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April 2012
Rocking the vote By: Kaylinn Taggart Editor in Chief
The upcoming 2012 Presidential Election is in November. Before that happens, Republicans need to choose their candidate. The Democrats already have their candidate with incumbent President Barack Obama. The Democrats, as well as the Republicans, will need to pay attention to the Republican Primary so that they will also know who will be running against Obama, and what issues are at hand. This pertains to every student in Thomas Jefferson High School, even if they cannot vote. Students can still learn about the candidates and what their viewpoints are for future reference. They can also use this knowledge to inform other people of candidates views and/or motives. “People who don’t vote get left out of the political process. The government pays attention to people who are older because they pay attention. People who
Come check out more of our stories and ‘like’ our Facebook page at bit.ly/TJSignal Volume 87, Issue 8
Basketball coach Nicole Vetter resigns
By: Brooklyn Holder Reporter
After 16 years of coaching the Thomas Jefferson’s girls basketball team, head coach Nicole Vetter is resigning. “I had wanted to spend more time with my kids during the summer. I have a cabin in Okoboji that I want to visit when I want to. It’s hard to do what you want, when you want, when basketball requires all your time and attention,” explained Vetter. The announcement came during the Winter Sports Banquet and Awards night. Her team is devastated about her resignation. “It is upsetting to see her go, but we all understand. We know she had a hard time making this decision. Her family needs her. She spent a lot of days away from them, and she decided that enough was enough,” said sophomore Alicia Beckman. Everyone seems nervous about finding a new coach for the girls’ basketball team. They are hoping things go smoothly.
Students place in writing contest
By: Allie Townsend Reporter Thomas Jefferson High School we had two students senior, Angel McGuire and junior, Kaylinn Taggart submit short stories and poems to the Midlands of Iowa Reading Association. Only on His Strength Can you Overcome was a poem that Taggart won first place; and she also received second for her creative writing piece, De’j’a vu. She placed with two of the three pieces she submitted in the 11th grade division. Only on His Strength Can You Overcome is about how when people are in need, they turn to God. Taggart’s piece, De’j’a vu, is about a teen named Ashley Smilt who was in a car accident causing her to have fatal memory loss. She goes home for the holidays, and forgets where she is, ending up in trouble. “I was sitting in my car and opened the letter. I started scream-
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ing and was jumping around,” Taggart explained about when she found out about the contest. McGuire also submitted a poem, Daddy’s Love. She placed first in the 12th grade division for the work. “This is her third year in a row winning [poetry],” Gillespie explained. These two students both “were judged on grammar, punctuation, and spelling as well as their content,” said, reading teacher, Mrs. Patricia Gillespie. “Both Kaylinn and Angel will be honored at the Midlands of Iowa Reading Council’s writing celebration on May 1st at West Elementary School in Glenwood,” said Gillespie. McGuire won at the state level, therefore she has the opportunity to attend a state conference in Ames, Iowa on June 27th. There will be well-known authors at this celebration as well. McGuire could not be reached for an interview about her short story.
New bleachers for CB stadium By: Dylan Heyer Reporter
Photo of Coach Vetter and senior Alison Arnold. Photo by Aaron Mefferd.
“I am a little worried about finding a new coach. Changing the routine is always difficult and adjusting to a new coach is always tricky,” explained fellow sophomore Samantha Arnold. Vetter shares her concern, “I want them to find someone who cares about them, not as a team, but individually, and not just the game. It is more than just winning and losing.” Being surprised by Vetter’s decision, the girls know she will still be there to cheer them on. “Of course I will still be
there for the games. How do you do something for so long and then just quit?” said Vetter. She told the girls to never quit or give up, and that she loved their effort throughout the season. They agreed that Vetter would always be apart of girls basketball. “We love you Vetter and you will always be apart of our team,” said Arnold. T.J. assistant coach, and teacher, Mrs. Kelly Duffek is also stepping down from coaching at the end of this year. She, also wants to spend more time with her family.
The School Board has decided to renovate the Council Bluffs Stadium’s bleachers. This was needed because the bleachers were hazardous for the fans sitting in them. The overall cost is $686,000 that will come from a fund just for building and construction. The new bleachers are expected to have 2000 seats and be handicapped accessible. The renovations should begin soon and should be completed by next fall. This is the start of several rounds of renovations. “These renovations are way overdue. It’s great we are moving forward.” Thomas Jefferson High School Principal, Mrs. Lisa Dale said. With new bleachers for the CB Stadium it should be a great football season for the fans next fall.
