He said his left arm started to feel numb, then the left side of his face.”

Dobbs said Rickner then decided to

drive home.

He noticed that his driving was impaired by his symptoms.

He then stopped the car and proceeded to call a hospital.

At the hospital he was tested by two different doctors.

One Doctor told him he had a stroke, while the other doctor disagreed.

But Rickner was soon back into his normal routine.

“He only missed one practice,” Dobbs said, “that’s the only time we really any difference with the way that we have been practicing.”

Athletic Director John Robinson said he did not want to talk to a reporter about

coach Rickner’s condition, due to medical privacy policies.

It seemed as though the players on the freshman basketball team were the only ones willing to comment on the issue.

“I was completely surprised when I heard about it,” freshman Robert Mayrand said. “Our whole team was shocked. We were wondering what would happen to our season if he was gone for a longer time.”

Dobbs, however, insists that he has made a full recovery and his coaching has not been at all affected.

“He’s back now coaching our practices and our games,” Dobbs said, “and isn’t showing any signs of weakness.”

• Alex Dobbs Recounts the sequence of his coach’s unfortunate events

varsity basketball vs.

Chelsea Feb. 2 7:00 @ Chelsea

3

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Squall

news

Holiday gifts keep smiles on students faces This season’s most popular gifts:

Worth a thousand captions: Higher resolutions, more storage space and faster upload speeds make for better and better cameras. Demand continues to rise for cheaper but more superior versions.

Kick out the jams: iPods continued to sell well during the holidays. New features like the ability to store music videos and movies keep them in the limelight as the best music player around. Various colors and styles allow for personalization.

Krystyna Taheri staff writer

Being back at school signifies that the holiday season has come to rest. We will have to wait an entire 365 days for the joy to return again. But before we dread on that depressing fact, we need to first reflect on what Santa, or your parents brought you.

What were the most popular gifts of the 2006 holiday season?

blaring into her ears. The only drawback? “Although it is sweet, I guess it has made me less social,” she said. The new Nano comes in five stylish color, with brighter display, 24 hours of battery and 2,000 songs in your pocket. $149 is the starting price to be cool enough to carry this luxury around.

Xbox 360 Coming in as number 3 is the famous Xbox 360.

The previous plain Xbox apparently wasn’t doing the job. The new system contains more features than the Digital Camera previous Xbox. “You can go online and play other It seems that every other person, especially girls, people,” junior Vince D’Onofrio said who was one of received a digital camera for the holidays. Junior the receivers of the new entertainment. Other new features include the Xbox Live Jessica Boren was included in Marketplace where the gamer this large group. “I wanted a can download game demos and digital camera because my old Although it is view trailers for games. Digital one wasn’t any good,” she said. “A sweet, I guess it entertainment is also included new one meant new updates, more has made me less in this package, so as you are memory and more memories.” social.” gaming away you can also jam Boren received a black Lumix to your music through any MP3 7.0 version. “I carry it around player and upload photos to everywhere and anything I want - Katie Ryan, share with your fellow gamer to remember can be instantly junior friends. The price for this new captured.” Hot Models: Kodak gaming device is around $400.

Easyshare V1003 and Cannon Powershot 620. The average price Money for these hot models? Around Neither parents nor Santa can go wrong with $300, so start saving for next year. giving cold, hard cash. The green bills give a sense of iPod Nano Color freedom and excitement with the will to spend it as Apple is continually updating and hoaxing you wish. Junior Erica LeBlanc received $400 for the consumers that the new version of the iPod is a must holiday season. “Giving money is better than giving have. This sort of advertisement seems to work, gifts,” she said. “My parents don’t know my taste so though, making the new color Nano the second most this way I can pick out my own stuff and everyone is popular gift. Junior Katie Ryan was delighted to happy.” LeBlanc said she put half of her money in the receive the new, vibrant version. “My parents gave it bank and the rest was spent on an extreme shopping to me because my old one was broken,” she said. “It is spree. The lowest going rate that is considered pink, can store pictures and the headphones stick in acceptable to give is at least $100, that is if you really your ears much better than the old versions.” Ryan care. says she listens to it every day, Guster and John Mayer

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Drama club takes another blow Lisa Ritchie staff writer

Dazed and confused: The resignation of drama director Matt Martello has sophomore Catherine Bergren concerned

Drama director Matt Martello announced on Dec. 12 that he was resigning his director duties due to health issues.

“Largely it’s for health reasons,” Martello said. “I need to take better care of myself, and I can’t do that while directing the musical.”

In light of this, the spring musical has been switched from “Footloose” to “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat”.

But many members of the drama club were not pleased to realize that they would no longer be performing “Footloose”.

“I’m not happy about it at all,” sophomore Catherine Bergren said. “Some of the seniors did not get the parts they should have because there are not enough female roles in ‘Joseph.’”

Junior Brittany Batell has the same reservations.

“Because the Dexter High School drama club cast is heavily female, and the play has more male roles, there have been issues with casting roles to everyone who deserves a part,” she said.

The change in musicals has not only discouraged regular drama club members but also students who were excited to try out for “Footloose”.

“When I heard they were performing ‘Footloose’, I wanted to try out,” sophomore Kendal Chappell said. “But then it changed to a play I have never heard of, and I decided not to.”

Some students have also raised the issue that “Joseph” is a biblical story being performed in a public high school. “Joseph” is the story of a favored son who is betrayed by his 11 brothers and sold into slavery. He then perseveres through wit and faith to become the governor of Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh.

While a few people find this offensive, most feel it is no different then any other

musical. “It’s very watered down,” Martello said of the play. “I mean other schools have done it as well. Other than the fact that it was taken from the Bible, it is not very religious. The musical focuses more on wit than religion.”

Kim Potocki who was English teacher Deb Marsh’s student teacher last semester said the change of the musical has a lot to do with her own comfort level.

“I really wanted to do a show that I was comfortable with,” Potocki said. “I wanted to do a show that really highlights the talent of the students at Dexter High School.”

So though they have found a new director and have a new play to work on, cast and crew agree Martello is greatly missed.

“We just lost Wil (former drama director Harry Wilcox who is on medical leave with brain cancer). It’s really hard to lose another great director,” Bergren said. “We want him to stay healthy. If staying healthy means not directing, then that’s the price we have to pay.”

Drunken fists fly at choir dinner Hunder Lyons staff writer

A fight between two female choir members at the annual Madrigal Dinner fundraiser on Dec. 18 added some backstage excitement to the festivities.

According to witnesses, senior Alyssa Bourgoyne and junior Ellie Soth-Barr began arguing when Bourgoyne noticed that Soth-Barr appeared intoxicated.

And though both sides agree the fight occurred, stories of how it started differ.

“I saw that (Soth-Barr) came to the dinner drunk, so I started telling people that,” Bourgoyne said. “She came up and asked if I was talking s---, and I said it’s not talking s--- if it’s true.”

Soth-Barr who served a three-day suspension after the incident, confirmed that she was intoxicated during the argument and said, re-

ferring to her drinking, “I just did it to have word, and I’ll punch you in the face.’ I said, ‘OK’ and she then punched me in the side of the some fun.”

Soth-Barr also agrees with Bourgoyne’s ac- head. Not even the face. The head.”

Bourgoyne said she then proceeded to kick count of how the conflict started. However, Soth-Barr said Bourgoyne kept yelling things Soth-Barr in the stomach as people close by tried to break it up, includat her and trying to start more ing junior Karen HIll. “I conflict. wasn’t surprised about the But as the arguing went back I didn’t think fight.” Hill said. “Ellie is and forth, most choir members one of them known for fighting.” said they didn’t think the arguwould hit the But even after the susment would escalate to the point other one.” pensions were handed out, that it did. “I knew that they both girls still show no rewere mad at each other, but I Alison Tracey-Gabriel morse. didn’t think that one of them senior “The only thing I regret would hit the other one,” senior is not beating her up,” Bourchoir member Alison Traceygoyne said . “I’d do it again, Gabriel said.

“I don’t think anybody did.” But that is ex- except this time I’d beat her up.”

Soth-Barr appears to feel the same way. “I actly what happened.

Bourgoyne said, “Soth-Barr walked up on have no regrets, she said.

“I’d do it again if I had the chance.” the risers above me and said, ‘Say one more

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BRIEFS

NEWS

Faculty faces former Wolverines Dexter Community School’s faculty will play a basketball game against former U of M athletes on Feb. 3 at Dexter High School. “The highlight will definitely be social studies teacher Ryan Baese running around like a chicken with his head cut off,” teammate and fellow social studies teacher Ken Koenig said.

During half time the former U of M athletes will sign autographs, and all the proceeds from this event will go to middle school sports.

Teacher aide to be no more Second semester is the last time FirstStep Mentoring, the class formerly known as Teacher Aide, will be offered because the state auditor determined the class is not academic anymore.

“We are discontinuing the class after this semester because the state is setting higher standards for the teacher aide class,” Principal Kit Moran said.

“And it will take too much change for us to meet them.”

Students offered job shadowing The life management department is setting up job shadowing opportunities for students in Financial Management classes. “We will have a list of businesses in the community that are willing to provide shadowing opportunities, and the students can pick and choose from that,” Financial Management teacher Shirley Bitters said.

Bitters said this opportunity gives students the possibility of learning more about a specific career for a day, in a one-on-one setting.

• Bitters

Donate and feel better Have an old cell phone laying around your house? Now you can put it to use again. The National Honor Society and Rotary Club are collecting old cell phones as a fundraiser.

“The National Honors Society is helping out the Rotary Club by getting about $3 per phone collected,” senior Sarah Christian said. You can turn your old cell phones in to the collection boxes located in the main offices of the high school, Mill Creek, Creekside and Wylie until the end of the year. The old cell phones will be recycled to raise money for the community.

