Trojan Horse
February 2014
Source: www.thejakartapost.com
Trojan Horse
No. 3
01. Adelaide
Teaching History
08. 04.
Teachers Take a Stand
It’s a Hard Rock Life
Co ee Survey
15. 13. 18.
Game O n
Olivia Patton Editor in Chief Senior
Ellen Berkley Editor in Chief Senior
Monika Kovacs Head of Design Junior
Tana Kelley Photo Editor Junior
Keith Higbee Staff Advisor
Brian Chatard Principal
According to Oregon law, student journalists are responsible for determining the content of this publication, except under limited circumstances. The subject matter, content and views of the news, features and opinion sections in this paper do not reflect the views of Portland Public Schools or Woodrow Wilson High School.
TEACHING HISSTORY
February 2014
ENGLISH TEACHER MANUEL MATEO RECOUNTS HIS Trojan Horse BACKGROUND IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FAMILY’S
No. 3 Walking into room 126 for the first time, you might notice the red oriental style rug in the center of the room that’s curled at the ends. You also might notice that the walls are covered in art and posters of influential people throughout history. But one thing that might escape your observation is the old family photo that resides in the back corner of the room. In the black and white picture are six people in formal wear. “This is my family. My mother is wearing the wedding dress, and this is my father,” Manuel Mateo said, pointing at the picture. Mateo’s family came from the Dominican Republic during a hard time. The country was under the harsh dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo, and Mateo’s family worked against him by organizing meetings and fundraising to overthrow the dictator. They worked to connect to other like-minded people about the political matters. One famous novel that Mateo teaches in his English classes, In The Time of the Butterflies, recounts these events from the perspective of four sisters, the Mirabal Sisters, and how they work with other rebels to make a change throughout their country. These rebels included Mateo’s uncles, aunts, and parents. Mateo’s mother, Altagracia, lived in Villa Gonzalez, a small village near Santiago. The village was founded by Mateo’s grandfather who made many improvements to the village before he passed. The village is known for producing the finest tobacco in the Dominican Republic. Originally, Mateo’s mother’s family was from Spain. At the age of 16, she
moved to the Dominican Republic with her mom and two sisters, Gladys and Yolanda. Her mother worked as a milliner, a person who makes hats. By 1943 or 1944, her mother had saved enough money to send her three daughters to America. “[My mother] knew it was either in 1943 or 1944 because she remembers Roosevelt dying,” Mateo said. “She was on the train on the way to school, and she couldn’t figure out why everyone was crying. She thought Americans didn’t really show any emotion.” Mateo’s father, Ricardo, lived in Sabana de la Mar, near the bay Bahía de Samaná. His family was originally from Italy in a town called Calgano. He had married three times in his life, his first two wives having died young. Ricardo had four brothers and three sisters. While Mateo’s mother and aunts were economic exiles, Mateo’s father and uncles--Emilio, Hector, Aquiles, and Piere--were political exiles, resulting from their involvement in the June 14th movement. The June 14th Movement was a planned invasion to attempt to overthrow Trujillo and end his dictatorship of the country. It was staged by the Dominican Liberation Movement and assisted by Fidel Castro, the Cuban Prime Minister at the time. Trujillo learned of the attack through his spies and ended it quickly. Hector Mateo, one of Mateo’s uncles, was killed during the invasion. Nobody knows for sure when or how. Mateo’s other uncle, Emilio Mateo, knew he was being chased by the Dominican Republic government. One day, he shaved his legs and head, put on a dress, and took a boat to Miami. When he got there, he wrote a postcard to the Dominican
“I climbed Pico Duarte once and when I was done, the only thing that didn’t hurt were my teeth and hair.”
