the LanceVolume 54 Issue 2 Omaha Westside High School 8701 Pacific St. Omaha, NE 68114 October 9, 2009

As the 1996 Honda Accord drove south on 105th Street, the driver increased his speed. After reaching 105 mph, the driver lost control. Within four seconds, the car hit a tree, rolled three times and ran over a stop sign before coming to rest against another tree. All the while, the driver was conscious.

“It’s kind of a rush to drive fast, so I just decided to,” sophomore Jeff Dirks said. “Not a good idea to speed around a curve though. Right as I hit the tree, I realized it was not going to be good. It was all kind of dream-like as it happened.”

For Dirks, the night of Aug. 28 turned into a near disaster within a matter of seconds. Shortly after the Westside v. Elkhorn football game, Dirks found himself stuck inside a mangled car, searching through dirt and car parts for his cell phone in an attempt to dial 911.

“I couldn’t find my phone, but my windows were broken so it was easy to lean out the window and yell for help,” Dirks said.

Shortly after the accident, senior Tim Brawner was driving down 105th Street on his way home. Before he could react, Brawner’s car struck a tire lying in the middle of the road, which he later learned had fallen off Dirks’ car.

“My brother’s and I got out [of the car] and people were motioning for us to get out of the way,” Brawner said. “I was looking for the car crash and I looked up to the tree and saw the white car in it. I didn’t think anyone could survive that.”

Sophomore Nate Jones and senior Richard Larson also drove down 105th Street that night. After an ambulance and two fire trucks passed them, the boys knew something was wrong. When they got closer to the accident, two police cars were blocking the road.

“We parked the car to get a closer look,” Larson said. “We were walking toward the emergency vehicles and that’s when we saw the white Honda.”

Larson’s thoughts immediately turned to Dirks, a good friend from show choir, who he knew had just started driving a white Honda Accord.

“I remember Richard saying, ‘Those are Honda tail lights,’” Jones said. “That’s when I started flipping out. I kept saying ‘It’s not Jeff, it’s not Jeff.’”

That’s when Brawner saw Larson and Jones. He ran over to them and gave them information about the accident.

“I told them it was Jeff Dirks, but that he was going to be okay,” Brawner said. “The only thing I knew was he had a broken leg.”

Emergency personnel used the Jaws of Life to remove Dirks from his car. Larson and Jones watched as he was loaded onto a stretcher.

“It was definitely hard to sleep that night, both nights. That whole weekend,” Jones said. “There were definitely a few times when I came close to breaking down and crying.”

Paramedics took Dirks to the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

“On the way to the hospital, I remember all the paramedics were looking at me,” Dirks said. “One of them told me that they’ve never seen anyone survive a crash like that. Usually the roof of a car caves in, but for some reason mine

popped out. Otherwise, my neck would have been crushed.”

The only major injury Dirks sustained was to his leg; he broke his tibia in one place, crushed it in another and fractured a bone in his ankle. He underwent a four-hour surgery the next morning to place a rod in his leg.

“I also got some cuts on my arm from the glass breaking,” Dirks said. “But you can’t see those anymore.”

Dirks was in the hospital from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1. The day after his release, Dirks had a group of friends over.

“There was still that shock, but we just tried to help him get over it,” Larson said.

While Dirks recovered at home, Larson and Jones dispelled rumors about the accident. Rumors included everything from the involvement of drugs and alcohol in the accident to Dirks’ death.

Shelby PieperCopy Editor

What’sInsideTaco BellChallenge

PowderpuffDance Teams

Ethics Committee

pg. 14pg. 10pg. 3

One of the [para-medics] told me that they’ve never seen anyone survive a crash like that.

Jeff Dirks

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CRASHSophomore survives high-speed accident ; few injur ies

Senior Jeff Dirks’ car is towed away after his Aug. 28 accident. The car hit a tree at 105 mph and rolled three times before coming to a stop against another tree.

Photo byMegan Dirks

Continued on page 2

New

s Brie

fs2 News

The Lance Page Design Lauren Florea

Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater is offering a club to high school students interested in film studies. Each quarter the club will host three or four Film Club screenings, which will be free for all high school students. Following each movie, the club will discuss the content and production of the film.

This is a great opportunity for students interested in the aspects of film production and acting on camera, or someone who just wants a good movie.

The new club was on display at Club Fair Day and will still be available for people who want to look behind the scenes and have in-depth discussions about the different films and filmmakers.

For more information contact Lindsay Trapnell at Lindsay@filmstreams.org or 399-0259 ext. 10.

Students who had planned on traveling to China this October recently learned that their trip had been cancelled, due to serious concerns by the Chinese government. The group, which was narrowed down from 40 to approximately 25 due to schedule complications, was planning on visiting the Tianjin Experimental High School students hosted by Westside last year.

After discussions with the instructors in Tianjin and communication with the Chinese government, the Westsiders were advised to postpone the trip, citing Swine Flu as the main concern.

Chinese officials “weren’t saying no,” Assistant Principal Tony Weers said. “But they were seriously encouraging us to reschedule the trip. We definitely don’t want to risk anything happening to our students.”

The Westside faculty members are working on finding a new trip date, although there are many factors to be considered.

“It’s easier to talk about what

not to consider,” Weers said. “We have to consider not only what fits well with our students and faculty but also with our Chinese friends schedules.”

One possible trip date would fall over spring intercession.

Some students, however, are vocalizing their negative opinions regarding the trip.

“I am not happy about the trip being postponed,” sophomore Jack

Hiffernan said. “I think everyone’s making the Swine Flu a way bigger deal than it needs to be.”

Insufficient information has some students concerned.

“I was kind of frustrated with the short notice and the lack of communication,” junior Ke Arkfeld said. “At one point the trip’s on for these dates, then these dates, then

it’s postponed. Overall I think the situation is just confusing and becoming

more unorganized by the day.”Having noted their frustrations,

many agreed that the recent flu outbreak at Westside has impacted their views.

“At first I was doubtful that the swine flu would affect us,” history instructor Diana Haverly said. “But I can tell you my opinion has changed drastically.”

As construction continues into the school year, so loom the concerns regarding student parking. Students have been speculating on the number of parking passes and spots awarded to students. Are there enough spots to go around? Will each senior get his desired parking space? Is the school assigning more passes to students than there are spots?

“No I don’t think that’s true at this point in time,” said business office manager Marla Boyd. “There are more passes than there are students in the senior class.”