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Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Squall

feature

Teacher band plays a new tune

New Year's resolutions hard to keep

Three teachers and a senior unite to form 'Progress Report'

Psychology teacher explains why and gives tips to succeed

Michelle Chirby staff writer

Ready to unwind after a long day at work, science teacher Beau Kimmey and English teachers Matt Martello and Rod Satterthwaite meet in the video lab, prepared to jam.

With a freshly-tuned guitar, Kimmey leads the group in their original song “I Just Wanna Rock and Roll” as Satterthwaite joins in, strumPhoto by Katie Johnson ming the bass line. “Rock and roll take me away,” Teacher band: Progress Report consists of English teacher Rod Satterthwaite, science teacher Beau Martello sings. “Can’t make it through another Kimmey, senior Kim Wiesner and English teacher Matt Martello. Band members practice every Thursday and hope to play at May’s Battle of the Bands. day.”

This original pop-rock song, written by MarThe music Progress Report plays varies. “All said.Another one of Progress Report’s goals is to tello and Kimmey, is about a universal theme according to Martello. “We’re sometimes concerned of us appreciate a lot of different kinds, as long as keep a drummer. “It’s hard to coordinate schedules,” Satterthwaite said, naming at least five about the daily grind and things get us down,” it’s good music,” Satterthwaite said.

Both Martello and Satterthwaite agree that drummers who have left the band since SeptemMartello said. “We all like teaching, but a part of Kimmey is the musical ear of the band. “At the ber 2006. us wants to be a rock star.”

Currently, senior Kim Wiesner plays for ProgThe band started last year when Satterthwaite beginning of the year, I bought a bass and amp,” and Martello discussed wanting to be in a rock Satterthwaite said, “(Kimmey) has taught me ress Report. “I think it’s cool,” she said. “You never see that side of teachers or get to know their band. “We sent out an e-mail (to the other teach- how to play.”

Kimmey, who has been playing guitar for 10 interests. I love music. It helps people make a ers) asking who would be interested in a faculty band,” Martello said. “The three of us got togeth- years, has never taken any lessons. “Most of what connection.”

According to Satterthwaite, however, it’s not er because we all have another side that we want I know I learned from playing the piano before guitar,” he said. “I don’t go a day without trying to just the music that connects the band. “We’re all to rock and roll.”

The band calls itself Progress Report. “Be- play something, so I guess I have the most experi- pretty laid back, and I’m just having fun playing the bass. We’re trying to be unique. cause we’re teachers, there’s a significance,” Sat- ence, but (Martello) is the most passionate.”

“Everyone at some point wants to be a rock Martello, who has been singing for over 20 terthwaite, who came up with the name, said. “(Also), we’re making a progress report on the years, hopes that the band will do well. “Our goal and roll star. We’re not going to - we’re teachers. is to perform at the May Battle of the Bands,” he But it’s fun to give it a chance.” state of music today.”

Illustration by Rachel Moir

Seniors accepted at Ivy Leagues Brent Muse staff writer

For seniors Alex Taheri and Ryan Neely, getting in to an Ivy League school required a lot of hard work and studying.

Often a family member who went to an Ivy League school or donated money to the school can help a student get accepted.

But it was playing football and being talented that gave Taheri an edge over others in his quest to get in to Cornell University.

Although playing sports gave him an edge, Taheri said hard work and studying played an even bigger role.

“To get into Cornell University I had to work hard and study hard through high school, along with playing football,” he said.

According to counselor Kristy or fewer get accepted.

Not only are Ivy league schools Doyle, while grades and test scores play a big role in a student getting difficult to get into because of the accepted into Ivy League schools, selective nature, but they are also the strength of the students sched- private schools so there are fewer people who get accepted out of the ule plays a large role too.

Doyle said, taking Advanced thousands who apply.

Taheri said Placement he has always classes make a wanted to go to schedule more I was nervous before I an Ivy league difficult, along got accepted, but once school because with taking I got in, I knew what I of the great edufour years of had worked so hard for cation and the a foreign lanin high school finally prestige. It had guage and four paid off.” always been his years of math dream. and science.

-Ryan Neely He got acAccordsenior cepted to Coring to Doyle, nell and he also about 15-20 applied to Princkids from Dexter High School apply to Ivy league eton.

Neely, who also applied to Corschools each year. Out of those 1520 kids she said about half of them nell and Duke, is going to Harvard

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(734) 769-3888 www.sunrisetees.com 5277 Jackson Rd Ann Arbor, MI 48103

instead. He said sports also gave him an edge to get accepted along with his many extra curricular activities.

“I did basically every extra curricular activity I could including orchestra, NHS and I ran in cross country for four years and kept my grades up,” he said.

Neely said he didn’t plan on going to an Ivy League school until the summer before his senior year.

After visiting Harvard last summer, he realized that it was the school for him and applied.

At Harvard Neely said he felt like he fit in with the cross country team and the faculty. He also liked all the school had to offer.

He said, “I was nervous before I got accepted, but when I knew I got in, it was an amazing feeling, and I knew what I had worked so hard for in high school finally paid off.”

David Pisano staff writer

Lose weight? Gain weight? Help the homeless? Get better grades? Get stronger? Get a higher Halo ranking? Get your first kiss?

Whatever your New Year’s resolution may be, it probably won’t work. Year after year, people set goals and make promises, and most eventually fail.

According to psychology teacher Tracy Stahl, one of the biggest downfalls of resolutions is people set unrealistic goals. Many people get caught up in the moment and aim far too high and set goal that they are never going to achieve.

“To be successful, you should set smaller goals within the large goal,” Stahl said. “Take small steps.” She said if people set their sights too high they can’t keep up with the pace they set and prematurely write the whole thing off as a We are a failure. society that An example Stahl gave is if you want to seeks out stop drinking soda instant so much. Rather than gratification.” cutting it completely out of your diet, start - Tracy Stahl out by going four or psychology teacher five days per week without it.

“To be successful, you should set smaller goals within the large goal,” Stahl said, adding that many goals, such as losing weight or quitting smoking, must be accomplished gradually and are not easy.

“We are a society that seeks out instant gratification,” Stahl said. “We are not teaching our children the concept of delaying gratification.”

Stahl does not blame parents for this lack of being able to delay gratification. Rather she blames our society as a whole.

She also said setting a more realistic goal allows room for mistakes and setbacks while still being able to stay on track towards the long term goal.

Another problem people often have with resolutions is they set too many goals according to Stahl.

Many people form multiple resolutions which is fine in the spirit of optimism but can be debilitating to their success and therefore should not be done.

Keeping a list smaller and focusing on what really matters can help people succeed and have a better attitude while doing so.

“When people are under a lot of stress, it makes it much harder to reach their goal,” Stahl said. She said people may have a couple solid and important resolutions but can get sidetracked, stressed or disappointed by less important ones.

For example, it can be hard enough to lose 30 pounds, but trying to quit smoking at the same time doesn’t help the cause. Stick to one goal, focus and try to succeed.

People also give themselves too many excuses and exceptions, saying things like, “Well it is the weekend,” and, “I’ll start for real tomorrow.” This only sets them back and leads to failure.

But Stahl says people would be much better off if they made their resolution not just for the new year, but as a change in their whole life. She said, “The better we can delay gratification, the more productive we’ll be in the long run.”

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Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Squall

Fresh Fashion for 2007 In

Skinny Jeans and Flats

• Skinny Jeans

Say goodbye to bell bottoms and hello to skinnies. Skinny jeans have squeezed in and out of style for decades and are back again, conquering high school teens as well as older women. Skinny jeans, which were first made popular by fashion icon Twiggy in the mid 1960s, offer a tight, vintage look that women of all ages are taking to.

Flats are often worn with skinnies creating a new, fun, alternative look as well.

Big, Chunky Jewelry This new trend is popular among both men and women. As women sport overly large and extravagant necklaces, bracelets and rings consisting of large pendants of lockets, keys and butterflies, the “bling” for men is also growing in size. In ‘07 the bigger the jewelry, the better. Well known rappers such as 50 Cent and Ludacris among many more have made outrageously large chains and diamonds popular. Young Americans everywhere crave large, flamboyant and sometimes even ugly jewelry to accessorize with. This season, long chains of silver and gold are a must- have.

Out

Sagging

Today wearing just one layer is not enough. Teens everywhere have taken to wearing layer upon layer of clothing to cover themselves up. Long layers are another trend of ‘07, for showing the midrift is no longer fashionable.

Layers of tank tops, shirts and sweaters are common for both men and women. The layered look offers a variety of styles and colors that create a fun yet stylish look.

Q A &

Sophomore Caitlin Carmody

By: Scott Campbell

Do you remember when guys would sag their jeans so low that you could see their entire butt? Well in ‘07 the sagging trend goes out of style. Although select guys will still find it cool to sag so low their pants fall almost completely off, for the most part sagging will become extinct. Leave behind the baggy jeans and invest in a belt. Sagging no longer looks cool and fashionable, but now out of style and somewhat revolting.

Fuzzy Boots with Mini Skirts Fuzzy boots have transformed from trendy to obnoxious in ‘07, especially when worn with mini skirts in the winter. The trend was acceptable for some time, but as the new year approaches, fuzzy boots and skirts should be left behind. As the plain, comfortable look of Uggs will stick around in ‘07, the over elaborte, busy boots with tassels and balls of fur will not. When worn with mini skirts, the look i s somewhat trashy. What is the point of wearing a mini skirt in the winter anyway? It’s freezing.

The cute, wintery look this trend once presented has passed. So ditch the fur and get something less obnoxious.

• Fuzzy Boots

Popping the collar was never in, but it certainly will not come back in ‘07.