Photo: The wedding of Mateo’s mother and father. Contibuted by Manuel Mateo
Trojan Horse 2
February 2014 government, telling them that they would never find him; he was long gone. When Mateo was about eight or ten, his father took him back to the Dominican Republic for a vacation. “I got to walk around while he caught up with old friends, and his only rule was that I couldn’t swim to the diving platform [at the Bahía de Samaná]. People recognized me, and little old ladies pinched my cheeks.” After Mateo’s dad passed in 1987, he was talking with his mother about why he was never allowed to swim in the bay. “She told me it was because of the sharks!” When Mateo’s father was younger, he and his friends cut school one day, got Photo by Vincent Hand a boat, and caught a shark in the bay. Mateo has travelled to the Dominican Republic since, going to places like Santo Domingo, Santiago, Sosua, and Pico Duarte. “I climbed Pico Duarte once, and when I was done, the only things that didn’t hurt were my teeth and hair,” Mateo said. He also went with his family to the expanse of land that once belonged to his grandfather. “My grandfather owned all the land from the road up to the base of the mountain. When he passed, it had to be divided up because there was no money and no one to run it.” Mateo has a very large extended family, reaching up to 500 people at a family reunion. “There was a family tree [on the wall at the reunion] that was as big as this wall,” he said, pointing to the side of the classroom, “and it dated back to the early 1800s.” Our family history makes us who we are, and
3 Trojan Horse
Mateo’s has shaped him into the man he is today. To Mateo, teaching In The Time of the Butterflies to his students is more of a personal experience. “Two of the characters were classmates of my aunt,” Mateo said. “I’ve been to the locations they talk about in the book, and the events of the story have impacted my family directly.” These events have shaped Mateo’s family, and in turn have impacted his thinking as well. “It has helped me appreciate the advantages I have [by] considering how difficult my parents’ lives were during that time,” Mateo said. “It made me think more deeply about the books I teach and how the stories reflect the lives of the authors who wrote them.” Mateo also said that his way of teaching has changed because of the realization that these books were written by “real” people, whose experiences may have colored their vision and those of their protagonists. “Everyone has a story, whether it is shared or not, and deserves some level of respect,” Mateo said. “Same as my students’ lives, even if they believe they have led lives that are not special or impactful. Unless people take the time to think deeply and speak clearly, then important information that may impact others’ lives are lost.”
Adrianne Nix Junior
Thoughts? Tweet @WHSTrojanHorse
No. 3
ZAK SURMA
A JUNIOR GIRL GOES THE EXTRA MILE
IT’S A HARD ROCK LIFE ZAK SURMA CLIMBS TO THE PEAK OF GLORY
Spending nearly his entire childhood in the Pacific Northwest, it was almost as if Zak Surma was born to live life on the rocks. At the ripe young age of 7 years old, after years of ignoring his mother’s pleas of not climbing on furniture like a monkey in the forest, a day on the boardwalk of Huntington Beach changed his life forever. Surma had never been one to turn down an adventure, and on that day on the boardwalk he encountered a portable rock wall. “Oh what a wonderful opportunity it was for him!” his mother, Emmy, thought. After a little prodding and coaxing from Emmy, Surma built up the courage to walk up and take this rock wall head on. Little
did he know what kind of an impact this one little adventure would have on him. He had never gone climbing before and had never even thought about it as a fun activity, but with his knowledge of traversing furniture, he figured he could take on the challenge. They latched him up, and his journey began. Even though he was a 7-year old beginner, his movements were strong, swift, and confident. “I heard it a lot when I was younger, that I had all these special things about my climbing,” Surma said. “Back then, I didn’t understand what they meant, but now, watching old videos of my climbing, it resembles a lot of what I do now. And that was 9
Trojan Horse 4
February 2014 years ago!” If you are to watch a professional climber climb during a tournament, they climb without hesitation. They keep a steady pace, and when they reach a difficult spot, they don’t freak out or do anything they are uncomfortable with. Professionals take a second to look at it, and go back to climbing with the confidence that they can overcome the challenge. They take each grapple and step seriously and keep a calm composure even when they are struggling. This is how 7-year old Surma climbed, and how he continues to climb today. After this day, he demanded that his mom take him to rock climbing lessons immediately. She had no idea what her encouragement of climbing had done to his mind, but it was something great. Years went by with Surma practicing every day. In all these days of practices and clinics, Surma met some of the most important people in his life, the first being Alex Johnson. He met Johnson at a rock-climbing clinic at the Circuit Bouldering
Gym in Oregon. Johnson is a competing professional in the sport, and quickly became one of Surma’s best climbing partners and his biggest inspiration. “She was another coach for me. Someone I was more comfortable around. Someone
This was why I had to take him with me and work with him,” Slayton said. Slayton spent the next six months working with Surma in preparation for Nationals. He kept telling his friends that he was witnessing something great, and that led to him inviting friends to Surma’s workout sessions. This didn’t make Surma nervous like it would some people; rather, it gave him the fire he needed to climb harder. He wanted to give the people a show! Surma was excited for Nationals. As it crept closer and closer, the anticipation began to run free. He would be bouncing off the walls even at the thought of the tournament. Come tournament time, Surma was more prepared than he’d ever been. He was ready to implement some new techniques to his climbing, such as going for a more conservative route. Instead of trying to beat his nervousness by climbing as fast as he could and take it recklessly, he would think out his approach more carefully, and reason out his
Even though he was a 7-year old beginner, his movements were strong, swift, and confident.
