November Squall

More satisfying than Thanksgiving. Zero calories.

theSQUALL

November 13, 2009 Volume XV Issue 2

Dexter High School

2200 N. Parker Road Dexter MI, 48130

Dance rules

spark controversy second year in a row

-Abby Everard

“I don’t like the dirty dancing that goes on. I think it’s inappropriate and imature.”

Page 4

-Amber Coy

Concerned parents have become upset with the style of dance that seems to dominate the dance floor. However, instead of only complaining about dancing styles like they did last year, these parents have met with Principal Kit Moran and students in Student Leadership classes in the hopes that they can together develop reform and make a difference in the culture of the dances.

Parents concerns involve “freak dancing” or “grinding” which, according to some parents, looks like simulated sex.

Along with this concern is the unease felt by some parents that students are pressured to participate and engage in this specific style of dancing.

“Parents are concerned that their kids, especially girls, feel that they have to dance a certain way,” a parent who agreed to an interview only if her name was not used, said.

According to Moran he has been put in a position where he needs to take action to accommodate the concerns of these parents. “It’s an issue we’re going to have to figure out how to work through,” Moran said. “We need to respect the parents’ opinions and the kids who feel uncomfortable with the dance style.”

In developing a way to reform the dances, Moran said he has made it a top priority that he works with students. “The people I work for every day are the kids and staff,” he said. “I really need to be an advocate for the kids.”

For this reason Moran met with the Student Leadership classes after homecoming to find a way to develop reforms that students and parents would both be happy with.

“The Student Leadership class has been a great sounding board for me,” Moran said. “They gave me some very honest feed back (about potential ways to change the dancing policy). ”

Band director Ken Moore was originally assigned to teach at Mill Creek. Students and parents protested this assignment until changes were made.

Spread

“Parents don’t like the way we dance becasue it’s new to them so it seems inappropriate.”

staff writer

How severe is Dexter’s drug and alcohol problem? See the Rostrum for analysis, statistics and opinions about Dexter’s wild side.

Page 8

Rachel Butler

One of the things that the Student Leadership class did was attend other schools’ homecomings.

Chelsea’s homecoming was one that parents and students were interested in, because of the similarities in the size of the schools.

What they found was that Dexter and Chelsea’s dances are very different. “Chelsea doesn’t dance like Dexter kids dance,” Moran said. Moran said “face-to-face” dancing is stressed a lot stronger at Chelsea’s homecoming, but this policy has taken a toll on the success of their dance. Only about 200 kids were at Chelsea’s dance compared to Dexter’s approximate 800 kids.

Though a large part of the student body was at the Dexter homecoming dance, some chose not to go because of the style of dancing.

Senior Laurel Wiinikka-Buesser and several of her friends dressed up in homecoming dresses, went to dinner and then went bowling instead of attending the dance, “I don’t like dancing, and I don’t like to kind of dancing that they have (at the dance),” Wiinikka-Buesser said.

While he sees the need for dance reform, Moran also said he wants the school dances to be successful and fun. “We don’t change a culture overnight by making a rule. That doesn’t work anywhere,” he said.

Instead of making the drastic change from “grinding” to “face-to-face” dancing, Moran and students in the leadership classes have decided on a policy of not allowing girls to put their hands on the floor or their knees while dancing.

According to Moran, this is a policy easy for chaperones to spot on the dance floor, and if a couple is spotted dancing this way, both the girl and boy’s names will be written down. If caught twice, they will have to leave the dance.

Slight changes in the way dances are run are only way that seems to have potential in working well according to Moran.

“I want kids to have dances,” he said. “At the end of the day, I think kids want dances and are willing to find a happy medium.”

“I think we’re old enough to figure out the way we want to dance. Parents should trust their kids and kids should leave if they feel unconfotable.”

-Annika Helber

“I don’t like dancing, and I don’t like the kind of dancing that they have (at our school dances).”

-Laurel Wiinikka-Buesser

For senior Ben Carruthers, high school cross country is just a warm-up. Come fall, he will be a college athlete.

David Schwimmer brings school back into the spotlight

Former 'Friends' star chooses Dexter High School as the filming location for upcoming drama 'Trust'

this is a prime room for scenes in his film, according to Moran.

Staff Writer “They liked our gym, our class rooms and our librar y,” Moran said.

In early October Principal K it Moran “A ll of them were really appreciative of received an e-mail from local casting the school.”

The film, “Trust”, is about a 14-yearscout Connie Johnson that contained girl and her family who are dealing the script to a mov ie called “Trust”.

As he read the e-mail, he discovered w ith the repercussions of an incident w ith an onthat Dexter High School was line predator. in contention for being the The v ictim of main location of the mov ie.

“The producers made All of them were the predator w ill be played three trips af ter school got really appreciative of the by newcomer out to take a look at the school.” Liana Liberto. school,” Moran said. “Many mov ie producers claimed to have

Kit Moran The w ill feature had a really warm feeling

principal O s c a r about the building.” nominee Clive Moran said Schw immer Owen who also explored Northv ille w ill play the High School as a possible role of the filming location and liked it, but thought Dexter was a better fit girls’ father.

The girls’ mother is being played by because the school had features that fit Catherine Keener, who has starred in the script of the mov ie.

Moran said he has been escorting mov ies such as “40-Year-Old Virgin” and Schw immer and company around “Where the Wild Things A re”.

A nd drama teachers Matt Martello the school since they chose DHS as a shooting location. They have been and Erin Palmer have even recommended lingering around room 475 for the past some students for supporting roles in few weeks because Schw immer thinks the mov ie, responding to a request from

Alex McMurray

“

the film’s casting director.

One student who may end up w ith a part in the mov ie is junior Pantea Sokansanj. “I’ve done things like this before, but when I was told Ms. Palmer recommended me, it was a bit more special,” Sokansanj said.

Sokansanj said preparation for the audition has consisted of rev iew ing the scripts and memorizing lines. Sokansanj has been in a few commercials, but this is the biggest role she w ill be auditioning for. She also plans to go to California to study performing arts in college.

Filming for the mov ie w ill begin midNovember. A nd areas of the school that w ill be in the film w ill be the gymnasium, the front entrance, the librar y, room 475 and various hallways.

A nd the film w ill include more than just Dexter students. Moran said that due to the main character’s affiliation w ith her school’s volleyball team, the varsity volleyball team w ill be featured in several scenes in the film.

A fter talking w ith Schw immer and getting to know him as a person and not a celebrity, Moran knew that this was going to be an easy process.

Moran said, “He’s a local guy from Chicago, he understands teenagers, and can’t wait to get started at DHS.”

Photo by Luke Hattie

Sophomore Taylor Cassidy and junior Sydney Spicer practice volleyball in front of David Schwimmer for the movie he is directing at DHS, “Trust”. The main character in the film is a high school volleyball player, and members of the volleyball team will appear in scenes in the movie. Filming at DHS takes place Wednesday through Friay of this week.

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News

Friday, November 13, 2009

News

Briefs

Exam schedule announced for first trimester The exam schedule for first trimester is as follows. All three days are half days: Nov. 18 1st hour exam: 7:40-9:15 a.m.

2nd hour class: 9:21-9:42 a.m.

3rd hour class: 9:48-10:09 a.m.

4th hour class: 10:15-10:36 a.m.

5th hour class: 10:42-11:05 a.m.

Nov. 19 2nd hour exam: 7:40-9:15 a.m.

4th hour exam: 9:30-11:05 a.m.

Nov. 20 3rd hour exam: 7:40-9:15 a.m.

5th hour exam: 9:30-11:05 a.m.

Drama club to take annual New York trip The drama club will go on its annual New York trip on Nov. 24-29. The trip was started by the late Harry Wilcox when he came to teach at Dexter. Students on the trip will be going to the theatre district in Manhattan. Some theaters that they will be going to are Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Schubert Theatre, Marquis Theatre and the Palace on Broadway. Some of the plays that they are going to see are “Memphis,” “West Side Story,” “Irving Berlin” and “In the Heights.” Drama club adviser Matt Martello said the trip is a highlight of his year. “I enjoy experiencing students reactions to the city and the sights and sounds of New York,” Martello said.

Principal speaks at MIPA conference Approximately 1,500 students from all over Michigan came to The Lansing Center for the annual Michigan Interscholastic Press Association fall conference on Monday, Oct. 19. The conference is an annual event where journalism students as well as advisers attend different sessions about journalism, camera techniques and teaching methods. At the conference, Principal Kit Moran and journalism adviser Rod Satterthwaite presented a session on how principals and advisers can have a good working relationship to help produce a quality newspaper and also how the principal does not need to censor the school newspaper. One thing Moran likes about MIPA is the opportunity the group gives to students. “I love the opportunity for kids to meet other kids, work with other professionals,and be able to learn from their peers,” Moran said.

Log-ins without USBs to disappear soon Students will soon be unable to log into computers in the building without their USB wristbands. The change is going to occur when the tech. department has spare, temporary replacement drives available to use, and they will be giving plenty of notification to the staff and students when the change is going to occur according to district technology director Matt Maciag. The change will occur at some point in all three buildings in the district that are using USBs. The decision to make USBs mandatory was Maciag’s and was implemented on the basis of the technical and security issues he said. Maciag said making the USBs mandatory will help students. “I think it will encourage students to maintain a piece of technology,” he said. “In college and in the business world, you will be responsible for a variety of technology devices. It also does make accounts more secure as you will be required to have that USB drive as something of a technology key to go along with your user account.”

Mr. Moran says:

Good luck on exams!

a paid advertisement

Former student returns as sub Max Berry

News editor

Teachers don’t normally remember students just from having them for one semester, but when English teacher Ellen Doss hears the name Eric Kumbier, a smile instantly appears on her face.

Doss had Kumbier, a 2005 graduate, as a student in her British literature class and said she fondly remembers him as an intelligent student bursting with enthusiasm.

“I remember having him in British literature his junior year,” Doss said. “He was always enthusiastic and super engaged as a student.”

Kumbier is still a familiar face around the high school, as he is the assistant coach of both the mens and girls water polo teams and has frequently appeared in the school’s hallways as a substitute teacher, always showing the same boundless enthusiasm that, to Doss, characterized his personality.

Doss recalls the time Kumbier wore a University of Michigan themed superhero costume the Friday before the Michigan-Ohio State game.