The speculations have little merit. According to Boyd, the parking situation has not significantly changed from the past school year. Due to construction however, teacher parking spaces were added to the south parking lot in exchange for student parking, and this may have caused some of the concern.

“I have assigned 225 passes to seniors. It depends [on] how many seniors there are to purchase them, but in the past we have given about 30 passes to juniors,” Boyd said. “It varies year to year. However, with modular scheduling there are always going to be spots that come and go throughout the day.”

All seniors who purchased a pass by the deadline shall have a parking spot.

Emma MayStaff Writer

Swine causes fearChina trip postponed

Student ParkingFilm Streams Club Texting Trouble

“I only told the people off I knew shouldn’t be talking or would be more likely to spread rumors,” Jones said.

Friends aren’t the only ones trying to clear up rumors. Dirks has also heard his fair share and wants to set people straight.

“There was one person saying I was texting,” Dirks said. “And a lot of people are assuming I was drunk, but that’s not true. I’ve never had any alcohol in my life.”

The Tuesday after Labor Day, Dirks returned to school. He used a wheel chair to get around for the first two weeks and now uses crutches.

“The wheel chair sucks,” Dirks said. “I’m shorter than everyone so no one sees me ‘til they hit me.”

For Dirks, it’s easy to laugh and joke about his accident and injury. No matter where he is or what he’s doing, Dirks is all smiles.

“He’s very high spirited,” Jones said. “I think he has to have a happy state of mind to keep himself sane. Things are going to change so much for him.”

Dirks is already considering the changes he will have to make because of his injury. He isn’t allowed to put any weight on his leg for three months and afterwards he’ll be in a boot for an unknown amount of time.

“I love show choir and to think I won’t par-ticipate full out this year is really hard,” Dirks said. “We’re not sure how healed I will be by competition season; I might still be on crutches for all I know.”

Although he’s sad about his injury, Dirks real-izes how lucky he is.

“God was definitely protecting me,” Dirks said. “There was a little shell around the driver’s seat with only the front left part crushed in around my leg. I know for a fact there was an angel in the passenger seat.”

Although Dirks and his friends wish he didn’t have to be the example, they hope people will learn from this accident. All four boys agree driv-ing should be taken seriously.

“Don’t take a turn at 105 mph,” Dirks said. “That’s pretty much it. Don’t do it. No one should have to be given that advice, they should just know it.”

Continued from page 1ACCIDENT

Car and Driver, an magazine that offers car reviews and buying tips, published a startling study this past June. In Texting While Driving: How Dangerous is It?, author Michael Austin focuses on the increase in people who text while driving. The focus of the study addresses a shocking question: is driving while texting worse than driving when intoxicated?

The result of the study has caused speculation across the nation. First, the author tested how long it took two drivers to react to a red light without texting. These would be the control times. Then the drivers’ reaction times were recorded while texting in the exact situations as the control test. The results showed both drivers had a significantly slower reaction time when texting. Next, the subjects were given three ounces of Smirnoff vodka to simulate being intoxicated while driving. Although the results showed the drivers had a slower reaction time than the baseline, they were still better than the texting simulation.

Overall, the results showed the texting while driving reaction times were slower than the reaction times while intoxicated. This proved texting while driving is more dangerous than most believe.

I think everyone’s making the Swine Flu a way bigger deal than it needs to be.Jack Hiffernan

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Junior Jeff Dirks is still recovering from the terrible car accident that occurred in August. He crashed on the way home for the first football game.

Graphic byShadi Feddin

Photos byIan Holmes

Graphic byJulius Fredrick

3News

Page Design Lauren Florea October 9, 2009

Mary SusmanManaging Editor

The decisions are everywhere. Whether it’s at the grocery store where you’re given an extra dollar in change, in a classroom where you witness a classmate cheating or in the halls where you hear important information in confidence, ethical decisions face each person on a day-to-day basis.

“You can’t open a paper or listen to the news without hearing something that’s really an ethical decision,” Principal Pat Hutchings said.

Last year Board of Education President Ed May approached Hutchings to discuss ethics and its presence in school.

“We started thinking about this issue and realizing that we really don’t do enough in school; it’s kind of a void,” Hutchings said. “Not that it’s bad here or that we don’t talk about things like this, because we always have, but we didn’t feel we do it enough and perhaps in as organized a manner that is necessary to really make an impact.”

While researching ways to more involve ethics in school, Hutchings came across the Institute for Global Ethics (IGE). Founded in 1990, IGE’s mission is to “promote ethical behavior in individuals and cultures of integrity in schools, corporations and governments through research, public discourse and practical action.” In 1996, IGE began to work with schools through an approach called Ethical Literacy.

Joining schools across the country, the Ethical Literacy Group was formed at Westside High School (WHS) last January, funded by an anonymous donor. The group consists of 10 teachers and 25 juniors and seniors.

“The committee is a group of students who were chosen for leadership skills and for the ability to be leaders, not necessarily the kind that are the office-holders in the building, but that are recognized leaders among their peers and among different groups of peers,

so that it’s not just a particular clique,” Hutchings said.One of the goals of the group is to advocate a critical

thinking process when people face ethical decisions. The group practices this by discussing personal ethical decisions and ones in the news at each monthly meeting. They focus primarily on right versus right decisions where the ethically right answer isn’t clear-cut. These scenarios often fall under four different areas: truth versus loyalty, short-term versus long-term, justice versus mercy and what’s right for an individual versus right for a whole.

Another goal is described by committee member and choral director Doran Johnson as character education, where valued character traits in different cultures are discussed.

“The biggest thing is we’re trying to impact the culture of our school so that people will walk in here and say ‘you know, there’s something unique about this school,’” Johnson said.

To get input from the student body, the committee members went to each homeroom last year to brainstorm traits valued at Westside. The words appear on posters around school and bookmarks handed out the first day of school.

Junior Samantha Berger, a committee member, found going to homerooms challenging, yet interesting.

“You get to see how different homerooms interpret what you’re saying and what it means to them to be ethically literate,” Berger said. “You just say the words — like respect, honestly, loyalty, responsibility — and when you actually look at it, you can see what it actually means.”

The school’s commitment to good ethics has inspired senior Ulysses Larios, who also serves on the committee.

“The first time I went there, it caught me off guard how so many people actually do care about ethics, but not that

many people just come out and talk about it,” Larios said.The group has already been recognized in the

community. Ten students had the opportunity to attend a breakfast Oct. 6 for the Business Ethics Alliance with Gallup where they heard from a panel of business leaders in Omaha. The Scottish Rite Masonry plans to meet with Hutchings and make ethics its focus as a service organization, hoping to take the Ethical Literacy Program to another school.