5 Trojan Horse
I could talk to. I also have the biggest crush on her,” Surma said. The second person was Matt Slayton. Slayton was an opposing coach when he first saw Surma climb. Realizing the potential he had, Slayton took him under his wing and prepared him for his first national competition. “It was one of those things where I couldn’t take my eyes off him. His movements were elegant, but he also had some minor flaws I saw I could fix.
No. 3 best path. This was meant to limit as many mistakes as possible, and it worked. Surma took 7th place and got his name recognized as one of the best junior climbers in the nation. All was right in the world for Surma. He met great, influential people, had just participated in his first national competition, and was later invited to Continentals after his performance at Nationals. But 9 years of constant climbing will begin to wear down your bones, and a visit to the doctor threatened to change his climbing life forever. Surma would have to have major elbow surgery to prevent his bones from grinding against each other and replace the worn muscle, and he would miss 6 to 8 months for rehabilitation and recovery. The news fell hard on Surma, and he was sent into a depression that engulfed his regular life. “My depression furthered with each passing month without climbing, and I had nothing else that excited me like climbing did,� Surma said. The depression sent his attitude, his grades, and his entire life downward. His day, as opposed to goofing off and socializing at school, going to
climbing practice for a hard work out to pump him up for the rest of the day, then heading home to hang out with his family, now consisted of avoiding conversation at school and heading home, where he tried his best to isolate himself. He started to care less and less about his grades, and slowly started down the slippery slope
of no return. Nothing could bring Surma back up, save for one person: Alex Johnson. She hung out with Surma and worked with him in rehab and physical therapy to help him recover. “I saw he was in need of help, and it pained me to see him how he was. I did what I could, and I was so glad it had
Surma competing in Northern California during the summer.
Trojan Horse 6
February 2014
Surma is spotted by coach Matt Slayton.
such a great impact,” Johnson said. His recovery consisted of constant physical therapy visits and slowly working out more and more in an attempt to rebuild the strength in his muscles. He kept up the training, even though it killed him to not be able to climb after a good workout. “The months flew by so quickly, I didn’t even realize that the time was here to keep climbing when they told me it was. I was sure I had at least another month,” Surma said.
7 Trojan Horse
Finally, on February 7th, his 16th birthday, Surma was cleared to continue climbing. His attitude and his grades skyrocketed to a place no one had seen them before. Before, he was a solid B to C student who took life for granted and lived recklessly. Now, he is an A student who lives life for what it’s worth and is grateful for everything he gets. “It was one of, if not the happiest days of my life.” Zak has been practicing and training ever since, and is now making a name for himself as
someone with the potential to dominate at some major tournaments this year, including the Open Nationals, and the American Bouldering Series Youth Nationals, both of which take place in late February, two of the biggest tournaments of the year. Expectations for Surma are high because, like Slayton put it, “His body of work is looking better than ever! He has his goals truly set out this year, and he will be a name to look out for.” “I haven’t seen him happier than when he is climbing, whether casually with his friends, joking around, or taking it seriously at a major tournament,” Emmy said. 9 years ago, Surma found his silver lining, his peace of mind, his way of life. That day on the boardwalk has taken his life to a place that continues to offer new challenges and opportunities.
Daniel Brown Junior Photos contributed by Zak Surma Thoughts? Tweet @WHSTrojanHorse
No. 3
ADELAIDE THE STORY BEHIND ONE OF WILSON’S MOST DISTINCT STYLE ICONS
Photo by Ellen Berkley
Sitting across from sophomore Adelaide
had a love of castles and medieval architecture,
Beeman-White in a crowded coffee shop is a
antique cars, and then the Titanic,” Adelaide said.
surreal experience. At the table to the right of us
“I’ve gone through a lot of different phases of be-
two businessmen sit, smartphones out, discussing
ing interested in things. In 6th grade, I got really
a proposal, to the left a woman types on her
into old fashions. I started with small things, some
Macbook.
old lace or some gloves, and it sort of snow-
And then there’s Adelaide, wearing a ruffled
balled from there. Now I’m a spectacle.”
blouse and tea-length pleated skirt with hair intri-
But Adelaide doesn’t mind being a specta-
cately curled and tucked in a manner that clearly
cle. “Oh yes, I love seeing people’s reactions,”
required a lot of time. She sits up straight, making
Adelaide said. “Some people are like, ‘Oh my
the usual teenage slouch look especially apish. In
god, that’s so cool!’ Some people just look at me
the 21st century, the era of innovation, here sits a
askance.”
teenage girl straight out of Victorian England. “It started out when I was really little and I
Adelaide’s friends have also noticed public responses. “There’s definitely a lot of different reac-
Trojan Horse 8
February 2014 tions to how she dresses, and I personally think it’s great be-
skirt, to school,” Adelaide said. “I said no to that,” Harriet
am so dressed down,” she said, her tone one of fascination.
cause she’s just her own unique
said, the image of the classic
“When I was a kid your age,
person and I really admire that
teenager-parent wardrobe de-
girls had to wear dresses to
about her,” sophomore Cassia
bacle rising to the surface. “She
school. We had to. It was not
McIntyre said. “That’s some-
would take out anybody that
allowed not to. I fought with my
thing that I know I’m not brave
passed her in the halls!”
mother about that all the time.
enough to do, and I really admire her bravery.” Meanwhile, Adelaide’s mother sees things a little differently.