The preppy, try-to-be-cool look took over the styles of men for awhile, but hopefully that look will never return. It doesn’t make you look sophisticated or wealthy; it just makes you look dumb. A more down-to-earth and comfortable look will take over in ‘07, and that leaves gelled hair behind as well. When gelling hair in a ski slope formation was cool, it seemed as though every guy was doing it. And although gelling hair was “in” for a period of time, in ‘07 it is completely out. In ‘07 lay off the gel, shower, and let your hair fall as it may.

Foreign exchange student, host family in conflict Rachel Moir staff writer

Journeying cross the Atlantic to live in another country is always something of a gamble. So is deciding to let a stranger live in your home.

It’s a bet that German exchange student Britta Ullrich and her host family, the Sadlers, lost.

Ullrich had high hopes that she would end up somewhere where she could relax and take in all the aspects of America. Still,she had no way of knowing what type of family she would be placed with.

“It’s very much a crap shoot,” said David Sadler, Ullrich’s initial host dad. “You can’t get to know someone from a three page application form.”

Deciding to join the exchange program after hearing tales of her mother’s experiences abroad, Ullrich signed up to come to the “land of the free and the home of the brave.”

“For the first four weeks things were fine,” she said. “But then my 10-year-old host sister turned really jealous and mean. She would tell her parents that I was yelling at her and being mean, and she would take things from my room without asking.”

According to Ullrich, the adults did nothing to curb their child’s enthusiasm for pointing the finger at her. She said she was chewed out for everything from her host sister’s illegal downloads on

the laptop she brought with her to not being social enough.

“They never took me anywhere, to football games or anything,” Ullrich said. “Then they’d yell at me for not making any friends.”

Becky Sadler, however, said the problems her family and Ullrich experienced had a much simplier cause. “I think it would be a better situation if the kids are closer in age, peers.” said Sadler,whose children are 9 and 10. “She’s now with a family that has another high schooler, so hopefully she’s happier.”

Whatever the cause, the strain of it all began to wear on Ullrich.

“I’m actually really self-confident,” she said. “But they yelled at me a lot, and it brought me down.

When you have someone telling you that you’ve done this wrong and this wrong, you start to wonder if you’re ever right.”

It became clear to Ullrich that she couldn’t stay in this situation, so she contacted Youth For Understanding(YFU),the organization which had arranged her visit.

Ullrich wasn’t satisfied with the response she was given.“The organization told me to give it time, so everyone could get used to it, and that everybody had to work on it,” she said. “(Counselor Gerry)

Q: Quick scenario: I’m a zombie.

What do you do?

A: Aaaahhh.

Q: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if China develops its own high definition DVD? A: None.

Q: Caitlin, you’re rad. What can’t you do?

A: Sing.

Q: Could you wrestle me to the ground?

A: I’d beat you to the ground.

Q: Pick a side: Rosie O’Donnell or Donald Trump?

Popped Collars and Gelled Hair

Lots of Layers

Celia Kuzon sports editor

5

feature

Holmes said it would get better. And (Youth For Understanding) kept telling me, ‘Your host mom says everything is OK,’ but it wasn’t. They should listen to the students more.”

Becky Sadler isn’t quite as critical of YFU. “I think they handled it as best they could, and tried a lot to facilitate Britta’s happiness,” she said.

Either way,Ullrich took the matter into her own hands. She found a new home with junior Mike Wetterau’s family.

“There were some problems with family dynamics that just couldn’t be resolved,” David Sadler said.

“I’m dissappointed that it didn’t work out, but it became pretty clear that things weren’t going well.”

And now life has settled down, and Ullrich is happy.

“I couldn’t talk to my previous host family about my problems,” Ullrich said. “It didn’t matter if it was school, friends. I had all those problems inside me.

We never had a family life, and I felt like a guest.

Now, with my new hosts, it feels like they see me as part of the family. I feel welcome.”

Despite her experiences early in her visit,Ullrich doesn’t regret coming to the US. “No matter what, to be an exchange student is a great experience,” she said. “There are always families who will help if you have a bad situation.”

A: Rosie O’Donnell.

Q: Guess what?

A: What?

Q: I think you play the trumpet like an angel.

A: I do.

Q: When I say go, you say fight.

Go. A: Fight

Q: A woman is attacked by pigs in England. Come up with a headline for that news story.

A: Woman attacked by pigs ... in England.

Q: Finally, the maniac is on the lawn. Where will he be next?

A: The tree.

Q: Speaking of trees, what’s green and if it falls out of a tree it can kill you?

A: The only thing that comes to mind is a fat bird.

Q: The correct answer was a pool table.

A: Why would that be in a tree?

Participation in S.P.A.C.E on the decline Luke Altomare staff writer

Do you like rock music? Is band music not really your thing? If so, you might want to read up on S.P.A.C.E. The Student Produced Artistic Collaborative Event, or S.P.A.C.E., is a Dexter-only group that consists of a group of students whose goal is to encourage art and creativity throughout the school.

They’re best known for organizing the Battle of the Bands. The club is advised by English teacher Debora Marsh.

S.P.A.C.E. was founded in the 2000-2001 school year by Marsh and 2001 graduate Nikki Siller with the help of several other students.

“I saw a need for kids who liked music and the performing arts who didn’t find a connection with the school programs, like the band or drama,” Marsh said.

Senior Alice Thompson, part of the S.P.A.C.E. board, agrees.

“It reaches out to a different demographic than

most of the other clubs,” Thompson said. “We organize the Battle of the Bands, open mic night, cult movie night and the poetry slam,” said Thompson.

The group meets every Thursday at 7 a.m. in room 515.

According to senior Tom Neil, the club’s vice president, during a typical meeting, members pool their ideas for events and brainstorm ways to fund them. S.P.A.C.E. isn’t an official school club, so it doesn’t get funding from the school budget or the Education Foundation.

“Most of the work is centered around around upcoming events,” Neil said.

Focus on alternate forms of music is another one of the club’s aspects, since band, orchestra and choir may not always fulfill a student’s musical needs.

“Because of the battle of the bands and open mic night, S.P.A.C.E. offers another outlet for kids to go for (music),” said senior Alex Krausman, the club’s president. “Kids can talk about rock and roll, punk, metal, funk, jazz, grunge, ska, poetry and reggae.”

Despite the club’s focus on music and events, membership of S.P.A.C.E. and the attendance level

for its events has been declining in the 06-07 school year.

“It’s very crappy,” Neil said. “We used to have a lot more spirit and enthusiasm from the student body. It’s just sorta died down. Nobody cares anymore except for the members.”

Neil also said that photo by Kevin Butler S.P.A.C.E. currently consists mainly of a small core Talking it over: Seniors Kevin Montieth, Jimmy Clark and John Cramer discuss group of members who’ve upcoming events, including the battle of the bands, at a S.P.A.C.E. meeting.

According to club members, student participation in S.P.A.C.E is going down. been there for around two to three years.

Since the club isn’t a formal organization, joining “Battles used to be packed,” he said. “You were S.P.A.C.E. is a simple process. There are no forms barely able to stand. But now there’s only 40 or 50 to sign and no membership fees to pay. (people) when 140 or 150 used to come.”

“I just showed up,” Thompson said. “It’s really Thompson agrees. “It’s gone downhill a lot,” she informal. It’s a really cool club.”

So cool, in fact, Krausman said, “There’s no othsaid. “There’s less participation in the club. It seems like people don’t care as much.” er club like it.”

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6

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Squall

entertainment THE

TRICKLE This month’s trickle is dedicated to

Ten years later: comparing '96 to '06 Scott Campbell copy editor

the Myspace quiz.

You know, those quizzes that tell you what you are (ex.

What famous athlete you are, how crunk you are, what Laguna Beach character you are, what kind of kisser are you). We decided to make our own quiz, “What famous figure are you?” Just answer this simple series of questions and then check out who you are at the bottom.

1. Do people trust you?

A) No. Not under any circumstances would another human take my word as the truth.

B) Not only do people generally

A lot has changed in 10 years. A decade ago, the Internet was just starting to take over the world and orange was still a cool thing to wear.

Talking a right turn onto Memory Lane, prepare to say, “I remember that!” in an excited, nostalgic manner.

To no one’s real surprise, the things that were popular back then are no longer hip. Instead, fads and trends from the age of boy bands are as dead as Scott Baio’s career.

Ten years back, the current student body was still Creekside Anchors at the very oldest. Students may recall the absurd lunch ritual involving a one hit wonder from a band that thrived on novelty.

First and second graders in 1996 were treated to Los Del Rio’s “Macarana” while they ate their chicken nuggets.

But this didn’t occur every other Friday as some special event.

This song was played every day.

And like little performing monkey’s, we danced, glad to trade a lukewarm lunch for five minutes of choreographed dancing.

This doesn’t happen at the high school. Mass dancing is simply nonexistent. Of the few planned dances, none are even as complex as something elementary school children can pull off. What a shame.

Speaking of little kids, the toys of ‘96 were truly epic in their popularity. These plush animals and talking, fuzzy puppets were so fadastic, ravenous soccer moms trampled clerks working at retailers carrying the items.

Beanie babies and Tickle Me Elmo both debuted in the year of Bill Clinton’s second term.

Needless to say they were akin to chocolate money in terms of how much consumers wanted them.

There really is no comparison to these toys now. No Christmas gift resulted in any serious harm to buyers, save for the PlayStation 3.

On the subject of video games, 1996 saw Nintendo release two new peripherals for gaming.

One was new and changed the way games were played. The other was a revamped version of a classic.

The Nintendo 64 hit store shelves in September of ‘96, along with one of the best launch games ever, Super Mario 64. Introducing the analog stick as the way to move around in a 3D world was pivotal in the evolution of games.

Also released by Nintendo in ‘96 was a new version of the Game Boy, the Game Boy Pocket.