“He had a superman cape and everything,” Doss said. “He sat in the back corner and played the Michigan fight song at the begin-

ning and at the end of class.”

Kumbier attended the University of Michigan after graduating Dexter High School, where he majored in education.

After spending some time subbing in Dexter and the surrounding area, he said plans to go abroad to teach English as a second language.

“I’m really thinking about South Korea,” Kumbier said. “The situation is looking pretty bleak in Michigan right now. I don’t know where I’ll find a job when I come back to the United States.”

Doss is happy that Kumbier is considering a career in education.

“I know Eric as someone who will do his best until he is the best,” Doss said. “If he decides to go into teaching it will be great.”

Senior Jesse Claflin has witnessed Kumbier’s progression though his metamorphosis from student to coach to teacher.

“My brother (2005 grad Casey Claflin) was on the water polo team and the swim team with Eric, and I still see him every day at water polo, so I was just thrilled when I walked into my Humanities class and saw him standing at the front of the class,” Claflin said.

“He had us watch some movie,” Claflin added. “He had no trouble turning it on or anything. It was inspirational.”

Photo by Christina Field

Substitute Erik Kumbier works in social studies teacher Cory Bergen’s AP Government class. Kumbier is a 2005 graduate who has come back to the school to coach and substitute teach.

Q&A

with Eric Kumbier

MB: OK, so what’s the deal with South Korea?

EK: I still have to sort out everything with my Visa, but I’ll probably go sometime in January.

MB: Have you lost weight?

EK: Yesh. Well, not since I graduated high school, but since polo season started, yeah.

MB:Who was your favorite teacher when you were a student?

EK: I don’t play favorites. Mr. Grannis was pretty cool though.

MB:What grade would you give yourself on your teaching job so far?

EK: I think I’ll go with a B.

MB: Rumor has it that you won’t be Facebook friends with anyone still in high school. What are you hiding?

EK: It’s really just not professional.

MB: Now that you’re subbing here and coaching here, do you think you’ll ever escape the sucking vortex of Dexter, Michigan?

EK: That’s what I’m doing by going abroad. I do want to get out and see the world. Not that I never want to come back here.

Secretary retires after series of reprimands from Moran ings and Grounds on Aug. 11, 2009 that said, “(Employee name) reported that the HS Time Clock was off by 10 minutes (this Ashley Burleson morning). It should be reset, and you should take that fact into account when processing B&G time cards.”

Health editor The reprimand from Moran said, “I have instructed you before to use proper and appropriate greetings, tone, and closings Neil Reichard began working as the principal’s secretary in in your e-mail correspondence. This e-mail does not contain November 2007, but on Sept. 28 DHS staff received an e-mail those items. It is also inappropriate for you to direct a Director from Principal Kit Moran informing them that Reichard was re- on what they should do.”

On Sept. 24, 2009 a second reprimand, a written one, was tiring, effective Thursday, Oct. 1. given to Reichard by Moran because Reichard failed to give a Staff were also informed that Reichard would be taking sick days Monday-Wednesday of that week. To many staff mem- parent an envelope that Moran had placed on Reichard’s desk bers, Reichard’s retirement was out of the blue. However, ac- on Sept. 15, 2009.

When the parent contacted Reichard, the reprimand says he cording to Moran, he saw Reichard’s retirement coming. did not know of the letter because he failed to check his outbox.

According to Moran, he didn’t think According to Moran’s reprimand, “This Reichard was qualified for his job. “When continues to give the appearance of not Neil came in, I think he thought it was one knowing what we are doing in the prinjob,” Moran said. “But the job is a really giI think he understood cipal’s office.” gantic job, and I think he didn’t know that On Sept. 26, 2009, a day after reat the time.” what I needed is what ceived his written reprimand, Reichard Moran said the biggest responsibilities he couldn’t give me ... informed Moran that he would be retirof the principal’s secretary are to handle effective of Oct. 1, 2009. According pay roll, manage time cards, keep track of It just wasn’t working.” ing to a letter to Moran from Reichard, he all money turned into the school and all has been considering retirement since money spent in school. wife Leslie died in January of 2007.

Moran also said his secretary has to put

Kit Moran hisThe letter to Moran from Reichard reports together, arrange appointments, principal also said, “I am living alone in a large answer the phone and organize diplomas house, with a sizeable yard and with at graduation. several collector automobiles, as well as After a cycle of working as the princitwo dogs and a cat. Quite frankly, this pal’s secretary, Moran said he began to see some holes in Reichard’s work. “By the time we got through the cycle once, I felt is too much for one person to handle. My priorities are with the living things, and I have been selling some of my vehicles. I no there were some things that needed to get better,” Moran said.

According to Moran, he had a talk with Reichard in July longer enjoy cutting the grass and basic yard work, as well as about how his performance needed to improve. “I kind of got doing the other basic every day chores. It is time for me to move on. I would like to begin my retirement as soon as possible, the impression he was going to try really hard,” Moran said.

Reichard’s personal file, obtained through the Freedom of thus ending my procrastination.”

Reichard said he did not want to comment for this article.

Information Act, showed that Reichard received two repriRegardless of how it happened, Moran thinks Reichard’s remands from Moran between August and September of 2009.

According to Moran, reprimands are a part of the discipline tirement was for the best. “I was holding him very accountable for things he was supposed to be doing,” Moran said. “I think process for staff and students.

The first reprimand, which was a verbal one, was given to he understood what I needed is what he couldn’t give me. I Reichard on Aug. 17, 2009. Reichard received this reprimand think he knew I needed someone else out there that was a goafter sending an e-mail to Mr. David Laferle, Director of Build- getter. It just wasn’t working.”

“

Rosanne Crompton, PT Physical Therapist 4220 Sunderland Way, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103 734-426-3599 Rocrompton@comcast.net

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Feature

Friday, November 13, 2009

We Must Stand Tall

Selfless act brings local inspiration

Laurence Carolin’s Letter to Bono

by Laurence Carolin

(An essay written to raise awareness of preventable diseases)

by Laurence Carolin

Photo by Myra Klarman

Freshman diagnosed with brain cancer meets Bono Brittany Martini

editor-in-chief

Your average high school freshman doesn’t meet Time magazine’s Person of the Year. Your average high school freshman doesn’t support a cause that is larger than life.

Your average high school freshman doesn’t undergo a year of chemotherapy and radiation before they turn 15.

But Laurence Carolin is not your average high school freshman. Carolin has met Bono and the member of U2, donated a plethora of his time and energy into giving back and has been battling Gliblastoma Multiforme along with an inoperable brain tumor.

In December of 2007, Carolin experienced a diagnosis that changed his life and the lives of people around him.

He was diagnosed with Giblastoma Multiforme, which is the most aggressive type of brain cancer, and an inoperable brain tumor.

“It was really hard to accept at first. I knew it would be OK, but I knew it would be different,” sophomore Ali Bowman said. “I have known Laurence for a really long time. He has always really cared about others. He loves to help people, and he loves to learn.”

According to Bowman, Carolin has had a very positive influence on her life.

“He has taught me to appreciate life so much more,” Bowman said. “He is such an extraordinary person, and he taught me people can do extraordinary things.

Laurence really opened my eyes to how people can make changes and how we can make a difference.”

Making a difference has become Carolin’s mission.

Between being involved in Bono’s charity “One” and The United Nations Foundation, Carolin has kept himself busy over the last two years.

Laurence has been too sick recently to conduct interviews. But his mom, Lisa Carolin said, “Laurence has

been very interested with helping others, but his interest spiked when he was diagnosed. Laurence has always wanted to donate something meaningful to people who could really use it. Nothing but Nets is a foundation which has allowed him to do so.”

On Nov. 7, Terry B’s held a fundraiser for him where all of the proceeds from two entrees, beverage sales and the tips of some of the wait staff was donated to the Nothing but Nets foundation, which is affiliated with the United Nations Foundation.

Waiter Richard Adkins, was one of the wait staff who decided to donate all of his tips from that night to Nothing But Nets, which is an organization whose purpose is to defeat Malaria in Africa.

“I gave all of my tips to Nothing But Nets,” Adkins said.

“Laurence is such an inspiration. He has absolutely had an effect on me. I believe he has a philosophy, possibly similar to that of Buddhism. Something along the lines of life is a succession of stages. Maybe this is not the end, but simply another stage. Laurence is such a great and grateful person.”

Adkins is not the only person inspired by Laurence.

School Board Trustee Julie Schumaker, who is in charge of Laurence’s fundraising efforts, has also been inspired by him.

“I read an article in May in The Ann Arbor News, and I was touched by his compassion,” Schumaker said. “He is willing to help people across the globe despite his own health. I have been humbled and struck, in a good way, by the things he has done.”

Laurence has not only received recognition for his efforts in his community, but during the largest live streaming concert in history, U2’s lead singer Bono sang a tribute to Laurence during his his favorite song “One” on Oct. 28 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

“To Laurence Carolin,” Bono said. “Great One campaigner. Who is losing his own life.”

Meeting Carolin changes reporter's life As I entered Terry B’s on Nov. 7, I was welcomed by the warm smiles of all the staff members, dressed in orange “Nothing But Nets” shirts. This was no ordinary dinner.

This was a fundraiser where the proceeds from two special entrees, beverage sales and the entirety of some waiters’ tips were donated to Nothing But Nets.

The place was packed, and I felt a part of something very special as I followed the hostess to my table.

And as I was seated comfortably in the back of the restaurant, I saw the person who had changed me. Laurence Carolin was seated at the table next to me ,and that night I met him for the first time.

In December of 2007, Laurence was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, the most aggressive type of brain cancer. During middle school, he underwent chemotherapy and radiation.

During middle school, most of us were worried about pimples and the opposite gender. I could never imagine dealing with not only growing up, but also a life-threatening disease. Laurence has taught me to be thankful for how fortunate I really am.

Throughout my life, I have experienced some unfortunate circumstances. However, being aware of Laurence’s condition has made me realize how easily I can get through my problems. Despite how difficult they seem at the time, my hardships do not even compare to what he has been through. Laurence has shown me how to be appreciative for the place I am in life.

Most patients diagnosed with Gliblastoma Multiforme do not survive more than 12 months. Laurence has defeated the odds. Not only has he battled cancer for almost two years, but he has proved that people can overcome anything with determination. Laurence has

taught me that people can defeat and overcome the impossible.