“I’ve never taken out anyone!”
My mom always wanted me to
Adelaide objected. “Except a
tone it up, and I always want
stool once.”
Adelaide to tone it down.”
In addition to the pompadour
Being familiar with her
“Everybody notices,” Harriet
daughter’s self-described “ob-
Beeman said. “Whenever we
sessive” nature, Harriett never
go anywhere, everybody is
thought much of her daughter’s
watching.”
choice to dress in her own way.
“I’ve grown immune to that,
“Since it’s developed over time,
so I don’t really notice it as
it sort of puzzles me,” she said,
much anymore,” Adelaide
looking at her daughter as if
piped in.
trying to unravel the enigma.
“I notice it! I mean she’s her
“You couldn’t pay me enough
own person, so if it doesn’t
to dress like that; it would be
bother her, it doesn’t bother me.
uncomfortable for me.”
But sometimes I ask her to tone
Adelaide and her pompadour.
it down a little bit before going
and hoop skirt, Harriet has had
for me to!” Adelaide interjected
to school.”
to reject certain flashy pieces of
good-humoredly.
“For instance, the pompadour.”
jewelry, and attempts to keep
“Oh, it’s pretty uncomfortable
Harriett let out a laugh,
her daughter from wearing her
shaking her head. “But her
Harriet pulls up a picture on
corset. Adelaide imitates her
motto is that beauty knows no
her iPhone that shows Adelaide
mother’s impression of her in
pain!”
with a solid wall of hair rising
her corset, hyperventilating and
over her head.
yelling, “Oh, I can’t breathe! Oh,
to wear them, she does own
I feel faint!”
some casual attire. “I have some
But that isn’t the only thing Harriet has had to veto from her daughter’s school wardrobe. “I also tried to wear a crinoline, a good Victorian hoop
9 Trojan Horse
In jeans and a corduroy
Though Adelaide is reluctant
normal clothes, but they don’t
jacket, Harriet’s style drastically
really fit anymore,” she said. She
contrasts with her daughter’s.
owns a pair of jeans for doing
“The really ironic thing is that I
yard work and a hand-me-
No. 3 down sweat suit she wears to
Depending on what she
Queen, a women who ruled by
use her mother’s rowing ma-
wears, it can take Adelaide up
herself in a time when women
chine. She also tends to dress
to an hour to get ready in the
did not rule by themselves.”
down in the summer because
morning. “I can’t tell you how
she likes to do yard work and
many times I’ve wanted to come
cerned about oppression and
odd jobs for people.
to school in my nightgown!”
tuned into human rights, that
During the school year,
Adelaide describes her style
“You are also really con-
not everyone is treated fairly
however, Adelaide is rarely
as “old-fashioned Victorian with
and equally,” Harriet reminds
seen in anything but Victori-
a touch of fantasy.” This sparks
her. “You really get passionate
an era clothing. Even when
from her love of history. “I just
about that sometimes.”
lounging around on the weekend she sticks to her vintage wardrobe. “I have bed days where I will just stay in my nightgown all day, but if I’m leaving the house at all, I will [dress up]. Maybe not to this extent, but I will dress in an old-fashioned, well, in a way that I don’t think is very extreme, but other
Sitting up even straight-
“I don’t believe that women are feeble and need to be looked after by men.”
people clearly do.” Because Adelaide has such
er, Adelaide gives a definitive nod. “I don’t believe that women are feeble and need to be looked after by men.” “You know how most girls want to be princesses when they were little? [Adelaide] never wanted to be a princess, she was always the queen.” Harriett is reminiscent, smiling
find history to be fascinating
at the memory of little Queen
an abstract style, it’s often diffi-
and I think there is so much we
Adelaide.
cult for her to find clothes. She
can learn from it, and so many
“Why not aim for the top?”
shops in vintage and antique
fantastic struggles people have
Adelaide says as if it’s obvious.