It was essentially the same minus being a plastic brick, and as the name suggests actually fit into pockets.

Ten years later, Nintendo let loose another revolutionary control scheme with their newest console, the Wii. Details will be spared, as there was a story about it in last month’s Squall.

Following the same strategy they carried out a tenth of a century ago, Nintendo also released a new version of the DS, the portable gaming successor to the Game Boy. The DS Lite is selling extremely well, moving over 700,000 units last month alone.

Those examples are but a sampling of the raging fads from the debut year of Major League Soccer in America. Clearly, MLS was one fad that did not stand the test of time.

distrust me, but they dislike me as well.

C) There is a possibility people may trust me, if they could decipher the loud gibberish coming out of

Great movies of 2006 Frank Dufek opinions editor

my mouth as a

Silly, endearing and almost disgustingly heartwarming, “Little Miss Sunshine” is one of the best independent films to come along in quite some time. It’s hard not to empathize with each of the movie’s smartly-written and well-defined characters.

The standout performance in this movie

language.

D) Yes. Yes, they do. I am one of the most trusted men in the entire universe.

E) I mostly keep to myself. I am from a small town.

comes from 10-year-old Abigail Breslin, who landed a SAG nomination for her work in the film. Whether the movie made you laugh, cry or finally respect Steve Carell, it will win you over with its simplistic truth and artistic merit.

If all else fails, the dance number at the end will have you chuckling with glee.

• Little Miss Sunshine

Techno, the beat of Dexter Students enjoy listening to techno and give beginners helpful hints Rawlin Myers staff writer

2. What do you do in your free time?

A) Kill people.

Mostly relatives.

B) Peruse around Myspace looking for wrongdoers.

C) Sip on alcoholic beverages and degrade women.

D) Fight the war on drugs.

This was arguably the year’s most critically underrated movie. Not only was the transition of Alan Moore’s original comic from its ink-ridden pages to the glittering big screen sensationally done, but the film also boasted outstanding performances from its talented cast.

Natalie Portman gave her best performance to date, going so far as to completely shave her

head for the role.

It astounds me that, due to the movie’s mediocre critical reception, Portman’s performance has been snubbed during this year’s awards season. The acting is top notch, the plot is riveting, and the action sequences would have had me on the edge of my seat had the cinema chair not been so sinfully comfortable.

E) Save my non-

• V For Vendetta

existent world from the wrath of evil.

3. Are you constantly making strange movements with your mouth and licking your lips due to your overproductive salivary gland?

A) No. B) Yes.

• Descent

The horror-film genre has become increasingly weak over the past few years, and it’s easy to find yourself feeling hesitant each time yet another flimsy looking “scary movie” is advertised. “The Descent” came along like a breath of fresh air to revive a genre in a heavy creative slump. It serves up a heaping supply of carnage, thrills, terror, all with a hint of a homoerotic subplot. What more could you

ask for?

Naked, humanoid, albino monsters who hunger for human flesh, you say? I suppose it’s your lucky day, because this movie is full of them.

You’ll never think about spelunking the same way again once the credits begin to roll.

That is, if you’ve ever even thought about spelunking before.

C) No. D) No. E) No. 4. What is your greatest moment in history?

A) Not fitting the glove.

B) I have no posi-

Cynical as all hell, unapologetically in your face and smartly written to boot, “Thank You for Smoking” is a groundbreaking interpretation of the best-selling novel of the same name. Tobacco lobbyist, Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart), is faced with the daunting task of promoting the sale of cigarettes at a time

when health risks from smoking are becoming increasingly obvious.

As the movie continues, Nick gets caught up in his own web of deception, smooth-talking and sticky relationship issues. Ultimately, the movie is about handling moral dilemmas in spite of everything else.

tive moments in my

•Thank You For Smoking

existence.

C)YEAAAAAAA. D) Being the only non-astronaut in history to receive NASA’s Ambassador Of Exploration award.

E) Making it to Mordor.

A) OJ Simpson B) James Bannan C) Lil’ Jon D) Walter Cronkite E) Frodo.

• Dreamgirls

The movie adaptation of the smash Broadway musical story of The Supremes, “Dreamgirls,” defines sensational from start to finish.

Glittering costumes, show-stopping musical numbers and a slew of unforgettable performances from the cast helped to land the film three Golden Globes (the most of any film in competition) and a collection of other awards.

Former “American Idol” contestant Jennifer Hudson shines brilliantly as the powerhouse diva, Effie Melody White. Her gut-

wrenching rendition of the infamous ballad, “And I Am Telling You, I’m Not Going” will forever hold a place among the greatest moments in film history.

Eddie Murphy gives his finest work to date in the role of James Thunder Early with spirit and panache scarily similar to the man the character was based on, James Brown. The true mark of this movie’s excellence is the fact that Beyonce Knowles was able to simultaneously act in it and not completely destroy its overall quality.

Passing by an ordinary looking barn in the farmland of Dexter, a wild bass rhythm thumps the night air, accompanied by a barrage of pulsating lights from inside.

On the other side of the flexing walls, seniors Ryan Neely and Andrew Martin commandeer another dance party, fueled by a barrage of underground techno music. On the other side of town, senior Jimi Clark rockets down the road in his crimson red Prelude, trance beats pumping furiously through his speakers.

Although it has always had a small following among students, techno music has experienced a recent popularity surge. Fueled by file sharing and dance parties, it has slowly worked its way into mainstream student listening.

“I really like it,” Clark said. “It appeals to my creative senses.”

Techno music originated in Detroit in the early 1980s, when three college students known as “The Belleville Three” fused funk, disco, electro and other music genres to create a new electronic dance sensation. Its name was derived from the word “technology” because early techno had science fiction influences, and modern techno utilizes computers and high tech keyboards.

Although musical historians discourage the use of the name because they say it encompasses too many distinct genres, modern day music fans have come to recognize any trance, house, acid, hardcore, rave or electronica simply as techno.

“It’s something good to listen • Thank You For to if you don’t want to listen to Smoking mainstream music,” senior Adrienne Fasbinder said. “And guys who listen to techno are like, to-

tally hot.” Fasbinder’s sister’s boyfriend is the manager of the Blind Artist record label, and she said that is what got her listening to techno music. Regardless of how a fan began listening, Neely said it’s all about discovery.

“But it is not without risks,” he added.

“Beginners need proper training in order to fully appreciate techno.”

Techno’s other “elite” agree: beginners must have effective listening training in order to fully grasp the full spectrum of the genre.

“It’s like any other kind of music,” Clark said. “Never having heard it, you can’t just play it and immediately understand and appreciate it.”

So the question is, how do you break in a beginner? Neely provided a brief regimen that he said is a good training program for any rookie listener.

“Well, everyone knows Sandstorm,” he said. “Among the elite it’s considered a pretty rookie song, but it’s a good starting point. From there maybe some Haddaway would help you ease into it. Then maybe DJ Tiesto.”

“The band Infected Mushroom is off limits for beginners,” Clark added. “You need rigorous training to achieve the Infected Mushroom level.”

Once a listener has been prepared, a world of exotic electronic ballads is theirs for the listening. As of January 2007, Amazon.com offers 59, 280 different techno CDs. “Everyone loves it,” Neely said. “It just depends on how much they admit it.”

And as he takes a break from preparing for another Friday night dance party, Neely pauses and picks up the latest mix he and Martin compiled.

“It’s more than good.” he said, pointing to the CD. “It’s epic.”

7

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Squall

reviews

MUSIC

'Tower of Love' Sean Wallace staff writer

grade: B-

W

hen Rocky came out in 1976, it was a box-office smash. After countless sequels, the newest film, “Rocky Balboa,” is Stallone’s last ditch effort to restore the series to what it once was.

“Rocky Balboa’s” plot line closely resembles Stallone’s life. The title character is a has-been who is now just a brain-damaged, middle-aged man.

Eventually, the opportunity to climb back in the ring and exorcise his demons appears. After that, the cogs that keep the film moving are by-the-book clichés and pure formula.

Rocky must teach his son the values of hard work.

Rocky needs to get over his dead wife and so on. The plot plods along like this for about two thirds of the film.

Eventually, Rocky goes to Duke, the former trainer of Apollo Creed’s trainer from the first “Rocky”. Duke tells Rocky that he’s slow, so they are going to be relying on “blunt force trauma,” and that it’s time to start building some “hurtin’ bombs.”

After the training starts the familiar Rocky music

kicks in, and the raw power from the first movie is back. To see Rocky boxing again despite being well into middle-age, is nothing short of amazing.

The last half hour was almost enough to make me forget the rest of the movie, the key word being almost. Stallone’s acting is spot on, but the film’s main problem is knowing the difference between good formula and bad formula.

Rocky tells his son that the world is a tough place and he has to prove himself. Bad formula. After that, Rocky drinks raw eggs and pounds the living daylights out of some meat slabs to train.

Good formula.

Even after the vigorous training Rocky goes through for the fight, the final showdown is surprisingly lacking in the “hurtin’ bombs” department.

Funny thing is, I was so relieved to see some boxing that I barely noticed.

Most of “Rocky Balboa” is like that, when it finally delivers even a little bit, the viewer will overlook the numerous, blatant flaws, but there’s no erasing them.

ecause of her descriptive writing style and her way of making it seem like the reader is watching a movie with words, author Sarah Dessen’s book “Someone Like You” is a good book to read just for fun.

Her writing style is one that draws the reader into the story and makes her feel like she’s in the book hanging out with the characters.

“Someone Like You” is dramatic and somewhat unrealistic, however it still has a good story line that makes it seem a little bit of a soap show, which deep down we all love.

The book’s focus is on two best friends, Scarlett and Halley, who have the summer of their lives until tragedy hits. Scarlett’s summer boyfriend, Michael, tragically dies in a motorcycle accident leaving Scarlett alone and pregnant.