This summer, Johnson and resource instructor Angie Kizer presented at the National Ethical Literacy

Convention in Boston. At the convention, they were able to learn what other schools are doing.

“We presented what we’ve done in the last six months, but then we also got to hear from other schools that formed ethic committees and hear what they’ve done,” Kizer said. “We really learned what our school could be three years from now and we also learned that we’ve accomplished a lot in six months.”

The committee also met with faculty last year to discuss ethics in school.

“We always talk about the examples that we set as staff. Ethical decisions begin with us, not with the students,” Hutchings said. “It begins with us as adults, and if we’re not consciously

making ethical decisions in our day-to-day behavior, how can we possibly talk to students about it?”

With the world in a state of chaos — from Wall Street and the housing crisis to tense international relations — Hutchings believes ethics plays a vital role in our country and world, and good ethics must be fostered. Hutchings looks forward to expanding the program in the future by increasing student involvement as well as having discussions on ethical issues embedded into the curriculum of every subject area.

“For me, in my little world at WHS, it starts here,” Hutchings said. “If we can just affect WHS, that’s huge.”

The biggest thing is we’re trying to impact the culture of our school.Doran Johnson

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If we can help, we definitely do.

Lori Huffman

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It was 3 a.m. when science instructor David Bulin awoke to the sound of his yelling neighbors. The smell of smoke was in the air, stronger than when he had first noticed it taking out the trash. The Highland Park Apartments were on fire.

Grabbing his wallet and keys he slipped on his shoes and went door-to-door waking residents. The heavy locks required that one door be kicked down, allowing them to assure a couple that the noise was not simply a loud party. As Bulin exited, the fire finally showed face, and smoke appeared.

Covered in Red Cross blankets outside the residents swapped stories and jokes. Bulin realized the futility of shutting down his laptop before leaving. Another couple decided it was fortunate they’d put off doing the dishes. One man, holding his work clothes, realized he wouldn’t be clocking in the next day.

“It’s just those weird things you think about in an emergency,” Bulin said.

Bulin wouldn’t be going to work either that Monday. The week after Saturday, Aug. 22, was the most stressful result of the fire. After alerting his department head, Brenda Zabel, he spent the next two days cataloging his losses, which was everything but the shoes and keys he’d brought out with him. During the process he realized there was only $200 of sentimental stuff he would really miss, including a matchbox car from his parents for his sixteenth birthday, worth only 20 cents.

Wednesday, needing a break and concerned for his classes, Bulin returned to school. During his absence Zabel had contacted the staff and already clothes and other necessities had been collected. The cheerleaders, informed by head coach Lori Huffman, also raised a collection. All four squads gave what they could, building up a collection of small bills.

“Within three days almost every cheerleader had donated,” Huffman said. “If we can help, we definitely do.”

Friends Jim Murphy and Pete Battalion fed him dinners

and helped clean. Thanks to all of the aid and turning in his insurance claim by Friday the worst was over.

The help, however, was not. The football team soon started a campaign of fundraising. Business instructor Brent Froendt told the Unity Council, a board of elected students who serve as go-betweens for players and coaches, about the fire and they decided to help.

Led by juniors Brent Learch, Zach Adler and Tevon Griffin they began Rent-A-Warrior, a handy-man service. Contacted through Froendt’s e-mails and word of mouth, footballers volunteered for people across the community.

“People were encouraged to give any donation – as much as they wanted – ranging from $20-100,” Learch said.

They did yard work, moved furniture, and other odd jobs for faculty and community. Learch mowed journalism instructor Matt Rasgorshek’s lawn. Principal Pat Hutchings and Dean Trudi Nolin also donated.

Meanwhile Griffin had another idea: donation buckets. Gallon Blue Bunny ice -cream buckets with slits in the top and signs asking for donations for Bulin popped up in Instructional Materials

Centers (IMC). The last day they went from homeroom to homeroom for a final push, a shove that brought them above $1,000.

“People gave a dollar, gave 50 cents, gave what it took,” Froendt said.

The football team presented Bulin with the check in homeroom.

“He was almost more proud and kind of shocked; it was a good reaction to see because I was proud,” Adler said.

Bulin has been thankful, sending an e-mail and putting an announcement in the daily bulletin to express his gratitude for the funds that helped him and his neighbors.

“The name of our high school is Westside Community,” Bulin said. “I always thought, what’s the difference from public? There probably isn’t a difference, but you can definitely feel the community here.”

FIRE FUNDRAISINGCommunity comes together to aid science instructor Bulin after fire

We really didn’t expect this much attention.

Brent Learch

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He seemed appreciative. It was nice to be able to do something for him.

Mari Meza

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When [students] are given an oppotunity to succeed instead of getting permission, they tend to exceed more than any one of us ever expected.

David Bulin

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Within three days almost every cheerleader had donated money.

Lori Huffman

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We wanted to help him, it was pretty easy. We didn’t even thing twice about it.

Zach Adler

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Hannah GillCopy Editor

The melody of your “Barbie Girl” ringtone sounds through the moving vehicle. The poppy tune taunts you to answer immediately, as somehow the device becomes the most crucial item in existence, more crucial even than the steering wheel.

You are driving on a busy street, but somehow that seems unimportant as there is someone attempting to contact you via mobile. Who could it be? Do you answer the phone? Do you pick up the device and reply with a speedy text? Or do you simply ignore, eyes steadfast to the road?

It’s quite obvious: texting and talking on the phone while driving is hazardous and distracting, even for those with the most agile digits. While there are various laws across the nation prohibiting this practice, it seems many states laws have been ineffective as the rates of crashes and deaths related to cell phone use have increased.

The Lance staff believes Nebraska legislation regarding cell phone use while driving should be better enforced and perhaps made even stricter.

This issue has become even more prevalent as more drivers attempt to use their cell phones. According to a survey done by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), over 21% of drivers admit they sometimes text while driving.

When using a cell phone, human reflex is inhibited. Any quick thinking you use to turn the wheel, judge the space between two cars and attempt not to hit anyone is obstructed by cell phone use. What’s worse? These obstructions not only affect the driver, but also countless neighboring vehicles passed during transit.

ABC also relates that cell phone interference results in over 330,000 injuries and 2,500 deaths in the United States each year. We don’t know about you, but the fact that more people die from cell phone related occurrences than attend our school is a sobering thought.