stores, as well as Goodwill
gone through, like the suffrage
In regards to the fantastic
and Buffalo Exchange. “I have
struggle just to secure the vote,
element of her wardrobe: “I love
a sparsity of outfits, especially
the abolition movement, all of
fairytales -- the original ones,
winter things,” she said. “I only
the different wars.”
not the buttered, sugary Dis-
have about two things that I
But Adelaide’s true passion
ney ones. The old ones, where
can really wear and be com-
lies with Queen Elizabeth I of
the evil stepsisters cut off their
fortable, so whenever I see a
England. “The reason I was
feet to fit into the glass slipper,
piece of clothing I will wear, I
so interested in Elizabeth I is
then birds peck out their eyes.
snatch it up immediately.”
because she was the Virgin
So I have just tried to incorpo-
Trojan Horse 10
February 2014 rate, this hat for example,” she
for me to reconcile that. I am all
and tattoos, Adelaide has to
indicates the small feathered
for rule Britannia, but I’m also
overcome her own obstacle. “I
top hat on her head. “Victorian
like that kind of colonization is
was applying for jobs over the
people didn’t wear this. It is sort
wrong.”
summer and I had to be sure to
of my take on the classic style.”
Because her style has be-
dress way down for that, be-
come such an important part of
cause I didn’t want employers
sation, a woman approached
her identity, Adelaide doesn’t
to think that I was insane.”
Adelaide to compliment her on
see it as a phase she will
her blouse.
outgrow. “I’m not very good at
to her style is that it represents
imagining myself in my 40’s, but
who she is as a person. For
I imagine myself in my 70’s and
Cassia, Adelaide’s outward ap-
I still imagine myself dressing
pearance never had anything
In the middle of our conver-
“Who was that?” her mom whispered to her. “I have no idea,” she replied, beaming.
The reason she’s so attached
to do with their friendship. “We
“Do you get compliments like
were friends a little bit before
that a lot?” we asked.
she made that transition,” she
“Yeah, that’s one thing that
said, “but what really drew me
I really like,” she said. “I like to
to her was her personality. She
think that I can bring something
was… very superior and intelli-
pretty into the world.”
gent.”
What started out as a style
So what is it like to hang out
choice for Adelaide has really
with someone who identifies
developed into a lifestyle. “She’s
with a different era? “A lot of
really funny, her reactions to
the time she dresses me up,”
different situations,” Cassia said.
Adelaide models her hoopskirt.
Cassia said. “She has a lot of
“One thing, she doesn’t say, ‘Oh
like this,” she said. “If I could
fun with that. So now I can say I
my god!’ She’ll say, ‘Oh, Queen
predict the future, I would say I
have worn a corset and a hoop
Victoria!’”
think I will, maybe not to this ex-
skirt. It’s pretty fun actually.”
Beyond influencing her speech, she finds her wardrobe choice to have impacted her
treme, learning moderation as I get older as most people do.” Though Adelaide doesn’t
Adelaide also likes to share her love of history with her friends. Cassia recalled a visit to
view of the world as well. “The
plan to give up her unique style
OMSI’s recent Sherlock Holmes
way I dress is mostly Victorian,
in the future, she also expects
exhibit. “Her take on it was
and the way I think is as well,”
it to impact her life in the pro-
really funny. She wasn’t going
Adelaide said. “I am kind of
fessional world. While many
there to figure out the mystery; it
a mix between Victorian and
people seeking jobs are facing
wasn’t a game to her. What she
human rights activist. It’s hard
prejudice based on piercings
wanted to find out was the his-
11 Trojan Horse
No. 3 tory. She spent like 15 minutes
long encouraged Adelaide’s
ing her eyes. “Yes, maybe that’s
staring at an old stagecoach,
exploration of history, and now
why you choose to dress like
completely absorbed with how
her decision to dress to express
that, to rebel against my blue
old it was and the history be-
her interests. “I support her in
jeans and sweatshirts!”
hind it and how it worked.”
being herself. It doesn’t help if
Though her interests aren’t
“That is a rumor!” Adelaide
your family brings you down for
said, holding up a finger in a
typical, Adelaide is still a teen-
being individual and unique.”
very matter-of-fact fashion. “That
ager in the 21st century. “I do
Then, to Adelaide, “You’re going
is one rumor about me which
really like technology,” she said. “That is something not many people would expect.” She is fascinated by sci-fi and fantasy, some of her favorites including Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and the classic Star Trek. To her friends and family, Adelaide’s decision to adopt a new
is not true, as far as I
“When she made the transition, it wasn’t like, ‘Oh my god! She totally changed!’ It was like her exterior finally fit her interior.”
know.” “Many moms are not worried about this,” she gestures towards her daughter’s outfit, “for their teen. If this the worst you can do, I can live with it.” Adelaide flashes her a facetious smile. “I need to remind you of that!”
style wasn’t a surprise. “Before she made the transition,
out in the world and you need
she would just wear pants and
support from your people,
a sweater like anyone else, but
even if it wasn’t what I would
that didn’t really suit her,” Cas-
choose.”
sia said. “She kind of felt like it
“I am extremely grateful for
wasn’t really her; she was just
how supportive my friends and
wearing it for everyone else.
family are,” Adelaide says.
