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The Rostrum

CHEATING

80% of students are cheating during a test. Are you one of them?

To see more about cheating and how it has infiltrated Dexter High School check out The Spread (4-5)

Some of the latest trends are peacoats and Christmas sweaters. Check out more on Page 2

Get involved Join the Peace Club.

Find out more about it on Page 3

December 19, 2008 VOLUME II ISSUE 4 DEXTER HIGH SCHOOL 2200 N. PARKER ROAD DEXTER, MI 48130

2

trends

Friday, December 19, 2008

The Rostrum

Staff Playlist Peacoats popular in winter Tricia Humitz staff writer

“Wind Beneath my Wings”

By Israel Kamakawio’ole “The edgy eukalalee sound and the calming lyrics really relax the soul.”

Alexander Dobbs Staff writer

“Thong Song”

by Sisqo “I listen to this song every day in the shower.”

Brent Muse Get Involved editor

“Aqueous Transmission”

by Incubus “It like urban throwback Chinese music.”

Patrick Ledwige Trends Editor

They may not be as warm or as practical as typical coat styles, but the pea coat fad sure is catching on.

According to Sam Stilson from The Soko, pea coats come from European sailors in the 18th century.

These sailors wore the long, wool coats as an extra layer over their uniform in the cold.

Although the style has been around for a long time, pea coats are back in new colors, patterns and styles.

Navy and black have replaced with red, yellow, purple and plaid. Junior Anne Coogan said, “I love my black hooded pea coat because it’s warm, and I love that it has a hood and big pockets.”

These new styles seem to appeal more to women than to men, although department stores such as Macy’s are also advertising men’s pea coats.

Macy’s is featuring similar styles of men’s pea coats as women’s. The men’s

“Dance wth the Devil”

by Immortal Technique “Thought-provoking song that is my life.”

Scott Crompton Editor-in-chief

maker, they are not flashy or bright, but they look great with outfits and still protect from the cold. Rademaker said, “I prefer it because it’s form fitting and classy.”

Photo by JoJo Parin

Christmas sweaters are back in style Amanda Orr staff writer

“Hustlaz Ambition”

by Young Jeezy “It’s a sweet beat and resembles Tupac a little bit.”

Georgia Myers Staff Writer

coats are not as colorful, but selection still includes plaids and even plaid with detailed embroidery on the back.

It is not clear whether or not the pea coat will make a comeback among men, but it sure has among women.

The large collars, belts, colorful bottons, hoods and various fitted styles really seem to appeal to young people today.

Sophomore Megan Rademaker is a frequent pea coat wearer.

“I prefer to wear a pea coat because they’re more fashionable and form fitting than a regular winter coat,” she said.

In a choice between a warmer, classic winter jacket and a pea coat, both Coogan and Rademaker say they choose the pea coat. “I like it better because it goes with anything,” Coogan said.

Although pea coats are not as warm, they seem to be preferred over bulky winter jackets, due to their versatile, more girlie style and elegant look with any outfit .

According to both Coogan and Rade-

It’s officially winter on Dec. 21.

Snowy conditions and freezing temperatures are in our midst, and winter gear is slowly emerging. With Christmas less than a week away, students and teachers alike are using the chilly weather as an excuse to break out their holiday gear.

And more and more students, such as senior Lauren McLaughlin, are expressing their love of Christmas through the classic Christmas sweater.

In fact, McLaughlin said if it weren’t such a fashion faux-pas, her Christmas sweaters would make an appearance year-round. However, being an avid holiday supporter, McLaughlin said she has found a way to express her love of every holiday, 365 days a year. “Wearing Christmas sweaters year round may be a no, no,” she said, “but having a sweater for every season really works to my advantage.”

In spite of McLaughlin’s impressive collection of holiday-wear, she said her Christmas sweater is her personal favorite. “It has numerous bells and trinkets,” she said. “It’s pretty extravagant.”

Though McLaughlin said she is often ridiculed for her Christmas attire, she continues to support the holiday.

“People will jingle my bells (from time to time). But the opinions of Christmas haters don’t bother me,” she said.

Paraprofessional Dee Braden agrees Christmas sweaters are a healthy way to express holiday cheer. “I wear them to feel festive,” Braden said. “My favorite one has a sleigh around it and Santa climbing a chimney.”

Even though Braden freely expresses her love of the holiday season with her Christmasy wardrobe, she said donning a Christmas sweater should be a right reserved to those of a mature age. “It’s kind of an old person thing, I only wear them once in a while,” she said.

McLaughlin, on the other hand, said

the Christmas sweater should be a staple in every wardrobe. “Age doesn’t matter,” she said. “These sweaters spread holiday cheer, and they make me grin from ear to ear. I can’t imagine Christmas without them.”