Despite everything Laurence has faced, he has continued to live a positive life. He is still able to fulfill one of his passions, which is cooking. Laurence has persevered and manages to cook for his family even when it is not easy.

He continues to be involved in the things he loves and remains positive every day. Laurence has taught me how to look on the bright side, even if I can’t see it.

Laurence is the most selfless person I have ever encountered. In 2008 the Make a Wish foundation informed Laurence that his wish to meet Bono and the members of U2 could not be made a reality, so instead of wishing for something else, Laurence decided to donate the money that would have helped him meet Bono to charity. He eventually met Bono anyway.

Never have I met someone who would willingly give their wish to help others in need. Laurence has taught me to think of others before myself.

I was overwhelmed with emotion as I left the restaurant. The waiters, managers, hostesses and owners were dressed in that familiar light shade of orange, Laurence’s favorite color.

As I walked down the stairs, I thought of all the good that came from that evening. That night I was touched, and I knew that night would be one I would never forget.

More importantly, I knew I met a person who changed my life, forever.

-By Brittany Martini

GO DREADNAUGHTS! ...and leave the “clipping” to us!

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We must stand tall. We must not turn our backs and let this thing called extreme poverty live on, and continue to kill thousands of Africans every day. This is our generation’s time to get their boots on and start marching. It’s our generation’s time to get their thinking caps on. It’s also our generation’s time to use their voice!

The people of Africa without the U.S.’s help and intervention are in a hopeless situation. The statistic of every three seconds a person dies in the world from disease, famine, lack of food and water will sadly still ring true. Some people think that this is just the way of the world. Yes this is the way the world is, but history shows that the way of the world can be altered and changed. We put a man on the moon, we made the Soviet Union fall. I know we can make this stupid thing called Extreme Poverty a thing of the past!!!

Another reason why we should fight extreme poverty is that I think it’s our ethical and moral obligation to help others who are in need. There is not one religion that I know of that doesn’t believe in taking care of the poor, but the Catholic community has been quite hesitant in this area. I was quite surprised when I heard this. The church says they haven’t lived sexually responsible lives, and it’s an expensive topic and disease to fight. I believe that it’s not because of the beliefs of being a Catholic, it’s the politics. The Pope just went down to Africa for his first time. He said that condoms make the problem worse and people just shouldn’t use them.

Why must we always get caught up in what separates and divides us? So I think if the Pope wants to see extreme poverty vanish, he with his power being the Pope should help invest in Africa’s education.

First it would get young people off the streets and out of gangs, which is a problem down in Africa. It would also help invest in their future. I believe this struggle in Africa is our area to shine, this generation’s area to shine!!!!!! Some people ask why we must handle and deal with this problem. My answer to anybody who asks is that nobody else is, which is the sad truth.

Another thing people may argue is that we can’t afford financially to fight extreme poverty right now because of the current economical situation. My stance on this topic is that we can’t afford NOT to help!

First, like I said before that this is our moral obligation to help the poor and suffering.

Another thing is that this problem will get larger and larger if not dealt with now.

This could potentially pose a threat to our national security. If someone like Osama Bin Ladin or someone like him in Africa proposes a deal for example, food for fighting, I think a lot of people would join his or her cause. It happened in Rwanda where the independent army promised a better living for murdering their community. That turned into genocide where hundreds of thousands of people were brutally killed and promises were not kept. (The number of deaths is not quite known. At least 500,000 to a staggering 1,000,000 people died in this struggle which was about 100 days long) These are my reasons, beliefs, and understanding of why I think we, and the global community should fund and support Africa’s struggle.

Precision Haircuts • Perms • Styles • Formal/Prom Up-Dos            

Dexter Plaza (next to Busch’s)

We’re open 7 days a week for your convenience!

M-F 9-9; Sat 9-6; Sun 10-5

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My name is Laurence James Carolin. I’m a 15-year-old, who lives in Michigan in the U.S. My life story began in South Korea, just south of the DMZ, where I was born in the military town of Dongducheon.

At the age of five months, I was adopted by my parents, Lisa and Patrick Carolin, who lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

I don’t know what life would have held for me in South Korea, but I had all sorts of opportunities in the U.S. to do an endless number of things with my life.

From my excellent medical care to my personally beneficial education, I have had the kind of start that I wish everyone could have.

In 2007, my easy life was challenged.

I began a troubling road when I started experiencing headaches and fatigue, and then severe depression that made me suicidal, and led to me being placed in a mental institution.

After my release, and additional symptoms ensued, including problems with my balance and vision, I received a CAT scan that revealed a huge mass in my brain.

On December 27, 2007, I was diagnosed with cancer, soon identified as a glioblastoma multiforme, an inoperable, malignant brain tumor.

Since that time I’ve received radiation and chemotherapy, procedures I’m lucky enough to have had the chance to receive living in a country like the U.S. That said, I wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for the music of U2. When I was going through the depression, which was completely alleviated by an operation to relieve the pressure on my brain, I played your music whenever I felt suicidal, which was pretty much all the time. U2’s music calmed me and brought my feelings to terms.

The songs that I listened to the most at that time were Beautiful Day (from Slane Castle,) especially the part in the middle of the song when Bono and The Edge both sing together, Running to Stand Still from Rattle and Hum, and more.

U2 not only inspired me musically, but inspired me to see the world differently.

You let me see the world for what it is, and that is that I live in a country that’s unique and prosperous. Compared to the rest of the world, the U.S. is on a mountain of gold.

By opening my eyes to war, poverty and disease around the world, I realized that I was in a position to help make a difference.

I felt privileged to be able to take the wish granted me by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and turn it into a donation to the United Nations Foundation.

My goal has been to educate as many people as I can about extreme poverty, and to inspire them to make a difference as well. Some of them have added their own contributions to the United Nations Foundation.

Although my ultimate goal- to see extreme poverty end during my lifetimewill not be achieved, my belief is that the mission will continue not only through donations, but through the peoples’ voices to get government on our side.

I am grateful to you for helping me to realize this goal and set it in motion.

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4

Feature

Friday, November 13, 2009

Possible reassignment of band director creates controversy

Students create Facebook group, get parents involved to stop transfer of Moore to the middle school Lauren Gardner

staff writer

As last school year came to a close, a buzz of controversy filled the air in the band department.

Along with preparations for the following year’s schedules, came a new draft of the band department schedule.

“The DHS band directors (Ken Moore, David Peters and Martha Scharchburg) were scheduled to be in different places, reducing the K-12 music department staff,” Principal Kit Moran said.

In this first draft of the schedule, Moore was assigned to Mill Creek Middle School and given the 5 th-8 th grade bands and the DHS Symphonic Band.

After being the director of Varsity Band, Symphonic Band and Marching Band for the past three years and working towards completing his dissertation and doctoral degree by 2010, Moore was upset with what seemed to be a demotion from his position.

“I have a very special bond with the DHS band students, and my wish is to remain at Dexter High School,” Moore said.

And while the schedule was only a work in progress, according to Moran, some people thought it was a final schedule.

“I think some misinformation got out that it was an etchedin-stone schedule,” Moran said. “We had a lot of drafts. This was just one of them.”

However, some students were outraged and worried about losing Moore from the district.

“We’ve known Mr. Moore forever, and we all consider him to be the head band director,” senior Louisa Wolcott said. “The students didn’t want another change after adjusting to the last one (when Gerald Woolfolk left in 2007).”

Shelly Smith* agreed. “It was upsetting because we’ve had (Mr. Moore as our teacher) for the past seven years,” she said.

Ken Moore Was originally assigned to be the band director for grades 5-8 as well as the high school symphonic band

Martha Scharchburg Currently assigned to be the band director for grades 7,8 as well as co-direct the band for grade 6

“He’s one of my favorite teachers.”

Unsettled by this schedule draft, students and parents took action.

A Facebook group was created, and on the wall, students wrote testimonials for Moore, explaining why he should stay where was.

“I didn’t continue with music after high school. But the main reason I stayed with in it high school was because of Mr. Moore.

But Mr. Moore (acted positively towards me). As long as I tried my best, it was enough. He encouraged me to continue to get better and try harder. He (helped) me learn to play better, and I learned to love music more,” wrote one student who had Moore from 1999 to 2003.

“Mr. Moore serving as conductor to both Varsity and Symphonic bands is a crucial element to the band’s success. His teaching style is best suited to the high school mindset, and the band achieves so much when he conducts two of the three high school bands.

Similarly Mrs. Scharchburg does a great job with middle schoolers,” one current band student wrote on the wall. “This system works.

Messing with this will almost certainly have a severe impact on the program, in morale if nothing else.”

Students and parents also met with school administrators to figure out the situation.

“Everyone (in band) was talking about it,” said Smith. In the end, band students and parents fought to keep their beloved teacher in his same position.

By July 2009, revised teaching schedules were issued, assigning Moore to the DHS Symphonic and Varsity Bands, 5 th grade beginning classes, and 8 th grade band assistant.

“I appreciate the ongoing support that students and parents continue to give to the Dexter Band program,” Moore said.

The only other major change involved Peters, director of the the DHS Concert Band, who is additionally the choir teacher at Mill Creek now.

However, student sources say that this controversy has caused tension in the working relationship between Peters and Moore, although no adult source would go on the record to confirm this.

Otherwise, students say things in the band have been running smoothly since the mix-up with schedules. “Mr. Moran is really good about listening to kids and taking action,” Wolcott said. “(And) students were really happy that it stayed the same.”

“It was upsetting that (Mr. Moore) wasn’t going to be around as much (at the high school),” senior Jane Goldman* said. “But everyone helped lead to change.” *Students agreed to talk to The Squall only if their names were withheld.

Community Fundraising Team makes Boo Grams to raise money for Special Olympics Megan Kim

Tommy Eakin

staff writer

Sitting in Megan Pugh’s life skills classroom, students of the Community Fundraising Program, a group who learn daily life skills, came up with a unique fundraiser through online research and discussion.

The group decided to sell Boo Grams during all three lunches. Boo Grams allow people to buy candy and attach a personalized note to the recipient. They were delivered to the requested individual on the Friday before Halloween.

Pugh said, “(The Community Fundraising team) did online research and decided

that it was a good way to raise money.”

This year, over 643 athletes in Washtenaw County are participating in the Special Olympics. According to Pugh, the students raised over $200 in selling over 200 Boo Grams for the Special Olympics.