When she made the transition,
Harriet gives her daughter a
I was really proud of her. It
peck on the cheek. “You should
wasn’t like, ‘Oh my god! She
be too or else I would be even
totally changed!’ It was like her
more extreme -- the classic
exterior finally fit her interior.”
‘rebellious teenager versus the
As mystified by her daughter’s choice as she is, Harriet has
Olivia Patton Senior
Ellen Berkley Senior Photos contributed by Harriett Beeman Thoughts? Tweet @WHSTrojanHorse
Victorian style’ rebellion.” Harriet chuckles, playfully roll-
Trojan Horse 12
Did You Know?
Starbucks Survey.
A Starbucks grande coffee has 320 milligrams of caffeine, over four times the amount of caffeine in a Red Bull.
Created by Moni Kovacs
*www.businessinsider.com
Based on a survey of 71 people.
Yes Ple
ase 4%
What drink do you usually order? FUN FACT: There are 2% Brewed Coffee
58% Female
over 87,000 possible drink combinations at Starbucks.
38% Male
Tea
15% Tea
11%
Never
63%
42% Latte/Espresso
Less than once a week
21%
1-2
3%
3-4
0% 2%
5-6 12% Iced Coffee/Tea
7+
How much do you think you spend in a week?
10% Smoothie
$0
$3-5
$6-10
$11-19
$20+
19% Other
30%
50%
18%
2%
0%
38% Peppermint Mo cha
10% Gingerbread
22% Eggnog
30% Caramel Brulee Latte
What is your favorite holiday drink?
Class?
Senior 25%
Junior 35%
Since the beginning of the year have you been to Starbucks?
84% Yes
Sophomore 10%
Freshman 30% et? g y l l a u usu
yo o d e z i What s
16% No
Short 7%
Tall 53%
Grande Venti 29%
11%
February 2014
TEACHERS TAKE A STAND THE FIGHT FOR THE SCHOOLS STUDENTS DESERVE
There are many things that make our school what it is. The crowded hallways, the murky water, the friendly students. However, under all of that, what really makes our school special are the amazing, dedicated teachers. These teachers who have done so much for our school, are no longer happy with the conditions that they have to work in. They believe that both they and their students deserve better. Armed with blue buttons and strong opinions, our teachers are fighting a battle to give us the education we deserve. The looming strike has become a topic everyone is familiar with. Without the teachers, there’s no way for students to come to school. There aren’t enough substitutes to replace the amount of teachers striking. Students are excited about the idea of less school; to many it’s the same as a snow day.
15 Trojan Horse
“Some students are supportive because they like their teachers, others don’t really care, and some just want teachers to go on strike because it means less school,” Scott Guthrie, science teacher and union representative said. One of the reasons for the strike is the district’s proposed contract that would allow the teacher’s workloads to be increased, which would cut down on the amount of teachers needed and cost the district less money. Putting a cap on the students that a teacher can have in the classroom allows them to give more attention to individual students and spend more time teaching, instead of being forced to work with so many students that they struggle to remember everyone’s name. The initial contract sent in by the teachers a few months ago asked for a smaller workload and less students in the classroom. This one was rejected, and a second contract was sent in. The
No. 3
second contract asked for more money to make up for the large amount of work teachers have to do. “The big sticking point, the one that we filed an unfair labor practice on, is about the teacher workload,” Guthrie said. Though the teachers don’t necessarily want to strike, they may have to if they want a fair contract. “If the current contract that the district is proposing gets implemented on us…we have to decide whether we’ll accept it or not,” Alex Rabchuk, math teacher and head building union representative said. The new contract that the district is suggesting will hurt both students and teachers. Having more students in the classroom will give teachers even less time to grade papers and help students. They also won’t be able to teach as much in class. Even now, teachers don’t get to teach as many things as they did a few years ago. “I don’t have as much time in class to review some of the concepts I used to be able to review or take a little bit slower pace through some of the material,” Rabchuk said.