Photo by JoJo Parin

The Rostrum

get involved

3

Friday, December 19, 2008

Peace Club plans a not-so-peaceful January event Olivia Scheffler opinions editor

The student body has already shown what the power of banding together can do for a cause such as the school dances and the cookie boycott, but this same power of many can be used for larger causes such as world issues if everyone participates, according to junior Sara Bayer, who is in the Peace Club.

“The Peace Club was founded

by Alex Everard when he was a sophomore, and this is what we try to do,” Bayer said. “We want to make more students aware of these bigger issues and give some information as well.”

The Peace Club came together when Everard had several conversations with social studies teacher Ryan Baese about world issues and what the student body could do to get involved.

“I joined when the club started and I want to continue to be more involved in the future,” Bayer said.

“I like how the club truly cares

about these issues and plans things that can help.

I don’t think people should wait until they grow up to try to make the world a better place.”

According to Bayer, the peace club has a project planned for the month of January.

This will be a dodge ball tournament where teams of students and even teachers can get involved and compete against each other.

It will be held in the high school gym and the money made from this event will be donated directly to an organization called

A f r i c a r e .

According to the Africare web site, this organization does a variety of things such as build wells, water filter systems and much more in and around Africa to help people and villages who need them.

The club has set a goal of earning $500 from this event.

Bayer said, “If we can get the word out, and a lot of people come to play, we can help the organization do these kinds of things.”

However, getting the word out to students

has been one struggle the club has had to deal with recently.

According to Baese, the club lost several seniors last year and has had a tough time gaining new students.

“Doing a charity dodge ball tournament is a good way to get more students and teachers involved in this and a fun, active event as well,” Baese said. “We wanted to try something different since we already have many can and coat drives with other student clubs.”

Even though Bayer likes being involved in the peace club and wants to continue next year, she said she would also like to see more new members.

She said, “I think it’s a great club and after Everard and everyone graduates, I hope more people join to continue it. I think sometimes people don’t think about how lucky we are to be living in this country.”

Annual NHS coat drive faces difficulties Alex Bercu staff writer

This annual coat drive is a passion to NHS adviser Cheryl Wells. NHS has coordinated this drive for years and Wells was determined to not let this year’s problems stop it from happening again.

It’s true this year the drive ran into a number of problems that hindered NHS’ ability to collect as many coats as it has in previous years, according to Wells. One problem was Families Together, the usual organization that accepted donations, was closed down.

Wells said, “The organization was closed due to lack of funding. Because of that, we had to donate to a more local organization called Faith and Action which gives the coats to poor families in Dexter and Chelsea.”

Wells said another problem, which caused such poor results for this year’s drive, was the weather. “It was a very warm year,” she said. “Which meant most people didn’t have any coats unpacked or out yet by the time we had the coat drive.”

However, the biggest problem for this year’s drive according to coat drive chairs person Haley Brewster the new policy to have third hour teachers read announcements to their class. Brewster said, “Most people usually found out about the coat drive when through the school-wide announcements last year.

Because they are only doing classroom announcements this year, and some teachers don’t even read them every day, it was really hard to get the word out about this year’s coat drive.”

Wells agrees saying, “Usually one person hears the announcement and tells their friend, who tells their friend, and that is how it gets around,” she said. “But with no announcements, few people even heard about it this year.”

In fact, this lack of announcements forced Brewster to take action into her own hands to spread the word.

“I put up flyers advertising the coat drive all over my neighborhood, trying to get anyone that I could to donate,” she said.

Even with these efforts, the drive still fell short.

Brewster said, “We had to extend the deadline for the coat drive because we didn’t have enough when the original deadline came around.”

However, the donations began to come in quicker when the deadline was extended she said.

Still, “We only got around 50 coats, which is lower than the past few years,” Brewster said.

Despite the low donation level, Wells said, “It was amazing to see how many people needed these coats

Photo by Kevin Shaeffer

Helping the cause: Staying involved in The National Honor Society, senior Scott Crompton helps sort coats donated by fellow students for the annual coat drive.

right here in Dexter and Chelsea, and I was glad we could help them.”

4

the spread

Friday, December 19, 2008 Poll by: Marshall Kellenberger

Survey of 15 teachers about students cheating:

80%

66%

60%

of teachers think that cheating is a major problem in Dexter

of teachers catch students cheating only once a month or less

of teachers follow the cheating punishment in the handbook

The Rostrum

The Rostrum

the spread

in the S g c n h i t o a o e l h C While teachers watch for it, students continue to get away with it, and some say they’ll never stop

Staff Writer

Cool, calm, and collected, junior Forest Dumas* glances to his right during Biology to see if he might be able to read the answers. Like many students, he is a cheater.