Supreme Court Justice speaks at T.J. By: Kara Bussing Contributor David S. Wiggins took the time to come to Thomas Jefferson High School on Thursday March 8th and tell a few students about his job as a Supreme Court Justice. Wiggins had been a lawyer for 27 years before being elected as a Justice. As most, he had not planned to go into law, but after graduating from University of Illinois in Chicago he made the choice to go to Drake University in Des Moines for law. “You cannot always plan your life, because there is always ‘Ys’ in the road,” Wiggins pointed out to the juniors and seniors that attended. “They always say that making laws in the legislature is like making sausage. You don’t want to see how it’s made, but it the end it is very good,” Wiggins said. The legislative branch and executive branch make laws in which the judiciary branch abides by in the court system. The judiciary branch is the only branch that there is no election to determine who is a part of the branch. When there is a spot open, lawyers apply to the merits, which then send three names to the Governor who has thirty days to make a choice or the head merits makes the decision. Luckily, there is a possibil-
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Photo of Supreme Court Justics, David S. Wiggins speaking in front of T.J. students. Taken by Kara Bussing
ity of a retention election, where there is a judge who is not capable of his duties. “Iowa has the fourth best judicial system for having fair and impartial judges,” Wiggins explained. Senior Kyle McGlade’s pointed out that, “Legislatures make the law, but the justices interpret them.” The job of the Supreme Court is to follow these laws, no matter how badly one would like to let their opinions interfere with the decision. Their jobs are to protect the minorities against the majority, whether that is gender, race, age, or class. Also, the Supreme Court Justices make sure that the legislature does not pass a law that will go against the Constitution. One of the issues that Wiggins talked about was gay marriage and the difference between a religious
marriage and a civil marriage. Basically, when it is legalized that gay couples can be married; it is a committed relationship with the same benefits as marriage. This happens when not allowing gay couples to be married is determined unconstitutional. “Once no same sex marriage is unconstitutional, you cannot change the law back,” Wiggins said about the issue of same sex marriage in the court. Justice Wiggins helped the students at Thomas Jefferson understand the Supreme Court a little more in depth than you could ever really talk about in a classroom. Hearing someone in a profession is very interesting and Wiggins came to answer student and faculty questions as best as he could in order for them to understand the Supreme Court more.
Rock Iowa Continued from page 1.
are eighteen to twenty years old vote lower than any other age group,” CE Government teacher, Mr. Ryan Loots explained. On March 27th, Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz came to speak to T.J. students about how they can Rock the Vote. Rock the Vote is a program that was started by the cable television network MTV, and famous musicians, to inform young people of how important their vote is. Rock Iowa is the conference that Schultz shared with T.J. students. This is a new, localized, program that was combined with Rock the Vote. “Young people care and want different things. And by voting, you’re able to have your needs heard, and you are able to elect candidates who care about the same things that you do,” Schultz said. During the presentation, Schultz picked candidates from the students to give them an idea of how elections are ran. “I like how he called people up to run for President, and we got to ask the “candidates” current issues, and then vote for which one we wanted,” junior Cassie Payne stated. Voting is important for everyone because by casting their vote, they have a say in how things are run, for instance, in taxes and laws that are passed. “Typically, less than half of young people vote. Though
lately that has increased to about 60 percent,” Schultz said. Loots gave an example of the 2008 election, where candidate Obama was able to get many votes Photo of Secretary of State, Matt Schultz. Photo by Kaylinn Taggart. by going to colleges and universities around the for a candidate who will make country to get students to vote in your life better. However, that is their city. Obama knew that stu- an idealistic way of thinking.” There are a few things dents between the ages of 18 to 20-years-old are more likely to to remember when it is vote for a Democrat because they time to register for voting. “Anybody that is going to be usually do not have a higher in- come and are more for change. going off to college or the military Loots also explained that should do one of two things. One, when going to vote, it is essen- get an absentee ballot. Or two, tial to make informed decisions register to vote where they are to avoid going against one’s be- going to be (living),” Loots said. When a person gets an abliefs. When people do not know what a candidate stands for, they sentee ballot, they are still able run the risk of voting for some- to vote in another city or state. By casting a vote, it gives one who may be against their best interest in the long run. each person a chance to voice “One of the things a per- their needs to their democratson should consider is first to ic government. Paying attenlearn about the different can- tion to politicians and what didates and what policies they they stand for can be for a perwant to enact when elected,” son’s best interest and helps to Loots explained. “Then, think shape the United States’ future. “They need to know that about how these policies will af- fect their lives and if they will their vote counts, and need to make it better, or they make it make their voices heard to be worse? I think you should vote able to do that,” Schultz added.