If the statistics aren’t enough, than the recent study by Car and Driver is. The magazine found that texting and driving could prove to be more

fatal than driving while intoxicated. The current Nebraska driving laws prohibit

anyone under the age of 18 with a Learner’s Permit or a Provisional License from using a cell phone either to text or communicate verbally. This legislation is considered a secondary driving law that constitutes the driver of the vehicle must disregard a primary enforcement law first before being pulled over. Nebraska is only one of six states to enforce the issue as a secondary driving law.

How is this effective? At the least the state has passed some law to keep its citizens safe, but it is only beneficial if drivers follow it. Furthermore, why does it apply only to those under the age of 18 with a Learner’s Permit or Provisional License? Teens are not the only ones who are abusing the law. We recognize teens are often less experienced drivers. However, adults are also subject to cell phone distractions while driving.

Perhaps legislation would be more effective if it were modeled it after states like California and Oregon. These states have placed a ban on handheld devices, cell phones and text messaging for all ages and forms of licenses. In addition, it is a primary driving offense. If a law enforcement official sees a driver in violation of these regulations, he issues a $20 first offense fine and a $50 fine for subsequent convictions.

Think about Nebraska: sure, everyone may not follow stricter regulations when it comes to driving distractions. The incessant need to have contacts at one’s fingertips may outweigh the risk of impending death, but by enforcing stricter policies perhaps more crashes and deaths will be prevented. To us, one life is worth more than an inconvenience to communication-crazed drivers.

5Opinion

Page Design Lauren Florea October 9, 2009

The Lance is a school-sponsored publication of Westside High School, Westside Community Schools, 8701 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68144. The Lance office is located in room 251. Phone 9402) 343-2659. The Lance is an in-house publication.

The paper is distrib-uted every monthly to all students, except in vaca-tion periods. Subscrip-tion rates to others are $25 prepaid. The Lance is printed by White Wolf Web, in Sheldon, IA.

Advertising rates are available upon request. The Lance editorial staff deserves the right to edit all ads for clarity and grammatical errors. The editorial staff reserves the right not to publish any ads that are libelous or that contain non-factual information.

The Lance edito-rial staff also reserves the right to nullify contracts at any time without prior notification. The Lance also refuses ads that pro-mote activities illegal to a majority of the student readership.

Reader response is welcomed in the form of letters to the editor. Let-ters should be less than 300 words, signed by the author and sent to room 251. Names may be with-held upon special request. Lance editors will decide whether to honor such requests.

The Lance editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and grammatical errors. The editorial staff also reserves the right to not publish any letters that are libelous or that contain non-factual information.

The Lance is a member of the Nebraska High School Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Quill & Scroll Society.

The Lance staff recog-nizes that the administra-tion of Westside Com-munity Schools controls the curriculum and, thus, sets the parameters of the production process of school publications. The Lance staff also recognizes its own responsibilities to inform, enlighten and entertain its readers in a way that reflects high standards of journalism, morals and ethics.

Editors-in-Chief Jenny Shehan, Cara Wilwerding; Managing Editors Lauren Florea, Mary Hepburn, Mary Susman; Business Manager Maddie Werth-man; Copy Editors Han-nah Gill, Shelby Pieper; Copy Editor & Asst. Design Editor Grace Lyden; Art & Graphics Editor Julius Fredrick; Photo Editor Lindsay Lee; Asst. Photo Editors Ian Holmes, Han-nah Rector; News Editor Shadi Feddin; Opinion Editors Jessie Lassley, Lea Rendell; Feature Editor Kaylan Maloley; In-Depth Editors Lizzie Davis, Samantha Juster; Sports Editor Daniel Kemp; Entertainment Editor Brian Frey; Photo Staff Charlie Ziegenbein; Staff Writers Julie Dworak, Katie Hamel, Emma May; Adviser Rod Howe.

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PowergradeLet’s hear it for the girls — the Warrior Hut ladies, that is. It’s that time of day. It’s the time for the com-mon voyage to the Warrior Hut. It seems whenever we arrive to make purchases, there’s never a short-age of friendly faces and cordial “hellos”. The maintenance staff also deserve a thumbs up. Cleaning up after nearly 2,000 unruly students can be trying. Yet they always seem to have cheerful dispositions and offer friendly greetings. Thank you.

Yes, the school spirit has increased. Yes, for the first games of the football season, student attendance has been up. Yes, the fact that we now have a mascot is intriguing to say the least. While the student-led pep rally was exciting, overall student spirit seems short-lived. Has attendance for sports other than football gone up? When the weather turns for the worst, will students run for the comfort of a roof and warmth? Come on guys, we understand the weather can be trying, but don’t tout school spirit unless you’re going to follow through — for the whole season.

When did the girls bathrooms become an IMC? It appears as if the various restroom locations have become common venues for lounging, eating and grooming. Hello ladies, can you say fungus? Unsanitary much? It’s uncomfortable enough for some students to use a public restroom. There’s no need to create a student lounge in a facility used for bodily waste.

C+

TEXTING HAZARDSRecent studies cause concern, driving laws should be made stricter

Lan

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Graphic byJulius Fredrick

6 Opinion

The Lance Page Design Lauren Florea

I think so. At least with a phone call you see the road. If you’re texting and looking down you have to take your eyes off the road.

“

Yes, because if you look down then you can’t see the road, if a cars coming toward you you’ll crash and you’ll have to pay the insurance.

Yes, because when I text I can hardly even talk to somebody, so if I drive and text it would be really distracting.

WARRIOR VOICE Should there be laws against texting while driving?

Freshman Davion Garrett

Sophomore Lindsey Taylor Josh Atwell Zoe Friedman

Junior Senior

CONSUMERISM CLASSTeaching important life skills or consuming valuable student time?

Laptop privilege becoming too reliable, taken for grantedComplaints will not subside

Complaining is something teenagers do best; I would admit to that in a heartbeat. Recently, I’ve been hearing stories from students about their laptops getting taken away or being in tech support for weeks causing them to fall behind in school. I don’t know if these stories are

dramatized, but the complaints are always the same.Tech support takes too long on our laptops,

everything’s blocked, FirstClass isn’t working and the Internet sucks. If students are so unsatisfied with these “educational” tools, why isn’t more information given on the option to choose a laptop? An option to take a laptop at the beginning of the year, or do school the old fashioned way with pen and paper.

Sophomore Ryan Call remembers getting a laptop freshman year, but is now frustrated by the school’s restrictions.

“I liked getting one, but stuff just keeps getting blocked and the laptops become progressively lamer,” Call said.