Halley had always been the shy one, but it’s time for her to step up and help her best friend who’s always been there for her.

Month by month the story goes on and the rela-

'Someone Like You' Sydney Ross news editor

grade: B-

L

ately I’ve gotten sick of the usual pizza places.

So I flipped through the phone book to find somewhere new to eat, and Cici’s Pizza in Ypsilanti caught my eye right away.

The drive wasn’t bad at all. It took about 15 minutes from Dexter. The restaurant is located right on Ellsworth by Hewitt Road. The hardy welcome caught me off guard, but it was a nice surprise.

The cost was very cheap, only $4.45, which included a glass for water or pop.

I grabbed a tray and moved toward the buffet. Everything smelled pretty good. The first thing in line were the salads, Caesar and Italian. I took a bowl and filled it with the Caesar salad. Not to hate on the Italian or anything, but it looked like a bunch of lettuce just floating in the dressing.

Next in line was the pasta. There were plenty of fresh noodles,but the marinara sauce didn’t look so fresh. Not to mention it had just as much water in it as our school’s pasta sauce. I grabbed a small plate and filled it with noodles. I was sure to be light on the

tionship between Halley and Scarlett becomes stronger and switched. Scarlett is the one who needs the help now, and as Halley becomes more confident with herself, she becomes a better friend and even meets her boyfriend, Macon.

Throughout the book Dessen does a great job showing that Halley and Scarlett both mature in many ways.

Scarlett has her baby and matures into a young woman who has to take care of another person and Halley mature into a braver person with more confidence in herself.

Dessen is known for many books such as “That Summer” and “Keeping the Moon” but “Someone Like You” is by far one of the most popular. The book was made into a movie in 2003 called “How to Deal” and was adapted well.

This book is for everyone, and I have already passed it on. Dessen is a great author with a strong writing style. You should sit down and take a journey with her and “Someone Like You.”

sauce so that it wouldn’t drip all over as I carried my tray down to the pizza.

For an all-you-can-eat buffet, Cici’s has quite the selection of pizza, but like the marinara sauce, it wasn’t fresh. I asked the manager about making a fresher pizza, and he told me that they could make me my own personal pizza. He seemed like a pretty nice guy.

All the seats at Cici’s are big, comfortable booths.

I got halfway through my salad when my pizza was complete. The salad was decent, a little too much dressing on it, but what can you do?

The pizza was steaming hot, right out of the oven.

While I waited for the pizza to cool down, I went back up to the buffet to get some dessert. I grabbed three brownies and a sugar cookie. I sat down again and began eating my pizza. It was surprisingly good.

I recommend anyone who is looking to eat a lot of food for a miniscule amount of money go to Cici’s pizza, but please, turn right around if you are looking for gourmet taste and freshness.

MOVIE

'Rocky Balboa' Ryan Aliapoulios staff writer

grade: A

B

BOOK

a silly little song, my efforts are all wasted cause machinery goes wrong.” The guitar is catchy and the bass jumps in after the first verse, keeping the beat steady and fast.

“Tower of Love” offers a delightful instrumental allowing the listener to appreciate Noir’s talents at mixing tracks and his playing talent. The organ, piano, drums, tambourine and strings make the listener feel instantly relaxed.

“The Key of C” is a song dedicated to Noir’s favorite chord. “I want to be in the Key of C. It’s easier to play it.” The soft, endearing voice of Noir welcomes the listener in as he plays a song about such a unique topic.

Noir displays a talent for music that keeps him apart from other artists.

With his unique song topics, simple lyrics and extremely catchy yet held-back beats, there is not a single bad track, and he maintains a level of quality few artists seem to manage.

This CD is must have for fans of Belle and Sebastian, Badly Drawn Boy or Indie pop music with a warm, mellow sound.

grade: A

J

im Noir’s first CD “Tower of Love” is a ray of sunshine in the dark world of popular music. While his songs may not be on MTV or VH1, they are far better in every way.

Noir seems to have the Beatle’s Sgt. Pepper harmonies and Beach Boys influences, yet he maintains a fresh, new sound appropriate for today. The surprising thing is that he plays every instrument on the album.

“My Patch”, the first song, is a little taunt by Noir saying, “If you ever step on my patch, I’ll bring you down.” With the multiple tracks of his voice chanting and singing at the same time, the song hypnotizes listeners into the extreme simplicity of lyrics. The thing is, the vast array of instruments and complexity of the music itself make the listener forget that they’re listening to the same 11 words over and over.

“I Me You I’m Your” has very simplistic lyrics. The genius of Jim Noir is that because his music is so warm and welcoming he does not have to use a lot of words in his songs.

The next song is a clever melody about Noir’s computer and how it messes up. “Every time I try to make

FOOD

Cici's Pizza Charlie Pettit staff writer

8

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Squall

the spread

Letterb

Tips for a fantastic letterboxing experience Katie Johnson advertisement manager

A new kind of treasure hu

Figure it out: Senior Kim Wiesner and junior Katie Johnson write down clues for their letterboxing adventure. Their adventure took place on University of Michigan’s north campus.

So you want to letterbox? Here are some helpful tips for a most exciting adventure.

1. Know what letterboxing is If you want to go letterboxing, it is best to actually know was it is. Letterboxing is an outdoor treasure hunt where you follow a series of clues to find a hidden box that contains a stamp, ink pad and notebook. Finders stamp their own notebook with the stamp found in the letterbox to prove they found it. They can also bring their own stamp to stamp the logbook in the letterbox.

2. Be prepared Before you embark on your letterboxing journey, make sure you gather the necessary supplies.

Bring a compass so you can accurately follow the clues. Also make sure you dress according to the weather and bring a notebook to write down answers to clues. A successful adventure starts with preparation.

Still searching: Wiesner and Johnson continue looking for more clues to find the letterbox. It took the girls an hour to finally find it.

3. Bring your posse Letterboxing can be dull if done alone, so gather your friends for a Saturday afternoon adventure.

It’ll guarantee a fun-filled day and is an exciting alternative to an otherwise boring afternoon.

4. Go all out One of the most important rules for letterboxing is to go a little crazy to make your journey more interesting. Bring some binoculars, wear a safari hat, bring a backpack and wear camouflage to make your adventure a little more thrilling.

5. Keep it a secret You’re apt to get some odd looks from people while you are on your quest, but just let them stare. You may even get some snide comments or choice words yelled at you, but just ignore it.

Be secretive. Pretend you’re James Bond hiding from a villain. It’ll only make your adventure more daring.

6. Never ask for directions Yes, your mom always told you to ask for directions if you ever get lost, but throw this rule out while letterboxing. If you ask for directions, you might as well quit. A true letterboxer is willing to get lost and face danger, no matter the cost.

One step closer: Adventurers Johnson and Wiesner walk towards a clue site. There were over 10 different clue sites total.

7. Don’t let anything get in the way of your adventure So maybe it’s snowing or raining. Or maybe you’re cold or feel sick. So what? Suck it up. A true letterboxer won’t let anything get in their way, not even a raging snow storm.

Hitting t

Squallers em adventure int

8. Don’t give up To call yourself a real letterboxer, you can’t give up no matter how gruesome your journey becomes. You may hit a few roadblocks. You could become famished, thirsty and get a few scrapes and bruises. But don’t let these minor setbacks get you down.

Finding success: After an hour of searching, Wiesner and Johnson finally find the letterbox.

The letterbox was found in the forest near north campus.

A

bizarre sculpture stood in the distance. Its three monstrous rusty branches bent towards the center, looming over us as we searched for two numbers hidden nearby.

Finding the numbers on a plaque, we enthusiastically scribbled them on the clue sheet and searched for our next destination. But this was just the beginning of our letterbox treasure hunt.

After hearing about letterboxing from a classmate, and discovering that there was a letterbox hidden nearby, we decided to embark on our own Squall letterbox adventure.

The letterbox we found is called “Go Blue!” and is located on U of M’s North Campus. The various clues to the letterbox took us to many engineering and art sculptures on campus.

ge we ma fol pa cer or be

too did the clu the tor on tow yel the

9

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Squall

the spread

boxing

unt provides entertainment Ridin’ the waves: Adventurers Wiesner and Johnson take a break to hang out in the wave field on north campus.

The wave field was created by University of Michigan art students.

Be the first to find the Squall's letterbox and win a prize ATTENTION: THE LETTERS CORRESPOND TO NUMBERS Your journey starts on the second floor. Head to the north pod stairwell (by the teacher parking lot). Your first clue is the number of lights in the ceiling on this landing. A = ___ Next, head down the stairs for the elevator. In the section of the hallway where the elevator is, there are white beams next to the window. Count these beams and you will have your second clue. B = ___

the trail:

mbark on an epic to Ann Arbor

by: Katie Johnson and Maria Brundage

In letterboxing, most clues are linked to- so we ducked under the tape, found the elether in some way. For most of our clues, evator and recorded the numbers. e had to find the year a sculpture was The actual letterbox was not hidden by ade or dedicated. For others, we had to any sculptures but was hidden in the woods llow a certain comnearby. It was wrapped in camass direction, walk a ouflage tape and contained a It was wrapped in rtain number of steps stamp, notebook and ink pad turn a certain numjust as the web site said. We camouflage tape er of degrees. stamped our own notebook and contained a Most clues weren’t to prove we had found that stamp, notebook o hard to find, but we letterbox. We also signed and ink pad.” d face one obstacle at the logbook, and looked e music tower. The back at everyone else who -Katie Johnson and ue required us to go to had ventured into this part Maria Brundage e tower, find an elevaof the woods. r and a number located We hid the letterbox then walked back to the car, chatn the elevator. But the tering the whole way about our wer was blocked off with llow caution tape. We couldn’t move onto first letterbox adventure and, we hope, not e next clue without getting the number, our last.