The importance of this entire fundraiser is that the money is not only raised to help fund the Special Olympics, but the program gives the CFT a chance to give back to the community according to Pugh. A lot of time and effort goes into the coordination of such a project.

And according to Pugh, the CFT organized every step of the process. “The CFT did everything: made, sold and advertised the whole project. They are solely responsible for the entire project,” she said.

The Special Olympics is not only important in the fact that it enables a chance for students to do something that they enjoy, but more importantly, according to Pugh it maintains the health and fitness of individuals.

One such athlete is freshmen Tommy Eakin. A participant in basketball, and track and field, he grabs for any open opportunity given to him. “The Special Olympics is just like the Olympics except for the people who love the sports but can’t play on that level.”

Creating the Boo Grams is not an easy process. Eakin said, “They were fun to make, but it was hard. We each had a certain job. Sort of like a factory, or as I like to call it, shifts. Some of us had to wrap the cloth around the suckers and tie them to make them look like ghosts at one station, and at another station people painted faces onto the cloth, and others had to make the notes that the Boo Grams would be attached to, and other students had to assemble them.”

The Special Olympics is an annual event that is important to the athletes who participate. Eakin said, “If I had to choose between Special Olympics Track and school track, I would choose Special Olympics track any day, and I have participated with both teams. It’s really fun. We have good times. The teammates are great, and the coaches are excellent.”

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Laura Whitley

5

Feature

Friday, November 13, 2009

all

It’s

about

Baseball

Improvements made to old baseball fields After upgrades to the baseball fields, athletes and coaches look forward to their upcoming season Nick Gonet

staff writer

When Dexter High School moved from Baker Road to its new space on Parker Road, this resulted in state-ofthe art varsity baseball and softball fields.

The new fields were good at the time, but the last few years of playing have resulted in the wearing down of the infields.

Recently, improvements have been made in the fields.

The entire baseball infield has been laser graded and clay bricks have been lined underneath. A new mound and a new home plate have been installed.

Athletic Director John Robinson said that the warning track will also be leveled out and reconstructed, but due to recent weather and wetness, the athletic department has postponed some of these repairs until next summer.

Laser grading eliminates all lips and bumps that can cause bad hops and lead to errors in games. It is the process of leveling a ground surface to a desired horizontal gradient.

Using a machine-controlled leveling blade and a laser transmitter, the transmitter will emit a beam of light that will rotate 360 degrees and create a grade reference, send a message to the leveling blade that will cut and create an even elevation.

The radio-controlled scoreboards are also a new addition and can be run using a remote. Previously, this technology just wasn’t available.

It wasn’t exactly smoke signals, but the hard wires and controls in the dugout sometimes failed. As a back-up there will be wires in the unlikely event of radio signal failure.

The new clay mound and clay home plate are also recent modifications for the field. This latest technology allows easier upkeep and maintenance of these areas. It should also provide more surer footing for both pitchers and batters.

A year and a half ago Dexter voters passed a bond that originally included money for the building of a toilet and

storage facility. Krull Construction was set to build this new building in June of this year, but that didn’t happen.

“We needed to redesign the building to house a concession stand as well. This pushed us back a couple months,” said Randy Krull, president of Krull Construction.

Because of these redesigns, Krull said he needed to make cuts, find cheaper ways to create the building and make space for the concessions. Hours of labor, designing and money donated by Krull Construction helped make the budget and help save over $15,000.

The Athletic Booster Club of Dexter also donated over $12,000 to the construction of this new building.

As well as getting rid of the old portable restrooms, the area has been completely fenced in allowing the school to charge admission effectively for spring sports.

This will be a helpful source of new revenue. The new building also holds storage which will keep nets and baseball equipment and all kinds of other equipment in the off-season.

As well as the new toilet, storage and concession building, Krull is responsible for the building of all four baseball and softball dugouts. These cost the construction company about $20,000 dollars of their own money. Altogether Randy said Krull Construction has donated over $35,000 towards Dexter Athletic fields and facilities.

“Our next goal from here is a press box which will go behind the backstop and hopefully help us host districts in the future,” Robinson said. Robinson also has requested permission for Dexter to host districts this year for varsity baseball and softball.

Most players agree the improvements are going to lead to more true hops and better game play. “Last year our field created some problems that we had no control over. It was really annoying to get a bad hop and not be able to make the play,” senior Rob Mayrand said.

Senior Dan Flowers agrees. He said, “Having to change in the port-o-johns was extremely annoying and crammed. This new bathroom and storage facility will really be a convenience, and make a lot of things easier for this upcoming season.”

Photos by JoJo Parin

Among the improvements for the baseball fields this year are dugout upgrades and a new scoreboard that can be controlled by a remote. Krull Construction donated $35,000 of time and equipment to these upgrades.

New coach says he wants to restore the pride for wearing the Dreadnaught uniform Marshall Kellenberger

Assistant U-Page Editor

Beginning this spring a new face will be leading the varsity baseball team. After Coach Greg Berklich resigned, Dexter’s athletic department has been on a search for a new baseball coach. After months of searching, Jackson High School teacher Jonathan Hastings has been selected to take over the job of head varsity baseball coach.

Trying to turn around a baseball team that went 5-13 last year is a challenge that Coach Hastings said he is ready to take on. “I see great potential in the community of Dexter,” Hastings said. “And with the strong youth program, I think the school can be made into a winner who competes every game against quality opponents.”

Hastings has been teaching United States History and Economics at Jackson High School for four years, but his true passion is baseball.

It’s been a part of his life since he was little. Growing up he played at Port Huron and Port Huron Northern. He was a catcher, pitcher and occasionally a shortstop. In college he played for Albion college from 2002-2005.

During the summers of his college years he played in he said. “If I had to compare (my coaching style) to any the Livonia Collegiate League, where he led his team to major league team, I would say the Los Angeles Angels the NABF national championship in 2005. After college coached by Mike Scioscia, because of the way they hustle he moved up to the semi-professional level, playing for the and compete every play, every inning.”

Players on the varsity baseball team say they are Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League in 2006.

He was an assistant coach and pitching coach at Albion welcoming the new coach with excitement.

“Given the recent history we’ve had with Dexter coaches, College from 2006-2007 and was also the varsity assistant I’m very excited to see that the team is coach for Jackson High in 2008 receiving a coach with more experience and 2009. He continues to play than the past coaches,” junior Ryan baseball for Peanut Barrel Baseball Souder said. “Hopefully the team will in Lansing during the summer.

“We need to restore the finally have a successful season and we Hastings said he plans to bring pride and put back a sense back the good name that Dexter of desire to wear the Dexter can all grow stronger as a team.”

Sophomore Hayden Quinn is also baseball once had. “We need to baseball uniform.” excited about the change of coaching restore the pride and put back a sense

staff. “I’m really glad that our varsity of desire to wear the Dexter baseball

Jonathan Hastings team has a new coach,” he said. “It uniform.” Hastings said. “I recently head baseball coach opens up new opportunities for the have felt that I am ready to take on team, and I hope it brings the baseball head coaching responsibilities and program more victories.” am very excited to be welcomed at If there is one thing that Coach Hastings has, it is love Dexter. If we can get the coaching staff and players to buy into our new system, I think we can build and be very for the game.

“My one passion in life besides my family is baseball, successful at all three playing levels within the school.”

The style of coaching that Hastings said he finds most and I take great pride in making sure my players respect effective is small ball, a method of coaching that puts the game and can grow from being a part of it,” he said. “I emphasis on many different aspects of the game such am excited to be the new head coach and look forward to as defensive play, bunting to advance a runner, stealing working hard and putting the best product on the field, helping to build a successful program and contend for a bases, and following the coach’s signals at the plate.

“We will be aggressive and rely on good pitching, league title, which hasn’t been done since 1987.” defense and discipline to hopefully outplay our opponents,”

“

New varsity baseball coach Jonathan Hastings said he has high hopes for the baseball team and expects a lot out of his players.

Photo by JoJo Parin

Photo Illustration by Sarah Breuninger

6

uPage

Friday, November 13, 2009

5X5

Q&A With ...

Call of Duty ModernWarfare 2.

Your opinion.

Great game or greatest game?

A great game.

Oh, I have no Who is the scariest teacher inclue. Mr. Scott the school and because he’s why? weird?

If you could see a fight between any two people in the school, who would they be?

Matt Yates and Jason Trinkle. They’re both strong, and I would like to see who would win.

If you could have A dragon our mascot because they changed into any are sweet mythological creature, what

Rock, paper, scissors. Which are you and why?

Rock becasue it’s the best

Brandon Saunders

Tate Forcier

Justin Gross

Emily Pap

Mckay Little

Upage Editor

Kayla Reinhackel

Ian McCarthy

I don’t play video games because they are boring.

Greatest game ever.

You ever played COD4?

That was the greatest game, and this is the second. IT WILL BE GREAT. EPIC!

It is the greatest game.

Mr. Scott. I have heard unforgivable things.

Mr. Parker. The look in his eyes.

Mr. Scott because of his scary eyes.

I don’t get nervous or scared

Taylor Conter and Kristen Yarows, ‘cause I could see it happening.

Tyler Wang and Mishael Bingham

Taylor Conter and Kristi Hughes. JoJo thought of it

Anyone but Denard Robinson. He’s better than me.

A unicorn. They are beautiful creatures.

The Loch Ness monster. It could live in the pond

Oh, I know these.

I’m in Humanities.

A three-headed dog named Murphy

Devin Gardner. I can only hope he is not real

Rock because I’m strong

Scissors cause my COD skills are sharp

Paper because I’m going for the underdog.

Paper. I fold in any big game.

Mediocre at best. Just like my quarterback play.

5 things to do and not to do during exams To Do:

Not To Do:

1. Study for your exams. Cheating is hard, especially if your math teacher is Randy Swoverland.

1.Party. If you don’t know why this is harmful, then you should not be in school.

2. Sleep. Playing the new Call of Duty MW 2 game until 4 a.m. to prestige and drinking two Monsters in the morning will not improve your test scores.

2.Study between commercials. Outlining text or doing flashcards for 10 minutes of an hour does very much to help.

3.Make flash cards. Very useful for studying.

However using them while taking the exam will probably result in a zero on the test.

3.Play video games. Brain Academy and 1 vs. 100 will NOT help improve your test scores, even if they do, in fact, make you smarter.

4.Eat breakfast. Studies show it helps concentration when you eat.