Blocking more and more websites each year and restricting students from doing outside research is reducing the appeal of having an advanced education for the future.

Even though the laptops are becoming a stress inducer, Call would still choose to have one if given the option.

“I’d prefer having the laptop; I like having a big iTunes

and school email,” Call said.Firstclass and iTunes are nice, but when does the

educational benefit of these laptops come into play? Technology is becoming so dependable, middle school students are offered a laptop.

Freshman Katarina Matuska didn’t find the use of laptops in middle school beneficial, but rather ineffective.

“At the middle school, in a way [the laptops] seemed pointless for carrying such a heavy thing around all day when we mostly used them for English,” Matuska said.

What’s the point of giving such a grand privilege, and a waste of electricity and energy, if you will, to students who barely use it?

It seems to prove this generation has an increasing need for computers and technology. While we’re offered these great tools, we complain about them — myself included. The only advice I can give to the educational system, hoping they will take it into consideration, is to inform us of a way to choose the materials we use to educate ourselves.

I think so ‘cause I got in an accident while I was texting. But I don’t see why you need to text while driving. You can’t wait five minutes?

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Opinion Editor

Blocking more and more websites each year and restricting students from doing outside research is reducing the appeal of having an advanced education for the future.

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Junior year is arguably the most stressful year of high school. With tough classes and hardly enough time for the hours of homework assigned every night, there is little room for any further obligations. This year, in addition, the juniors are obligated to take a consumerism class. For most juniors this adds unneeded stress and increases their already packed course loads.

Consumerism class was added to the curriculum as a response to the low passing rate on the consumerism competency. Before this class the student was asked to study independently, and after studying the student would take the test. With students taking little advantage of the study material a large amount of students failed on their first attempt.

Business instructor Rita Leehy believes the students failed due to the lack of classroom preparation.

“I’ve always felt it’s unfair to test kids over something that they haven’t been taught,” Leehy said.

For many students this seven-week class will provide valuable knowledge for their day-to-day life. The class covers topics about banking, credit, and insurance, and how they apply to a student’s everyday life. This class could be the only opportunity for some to learn financial intelligence before they leave to college or enter the job field.

Leehy hopes students will leave her class with lasting knowledge that will guide them throughout their lives.

“I hope they leave the class knowing that they need to learn basic business and consumerism skills to live in the world because they aren’t always going to have their parents around,” Leehy said. “No matter what you do in life you are going to be a part of the business world.”

Numerous Students will benefit from the class, but what about the students who are already aware of these things? There are some students who already know about the business and consumerism world, who are forced to follow this program. Students should not be forced to study material they already understand.

Senior Na-Young Kim was too busy to take the consumerism competency last year; she is now forced to take the class as a senior although she already understands the material. She feels that the course could be better formatted.

“Different options should be given,” Kim said. “Everybody doesn’t learn and understand things at the same pace”

Since every student learns at a different rate, we should be able test out early if we already understand the material being presented. As students we are allowed to choose the core classes that academically challenge us. If we are not satisfied with the degree of difficulty, we can switch our class to honors or even move one class up. If we can do this with our regular classes, why aren’t we allowed to test

out of this class? A simple pre-test before the

beginning of the program would allow those who already understand the material to pass the class without attending the class. It would also help students in the class gauge their initial understanding of the business world. The pre-test would make it easier for the consumerism teachers to focus on the areas where students are inadequate, instead of wasting the time of students who have ample experience in the business and consumerism fields.

Just give students a chance to show they are already prepared for the business world. After all, isn’t business all about equal opportunity.

Photo byHannah Rector

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Opinion Editor

Just give students a chance to show they are already prepared for the business world.

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Federal deficit is pushing $318 billion and counting. Despite a 1.65% growth rate in Nebraskans’ income, rating seventh nationwide for growth, the city council is facing budget issues.

This year the standard snowplow cut will not be enough to close the gap between revenue and spending. Although one can still expect snowier roads this winter additional changes had to be made to the city budget.

The first thought was to raise the property tax, which Omaha did Sept. 1 by 2.4 cents per $100 of valuation. Originally, the City Council amendments were heavy with objections. Especially unsupported were the voluntary furloughs, or temporary unpaid leave, and satellite inspection fee. The first would account for $1.3 million of spending, but no employees had formally volunteered leaving all that money

as assumed funds. The latter would yield $2 million, again assuming there were enough dish owners in the city.

Angry workers and satellite owners encouraged Mayor Jim Suttle to veto such measures, which he did. Unable to summon the necessary five votes to overthrow, Council finally reverted to the standard tax raise.

Meanwhile Senator Ted Kennedy passed away as his most recent life’s work got some momentum. Bipartisan attempts at health care were made across the board, and Obama struggled to keep Congress from debating the issue to death. Everything from abortion to illegal immigrants was picked over, with the public option idea garnering the most attention. Finally, the bipartisan bill has been abandoned, but debate remains.

When dealing with such run-around politics and avid reporting it is important to remember some things. Being an informed citizen is important, regardless of age, for one. That your city, state and country is slipping further and further behind debt would be another.

Between credit cards, mortgages and car payments debt has become ingrained in our country’s consumerism. Since it is no longer easily avoidable, be an informed debtor, especially when it comes to the government. Keep track of recession legislature and spending – if not to be a good citizen today, then to be one tomorrow. In the end we are the ones who will be paying the tax increase to fix deficit, be it city, state, national or all.

7Opinion

Page Design Jessie Lassley October 9, 2009

Letters to the

EditorDear Editors,

I read “9/11 Remembered,” in the last issue of The Lance and I must say it was a very interesting article. The position of Muslim women in society has been open to debate for many years and your article cre-ated awareness with regards to this subject.

However, I would like to point out a slight error in this article where you stated that only men are allowed to perform Juma’a. This is not the case as women are also allowed to participate in the Juma’a prayer (also known as Friday prayer). Some of you might be confused when they hear Masjed. Masjed is the place where all Mus-lims get together and pray. In short Masjed might be called Mosque. It is permissible for women to pray in the mosque with men, although it is best they pray at home. As the prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Do not prevent the women from going out to the mosques, even though their homes are better for them.”In addition the Friday prayer ( Juma’a ) is not obligatory for women. If a woman performs the Juma’a, she doesn’t have to pray the Dohur prayer (the afternoon prayer).

In the article you also mention how Islam liberates women I would like to support the article with some facts . This information has been written to inform you of the true Islamic teachings regarding women laid down by the Quran and prophet Mohammad over 14 centuries ago.

1- Islam declared women and men equal.