“

From here, look out the window. How many trash cans do you see in the outside cafeteria eating area? This is clue C = ___ In the library, there is a lab with white computers. Go there and face the tall bookshelves against the wall. The object you’re looking for is B bookcases from the left, A shelves down and C books in from the left. This object has 5 numbers on its spine. These numbers are in the order of D, E, D, F, G. D = ___ E = ___ F = ___ G = ___ Open the book to page 541. H is the number of legs on the animal on this page.

H = ___ The next clue is on the same floor in the place where a golden song is painted on a maroon wall. Go to this place and count the number of exclamation points on this wall.

I = ___ For the next clue, venture over to the counseling office hallway. There is a rack of brochures on the wall opposite the bathrooms. Count the number of slots available for brochures. (Hint: the top left brochure on this rack is an AA brochure.) Write this number in Roman numerals. Draw a line horizontally through the middle. The top half of this number is another Roman numeral and clue J = ___ The next clue is found in the cafeteria on the senior bulletin board. K is the number of letters in the title of the handdrawn Red Cross poster (under ‘07).

K = ___ L = K + the last two numbers of the freshman class’ graduating year. L = ___ The Squall’s letterbox is located at DFGE and the password to get into this location is HJ - L - I. (Hint: this location is on the third floor.) *If you win, further instructions are in the box.

10

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Squall

sports

Up and coming athletic stars

Underclassmen step up and show skill in JV and varsity sports Charlie Pettit staff writer

Austin Shapiro managing editor

Stefan Elslager, freshman Men’s JV basketball

Caitlyn Rize, freshman Varsity Dance Team Q: How long have you been dancing?

A: I’ve been dancing since I was two.

Q: How long have you been playing basketball?

A: I’ve been playing basketball for like eight years now.

Q: What’s your goal for dancing?

A: I always want to do well at competitions, and I wanted to make varsity as a freshman this year.

• Rize

Q: Who or what got you into basketball?

A: My friend Nic Miller. We both play on JV now.

• Elslager

Q: Who or what got you into dancing?

A: My sister has been dancing since she was three, so it kind of runs in my family.

Q: What is your goal for basketball?

A: I’d like to play in college for sure and in the NBA.

Q: Who do you think is the best dancer?

A: I think either Usher or Chris Brown is the best because they are both hot, and they look good when they dance.

Q: What is your favorite college basketball team this year and why?

A: I like Duke because they are the best team.

Colleen Lasecki, sophomore Varsity volleyball

Dan Flowers, freshman Wrestling Q: How long have you been wrestling?

A: I’ve probably wrestled for either nine or 10 years total.

Q: How long have you been playing volleyball?

A: I think I’ve been playing since sixth grade, so around five years.

Q: What is your goal for wrestling?

A: I would really like to win states sometime in high school.

Q: What is your goal for volleyball?

A: I’d really like to play volleyball at the college level.

• Lasecki

• Flowers

Q: Who or what got you into playing volleyball when you were younger?

A: My older sister got me into it. She played when she was in high school.

Q: Who or what got you interested in wrestling?

A: I guess I started wrestling because I saw college wrestlers from Minnesota at a meet, and I wanted to be like them when I got older.

Q: What is your favorite college wrestling team this year and why?

A: Ohio State because I know the coaches and the wrestlers on the team, and they have a good program there.

Q: What is your favorite college volleyball team this year and why?

A: I really like Florida State because I want to play for them.

Students were chosen based on recommendations from coaches

Hockey team cleans up for new season Kyle Boren staff writer

Stuffing stockings full of toys and candy and knowing that they were going to terminally ill children at Mott’s Children Hospital in Ann Arbor made sophomore Zach Lucas feel real good.

“It was real heart warming to do,” Lucas said. “It just shows how much we improved our behavior off the ice and that we are doing good things this year especially.”

And Lucas and his teammates say the hockey team is doing a lot better, not only on the ice, but off as well, when compared to last year’s season when players were suspended for drinking and many players were academically ineligible.

A lot of positive changes have been made on the ice as well. Senior captain Nick Field said, “Our team is doing a lot better off the ice.

We are acting more appropriate.”

Lucas also said the team is doing well academically. As of publication no one has been

ineligible due to grades. then the previous coach.

“Everyone is helping each other out with Howell coached at New Boston Huron as school and making sure an assistant coach for five they got the grades good seasons before coming to enough to play,” he said, Dexter. “which is better than last “He is a lot more strict We are doing real year, because we always then the coach we had last well and playing had at least one player year,” Field said, adding suspended for the mathat the coach’s strictmore as a team.” jority of the season.” ness helps with their beThe team’s attitude havior. Lucas agrees that -Zach Lucas the new coach is the reaand behavior is not sophomore son that no one has been the only thing that has suspended for off the ice changed since last year behavior. according to Lucas. They Howell, for his part, are also playing more as a team, and they are doing better than anyone says he has nothing to complain about. “I expected. think they’re doing just fine with their behav“Everyone thought we weren’t going to be ior,” he said.

Lucas also said his new coach has been a too good because we lost so many people,” he said. “But we are doing real well and playing great help so far. “He has great knowledge more as a team.” of the game,” he said. “He knows everything The team also has a new head coach, Gary there is to know about hockey. I think he is a Howell, who the players say is more strict great part of our success so far this season.”

“

Hockey Highlights • The hockey players have a team dinner before every game.

•The team has two games a week and practices four times a week for an hour and a half.

• There are seven seniors, four juniors, seven sophomores, and two freshmen on the team.

•They beat the fourth ranked team in the state, Notre Dame Prep.

• Before each game, the hockey coach writes something inspirational on junior Hunter Lyon’s stick.

•The team is ranked tenth in the state.

The

WORD

SMITH

Press

Since 1998, The Wordsmith Press has put out many small volumes of poetry and tall tales by some of the best performance poets and storytellers in the country. In 2000, The Wordsmith Press began to produce CDs of the performances of these artists.

www.thewordsmithpress.com

Good athletes, bad role models Where have all the good men gone? Bonnie Tyler asked this in her 1984 ballad “Holding Out For A Hero,” and sports fans are beginning to wonder the same thing.

Gone are the days when athletes could be looked upon as role models for America’s youth. Today you can only count on athletes to do two things: complain about their contract/ coach/ teammates/ etc. or embarrass themselves, be it on or off the playing field.

Coaches often preach teamwork, but athletes misinterpret their sermons. Eight different Cincinnati Bengals were arrested in 2006, including Chris Henry who was cuffed four times. They had arrests for DUI, spousal battery, grand theft, concealed weapons and providing alcohol to minors.

When it comes to NBA brawls, teamwork again took center stage. The Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks tussled over a hard foul with 10 players being tossed and seven suspended.

Among the suspended was the league’s leading scorer, Carmelo Anthony.

Violence is an issue Anthony, who has previous charges for that needs to be drug-related offenses, addressed in sports, sucker punched an both on and off the opposing player and playing field.” promptly did the manly thing. He ran away.

How can teams survive a public backlash from occurrences like this? The Nuggets, obviously in a move to smooth things over with their fans, traded for Allen Iverson.

Iverson couldn’t be a better choice for a team trying to shed a bad boy image. He’s been fined regularly by the NBA for comments he’s made, but his actions speak so much louder than words.

In 1997 Iverson was charged with marijuana possession and concealing weapons. In 2002, he threw his wife out of the house during a fight, then later went to his cousin’s house demanding to see her. When the cousin refused, Iverson repeatedly threatened to kill him.

The best part of Iverson’s shenanigans is the fact that he never missed a game because of them. Throughout all sports, the standard of morals that athletes are held to is slowly being lowered.

It’s no coincidence that more athletes are being killed.

When they constantly put themselves in situations that become dangerous, the mortality rate is bound to rise.

The confetti had barely finished falling when the first sports star of the year was killed. Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was killed during a drive by shooting at 2:14 a.m. on New Year’s Day. This came just two weeks after the bodyguard of the Chicago Bears Tank Johnson was shot and killed. After the death, police visited Johnson’s house, and what did they find? Only enough guns to arm a small nation.

Violence is an issue that needs to be addressed in sports, both on and off the playing field. As long as the governing bodies of the respective sports continue to ignore the issues, especially those that arise away from the arena, the problem will never improve.

Since I realize the commissioners are all very busy people, I’ve taken it upon myself to propose an answer to the problem. If the athlete has any pending crime, they are not allowed to play, to practice or to be paid.

If their actions had more severe repercussions, perhaps athletes would stop club crawling at three in the morning.

I’m not saying they should be held captive in their homes (although there could be much worse things), but I am saying that athletes need to realize that they aren’t regular people. The same rules don’t apply to them.

It’s natural for human beings to be jealous of others, and athletes rank at the top of the list. People envy what they’ve accomplished and, sadly, some people want to take that away from them. When athletes stay out until the early hours of the next day, they are asking for something bad to happen.

If each athlete takes responsibility for themselves and doesn’t put themselves out on the wire asking for the worst to come, I see no reason why the commissioners of every sport will need to institute something like this.

Hopefully, this unfortunate trend will soon cease and athletes can once again become role models. Until then, I guess we’ll just have to join Bonnie Tyler and keep holding out for a hero.

“

The Mooninites say, “Don’t do drugs!”

11

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Squall

sports

Team chemistry brings volleyball success early

Players say team is more unified this season Caitlin Henderson staff writer

the team bonding as well.

The team spends all day on Saturdays playing and hanging out.

Walking off the court after the team’s win “All this hanging out brings us together,” against Bedford, junior Megan Dinser knew Dinser said, ”and is very fun.” this was going to be a team turning point.

For Lewis, the team chemistry allows them “This win will help us gain confidence,” to push each other without conflict. she said.