Not all students will study hard and go on to be successful high school graduates.

If they’re not working hard at home, then how do they get by? Dumas said he resorts to desperate measures.

“I don’t have enough time to do my homework, he said “I have to use other people’s work.”

Dumas said he has become so talented at cheating that he has never been caught.

Out of the five classes he takes in a day, he

Survey of 606 students on cheating:

78% 75% 66% 61% of students have cheated before

of students haven’t been caught cheating

Photos by: Christian Wiesenberg, Ross Chamberlain and Rachel Dethloff

of students think that cheating in DHS is not a problem

of students think punishment for cheating is too harsh in Dexter

Eagle eye teachers watch for cheating

Cheating a big part of students' lives By: Jack Nixon

5

Friday, December 19, 2008

By: Nick Baron Staff Writer

said he cheats in three. He struggles with his very busy schedule and he has to use other student’s homework to in order to finish his own.

How does he get all of these assignments? “I’m very persuasive,” he said.

To fool the teachers Dumas said he uses different and creative ways. “I had a note card glued to the inside of my belt,” Dumas said.

Dumas said he ha been a regular cheater for two years and plans to continue as long as he can, even if he gets caught.

“Cheating has become a big part of my life, because I do it so often,” Dumas said.

When students cheat, they might not realize how teachers feel about it. And while cheating for the first time is a level two infraction according to the student handbook, social studies teacher Jim Riethmiller said he takes a different approach.

“I don’t write kids up for cheating.” Riethmiller said.

Riethmiller said when he catches students cheating on tests, he throws away the test and the student receives a zero.

According to Riethmiller, he has to be sure before he throws the test away, he can’t just think the student is cheating.

“You’re mostly just hurting yourself,” Riethmiller said of cheating. He also said if he sees a student copying homework he first warns them.

Social studies teacher Jaime Dudash said that he doesn’t see cheating often, but he said he sometimes sees patterns

*Names changed to protect identity of source

Getting caught doesn't mean students won't cheat again By: Ian McCarthy Staff Writer

He was nervous about his ESS test but junior Dirk Bonhoffer (not his real name) wasn’t worried about how well he would do on the test. He was nervous about whether or not he got caught. “ It was freshman year, and I was in ESS with science teacher Beau Kimmey,” Bonhoffer said. “ I had a cheat sheet. A kid from an earlier class gave me the answers to the test that was on a sheet. I

put it on the ground and held it under my foot, looking at it when I needed it.”

Bonhoffer said he is an intelligent student who has a high grade point average, but he said he loves the thrill of cheating.

Almost finished with the test, he thought he was free when Kimmey suddenly called his name.

He received a zero on it. “ Kimmey’s hawk eyes caught me using the cheat sheet,” he said. “ I did it because I thought I would benefit from

it and it would raise my test grade,” he said.

Without much hesitation, though, Bonhoffer said he would cheat again and wouldn’t feel bad, “ Not at all,” he said, I felt like a bad ass and would do it again in a heart beat.”

As a result of getting caught, Bonhoffer said his grade was severely hurt. Still he is unapologetic about his cheating. He said, “Cheat sparingly and when it’s most important. Every cheating scenario needs a perfect plan to succeed.”

between kids sitting next to each other.

He said that he gives out multiple versions of tests and looks for irregularities in order to catch cheaters. Of cheating he said, “It is a lack of respect for the teacher and themselves. The student is the biggest loser. They are really only cheating themselves.”

French teacher Amy Olmstead said she has caught a lot of students cheating on homework, papers and tests. “I give them a zero on anything they cheated on,” she said.

She said cheating on daily homework happens all the time and the punishment is not as severe. Olmstead also said it takes more work to cheat than to study.

She said if she sees a student she suspects might be cheating she says, “Keep your eyes on your paper.”

She added, “There are usually certain kids I watch ... The weirdest way I have seen someone cheat is when a girl wrote the answers on her leg and pulled up her skirt to read them.”

6

puzzles

Friday, December 19, 2008

The Rostrum

Holiday Mad Libs!

Rudolph the ________ ________ _______ (color)

(noun)

(animal)

had a very ________ ________. (adjective)

(body part)

And if you ever saw it, you would even say it ________.

(past-tense verb)

Illustration by Gabe Altomare

All of the other ________

(same animal)

used to ________ and call him names. (verb)

They never let poor Rudolph join in any ________ games. (same animal)

Then one ________ Christmas Eve, (adjective)

Santa came to say: “Rudolph with your ________ so _______, (body part)

(adjective)

won’t you guide my ________ tonight?” (noun)

Then all the ________ loved him, (same animal)

as they shouted out with glee: “Rudolph the ________ ________ ________, (same color)

(noun)

you’ll go down in history!”