2- Islam condemned pre-Islamic practices degrading and oppressing women.

3- Islam enjoins sounds morality in thinking, behavior and appear-ance. Dress fashions and social patterns that reduce woman to a sex object and exploit her as such are not acceptable to Islam.

4- The observance of chastity and moral standards is equally demanded by Islam from both men and women. "Women are the sib-lings of men,” is a saying of prophet Mohammad.

I hope this letter has given you a quick overview about this sensitive topic and I look forward to reading many more of your articles in the future.

Best wishes,A Reader

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Copy Editor

Between credit cards, mortgages and care pay-ments debt has become ingrained in our contry’s consumerism.

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MODERN DEBTCurrent crisis not serious anymore

A comment, correction to The Lance, Volume 54, Issue 1, Page 4.

In the Powergrade section and in regard to public speaking in English 9: It is incorrect that “the class no longer requires giving speeches.” English 9, formerly Writing/Speech has been remodeled to include more literature to better prepare students for sophomore and junior Lit classes; however, public speaking opportunities are very much a part of the class. Speaking standards are a part of every English class at Westside; that means that every English class offers multiple opportunities for both individual and group public speaking in the form of presentations and/or formal

speeches. Students receive feedback about individual strengths and weaknesses in both speech delivery and performance because, as you pointed out, it is such an important life skill.

The difference in the class is that the persuasive speech in English 9 no longer has to be scored and sent to the administrative offices as part of our state reporting. The state now has only two required accountability reports – State Writing and State Reading, which both happen in the 11th grade.

Nancy MitchellEnglish Department Head

Powergrade correction

9/11 Remembered

1- Islam declared women and men equal2- Islam condemned pre-Islamic practices degrading and

oppressing women.3- Islam enjoins sounds morality in thinking, behavior and

appearance. Dress fashions and social patterns that reduce woman to a sex object and exploit her as such are not accept-able to Islam.

4- The observance of chastity and moral standards is equally demanded by Islam from both men and women. “Women are the siblings of men,” is a saying of prophet Mohammad.

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Graphic byJulius Fredrick

8 Feature

The Lance Page Design Lauren Florea

On the hills of Framingham, MA, stands an ivy-covered mansion. Inside the estate walls are children. Some study Calculus, some play music, some just play. There are no bells; there are no tests; there are no required classes. This is Sudbury Valley School.

Based off the idea that kids have an innate desire to learn, the Sudbury model leaves the education process largely to the students, who range anywhere from 4 to 19. Students are not split into age groups as in traditional school; age mixing is encouraged as being a tool for personaldevelopment.

Amanda Allens founded River Valley Sudbury School in Chester, CT, to allow her children a Sudbury education.

“At first I was a little scared about my younger kids being bullied,” Allens said. “But it’s more like a big family. Everyone is really protective of the younger students.”

Since Sudbury Valley’s opening in 1968, 24 other Sudbury schools have popped up in the United States, not to mention schools appearing in Germany, Denmark, Belgium and Holland. The demand for an alternative to traditional education has fueled the movement.

Abby Vogels moved from Framingham to Olympia, WA. Finding no Sudbury schools in her area, she founded Rising Tide Sudbury school, to enable her children to continue their Sudbury education.

“I have two kids and one of my kids really needed something else,” Vogels said.

Students attending Sudbury do not attend classes, but instead are given the resources to pursue their interests independently.

“If a student wants a class, they can request one from a staff member,” Vogels said.

If the request is granted, students who wish to can attend a class similar to those offered in traditional schooling. Otherwise, students pursue their studies independently and ask staff members for help when necessary.

At Sudbury, students and staff run things democratically. School Assembly, made up of students and staff, make the policies. Judicial Committee (J.C.) enforces them.

“If someone breaks a rule, they can be written up and brought under the J.C., whether it be a teacher or student,” Vogels said. “They go through due process, and if they plead guilty they get a sentence. If they plead not guilty, they have a trial.”

Crimes at Sudbury can range anywhere from littering

to physical violence. Each offense is treated in the same manner, with due process and full honoring of the Bill of Rights.

“We’re the only true democratic education in the world. We’re the only model that’s demonstrating what our nation demonstrates,” Allens said. Sudbury is looking to the future to prepare kids for the new age they will be leading.

“Other traditional schools are based on the idea that in order for a person to learn, you have to feed him information — information you’ve predigested and pre-chosen,” said Sudbury Valley staff member David Green in an interview with BBC. “And that has nothing to do with the 21st century where people are really in control of their own destiny.” The Sudbury model prides itself on fostering independence and personal accountability by giving kids more freedom.

“If you empower kids to make their own decisions, which they are perfectly capable of doing, it instills in

them a greater responsibility for their own lives,” Allens said.

Allens claims that Sudbury kids also have high college acceptance rates. She attributes this to their unique educational background.

“Admissions officers go through piles of applications and they’re looking for kids who are different,” Allens said. “These kids are different and they know what they want. That blows admissions officers away.”

Allens’ daughter is a 13-year-old attending River Valley Sudbury School. Her nontraditional schooling has shaped her outside the realm of traditional competition.

“I don’t really want to think about [a career] yet because there’s so many things I can do. I just want to have fun and be a kid,” Allen’s daughter said.

Sudbury has provided a market for parents interested in a different path for their children.

“The main thing for me, for my daughter, is I want her to know that her life is hers. She can grow up and

Only commencing his second year as an English 9 and American Literature instructor, Jordan Klepfer has already made a splash in the classroom with his unique teaching technique.

Despite the usual lecturing and classroom assignments, Klepfer has acquired a taste for music in class. He has combined his love for literature, teaching and creative skills to develop rap music for his students.

The source of inspiration for such an anomaly appeared during Klepfer’s high school years.

“I started listening to rap more and more. I thought it was an interesting genre of music,” Klepfer said.

While rap may have appealed to Klepfer, so did certain musicians. Verbs, the artist who combined hip-hop and rap elements, first fascinated Klepfer. Additionally, John Reuben is one of Klepfer’s favorite artists because he incorporates points in his music that

ultimately encourage people to bring down their guard in life.

He admits many rap artists integrate derogatory ideas today, but Klepfer does not appreciate such music.

“I’m clearly opposed to either encouraging violence, or even songs with foul language,” Klepfer said.

Klepfer was in the Chamber Choir during high school. However, the process of actually learning the music and singing it was irritating to him. Fortunately, Klepfer admired the way the words and the syntax worked together, and subsequently, rap attracted him.