The teachers union that has been so active in preparing for the potential strike in support of better working conditions could also be something that the school board had a problem with. “I think there’s a philosophy out right now that the unions are a problem with school reform,” Rabchuk said. Although this may be how the school board feels, school districts with unions often have higher test scores and graduation rates. Some of the teachers that are more involved in the union are trying to help the younger teachers, as well as students. “When I was a younger teacher, the union helped me out of a couple issues and as a younger teacher I was more focused on just learning how to teach at the time,” Rabchuk said. “Now that I’m an older teacher, I feel like it’s time for me to pay back. One generation helps out another.” However, even if the strike will help students in the long run, it wouldn’t be good for them at the moment. It will be especially bad for the seniors who will need to have their grades sent into colleges. Students who are in AP classes will be behind in the course material and might not do as
Teachers gather at “the Schnitz” to decide their next move.
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February 2014 well on the tests as they could have. Juniors who are planning on taking any standardized tests in the next few months may not be able to take their scheduled tests, or do their best on them. It will also have a negative effect on the school sports teams whose seasons will be interrupted. If the strike lasts too long, there’s also a chance that students will have to make up the missed days in the summer, which no one wants to happen. While at this point the strike is only hypothetical, according to Rabchuk it’s also very likely to happen. “We’re preparing for a strike, ”Rabchuk said. It may be that a strike is the only way for teachers to get their voices heard. “Generally a strike forces people to talk in order to end it,” Guthrie said. Teachers hope that the school board and teachers union will be able to reach a resolution for the contract before it comes to that. Despite their unhappiness with the negotiations, teachers aren’t doing much else to protest in the classroom, though there have been several rallies, including recent ones on the Burnside Bridge and outside the school board building. “In the past when we’ve had rough negotiations I’ve cut down on the hours I’ve worked outside school. I haven’t done anything like that,” Guthrie said. Teachers are trying to help students as much as they can in case they have to strike. The school board members insist that they also want what’s best for schools and students. Many of them have children in the school system, and they want them to get a good education. “My goal is a negotiated settlement between the district and the union with a new and improved contract that is fair for teachers, fiscally responsible, and most important, works better for students,“
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district school board representative Ruth Adkins said. Although the teachers have the support of many parents who are unhappy with their children’s education in this battle, they don’t always have the explicit support of administrators at our school. Administrators are often supposed to appear impartial to the issue. If they do support teachers, they might not express that feeling. “I’m sure [the administrative staff] have sympathy for the teachers,” Rabchuk said. As contract negotiations continue, patience on both sides of the table is wearing thin. Despite uncertainty over the future working conditions, the stress of a looming strike, and all the upheaval that it brings, teachers stay focused on what drew them to their profession in the first place, educating students.
Natalie Jenkins Junior Photos by Tana Kelley Thoughts? Tweet @WHSTrojanHorse
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Game On
WILSON’S E-SPORTS CLUB TAKES GAMING TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Casey Waker (left) and Will Sims (right) go head to head in a round of Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
You’re in the math wing at Wilson, and you hear the muffled cries from a predominantly male crowd. It’s coming from room 28. You crack open the door to see a row of desks in front of a large TV, occupied by two tense E-sports gamers. Behind them are numerous spectators, jeering at the minute mistakes made by the players. Amid the tumult, you hear a voice call everybody’s attention. There is a momentary silence as Gabe Kauffman rises from his seat to announce the players in the next round: “Next up are Nick and Carter.” They take their seats at the front of the room, preparing themselves for the chaos that is an E-sport. For those who don’t know, an “E-sport” is an electronic sport, more commonly known as a video game.; and senior Gabe Kauffman is at the
head of Wilson’s E-sports program. Many who champion the idea of a video game becoming a sport believe that the only difference between a sport and an E-sport is the athleticism; and if one could define a sport as an activity that exhibits certain skills and rapid decision making—then there is definitely a place for E-sports within the sporting community. Gabe is almost exclusively a computer gamer; he prides himself on the PC he built for gaming, the same one he uses today. Most of his days after school are characterized by starting up his PC, and it whirring to life as he thinks of what he will play that day; he often challenges his younger brother Zach to competitive games. He has cordoned off his room as well as other parts of his house for gaming. “There’s the basement, then