4.Assume there is a pattern. Don’t think because the last eight questions were ABCDABCD that it will continue.

5.Go to study sessions, if the teacher offers them.

The teacher is the one writing the test, so the study sessions will probably benefit you.

5.Try to seduce/pay off the teacher for a good grade. It is not only illegal, it will not work.

Q: What would be the best thing to throw on the ground?

A: A flaming coconut.

Q: Why? A: It’s really hot, and it hurts my hand.

Q: Would you consider yourself the boss?

A: I’m the boss.

Q: OK, take me through a day in the life of the boss.

A: I play Halo, like a boss; shovel alpaca poop, like a boss; promote synergy, like a boss.

Q: So that’s an average day for you. You shovel poop and play Halo.

A: No doubt.

Q: I think at one point there you said something about promoting synergy.

A: Nope.

Q: Actually, I’m pretty sure you did.

A: Nah, that ain’t me.

Q: Is there anything you want to ask me?

A: Does this smell like chloroform to you?

7

Community

Friday, November 13, 2009

Dexter roads get a tune-up Gabe Altomare

Community Editor

No one likes driving into car-wrecking pot holes. No one likes bouncing over asphalt reduced to water-carved trenches. No one likes hefty repair bills just from driving around town. And if the Village of Dexter has its way, that won’t happen.

Key roads are being renovated throughout the town. Hudson, Baker, Fourth, Fifth, Dan Hoey Roads and Dexter Crossing are the current subjects of a road-repair project almost a year in the making.

In May, the roads around Dexter were rated by the Village on a scale of one to 10 in terms of how badly they needed repair, zero being the most in need of repair. The roads that needed serious repairs, such as Third Street and parts of Dexter-Ann Arbor Road, were rebuilt.

But money was also spent to repair roads that haven’t reached that critical point yet. This practice is part of an Asset Management Program nicknamed “Keeping the Good Roads Good.”

“It’s a newer concept in the industry that we’re taking advantage of,” Assistant Village Manager Courtney Nicholls said.

The idea, Nicholls said, is to maintain decent roads now to avoid heftier costs in the future.

The theory is that for every dollar spent on preventative maintenance procedures, $6 in future construction costs are saved, according to a 2008 road maintenance report.

The renovations on Dexter Crossing will total approximately $160,000. The repairs on the other roads wracked up a bill of approximately $300,000. The money for the work came from a road millage.

On the whole, the work on the roads will benefit the

community. “We hope to save the people of Dexter cost, time and inconvenience in the future,” Nicholls said.

According to Nicholls, most of the work is routine, except for repairs on Dexter Crossing.

Black Hawk Roads, the company which originally made the development, signed a letter of credit that the roads would last a certain amount of time. The roads have failed to live up to that estimate, and Black Hawk Roads is sharing the cost with the Village to renovate them.

The renovation process entails sealing the cracks in the old road, laying down a layer of rock chips over tar, then coating that with a “flurry” seal to smooth everything out and hold it in place.

The road is safe to drive on as soon as the chip seal is applied, and the furry seal only takes a day or two to settle, minimizing the time the road is unusable.

Work started in June, though the majority of the work took place in September.

According to Nicholls, the asphalt must be dry to settle, and rain at the wrong time can cause delays.

Despite this, most of the work is already done. All that remains is Dexter Crossing, Nicholls said, which was completed by the end of October. Asphalt plants close for the winter in November, because asphalt cannot settle at lower temperatures.

Senior Kent Sprague has had many of the streets around his home renovated. But he said the money for road repairs is well spent. “Especially if it lasts,” he said.

According to Nicholls, the next big project in Dexter will be Central Street, in the middle of town. But that project is three to four years down the road.

In the meantime, most people are satisfied with the work. “It makes me happy and warm inside,” Sprague said, “like freshly laid asphalt.”

Photos by Sarah Breuninger

Renovation Facts • The Village of Dexter tries to do all its work during the summer to avoid school traffic like buses, students and parents taking their children to school.

• The cost of Dexter Crossing renovation is approximately $160,000, and the cost of Hudson, Baker, Fourth, Fifth and Dan Hoey Roads renovation is $300,000.

• To see the rating of your street, go to <www.villageofdexter.org> click the ‘Reference Desk’ link, and open the document named ‘Dexter Road List.’

Among the roads in the area under construction, Jackson Avenue is being turned in to a boulevard from Zeeb to Parker. The road was down to one lane in either direction for three months.

Wing Farms a fall attraction for the whole family Toliver Rogers Staff Writer The Wing Farm, one of the most popular farms in the area, is not only home to a family, but it also grows giant pumpkins.

However, Wing Farms isn’t only open in the fall. During the spring and summer seasons, it is an active farm.

Freshman Nate Wing said, “We plant seeds in May and June. We grow beans, corns and pumpkins.”

Wing, who lives on the farm, also said his family bales hay on the farm in the summer.

Wing Farms is located on Dexter-Ann Arbor Road and is a popular place to go during the Halloween season, from 10-6 on weekends in October.

With a pumpkin patch, animals, a corn maize and hay rides, it’s for people of all ages.

Free hay rides are given on Saturday and Sunday.

There are farm animals to see and to pet and also a corn maize. The farm has giant pumpkins and gourds that people can pick for the real farm experience.

Visitors from all over the Ann Arbor area make visiting Wing Farms an annual event.

On Tripwiser.com, Wing Farms earned a rating of four out of five stars and it draws big crowds on the weekends as parents bring their kids to experience the fun of the fall season.

With the Michigan football season in progress, Wing Farms draws in fans not only from Ann Arbor but fans from all over Southeastern Michigan looking to enjoy the rest of the day after the game.

But Wing Farms may be the most fun for kids of an early age.

With farm animals to see and pet, pumpkins and gourds and hay rides right in their backyard, a this tourist attraction is a landmark in Washtenaw County.

For adults, Wing Farms brings out the little kid in them. When adults take their kids to enjoy the experience, it probably reminds them of when they were little and wanted to do and see everything, even though their parents may not have wanted to either.

With plenty of places to eat and to stay, Wing Farms is none of the most popular places to be during the Halloween season in the Ann Arbor area.

Photos by Sarah Brurniger

8

Sports

Friday, November 13, 2009

Jono Jebson

The story of one man’s dream

Emily Darrow

According to teammate Jeremy Horner, Jebson accomplishes

Dexter Leader Editor

just that. “He’s really lighthearted and keeps the team looking

to bring motivation and spirit to a team following his soccer career here at DHS.

It’s regional finals. The team’s losing. Fans are booing. positive when everyone is stressed out and mad when we’re

At the end of the day it often isn’t who’s

Motivation is at a minimum. Time’s up and the score is in losing a game,” Horner said. “Which is always good when it’s

helping the team win or lose but how

at the right time.”

everyone

the other team’s favor. But senior Jono Jebson is determined comes

together

to make sure that his team is going to remain optimistic.

Jebson’s other teammates agree that he doesn’t just keep the

as a team. Shaffer said,

Reminding everyone that there’s always next year, the team team going when they’re down, but is a good player too. “He’s

“We’re

like a comic leader,- keeps everything upbeat, and he doesn’t

brothers. We have

make us do much.” Kantola said. “(Jono) scores wicked-sick

good

free kicks, and he gives great advice when we’re frustrated.”

bad times. But

all

like

leaves the field with hope for their next chance to score that winning goal. times

and

Jebson was this year’s forward on the varsity soccer team and goalie in past seasons but has been part of the soccer program His goofy, lighthearted ways have lead to some interesting

when it comes

for much longer than that. “I’ve been playing soccer for like 11 or moments according to teammates. “Jono’s funniest moment

down to it, we’re

was definitely when he took off his shirt at the end of a game

a family, and that’s

and ran around swinging it above his head and then got a red

all we need and Jono is part of

card. Coach got really mad,” Shaffer said.

that.”

12 years,” he said. “I’ve grown up playing soccer. My best friends play soccer with me, and my family plays too.”

All of this experience has brought Jebson to the place he is, a kind of leader on the team. “Jono sets a terrible example. You The humor that Jebson brings isn’t few and far between basically do the opposite of what he does,” laughed teammate either. “None of the really funny things Jono’s done are Chris Shaffer. “But really, when it comes down to it, he does the appropriate,” laughed Horner. right thing.”

These positive experiences that Jebson has had in the soccer And that’s exactly what Jebson strives for. “I’d like to think program have motivated him to continue outside of DHS. my teammates see me as a good player and a goofy guy,” Jebson “I’m in club soccer right now,” Jebson said. “I want said. “Maybe even looked up to in some ways. I like to help to play collage ball at somewhere like Washington everyone keep things in perspective when we’re all stressed St. Louis or Denison.” So Jebson will continue out.”

Recruiting process starts early for some student-athletes Athletic director advises potential college athletes to take the right classes, maintain good grades least 16 core classes and to maintain a certain grade point average depending on the results of standardized test scores. Specific Kevin Yarows information regarding eligibility can be found on the NCAA’s Sports Editor website, www.ncaa.org.

Carruthers has gone through the majority of the recruiting When senior Ben Carruthers crossed the finish line at the cross country state meet on November 7, he not only completed the race process already and has narrowed his college choices down to but also his high school cross country career. For most high school Grand Valley State and Michigan State.

He said he began receiving letters from colleges towards the athletes, this would represent the end of their athletic careers, but for Carruthers, it marks the end of one chapter and the beginning end of his junior his junior year. Once he realized what schools he was interested in, he filled out recruit of a new one: college athletics. questionnaires on the website and made But the process which enables athletes to play contact with the coaches. college athletics isn’t quite as simple as it may Once I started talking According to Robinson, students seem. It’s a process that requires hard work and with the coaches, it wasn’t that who think they may be college athletes dedication to the sport of choice but also hardhard.” should first make contact with coaches work in the classroom throughout high school, toward the end of sophomore year or according to Athletic Director John Robinson.

Ben Carruthers “The recruiting process starts around

senior junior year. The best way to do this, he said, is in the form of a letter which sophomore year,” Robinson said, “making sure includes basic information regarding you’re taking the right classes and maintaining academics and information relevant to good grades.” the sport.

The NCAA holds potential division one and two Carruthers advises making contact athletes to a higher standard by requiring them to with potential coaches as early as take a certain number of core classes and making possible. “Once I started talking with the coaches, it wasn’t that potential athletes register through the NCAA Clearinghouse.