(same animal)

Box The Dots You and a partner take turns drawing a line from dot to dot.

Once a box is enclosed, put your initials inside indicating that you won that box. Winning a box gives you another turn.

The person with the most boxes win. Enjoy!

The Rostrum

uPage

7 QA &

Friday December 19, 2008

5X5 No.

No.

What is your greatest fear?

Sniffing industrial glue; yay or nay?

Whom from Dexter would you vote for president?

Uhhhhh ... can I say yes?

Have you ever lit a fart on fire?

Is Jim Riethmiller due for a Hollywood comeback?

Findalimus

Connor Johnston (12)

Annalyse Dobbs (9)

Shannon Callery (10)

Rob Mayrand (11)

Jake Larosa uPage editor

Only with Jake Larosa.

Jake Larosa uPage editor

With senior Travis Rize I’ve lit most things on fire ...

I don’t think so. I don’t really know him.

I can’t really say. I haven’t seen the movie he’s in.

I’d say so. I believe he’s got potential

I don’t know if his heart could take it.

Not while I still walk this earth.

Hmmm. I don’t really know about that one.

Not being successful.

Getting raped.

That Jim Riethmiller will be in another movie.

Riethmiller making a Hollywood comeback.

It’s probably not a good thing.

Alexander Dobbs, I guess.

Nay. It’s bad for you.

Jake Larosa.

It’s great. Wait, no it’s horrible.

Alexander Dobbs because he’s smart.

That depends on who’s asking.

Tom Barbieri.

This Christmas

I may not even have a nose, so nay.

No one in this land is fit to rule me.

JL: What sort of relationship do you have with the Grinch?

TR: Wouldn’t you like to know?

JL: Why are you deathly afraid of getting raped by clowns?

TR: Because I don’t know what they do with those things. It’s kinda gross.

JL: Tell me your worst qualities in detail.

TR: I don’t have any. I’m perfect in every aspect.

JL: So how’s the spark between you and gym teacher Tom Barbieri?

TR: Oh, where do I start ...

JL: Name one freshman girl you would like to date.

TR: I don’t know any. Maybe Melissa Mabry.

JL: If you were emo, would you cut yourself across the street or down the road?

TR: Down the road. Go big or go home.

JL: How often would you say you use politicallly incorrect words on an average day?

TR: Every five words. They are in my blood.

Jake Larosa uPage editor

DO: 1. Go sledding. A great way to have fun in the winter is to go down Cardiac Hill with no shirt on and freeze your nips off.

DONʼT: 1. Take part in a woodland critter Christmas. Don’t give birth to the Antichrist and have blood orgies

2. Throw snowballs in the parking lot. Some days I just can’t wait for the day to end so I can snipe annoying girls from afar and scare the crap out of unsuspecting drivers.

2. Sit on Santa’s lap. At your age it’s not only creepy, but Santa could get locked away for it.

3. Spin donuts in the parking lot. But look out for the light posts. They are known to cause damage to wildly spinning cars.

4. Boycott the winter formal. Unless they loosen the restrictions, the boycotts have to continue, no matter how sarcastic the junior class adviser becomes.

5. Take a deuce in the elevator. It’s a small enclosed area. Why not?

3. Send letters to the North Pole. The elves’ escape attempts keep getting foiled by foolish and greedy toy requests.

4. Listen to Scooter Smiff. He’s 8-years-old, and he throws up the shocker.

Completely inappropriate.

5. Light your fireplace on Christmas Eve. Unless you want to hear screams of pain and smell burning human flesh, it’s probably not a good idea.

8

November, 1999

the throwback

The Rostrum

Key Club Hits Dexter

Erin Reed •Erin attended Central Michigan University

Erin Reed past staff writer

Key Club is not about keyboarding or locksmiths. It’s students performing service to their community.

There are almost 70 students in the DHS Chapter sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club, and senior Vice-President Bekah Boyce said, “Key Club is the largest high school service organization in the world.”

Every other Thursday morning, Key Club meets at 7:15 a.m. in business and English/Business teacher Ellie Mays’ room to discuss upcoming activities.

According to Boyce, The Club’s activities include feeding the homeless, donating coupons to the needy, singing with the elderly, assisting the school with can drives and Future Leaders of America with rake and run.

Kristen Lavalli also pointed out that anyone who is interested in serving the community can become a member of Key Club regardless of age, grade, sex or nationality.