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February 2014 there is the basement—basement, where only I go,” Gabe said. “I can pretty much sit down there and not be disturbed.” His basement is fitted with a TV, an Xbox 360, a Wii, and his PC. Playing video games has been a part of Gabe’s life for a long time; when he speaks about them there is an air of nostalgia to his voice. “I started out at the age of six with the Nintendo Gamecube and later the Gameboy, I played Smash Bros. Melee, Super Mario Sunshine. Those were some iconic games of the time, that everybody played.” Gabe started to seriously game at the end of eighth grade and the beginning of freshman year. The game that launched Gabe’s E-sports career was Starcraft 2—a game in which the player controls armies to destroy the enemy base for victory. Gabe played Starcraft for two years. During this time he took part in multiple tournaments, where he came in first in one while placing in several others. Gabe practices his favorite video games like Startcraft as if it were his religion—spending 6 to 7 hours a day on them. As he gained skill he also began to coach other players. “I’ve made tons of money from tournaments and coaching people.” Gabe said. He made between $500 and $1000 overall. The gaming scene is big in Portland, where there are tournaments for Starcraft, League of Legends, and others, many of which involve cash prizes. Gabe saw an opportunity to share his passion when he saw that Wilson didn’t have a club dedicated to video games. “I wanted to start a community of E-sports fans.” He knew people would follow him in this pursuit, since he was already well known for his gaming prowess. The idea for making the club came to Gabe sophomore year. Unfortunately, he was too late and the due date
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for club applications had already passed. However, he was able to create the club in his junior year. E-sports bring many games to the table that are fun and highly social, but also competitive. “What makes the club popular is the competition, the socialization, and how it’s changing how we view sports,” Gabe said. The biggest game currently being played in E-sports is League of Legends, (LoL). LoL is considered an actual sport by American standards, garnering more viewers at the annual finals, than tennis or hockey annually; Spectators will often attend the tournaments where, at local game shops enormous screens are set up so they can watch their favorite players. But most gamers and fans prefer to stay at home and watch “live-streams” on their computers of the LoL spectacle. There is also some talk about it being an Olympic sport, but the jury is still out. Just like football, basketball, or any other team sport, there are national and international competitions composed of revered
Gabe announces the next set of competitors.
No. 3 teams on the gaming scene. At Wilson the E-sports club is trying something similar by hosting their own tournament, playing the club’s favorite game Super Smash Bros Brawl. “Tournaments can be annoying to schedule and coordinate with Erica Meyers,” Gabe said. Finding time in between sports and assemblies held in the gym, it can be tough to work out a deal. Despite this however, he still enjoys managing the club. He doesn’t mind staying up that extra hour to improve the quality and enjoyment of the club. “Managing takes up a lot of time, but I’m passionate about it,” Gabe said. The club is not just a fun place for people to play video games, however; Gabe has plans for the club and a dream for E-sports everywhere. “E-sports is the future of entertainment,” Gabe said. “I have a vision that 10 years from now, people will go out on Friday nights to watch their favorite League of Legends teams, like football.” He wants to change the way people view sports. By adding things like the Super Smash Bros Tournament, Gabe has increased the popularity of the club, making E-sports more competitive, which is what he needs if he wants to make it a serious sport. Gabe would like for people who don’t play sports to have the same feeling of accomplishment that athletes enjoy. Just as with other club sports, there is desire for competition; but there is no support through the schools system. Funding, scheduling, and organizing people are always up to the club leaders. This requires more commitment and motivation from Gabe and his vice president, George Crary. Gabe will need funding to pay for spaces to accommodate spectators, as well as equipment like projectors and screens. He will also need to
schedule and organize tournaments or games with other schools. Gabe wants to set up interscholastic tournaments involving LoL in the near future. “I have a good friend who goes to Cleveland, and we were thinking of setting up tournaments between our clubs.” When you step into room 28 during an E-sports meeting, you can hear the idle banter about various teams, gaming personalities, and strategies. The guys at an E-sports tournament are as zealous as spectators of a football game. If you were to have no context, these guys would look no different than your average teenage boys chatting about other sports. For people like Gabe, video games like LoL and Smash Bros Brawl are a sport, demanding the attention and dedication that a real sport might require. E-sports is a cultural phenomenon, impacting places from South Korea, to here at Wilson in room 28. So next time you see the E-sports club yelling at a television screen, you know that it is fueled by this passion for competition—just like any other sport.
Aidan Ormond Freshman
Cory Root Senior Photos contributed by Raiden Westerman Thoughts? Tweet @WHSTrojanHorse
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February 2014
@WHSTrojanHorse Front cover: Zak Surma climbing recreationally in Central Oregon during the summer. Back cover: Supporters outside the Schnitz as they await the PPS strike vote verdict. Photos contributed by Zak Surma & Tana Kelley
back cover
LEGAL Local Civil Rights inquiries Brian Chatard, Title VI, IX Coordinator (503) 916-5280 Maude Lamont, 504 Coordinator (503) 916-5280 District Title vi, ix, & 504 inquiries Carolyn Leonard, Compliance (503) 916-5280 Room 227 - BESC American Disabilities Act Contact Maureen Sloan, HR Legal Counsel (503) 916-3025 Human Resources - BESC
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