“We yell to push each other,” she said.

With the push of their teammates in practice and big games, the varsity volleyball “There is a lot of focus.”

Also, Dinser cites the ways practice is run team, even though they have only played one league game so far, has competed at high lev- is contributing to the teams success. ”Consequences at practice,” Dinser said, els with schools such as Bedford and Chelsea ”pushes us to work hardin tournaments. er so we won’t have to run “We are a lot better sprints at the end.” then anticipated,” senior We will continue to All this hard work and Margot Parin said, addpush each other, training has helped. ing that going into seaand hopefully Team beat, Pioneer in son the girls were a little their league and Bedford shaky about how the seacontinue our in a winter tournament. son would be without the winning season.”

The team has not beat seniors from ‘06.

Bedford in many years so And for junior Sonya - Megan Dinser, this win was a big deal for Lewis, the wins not only junior the team. come from talent but also “It brought the team team chemistry. together more,” Dinser “Nobody argues and said. we hang out in and out of Lewis and Parin both feel that the win school and sports,” Lewis said.

For example, a small group of the girls go over Bedford is a sign of improvement.

However Lewis said, “Bedford lost a lot to the Dexter bakery before their Saturday of good girls last year, and this could have morning tournaments.

So while most of the girls knew each other helped us.”

Dinser added, ”We lost many good girls as before season, some were not comfortable on well, but it just gave us a chance to step us a personal level.

“We were all quiet at the beginning,” Din- our play.”

With the team spending more and more ser said.

“But now we are meshing and are more time together, “We will, continue to imcomfortable with each other, there has been prove,” Dinser said.

“We will continue to push each other no individual conflicts between anyone,” she and hopefully continue with our winning said.

The weekend tournamaents really help season.”

“

Photo by Spencer Ryan

Practice makes perfect: Juniors Sonya Lewis, Jessica Sowers and Mariah Hill work during practice. Players say the team’s chemistry and work ethic during practice is paying off in their winning season.

Everything you need to know about this year's Super Bowl Scott Sarver staff writer

Big screen televisions are very busy this time of year. Between the College BCS series and the NFL playoffs, people everywhere are watching the “big game” on TV. While the local NFL team, the Lions (3 - 13), had yet another disappointing year, students are following other teams hoping to cap their season off with the NFL title.

“The AFC is really strong this year,” senior Tyler Walz said. “I think that almost any team in the AFC could beat the best team in the NFC.” While his favorite team, the Tennessee Titans (8-8), missed the playoffs with a Week 17 loss to the New England Patriots (12-4), Walz said he anticipates the Indianapolis Colts (12-4)

winning Super Bowl XLI in Miami.

This year the Colts, ranked number 3 in the AFC, and the Chicago Bears (13 - 3), ranked number 1 in their conference, the NFC, will be competing for the national title.

The Colts have had a good season, beating out the Baltimore Ravens (13-3) and the Patriots both in the regular season and in the playoffs. The Bears have had an equally good run, maintaining their number 1 ranking in the NFC throughout the year.

The Bears impressive defense in the NFC powering them through the regular season, and the Colts rock solid offense with Peyton Manning under the helm promise to make this year’s Super Bowl an explosive game with many big plays.

With the big game taking place in Miami, few people are making the trek south to watch the game. Parties also seem to be less

popular this year, with fewer people hosting large parties.

“I’m probably just staying home and watching it with my family,” Walz said. This seems to be the common feeling in Dexter.

“More people are staying home this year, I don’t even know of anyone having a party this year.”

Not everyone is watching the game for the final score, though.

This year’s Super Bowl ads promise to as good as ever. “The ads are really popular, especially for people who aren’t the biggest football fans,” Walz said. “I always enjoy watching the ads.”

Over 90 million people watched last year’s Super Bowl, some watching for advertisements and some for the game. Either way, many people will be watching the big game. Are you ready for some football?

(Colts 24 - Bears 17)

Indianapolis Colts

Chicago Bears

• Quarterback Peyton Manning had the best passer rating during the regular season at 101.0.

• The Colts defense struggled during the regular season but has come back to life in the postseason.

• Indianapolis has the league's second best scoring offense, tied with Chicago with over 26 points per game.

• Quarterback Rex Grossman has struggled during the regular season with 20 interceptions and a passer rating of 73.9.

• The Bear’s defense was the best in the NFC outscoring their opponents 47 touchdowns to 29.

• During the regular season, the Bear’s defense recovered 30 fumbles and intercepted 24 passes.

Students find fun in Ann Arbor Rec. Ed. basketball Josh Ball staff writer

• Jarrod Olive:

A junior member of Dexter’s Purple Ribbon All-Stars Rec. Ed basketball team

Sweat drips down the faces of the players and splashes to the hardwood floor. They are tired and worn from a hard fought game against Ann Arbor New School.

Cheers resonate from the bench and the stands. As the Purple Ribbon All-Stars, a primarily junior rec. ed. basketball team, run off the court.

Members of the Purple Ribbon All-Stars chose to start their own team rather than trying out for the school team. “We just want to play,” junior Pat Farrel said, “and enjoy the competition and good sportsmanship that comes with playing basketball.”

Many of the students on the Purple Ribbon All-Stars have never played organized

basketball before. “The last time I played was at Dreadnaught basketball camp in kindergarten,” Farrel said, adding he and the other players just enjoy the fun side of the game.

“We were never good enough to play on the school teams, so we decided to start our own,” junior Adam Cares said.

Rec. Ed. basketball players don’t take the game as seriously as the players on the school teams.

Teams usually only practice once a week, and at the end of practice there are no “suicides” to run.

“At practice we just scrimmage,” junior Jarrod Olive said. “Our coach isn’t there to tell us what to do. We just go out and have fun.”

Olive is the originator of the team, and his older brother, graduate R.J. Olive, is the coach.

Jarrod is optimistic for his team’s coming sea-

son, even though they are coming off a 2-8 season last winter. “We’re going to be undefeated... 9-0!” Olive said, “There’s more skill on our team and we have ladies in the stands to impress this year.”

The Purple Ribbon All-Stars won’t be the only Dexter team lacing up their Air Jordans for this year’s rec. ed. season, either. There is a new team simply named the Dexter Dreadnaughts.

Senior Steve Burgett, a member of the team, has in fact, played Dexter High School basketball in the past.

“I played JV year and tried out (my) junior year but didn’t make it,” Steve said. “I was asked to play for the rec. ed. team, and I missed playing basketball, so I thought it would be fun.”

Alex Krull’s dad, Randy Krull, is the coach of the Dreadnaughts. “Coach (Krull) just asked us

which position we wanted to play. Everything it a lot more relaxed,” Steve said.

Steve’s brother, Pete Burgett, also joined the team this year. “I didn’t want to try out this year, so I could focus on football more,” Pete said.

“It’s a good way to keep in shape, and it’s not as time consuming.”

For many players rec. ed. basketball is a convenient choice for anyone just wanting to play a sport and have fun. There’s not as much emphasis on winning and everyone gets a shot.

As for the much-anticipated match up between the Purple Ribbon All-Stars and the Dreadnaughts, one team seems a little more sure of themselves.

Olive said, “I can guaran-sheed a win (for the All-Stars), and I will personally drop 25 points on them.”

12

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Squall

opinions

Frank Dufek

opinions editor

W

e are children of the next generation. We use slang that would make Merrian Webster spank us silly. We converse with one another through a variety of different mediums (each less personal than the next), and we have an innate ability to spend more time on Facebook than with the people we are looking at on the site.

Is this so wrong? Sure, we jokingly laugh at how pathetic electronics have made our lives, but do any of us truly give a damn about leading these so-called “pathetic” lives?

I, for one, could not care any less if I were labeled pathetic for my habitual addiction to technology than if Ann Coulter were down the road giving away a free copy of her latest inappropriately-received, satirical, pompous, political mess of a book.

Think about how many times you’ve spent an entire day watching a “Flavor of Love” or “America’s Next Top Model” marathon on VH1.

The second you finally got around to actually making contact with one of your friends, you probably let them know what you had done all day.

“Hey mang, what up playa?” your friend Carol

Robert Kuzon editor-in-chief

T

Technology and haterade don’t mix working with our friends online? Is it the relacoyly says.

“Oh, nothing. I’m such a loser, I spent, like, the tive ease with which we are able to keep in touch whole day watching that show with Tyra Banks with countless people who otherwise wouldn’t and all the models, lol, I forgot the name!” you be in our lives at all? Is it the element of instant gratification from a stranger or friend leaving a falsely reply.

“Oh my gosh! You are such a loser,” says Carol, comment about us? Is it the way our lives can be summed up by a survey for evthe lying, judgmental, eryone to see, thus eliminating skank. the entire purpose of talking to Why is it that we Sure, there are people? I think I’ve successfully dedicate such large negative aspects and rhetorically made my point. portions of our lives to to wasting away in Sure, there are negative asmessaging “friends” front of a screen for pects to wasting away in front of online, texting people hours. However, if a screen for hours. on our phones and we are doing so with However, if we are doing so staring at a television our own free will, with our own free will, where is screen only to later act the shame in it? where is the shame like we totally hated If I want to write witty reevery minute of what in it? marks all over my friend’s Facewe did? book wall or spend the afternoon Allow me to make with VH1’s Tiffany “New York” a sweeping generalization and say that not a single one of us truly Patterson instead of, say, Jesus, then what does it think doing these things is pathetic. In fact, we matter to anyone else?

I’m not ashamed of passing my time with the love spending our time in the magical world of aid of discs, batteries, Internets, etc. and neither technology.

What is it that we love so much about net- is anyone else.