To join it’s easy, According to Mays, “Talk to one of the officers, or teacher advisors (myself or Amy Raus) to receive a membership application. Then when you return that, pay your $12.00 dues and you are in.”

And senior President Lavalli thinks it is important that people join and attend meetings. She said, “It is important to attend the meetings because your opinion matters in Key Club. Key Club is interesting in helping wherever it can.”

Lavalli also encourages everyone to join. “It’s fun. It builds a real sense of community working together. You never work alone,” she said.

Vice President Boyce feels that the Key Club motto, Caring, our way of life’ is very true. “It is very rewarding because everyone we help is very appreciative of our efforts.”

Q&A with Erin Reed

Q: What was The Squall like?

A: During my junior year, the school newspaper was called “The Paper.” It was a small newsletter-style paper. I wanted to be part of something, and I needed a English credit. The Staff, the first year was about ten senior students and only one or two juniors. We were quite an ecclectic group representing many different social groups of the high school. On the first day of class, Mr.Satt asked us to pick a name and one person suggested “The Squall”, and after hearing what it meant, we unanimous agreed.

Q: Do you remember writing this story?

A: I don’t really recall writing the article, however I remember attending the Michigan High School Newspaper Awards in Lansing and winning an award for a spread that Kassy Frost and I did.

Q: What are you doing now?

A: I currently teach third grade and have shown my students my past writing work (including The Squall) to get them interested in writing.

In my class, we have a “Newsazine”, where students can write newspaper style writing or share narratives they wrote.

Q: How many years were you apart of The Squall?

A: I was in the newspaper my senior year (1999-2000). It was Mr.Satt’s first year at Dexter.

Q: Are you glad that you were involved in The Squall?

A: I’m very glad to have been part of The Squall and its first year. I learned a lot about how to write in unbiased ways about many different topics, and I think it helped prepare me for my college writing courses.

Additionally, I have many great memories from my senior year working on The Squall that I am able to share with my students today!

Editor’s Note:

•Her favorite place to hang out with friends in high school was in all of Dexter’s local restaurants.

This issue’s “Throwback” page features the November, 1999 issue of The Squall. These stories are exactly as they were printed in the past issue, errors and all. Enjoy.

•She was new to Dexter her freshman year

Scott Crompton, editor-in-chief

•She is a third grade teacher at Central Academy in Ann Arbor

•Her biggest achievement in high school was adjusting to the change of being new and surviving all the way to graduation.

•Graduated DHS in the year 2000

Gas prices are cruising upward A group of Carifornians recently instated ‘’gas out” days, or days set aside by consumers to not buy gas in hopes to force down gas prices.

It’s a Friday night in July. You’ve worked all week at The gas out days were set up via the internet, local your summer job. news, and word of month but seemed to create short It’s warm outside. You’re ready to get together with term effects. friends, and you want to ‘’cruise” the streets.

Senior Rebecca Sheffler said, ‘’I probably pay a bit more at the pump when I fill up.

This sounds like a fairly common summer night for a teenMaybe a dollar or two more. But ager, right? Not for long if gas what can I do, I know I need gas.” prices keep rising.

Many citizens are afraid that rising crude oil prices will force govThe average national gas price last week for regular gas was a ernments to raise taxes on the supsteady $1.48 a gallon. While this ply. is down four cents from prices Catheryn Whitesell, a Virgina “the people with limited income will Beach, VA. Budget analyst said, ‘’I two weeks ago, it isn’t that much probably find the most difficult with can’t imagine anybody raising taxes of a drop. to pay for the difference. It would According to gas analyst Tribthe gas prices” ley Lundberg, the recent decline have to get really bad, like four or in prices was due to the increased five dollars a gallon, before we’d production in crude oil and their even look at a tax increase to pay for lowest prices. something like higher gas prices.”

Lundberg said that it is hard Everyone should expect gas pricto determine the crude oil proes to remain fairly steady this sumduction and prices in large admer. vance of this summer.

While government intervention will be the only medium for price Summer cruise routes are invariably going to become shortreduction, in the mean time, many ened for teenagers who will find their limited income Internet sites offer the chance to find the lowest priced difficult to fuel their cars. gas.

Teachers at Dexter have also felt the effects of the Teenagers may find this worldly event to pose difficulties in their normal activities. raising gas prices.

As a business teacher, Ellie Mays pointed out, ‘’I don’t Language Teacher Erica Carney (Rita) said, ‘’I have a half hour drive here every day. I actually just purchased have a problem, but the people with limited income will a car because it was fuel efficient.” probably find the most difficult with the gas prices.”

Erin Reed past staff writer

-Ellie Mays, former business teacher