“It’s important to know that grades count from day you walk hard,” he said.

Once contact with the coach is established, it’s important to in,” varsity football coach Tom Barbieri said. “The better grades you have, the more opportunities. I’ve had coaches walk in and say maintain a close relationship with them. Coaches may come to they can’t even talk to (football players) because they’re so limited watch players or contact them via e-mail or phone, said Robinson.

Once Carruthers narrowed down his potential schools, he (academically).”

The Clearinghouse requires college-bound athletes to take at went on official visits to MSU and GVSU. On his official visits, he

“

Senior Ben Carruthers said his recruiting process started early in his high school career.

Nonetheless, he also said he looks forward to running at either MSU or GVSU.

Photo by Morgan Quist

stayed overnight with members of the team and spent the weekend getting to know the team, coaches and campus.

He said this was an important step in the process because an enabled him to get a feel for how he would fit in on the team, he said.

When choosing which school would be a good fit, Robinson said athletes must keep athletics in perspective and choose a school based which academic field they plan on pursing.

“You don’t go to college to play sports,” Robinson said. “You go to get an education.”

Aside from getting involved in the recruiting process, athletes must be performing at a high enough level to be able to continue playing in college, Barbieri said.

“It’s a process that kids can really help themselves in,” he said.

“I’ll do whatever I can to help kids, but it’s really student-driven.”

9

Sports

Friday, November 13, 2009

Tucker Whitley

staff writer

Post season

Womens Golf Girls golf finished the year as a two-loss team and the 12th ranked team in the state. A six-member squad, the team will be losing three players in seniors Jojo Parin, Megan Schlanderer and Morgan Davis. The team will be returning juniors Jessie Schlanderer and Liz So as well as sophomore Noelle Stabler. Possible players to move up include freshmen Morgan Campbell, Danielle Schlaff, Coleen Stabler and Emily Stone. After the season, Parin said, “The season went pretty well. At first nobody could beat us. All I know is that we had two losses, and that’s pretty good.”

collectors cards

Boys Tennis A young boys tennis team hit the courts this year, as the tennis team looked for total domination of the SEC white, according to freshmen tennis player Phillip Lauseng.

The tennis season is now over, and the team will look to return most players, but key loses will include Chad Bousley, as well as Ben Lauseng.

Womens Cross Country The womens cross country team went to regionals and placed seventh at states. Katie Taylor was a lead runner for the lady Dreads. Other key returners included sophomore Lauren Lafontaine, Emily Tarnaski and Emily Papp. The team will look to return most everybody, with the one major exception, senior Kristen Yarows.

Photo by Alex Carr

Photo by Tyler Hanson

Photo by Dylan Kipke

Volleyball

Mens Water Polo

Womens Swimming

The volleyball team’s (7-3) most recent win came against their cross-town rivals, the Chelsea Bulldogs. This win gave the Dreadnaughts the title to the SEC white division.

Two of the teams loses occurred on the road, against Bedford and Monroe. The one home loss this season came against Saline, a five-set loss that the Dreadnaughts nearly won. Senior captain Ali Krips said, “We definitely should not have lost that game.” The Dreadnaughts most recent game, a five-set loss to Pioneer, booted them out of districts and ended their season. Sophomore Olivia Cares said, “(That loss) wasn’t one person’s fault. Nobody played that well. Nobody really stood out.”

After a season ending-loss to host Birmingham Groves, the water polo players returned home. The Dreads, in order to get to the spot that they were at, needed to get through districts, which they did, seeding themselves fourth. “We always had a good shot at winning,” senior Jesse Claflin said. “We have surprised everybody this year, especially those who doubted that we would be any good at all in the beginning of the season. Our goalie has really come through for us this year, and that has definitely been helpful.”

Sophomore Murphy Hanson has been waiting for SECs for quite awhile. She said, “ I have been looking forward to this for a long time now. Hopefully I will do fine.” The team won SECs for the 12th consecutive year. Though the team will be losing key swimmers like Sabrina Letwin and Lauren Daugherty, it will welcome a whole host of new swimmers.

Photo by Austin Sullivan

Photo by Mary Kumbier

Photo by Alex Wallis

XC looks to return to state championship form Kevin Skiver

Photo by Alex Dutcher

Sophomore runner Taylor Neely stays in the front of the pack at the Jackson invite. The day of press time the mens team finished second in the state. Look for a follow-up article in the next issue of The Squall.

staff writer

The transition to a new coach can be difficult for any team at any level. It often means a new personality, a new gameplan and above all, a new person running the team.

The mens cross country team had to deal with this last year, after winning five consecutive state championships, along with finishing second at states in 2007, all under Coach Jaime Dudash.

Also in ‘07, senior Bobby Aprill took second at states and senior Alex Hess stumbled down the stretch of the race.

This was a very difficult situation for the team, particularly after winning regionals by a wide margin the previous week and stepping into states with a ton of confidence.

In 2008, the team had to forget about this disappointment, and, under new Coach Dave Testa, the team’s first and biggest hurdle arrived before the season even started. Their number one runner, senior Jason Bishop, also the team’s lone captain, attained an injury that would sideline him for the year.

This caused some people to have to step up. All in all, there were a lot of setbacks that Coach Testa had to deal with, and these problems led to arguably the team’s worst season in 10 years.

Dudash had coached the Dexter boys the previous 10 years, before leaving the team to spend more time with his family. In his tenure, Dudash led the team to five state championships. In 2008 he was replaced by Coach Testa, an MSU alum. This move was a huge transition for the team, but senior Aaron Gilman took the change in stride.

“Me and Coach Testa have a great relationship,” Gilman said, “and we talk basically every day on our goals as a team and my insight on something at practice.”

Senior Ben Carruthers agrees. “(Getting a new coach) was a large adjustment, but it was a smooth one. This year, we have gotten a lot more adjusted to having Testa as our coach, and I think that is one of the reasons that our team is more successful. Even though having Dudash leave was a bummer, I am glad we were able to get a good guy to replace him. They (Dudash and Testa) are completely different people, but they use some of the same techniques, including workouts and offseason training programs.”

After a down year last year, when only one runner, Carruthers, advanced to states, the team set its standards higher and has achieved many more of their goals this year.

In 2009, according to Testa, “The team showed up with a new attitude. They were more mature, and the team put in a lot more work over the summer. Also, the team set clear goals before the season. These ranged from individual goals such as the whole team going under 21 minutes, to team goals like making it to states as a team again. This gave the team focus and led to a much more successful season.”

The varsity team’s maturity was also a major difference in the 2009 season. “I’m a much improved racer and when you go through four years of cross country, you learn a lot about your body and how to maintain it,” Gilman said. “The freshmen were more mature and knew their limits better, and the seniors and juniors had another year of experience under their belts.”

Carruthers finished in the top 10 of every race, and the team as a whole not only won regionals but also achieved the team goal of everyone running sub 21 at least once in the season.

On the spirit of the sport and team, Gilman said: “We are a hard working committed group of guys looking to break goals and help maintain the excellent tradition that is Dexter cross country.”

10

Opinion

Friday, November 13, 2009

Alex Everard

Alexander Dobbs

Editor-in-chief

Where we’re going, we don’t need roads To: Bald Eagle (Kit Moran) From: Morpheus (Matt Maciag) Subject: Phase 2.0 Initiation (HIGHLY CLASSIFIED) The revolution is moving along swiftly, as planned.

Nearly every student accepted their device. Students who rejected the red pill-I mean red wristband-were sent to “detention”.

Speaking of which, it is vital that you inform Bald Eagle 2 (Tim Authier) to buy more Kool-Aid. With regards to the initial phase, each check point was achieved. Every individual student was given a personalized “profile”. I have my minions working tediously on loading the basic emotional control programs onto each profile.

Following completion, they will fine tune the Mattrix for the iconic transition to Phase 2.0.

The reason I am streaming this wave of information from my brain’s USB portal to the portal on your brain via text format is I have a favor to ask of you that will please the Higher Beings and ultimately aide in the completion of our digital revolution.

As you know, I am working on deleting the guest profiles on each computer. This will mean each student must own a brainwave scrambler, excuse me, “USB wristband”. This will usher in the initial proceedings of Phase 2.0, the most crucial phase in to meet the commands of the Higher Being.

We must take this project day by day however, let us not become overly ambitious. We are eons ahead of our counterparts at Chelsea, who still live in a primitive society centered around football and hunter-gatherer techniques. We must not betray the master plan.

Domestication will begin once students start the second trimester, and this is where you come in. The favor I need of you is an extension in the time allotted for the uploading of each humanoid power cell into our newly-created slave matrix, aka The Matt-rix.

I need more time than originally planned because I did not account for students who are not fooled by our distracting, false front and reject domestication. Worry, you shall not however.

I talked to The Terminator (Ken Koenig), and he is “glad to take care of any individual deemed rogue ... execution style”. All I need from you is time; slightly more time than the original “drug dog” sham would take. (Although I do not oppose the idea of using German Shepards to sniff out dissent).

You must announce to the school that David Schwimmer is shooting in the CPA and needs all the extras we can provide. By then, the CPA will be fully converted into mass domestication lab, and will serve as the physical metacenter of our Matt-rix.

As soon as the humanoids enter, we will begin permanently locking them into the network before they can say, “Like ... oh my god ... like, what’s happening?”

Once I have internally secured the network and locked in each individual, their tiny human brains will be used as efficient power sources for the cloned, robot drones we had made of each student with the last year’s $49 million bond. We will then cryogenically freeze each humanoid once they have been deprived of their natural life source. Far in the future, we will reawaken them for means of slave labor and reproduction.

The drones will take the USB devices from each student after a night of hibernation and battery charging and plug it into their fuel ports. Wondering how you will manage each individual fuel source? There’s an app for that. Upon installing this management program into your hard drive, Phase 2.o will be officially completed.

Facebook, Google and Powerschool will shut down for 24 hours. This is the signal to launch the overthrow.

We can then turn our attention to Phase 3.0, the final step of our virtual ownership project. Once each clone robot scores perfectly on MME, SAT and ACT testing, you will be hailed as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year, and I will have my own army of ultra-smart disposable human robots. It’s a win-win really.

Note: Even with our robot drone army, I cannot guarantee the football team will make playoffs. My computers have determined this issue as user error.

There is one humanoid I am particular suspicious of, however. His name is “10everae”, or as you know him, Alex Everard.