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By: Kaylinn Taggart Editor in Chief Students in Art Instructor, Ms. Courtney Mimick’s, third hour class made display cases for clubs and activities throughout Thomas Jefferson High School. Each display case needed to be made by hand, and had use at least one recycled item. “The object is to try to get kids to see how art is in real life, not just studio art,” Mimick said. “Chances are that these students probably aren’t all going to go out and become studio artists. They will more likely become other things that involve art skills like hair stylists and cake decorators. So this is for them to learn to take art and their capability and meet
*Must present valid high school student I.D. card. Not valid with any other offer. 14 & 15 years of age must have parental consent. See store for details. Expires 9/30/11
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By: Allie Townsend Reporter Please do not perform any of the following pranks while you are on the school grounds. We cannot be held liable for any injuries or accidents that may occur. Everyone likes to go out and have fun, and there is a day that is set aside just for pranks: April Fools Day. There is not a specific date as to when the day was discovered, but many countries take advantage of the day to make others feel foolish. History reaches back as far as 1582 starting when the ‘New Year’ was changed to January 1st. New years was celebrated for eight days; from March 25th to April 1st. Since information did not travel as fast as it does today, people were still celebrating the new year on April 1st. Many people started to make fun of them and call these people, ‘fools’. People would play practical pranks, and the fools would be at the other end of the pranks. “The most common was to secretly stick a paper fish on someone's back (like how we do "kick me" signs), and children especially still have fun with this. Thus, to the French, it is known as "Poisson d'avril" (the fish of April),” said French teacher, Mrs. Pamela Mass. Eventually, people started to just play pranks on each other because they started to see the true ‘fun’ in it all.
Countries such as Rome, Scotland, England, Portugal, India, and many more, celebrate the holiday differently than in the United States. In Scotland, Taily Day (April Fools Day) is celebrated for 2 days. The second day of the holiday is dedicated to pure pranks. For instance, the ‘Kick Me’ sign originated from Scotland. In England, people only play pranks on each other in the morning. It is considered bad luck to play any sort of prank after noon. The victim of pranks tend to be named the ‘Noodle’. Would you love to be able to throw flour at your friends? That is how the Portuguese celebrate April Fools day. They celebrate it the Sunday and Monday before Lent, though. Roman Laughing Day is how the Romans party up the pranks. There is a festival that is known widely as the Festival of Hilaria. At this festival they are celebrating the resurrection of Attis, the god. They celebrate this on March 25th, though. In India, they smear colors on each other to bring in the new season: Spring. The Indians also play pranks on each other, like the U.S. Americans do. This holiday brings entertainment to people all across the world, no matter what day it is. Information found at www.april-fools.us
Art students make display cases for clubs
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it with someone else’s needs.” The students worked in groups of three where the leader selected two other people. Their artistic style and how they would cooperate with the team members determined who would be in each group. Treynor State Bank was a display case made by one of the groups. TS Bank sponsors the bank in the commons of the school. “Not a lot of people know about it and we want to put it out there so more people use it,” senior Mercedes Cunningham said about why they chose the bank. “It is designed like a treasure hunt because when you think of a bank, you think of gold.” Another group chose to
make a robot out of recycled computers for engineering. “It’s the idea that stood out the most,” sophomore Jaimie Granger said. To make the robot, they have to first tear apart the computers and reassemble them into robot form. A show case is also being made for band and orchestra where its members have adopted the motto “good enough is not good enough”. “It seemed the most delicate and peaceful,” junior Breann Hartmann explained. Their recycled materials used were old instruments that did not work any more. Read the rest of the story at bit.ly/TJSignal