For Klepfer, writing rap songs is a brainstorming process. He begins with a topic, then brainstorms ideas that pertain to that topic, and finally puts them into creative verses that rhyme.

“It’s really about taking a bunch of ideas and finding ways to connect them,” Klepfer said.

Specific topics are slightly more difficult to work with, while broader story-line type subjects are easier. Klepfer attempts to incorporate literary elements,

such as perspective and the author’s purpose, in his rap songs.

He said rap helps students more as a mnemonic device so that the outline of the stories being studied can be better understood and remembered. As a result, Klepfer likes to save his rapping lessons for the end of each unit to review and solidify ideas in his students’ minds.

While Klepfer does not say with 100% certainty that his rapping has increased his students’ grades, he has witnessed students, who remain engaged and active during his rapping classes.

Overall, the students’ reactions vary depending upon the nature of the student: many express instantaneous enthusiasm at his peculiar classroom technique, while others aren’t immediately impressed.

“Some are fascinated by it and really find it a source of motivation. There are some students who don’t react well,” Klepfer said.

“I loved it, [and] it helped me remember [subject material],” said senior Carlos Wilson, a former American

Literature student. His class enjoyed the rap so much that

they ecstatically cheered him on. “Personally, I think it’s a talent. I don’t

think other teachers could pull it off,” Wilson said.

Many other students also described the rap as being inspirational, and simply cool. Moreover, participation is not forced upon any student, but Klepfer attempts to include everyone in terms of participation.

Due to the multitude of reactions in his classroom, Klepfer does not rap every day but instead reserves it for specific days and certain subject material to be covered throughout the year.

The future evidently seems full of exciting lessons for the lucky students who encounter Klepfer as their teacher. However, Klepfer doesn’t currently have any definite plans for his rapping method.

“I would like to use rap as a consistent tool in the classroom,” Klepfer said. “I’m happy to collaborate with other teachers if they want to use it. [However] I’m not going to force other people to consider it.”

SUDBURYNontraditional education provides opportunitiesfor students seeking something different

Mary HepburnManaging Editor

Shadi FeddinNews Editor

Sudbury Valley School is located on an estate in Framingham, MA. Children learn and play both indors and out.

SCHOOL OF RAPTeacher uses rap to inspire learning in classroom, students react positively

Photo courtesySudbury Valley School

At school, everyone sees social studies instructor and varsity soccer coach John Brian as an enthusiastic and motivating teacher who’s always radiating a positive spirit.

However, some students and peers may be unaware that Brian’s family has been affected by a life-altering disease: it ultimately opened his eyes and mind to a whole new caliber of understanding and appreciation.

Both Brian’s wife, Penny, and his step-daughter, Ashley, have been diagnosed with Lyme disease. It wasn’t until August of last year that Ashley was properly diagnosed.

“It took about four years of going to different doctors, and finally we went to one doctor who suggested a specialized blood test,” Brian said.

When the tests came back, after roughly three weeks, the results revealed Lyme to be present in Ashley’s body.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that causes signs and symptoms ranging from rash, fever, chills and body aches to joint swelling, weakness and temporary paralysis.” For early-stage Lyme disease, oral antibiotics are the standard treatment, while intravenous antibiotics are appropriate for a progressive stage.

While the diagnosis was nearly instantaneous after the confirming blood test, the road to diagnosis was no small feat for Ashley. Brian and his family traveled around the nation, visiting countless doctors to pinpoint the precise disease festering in his step-daughter’s body.

“Ashley was diagnosed with early-onset multiple sclerosis,” Brian said. “She was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s.”

The list of possible disorders continued to expand. “One of our favorite doctors at the Mayo Clinic told

her that since she was 19, she was just being a typical high-strung teenager,” Brian said.

To Brian and his family, it was evident depression was not the source of such excruciating misery. Overall, Ashley has seen 26 doctors including psychologists, experienced both brain and body scans and received relaxation therapies. The list of hardships that Ashley and her family have encountered together quickly become overwhelming and unfathomable to a common person.

Ashley reveals the shocking pain behind the disease. “The last four years, I have been struggling,” Ashley

said. “I have memory loss, periodic paralysis, difficulty with speech, reading, driving – mostly anything cognitive – inflammation behind my eyes, anxiety, panic attacks, air hunger, heart murmurs, muscle twitching, difficulty swallowing, severe migraines and severe fatigue.”

She also reveals a powerful desire to sleep around 18 hours a day due to the intensity of her exhaustion. Walking up a flight of stairs becomes a task that

illustrates her fatigue. Additionally, she has four active viruses in her body including numerous infections; the disease is at such a progressive stage in Ashley’s body that she has Strep on her brain. The co-infections also complicate treatment because prior to attempting to treat the classic Lyme in her system, the other viruses have to be addressed first. The disease brings with it a recurring rash that covers the body, where the individual can feel the emergence of the outbreak.

The treatment itself is a painful – physically and emotionally – taxing process.

“I’m on I.V. antibiotics six hours a day, seven days a week through a pick line which goes into my left arm and into my heart,” Ashley said.

Brian says that while Ashley and the thousands of others who are affected by Lyme may seem healthy, radiant and absolutely normal from the outside, they are actually struggling and enduring a gruesome battle from within. Some diseases are treated, even though they are rough throughout the disease’s duration. However, Lyme is a lingering disease that festers in the body for a long period of time and becomes even more detrimental if left untreated.

The tears spilled by this young woman make it clear Ashley has endured more than millions will ever endure in a lifetime. The physical and emotional battle is everlasting, and she only wishes for good days, and makes use of her strong will to resist the bad.

Ashley’s life, and subsequently her family’s, is far from conventional, and never will be. At times she has been so

sick, words can’t even begin to illustrate the extent of her pain. There have been days when she couldn’t take her medications and her vomiting plummeted her already poor health to even lower points than ever before.

It is during these times Ashley has thought to herself, as tears induced by pain spill, “I feel like I have been

tough for so long, and I think I’m being tough. I’m ready to give up.” These words are not searching for sympathy, but instead they give insight to how one’s character can be pushed to such limits that even the individual becomes astonished with its physical and mental ability to persevere.

“I didn’t realize how serious the disease was,” Brian said.

Ashley was only expected to receive a certain treatment for approximately three months, but this treatment has drawn out to a miserable nine.

“It has opened our eyes to a lot of fighting,” Brian said.

These fights span from insurance companies, contradictory diagnoses, to multiple doctor’s offices.