He seems to exhibit feelings of skepticism towards our plan, or so the brain wave monitors I planted on him when he fell asleep in AP Government tell me. He is especially high risk because I sense he may use The Squall as a tool to expose and bring down our revolution.

I failed to target a weakness in his physical frame, and his intelligence is unrivaled. I fear that if he rebels he could quickly win the minds of the entire school. His charm, wit and overall attitude are both intimidating and alluring. He may be the perfect storm to our digital revolution. You know the Higher Ones will not be pleased if we do not succeed. My suggestion: take care of him. Give him “Saturday school”. … Ending transmittance of brainwave data … Matt Maciag is preparing to shut down … Goodbye, Bald Eagle.

Alex Everard was found in a military fort built inside the Candy Closet. He was shirtless with a large blade muttering, “They drew first blood ... not me.”

get involved editor

Rep the Dirty D While many schools around the state are losing students and even shutting down, the Dexter school district has somehow managed to prosper.

And, not only has Dexter prospered, but we have actually increased prosperity, with construction improvements; new, Orwellian, brainwashing, technological additions and a rise in the number of students in our school district compared to last year.

Dexter is actually doing so well in this time of strife we are currently able to throw away money on completely needless attractions such as the glass walls adorning the school hallways, designed solely to create bottlenecks, backups and to stem the flow of students through our already-overcrowded hallways.

However, this success is turning Dexter into a non-conformist in the struggling state of Michigan.

My fellow students, this non-conformity is unacceptable. We need to stop being so fantastic and need to start following the

trends set by other schools in the state. We need to gain some street cred.

I once heard an analogy from a very wise man that went something like this: “Everyone around here looks at Dexter like it’s a marshmallow. All white and soft.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want others to look at Dexter and think marshmallow. I want others to look at Dexter and think, “Geeze, you don’t want to be stuck walking around the Dirty D at night. I heard this one kid, Rob Slayrand, did something so terrible the cops were too afraid to even arrest him for it.”

Our school needs fear like this to truly become the Dirty D. Forget Detroit. There are some new bad boys in town, and they go by the name of the Dexter Dreadnaughts.

Hollywood stars such as Hilary Swank and David Schwimmer have come to Dexter to film scenes for their movies, but with leading roles in “Friends” and “P.S. I Love You,” these two stars have some of the least street cred in Hollywood.

I want some real stars to come to Dexter.

Let’s have Samuel L. Jackson come and film “Snakes in a School” here or get some true violence and have Al Pacino come and film “The Godfather: IV” here.

And our scores on standardized tests are some of the highest in the area, proving that we have a quality education system and are more intelligent than other area students. But this is too good for the Dirty D. The next time you are sitting at a desk with a No. 2 Ticonderoga sharpened and you are mentally preparing yourself for the MEAP or ACT, change your mind set.

Kaitlyn Shepard Features Editor

Stop the PDA, please Dear Love Birds, Before I start, you should know I am in no way, shape or form anti-love. I think it is wonderful you have found your significant other. However, that being said, there are many things about your behavior that I find utterly repulsive.

First, I would like to address the issue of passing time. Passing time is to allow students to get from one class to another.

Perhaps you will have a few extra minutes to use the bathroom or have a dance party in the stairwell.

Passing time is not a six-minute race against the clock to block the hallway and shove your tongue down your lover’s throat.

You can hide yourself in the corner all you want. We can still see you, and it’s still disgusting. Save it for your basement.

Even worse than witnessing the hallway saliva exchange chain after lunch is the couples so in love they just can’t keep their hands off of each other during class. I understand you are so in love you felt the need to arrange your schedules so you would never be apart, but, really, I would rather not sit behind you and watch you rub your hands up and down your lover’s body while I am trying to take notes. This is Dexter High School, not Motel Six. Your classroom display of affection is not only disrespectful and awkward for your teacher, it makes the rest of the class want to claw their eyes out. You can try and hide it under your desk or behind your binder all you want, but who are you kidding?

Everyone notices.

If you really want to touch your lover’s body in front of your classmates, feel free to let your hands explore new territories at a dance, where getting down and dirty is socially acceptable.

In fact, if you really feel the need to express your affection for your lover, there are several ways you can do this without making the rest of the student population sick to their stomach.

If you feel like doing the classic ‘50s walk-your-lover-to-classand-hold-their-hand, that is fine. You can even put your arm around their shoulder to mix it up.

And if you feel like really getting risky, you may even give your lover a quick peck on the lips when you drop him/her off at class. Please keep your peck between one and two seconds.

Anything more than that and you will be accused of doing the tongue tango.

I understand sometimes couples go through rough spots in their roller coaster relationships; however, it is not OK to publicly announce your break up every night via Facebook. It’s a status, not a life update.

If you really are “crying your eyes out, missing him/her soooooooo much,” Facebook probably isn’t the best place to express your feelings. It’s just going to annoy your friends, who probably couldn’t care less and make your on-and-off lover want to avoid you even more.

Even if you and your lover did break up, it’s OK. We are in high school. I hate to say it, but, no matter how in love you are at 17, you’re probably not going to be together forever.

In all likelihood college will roll around and while you may try to work it out. In the end you won’t. And if you’re reading this saying, “Well, we’re the exception.” No, you’re not.

I know that somewhere under all of your sexual frustration, is a good person who knows what is right and wrong, what they should and shouldn’t touch (in public places), and to never listen to any Backstreet boys song that says “Kissin’ and touchin’ with my hands all over your booty,” is socially acceptable.

For the sake of your friends and classmates, I hope that this column has helped that person find their way back into your heart and mind.

Yours truly, Kaitlyn Shepard

Do not go for the best possible score, proving your elite intelligence as a student of Dexter, but instead guess randomly at answers or even create an interesting design with your bubbling sheet.

This is sure to provide entertainment while also guaranteeing a poor score. These low scores will then lower our crucial funding.

This loss of funding will be sure to force cutbacks.

Less security, fewer professional quality teachers and fewer outstanding paraprofessionals are all the start of important changes for the Dirty D. And to prove the creation of the Dirty D, the next time the drugs dog come, I want them to find something.

And by something I do not mean crumbs from a Doritos bag or the stench created by germ-enriched gym shorts left in your gym locker over the summer.

I want them to find stuff that is too horrible for me to even write about.

I want them to find stuff that will force President Obama to divert troops from Afghanistan to DHS to enforce order. I want them to find stuff that will give credit to the true Dirty D. The answer to your question is yes, I am promoting failure.

But failure in the most pure sense of the word. How can any graduate of DHS expect to succeed in a world where everything is not as amazing as it is here?

By promoting failure, I am giving you the tools necessary to succeed in a life where perfection is not always present as it is at Dexter High School.

Kristi Hughs

Opionion editor

Parents against dancing: stop whining

Apparently some parents, particularly parents of underclassmen, have complaints regarding the homecoming dance. Some of these complaints even came from parents who didn’t even attend the dance.

This makes me incredibly angry. I actually feel bad for the children of these parents.

We went through this last year didn’t we? Parents asked for stricter dance rules. Did this solve anything?

No. In fact, the class of 2010 now has less money for our senior trip because the students came together to boycott stricter rules at the dances.

After this boycotted dance, chaperones were less anal about rules at the following dances. Complaining parents helped no one.

But in case these parents are serious about the concerns they have for their children, I would like to dispel a couple of rumors that parents heard about the homecoming dance which were discussed in an e-mail to various parents in the district.

Rumor 1: “There was oral sex given on the dance floor.”

Let’s be serious. Do you really believe anyone at the dance was giving oral sex on the dance floor? In front of parents and teachers? Any one who is naive enough to believe this statement should have no part in the dance discussion.

Rumor 2: “People were smoking and drinking in front of teachers.”

Can we get real now, people? Students may be intoxicated at dances. Certainly not all people, but a select few probably are. But if you really think anyone was lightin’ up a joint with Mr. Moran, you should be ashamed. This is nothing short of absurd.

In fact, Moran said, “I stand at the door and see everyone who walks in. If I smell anything on anyone’s breath, I proceed the matter further.”

Obviously Moran will take disciplinary action when he thinks it is needed.

Not only are these complaining parents acting ignorantly, but some students are as well.

My advice for students who felt the need to go home and whine to their parents about what the dance was “like,” please do not attend any more dances.

I think I speak for those who enjoy the dances; we don’t want you there to ruin the next dance. I think it is time, though, to come out of the rock you are living under.

Welcome to the real world.

OK, lets not get ahead of ourselves … welcome to the real high school world where adults don’t believe insane rumors without finding out the facts and where students apparently still need their mommies and daddies to take care of them.

11

Editorial

Friday, November 13, 2009

Squall The

Marne Little

managing editor

EDITORS IN CHIEF: Alex Everard, Brittany Martini

MANAGING EDITOR: Marne LIttle

EDITORS DESIGN: Candice Wiesner FEATURES: Kaitlyn Shepard ENTERTAINMENT : Dan Flowers OPINIONS: Kristi Hughes PHOTO: JoJo Parin, Lauren

Daugherty

SPORTS: HEALTH:

Kevin Yarows Ashley Burleson,

Colleen Hill TRENDS: Caitlyn Rize uPAGE : Ian McCarthy GET INVOLVED: Alexander Dobbs COPY: Emily Van Dusen NEWS: Max Berry, Nic Miller COMMUNITY: Gabe Altomare DEXTER LEADER: Emily Darrow BLOGS: Erin McAweeney

DESIGNERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Ross Chamberlain, Ariel Star, Lindsay Fischer, Travis Chaffe, Nicole Chalou, Jojo Parin, Lauren Daugherty, Claire Berger, Luke Hattie.

ADVERTISING: Lisa Crompton,

Murphy Hansen.

TWEETER: Thomas Griffith FUNDRAISING:

Nicole Minzey

STAFF WRITERS Lauren Gagneau, Jack Nixon, Deanna Moore, Tyler McCarthy, Rachel Butler, John Brundage, Jessica Deljevic, Tucker Whitley, Dave LaMore, Morgan Quist, Sirah Camara, Megan Podeschke, Lauren Gardner, Ray Carpenter, Steve Ferguson, Toliver Rogers, Megan Kim, Liz O’Keefe, Sarah Molnar, Ali Krips, Nick Gonet, Aaron Gilman, Matthew Libersky, Connie Yam, Nick Baron, Steve Miller, Alex McMurray.