“

Students are not the only ones with a mid-term report

eachers and administrators are constantly grading and critiquing our work so I thought that it would be interesting to grade the work of our administrators. I think that it is only fair that we as students have the same ability to reflect on the work of our superiors as it is on their shoulders to make sure we are provided with a good education and that we are in a safe and fun environment.

Since we get a whole new administration every year, it is hard for each group to leave their own mark, but I think that this particular group has done an excellent job for the most part. All three are constantly seen around the school interacting with the students and rocking school apparel.

One thing I have to comment on is the simplicity of pirating these so called “unscannable” report cards. Changing the grades on one of these is more of an inconvenience then an actual problem. If you are going to spend the money to try and add security to a system, you should actually spend some money and do a decent job.

Conor Daining staff writer

In which Conor discovers the joys of New Year’s

I

blinked a few times as I awoke and then sat up. I attempted to recognize where I was, but I couldn’t.

It was dark and dirty. Boxes and metal pieces were strewn around this large building. I figured I was in an abandoned building, but the real question was how did I get here? I quickly ran through the events of the previous evening in my head.

It began at the Clark station in town. I was sitting in my car, The clock read 4 a.m. , but, of course, it was off by a bit because it stops recording the time when the car is off. It was actually 10: 31 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The time approached midnight, and I knew I should be somewhere so I grabbed my cell and hit up my buddy, Tosh Hall.

“Yo man. I heard everyone’s at your house dude ... can I chill there?”

“Uh, ya, I dunno, dude. My dad said no more people can come over tonight. He’s real pissed, dude, sorry.”

“Aight it’s cool, peace.”

“Later.”

OK, I was pretty hurt, but I just knew the night would have a good turn out anyway. I called some more people a minute later and none of them could have me over.

“Whatever” I thought. “I’m Conor Daining. They should beg to have me over.“ I got out of my car, admired its red stripe, then walked inside the Clark to grab a drink. I was reaching for the door handle when a white van pulled up behind me, halfway on the curb.

The door swung open, and my boy Chad Vadge was sitting in the driver’s seat. The inside of the van was blinking quickly with different colors from the back.

Chad swung his long hair out of his face and said, “Want some candy? Get in the van. I got all different kinds.”

I laughed and figured, “what the hell” and walked around and got in next to Chad. Chad had been sort of a distant friend for awhile.

I said “hi” in the halls but never actually talked to him that much.

We left the gas station and started heading out of town on Mast Road. I realized by then that the back of the van was empty except for the carpeted floor and a strobe light making the flashing.

I chuckled again but didn’t say anything. He didn’t say anything either, but we continued down a dirt road I didn’t know the name of in silence.

We got to a fairly big house a long way down the road, and he stopped on the lawn near the front door and told me to get out. I walked up to the front door with Chad leading and found that the door was open. We walked inside to see a pretty girl in the kitchen filling up a few shot glasses with an alcoholic beverage. We walked in the kitchen. She told me her name was Camille Bassfinder, and she offered me a shot glass.

My thoughts consisted mostly of “Whoa whoa whoa!

I’m not 21. I’m not allowed to drink this. It’s against the law!” I declined on the vodka and asked for a glass of water because I was pretty parched by then.

She smirked and started looking for a glass for me. I excused myself and went to the bathroom. I came back and saw the glass of water sitting on the counter, but Camille and Chad were nowhere in sight.

I drank the water and started looking around for them. I went down into the basement and found another strobe light causing the entire room to blink and put my movements in slow motion.

I was a little annoyed and bored because by then it was almost 11, and I hadn’t actually done anything. I fell onto the couch, suddenly very tired. I was enjoying the perks of a strobe light when my eyelids got heavy and everything went black.

I woke up again in the back of a vehicle. I got oriented and realized it was Chad’s van again. Camille was sitting next to Chad and turned around with another glass of water.

“Here, you must be thirsty.” I took the glass and drank it quickly. A few minutes later I don’t know what happened.

I woke up again in a hotel room. I saw that the TV was on and the New Year’s countdown was at 7. Despite how tired I felt, I still smirked at the fact that I didn’t miss the countdown.

Shortly after the ball dropped, I heard the bathroom door open. Chad walked out with a slightly frightened expression. I didn’t say anything. I got up to go to the bathroom while Chad sat on the bed.

In the bathroom were some strange materials that I couldn’t connect to the events of the night. On the sink was an orange ski mask, and in the toilet bowl was a pair of rubber gloves and a piece of paper that I couldn’t read.

I disregarded them at that time and did my business.

As I walked out I saw Camille had come in. She stood sweating and panting with another ski mask in her hand.

I started piecing things together until she walked up to me and put her hand on the back of my head and pulled me to her.

She kissed me long on the lips. I didn’t try to stop her.

There was a strange taste in my mouth, and before she pulled away, I felt something small slip down my throat.

About 30 seconds later I fell to the bed and passed out again to the sound of mass cheering on the television.

Finally I awoke in the large deserted building. I stood up and walked for a boarded up door, broke one board and walked out, just wanting to get home.

I felt well rested for some reason, and the cold morning air felt pretty good.

I saw that there were other buildings around me, and I recognized them. I was in Dexter.

I turned around and looked at the building I had just come from and realized it was the old Busch’s.

At that point I was struck with a large brick of confusion, but then I reached in my pocket for my keys and got hit by the mother of all confusion bricks. In my pocket was a large roll of $20 bills.

I made $420 on this eventful evening. I attempted to solve what happened, but Chad doesn’t answer his cell, and I can’t find Camille. But would I do the night over again if I had the chance? Yes, because I made a load of cash.

The names of people in this story were changed for privacy.

The above story is not true in any way.

13

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

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 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

all

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

Creation of CORSE a step in the right direction The board of education recently formed a series of committees to look at ways to cut $800,000 from the budget next year and $1 million the following year.

Obviously this is bad news. But the Squall would like to commend the district for the way they are going about determining what to cut.

We appreciate the fact that the board is attempting to cut the budget with the least amount of impact possible on the most important part of the educational system, the students.

The CORSE system allows the district to see exactly where all of the funds are going and make a much more informed decision on what can be cut.

When faced with a budget crisis, often schools go directly to the athletic departments and increase the pay to play charge and do little else. But the CORSE system has many subcommittees looking at many different areas.

Despite the positives of CORSE we see one glaring omission. They seem to have solicited very little student input.

D R E A

D S

-’07-

Q: IF BUDGET CUTS NEED TO BE MADE NEXT YEAR, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE CUT AND WHY?

-’09Georgia Myers

-’08“Anything but stromboli.

They can cut the power, the heat, even get rid of the doors, just leave the stromboli.”

Students may have great suggestions as to where to cut funding and could provide helpful input for the board to consider.

For example, one suggestion from our staff is to look at energy savings by unplugging the empty and unused vending machines and the “lite brite” board in the lunch room.

We also think the board should consider operating under the system we do to fund our paper. We sell ads to pay for its printing.

The use of a similar corporate sponsorship may be something necessary for the future of the district, maybe naming the gym after a sponsor or agreeing to only sell one company’s kind of soft drink in the cafeteria could bring the district much-needed funds.

We feel the actions taken so far by the board of education are a step in the right direction. But holding an open forum where students could suggest what could be cut and having students on some of the CORSE committees would be very beneficial to everyone involved.

in the hall

Mike Champagne

“I think there could be more useful things to spend money on than unnecessary decorations around the school.”

call

“You’ve got to take a little bit from everything. We’ve all got to tighten our belts a little bit.”

Sara Burrows Brian Baird

-Math teacher-

“In general the school has been wasting money, and should watch what they spend more carefully.”

“I think they should get rid of the bathrooms and replace them with outhouses.”

-’10-

Timofey Kondrashov

14

photostory

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

What’s in your Katie Fricke features editor

A

library card. Lipstick. Dollar bills. All things found in people’s purses or wallets, but senior Alex Krausman keeps something more unique in his brown, leather wallet.

“I keep a bottle opener in my wallet,” Krausman said. “It’s not your typical bottle opener, though. It is a gift passed on from my grandfather from Germany. I am not completely sure of its origins, I just know that it is from Germany.

It is marked 1950, so I know it came from that year.”

Before Krausman’s grandfather passed away, he promised Krausman the bottle opener and a cigar box. “When my grandfather died, that’s when I actually was given the bottle opener,” he said.

Krausman said his grandfather was a mason in Germany and part of what Krausman calls a “super secret society.”

According to Krausman, his bottle opener always comes in handy. “It serves many neat purposes,” Krausman said. “It’s very helpful.”

The Squall Fight Cardinal: Senior Mandee Forrester glances at the stuffed cardinal on her shoulder. “(Author) Chuck Palahniuk sent it to me when I wrote him a letter in October,” Forrester said.

“Everyone he writes to, he assigns a ‘power animal’, and mine is the cardinal.”

Forrester carries her power animal with her wherever she goes.

Wallet?

Krausman always carries his bottle opener whenever he goes, keeping it very safe in his wallet since it’s so important to him.

He said, “It’s a very important piece of memorabilia since it was given to me by my grandfather.”

Pocket tribute: Senior Alex Krausman displays his grandfather’s bottle opener. “It’s gotten lost numerous times, and it always finds its way back to my wallet,” Krausman said.

“It’s kinda lucky.”

Double the memories: German teacher Maryanne Zubryckyj keeps this kiwi figurine on her desk. “Two or three years ago, a young lady in German IV took a trip to New Zealand and brought this back for me,” Zubryckyj said. “When I look at it I think of the students I’ve had, and I also happen to have two brothers-in-law from New Zealand.”

Who’s your Koosh?: Sophomore Sarah Paddock tosses her homemade Koosh ball, which she keeps in her bag. “Some guy told (my friend and I) that they were our ‘Koosh babies’, so we made faces and we have bows for them.”

Photos by Ryan Winchester, Sean Wallace, Maria Brundage