CARTOONIST Gabe Altomare

Adviser Rod Satterthwaite

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.

Corrections from last issue In the Rostrum, page 3 photo credit should be given to Nick Byma In the Squall, the 5 things to do/not to do was written by Megan Kim

This summer the school made a lot of changes.

One change that has become a positive one is the USB wristbands given out to each student.

With the new USB wristbands, students are able to save their work on them and transfer documents and projects they work on in school to their home computers and then work on then at home as well. Students no longer have to worry about their printer not working the night before they turn in a 10-page paper. Students can now use their USB wristbands to print the paper while at school.

The USB wristbands also allow students to keep their information to themselves and allow all of the student’s information to always stay with them. With the new logins, each student

is able to have their own desktop with only their work on it, and it is as if each student has their own personal computer at school.

The USBs keep students’ work much more private, and students don’t have to worry about their work being deleted or altered by the next person to use the same computer. The computers used to not have any security system, and anything that was saved on the computer could be seen by anyone who used that computer too.

Students also don’t have to worry about using the same computer every time.

Director of Technology Matt Maciag said he decided to try out the new USB wristbands to offer convenience for students and to solve the technical problems within the computers.

The USBs also helps Maciag and his technology team to see what students are doing on the computers. With this feature, the tech team is able to help fix any problems a student may come across during his or her use of the computer.

Maciag said, “If someone has a problem, I can take over and solve the problem.”

The school is also one of the first in the country to try the new system.

Maciag says he is excited for this new program because we are one of the first schools to try having USB wristbands and individual computer logins.

The getting new USB wristbands this year was a good idea because it helps the school be technologically advanced.

To wristband or not wristband Ray Carpenter

staff writer

Sighing again in frustration, I hold the power button for seven seconds to shut off my computer. It’s the fourth time today, and I’m getting annoyed.

Eventually, I just go back to logging on without my USB. I don’t even bring it to school anymore.

It just takes up space in my already packed-tocapacity backpack and pockets.

Speaking of space, the bracelet-form makes the USBs take up a surprisingly large amount of room. It wraps around cell phones and iPod headphones, tangling everything up. It’s not that big a deal once, but over time it becomes really annoying.

The school is apparently saying they’re going to remove the ability to log in without USBs, which is absurd. It’s the only way I can log in, and I see people all around me who abstain from using them. Forcing people to use something they don’t want to is pointless and irritating.

The most touted feature of the USBs, the ability to take files from your home computer to school and vice versa, is easily replicated by Google Docs, which I used to write this article. No more clutter in your pockets, just functionality.

Why are the USBs in bracelet-form? It’s ridiculous. And if anyone tries to get around the space issue by wearing them, just stop. Seriously.

Letters to the editor Tribute to Wilcox ruined by immaturity Dear editor: While I was quite pleased with the results of last month’s fall play “Back To Reality,” there was one incident that occurred on opening night that upset me. As many of you know, I was very close to Mr. Wilcox, former French and drama teacher who died of brain cancer this year.

I wanted to offer him a proper public memorial in which the CPA would go dark for one minute before the show. In my brief speech about this, I concluded with, “Your silence is appreciated.” The vast majority of the audience complied with my request. The exception happened to be 2-3 students who were sitting in the center section of the theater, about halfway up.

Much to my shock and disappointment, these students burst out laughing in the middle

The all

They’re not cool, they’re not trendy. Take them off.

Maybe it’s just me, but my USB drive doesn’t work at all. It won’t even let me log on. My computer spins its wheels for a few minutes and then spits out an error message.

I can’t believe the district spent $16,000 on these worthless hunks of plastic and metal. They just don’t do anything to help, and in some cases they even hinder productivity, like having to spend precious minutes rebooting the computer over and over again.

It might be the best thing to just get rid of them.

of the 60 seconds of silence. Apparently, I was speaking Greek when I said, “Your silences is appreciated,” because they somehow could not grasp this very simple concept. What made it worse was that Jan Wilcox, Mr. Wilcox’s widow, was in the audience that night.

It’s not as if I could try this moment again; it was lost, all because of a few inconsiderate people. I would have totally understood if it was a baby crying; these things happen. But it happened to be individuals that should have known better.

I just wanted the district to publicly acknowledge Mr. Wilcox’s passing in a simple but classy fashion. He was brought here, in part, to help enhance the theater program. He most certainly did that. To see these sixty seconds that I courteously requested tarnished by ignorance and inconsideration saddens me.

Jan Wilcox, my good friend, while I feel that it is not my place to apologize, I most certainly apologize for the disrespect and embarrassment that was caused. You deserved better. For the offending individuals, I would be more than happy to accept a letter of apology, addressed to Mrs. Wilcox, for not properly honoring her husband.

I will hand deliver that letter to her. Please, here is your chance to be classy. To everyone else in the CPA on Oct. 21, my humble thanks.

Sincerely, Matt Martello, co-adviser DHS Drama Club

SQUALL call:

Illustration by Gabe Altomare

Parent complaints about dances are overblown, don’t make sense An issue that has been the subject of annual controversy and outrage to varying degrees is the infamous dance move known as “grinding” where two students dance in a manner that some say is similar to having sex.

However, students should be able to dance the way that they want at school dances as long as it does not break any laws. Questions of whether or not a behavior should continue should be resolved by asking, “What harm does this action do?” In the case of dance moves that adults may find questionable, the answer is, no harm at all.

If two people started grinding in school, that act would be unacceptable because it would be a gratuitous, unnecessary display of affection, devoid of context as well as disruptive to the school day. On the dance floor, however, there is context for the act. It isn’t disruptive, and, in general, it causes no harm.

The main objection to this type of dancing is that it violates the school handbook policies of public displays of affection and indecency.

The student handbook states PDA entails, “Demonstrating affection that is personal and not meant for public display. This includes touching, petting or any other contact that

may be considered sexual in nature.”

We must look to the purpose of the rule, which is to preserve the continuity of the school day, in order to decide if it is appropriate.

Dances do not take place during the school day and are not disrupted by people grinding.

The same principle applies for going nuts to techno. Going nuts to techno would be highly disruptive to the school day, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be allowed at dances.

Indecency is defined in the handbook as “The act of engaging in conduct that is contrary to commonly recognized standards of propriety, behavior and morality (as interpreted by building administration).”

This standard is not only arbitrary, but it ignores the fact that grinding is a commonly recognized form of dance and that there is context for it on the dance floor. No student would or should grind in class, because to do so would be, disruptive, gratuitous, noncontextual and anti-social. But the standards for what should go on in a classroom environment do not carry over to a dance environment.

The objection to dancing in a sexual manner also stems from the false notion that dancing instills sexual tendancies in teens,

as if they didn’t posses those beforehand. If students inclined toward grinding are not behaving this way at dances, they will behave this way elsewhere, in environments that do not have adult supervision. The public nature of the dances, as well as the absence of alcohol and drugs and the presence of adult supervision drastically reduces the chances of this activity spilling over into actual selfdestructive behavior.

Some parents also claim that because dances are school events and therefore taxdollar supported, the school shouldn’t allow grinding. Parents disagree on a lot of things that are taught or engaged in at school. Again, before we decide if something should or should not be done in school, we should ask what harm is done? If the answer is none, then it should be allowed. Parents who object should not allow their children to attend the dances.

Everyone has different moral sensibilities, and if parents are offended by something that causes no harm, they should not let their children attend the dances. In instances where a controversial action causes no harm, the school should not be forced to be a standin for these parents.

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Friday, November 13, 2009

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All for a good cause: Math teacher Dewey Scott acted as a cheerleader for the powder puff crowd.

Erin Mcaweeny

Blog Editor

On Thursday, Oct. 29, Dexter senior and junior powderpuff players were not only playing for bragging rights, they were playing for a cause. The “pink out” themed game helped raise money for breast cancer research during October, which is breast cancer awareness month.

With the support of a raging senior section, the game was able to raise over $2,000.

Senior Bridget Lloyd, a member of the senior girls powderpuff team, said she was intimidated by the giant crowd as she stepped out onto the field.

“The student section was the same if not bigger than a regular football game,” Lloyd said.

The section was a sea of pink with many boys wearing skirts and cheerleading, including Principal Kit Moran. After she started playing, though, Lloyd said she began to enjoy her first game on the field rather in the crowd. “I’m sad we’re only playing one game,” Lloyd said. “I would definitely play again if I had the chance.”

Players and coaches alike said they were impressed by the organization and talent of the girls since it was the first game in years. Senior powderpuff coach Alexander Dobbs said he was surprised by how his senior girls played.

“They played well and used their talent effectively,” Dobbs said, “Both teams put everything forward and really gave it their all.”

Lloyd was also proud of her teammates and how the

game turned out. “I was impressed by how aggressive we played and how (the game) came together,” she said.

Dobbs attributes his team’s talent and coaching to the 33-6 senior win.

“I knew we would win from the start,” he said. “We have better athletes and better plays. I was not surprised by the win at all.”

Perhaps more important than the outcome of the game was the money raised by ticket sales and donations. $1,300 was raised by donations, and after ticket sales were added the amount raised totaled over $2,000.

Dobbs said he liked the idea of combining a fun school activity with a charity event.

“It was great to raise money for a good cause while still having a good time,” he said.

Lloyd also enjoyed helping a cause as she played.

She said, “We weren’t just playing to win, but playing to save lives. It felt great.”

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Volunteer coach: Senior Alexander Dobbs was one of the many varsity football players who volunteered his time to help the powder puff team prepare for its game.

Winning team: Seniors came out victorious, winning by a final score of 33-6.

Intense catch: Senior Becky Wortman catches the ball and heads for open field as her teammates protect her.

Student section: Even on a cold Thursday night, students still came to support the cause and cheer on their classmates in the student section.

Interception: Senior Katie McDonald sprints after a catch. McDonald also had two interceptions on defense.

Amateur cheerleaders: Upon the challenge of a donor, Dreadnaught boys put on cheerleader uniforms and took to the sidelines. The bet raised over $1000.

Officials: Math teacher Brian Baird, Dean of Students Ken Koenig and economics teacher Ryan Baese officiated at the game.

How to kick a field goal: Junior Zaryn Jennings practies her aim. As a result of being a member of the varsity soccer team, Jennings was designated the junior kicker. Each individual photo is illustrates different steps of her technique.