The truth is that people don’t understand. That is precisely why Ashley has started to document her experiences. There are also organizations that aim to voice the concerns and related issues of the disease, including the California Lyme Disease Association. People can visit the site for the International Lyme and Associated. Diseases Society to learn more as well.

I’m on I.V. antibiot-ics six hours a day, seven days a week through a pick line, which goes into my left arm and into my heart.

Ashley

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9Feature

Page Design Lauren Florea October 9, 2009

LYME DISEASE

At the end of every school year elections are held for the next year’s class officers and Student Advisory Board (SAB) representatives. In addition, Student Forum, formerly Student Leadership Council, (now Student Forum) selects its members for the upcoming year during the spring. With so many organizations claiming to be the student government, how can students discern the difference?

Class officers are the students who run for, and are elected into, one of four positions for each grade: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The junior class officers are in charge of Prom. Senior class officers set up senior ac-tivities such as the social for seniors on the first day of school, class picture, graduation announcements, and the senior video yearbook. Being a class officer is not being a part of a club, it is holding a position of representation. These officers are representatives of the upperclassmen and generally orga-nize meetings when necessary.

“SAB is the entertainment arm of student council,” said Carrie Turner, library media specialist and co-sponsor of SAB with Landon McCormick. Since SAB is student-run, the spon-sors are simply there to help and to handle the permits that need to be signed by adults, such as for homecoming floats.

“We just guide; it’s the kids that do the work,” Turner said. The work that members of SAB do is divided amongst a total club membership of about 170 to 200 people. There are two different kinds of members. Elected members are voted on,

in the student elections each spring. To be eligible to run, a candidate for these elected spots must have previously been an honorary member. Once an elected member, he can run for an office within SAB (including President, Vice President, etc).

The amount of time put in by each type of member de-pends on the person.

“SAB meets every Tuesday both before school and mod one,” said senior Lauren Sharp, Co-President of SAB with Alexa Koch. “How that works is if a member is open mod one, they attend that meeting. However, if they are not open mod one, they attend the morning meeting at 7:30a.m. in the little theater.” These meetings are focused on the events SAB is in charge of and puts on throughout the year.

“SAB helps with many major events such as the dances, holiday activities and pre-football game carnivals,” junior Andrew Wilkening said. Wilkening is an honorary member of SAB and attends the in-school meetings each Tuesday. These events include Mr. WHS, Data Match, Talent Show, Kick-Off Carnival, Santa Grams and much more. In addition, the club is responsible for the decoration of the auditorium for the Homecoming coronation, as well as decorations for Winter Formal.

“SAB puts on the main events at the high school, and being able to host them not only enhances your leadership skills, but also allows you to have a lot of fun,” Sharp said.

In history, Westside High School only had one student council organization. However, membership grew to such a number that it had to be split. The result of this split was a division of responsibilities. SAB became the more social club

and a group called Student Forum was put in charge of a dif-ferent aspect.

“We focus more on the student government part of WHS leadership and on what happens within our school,” said sophomore Max Kaslon, President of Student Forum. This association centers on reform of issues that WHS students are dealing with on a daily basis.

“Student Forum is a place where ideas and views on improving WHS can be exchanged,” Kaslon said. Members of this organization take into consideration the concerns of stu-dents and use their meetings to discuss and solve issues that have been brought to their attention. Student Forum meets Tuesday mornings before school begins.

Turner believes the split that occurred in the past resulted in fewer members of Student Forum and a growing number in SAB.

“SAB is the one that everyone wants to be in because it does the fun stuff,” Turner said, chuckling. “They know they aren’t the government arm.”

That doesn’t mean the two organizations aren’t equally and critically important to the student body.

Turner hopes Student Forum can grow in size and become a great organization in the next few years. She also hopes the Student Forum officers will attend the leadership conventions that SAB officers do, at Wayne State during the summer and at Ogallala for the state conference.

“They should be attending these things too, because they are essential to WHS leadership,” Turner said. “The govern-ment arm has a lot of potential; there are so many smart kids here, politicians in the making.”

Shadi FeddinNews Editor

Challenging journey toward diagnosis: disease transforms a normal life to one of everlasting battles

Katie HammelStaff Writer

STUDENT GOVERNMENT Increase in size forces two clubs to share student government duties, creates confusion among students

John Brian works at his desk during a free mod. Brian’s daughter, Ashley, and wife, Penny, have been diagnosed with Lyme disease. Photo by

Charles Ziegenbein Photo byJohn Brian

10 Sports

The Lance Page Design Daniel Kemp

Dancing is their passion. Their splits are graceful. Their body rolls are promiscuous. Their kick line puts all others to shame. They pop it, drop it and shake it. They are…boys?

Watch out Dance Team, because the junior and senior boys are shimmying their way toward becoming Westside’s next dancing sensations.

Following the first half of the Powderpuff game the junior boys dance team, Juicy and the State Champs, convened on the field for their much anticipated performance.

Both dance teams showcased their talent to a variety of songs including, “Single Ladies” by Béyonce, “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus, “Jump Around” by House of Pain, “Don’t Ya” by the Pussycat Dolls and many more.

Both teams worked hard to prepare for their performances. They started practicing a month before the game and kept a rigorous practice schedule.

Junior Bryan Brower hosted their weekly practices at his home.

“We practiced twice a week at my house,” Brower said. “We’d do some pushups, run a few blocks, and do some lunges and squats. Practice consisted mainly of yelling, dancing, near fighting, high fives and Gatorade.”

Seniors also set high expectations for dance team members.

“We practiced every other night,” senior Michael Braun said. “It was mandatory for everyone to go home and rehearse in front of a mirror for 30 minutes as well.”

In the end, good teamwork is what kept them pushing forward.

“Not only are we a dance team, we are a life team,” junior Jeff Kroeger said. “We are always there for each other to push one another over what ever obstacle comes our way.”

Each member was proud to be a part of the team and excited to showcase his talent.

“I was born to dance,” Braun said. “My talent is unmatchable and I feel I needed to do something with it.”

Kroeger had a different reason for joining the team.“I feel like people don’t understand me,” Kroeger

said. “So I wanted the opportunity to express myself through rhythm and music in the form of dance.”

No matter what their reasoning, every member was looking forward to the Powder Puff performance.

“We were most excited for the crowds reaction,” senior Peter Korff said. “It’s really what we thrive off of and it inspires us to give it all we can and then a little more.”

This was the second year the senior dance team had come together to create a halftime performance.

“We stepped it up to a whole new level this year,” senior Garret Gustafson said. “We trained a lot harder this year and I came up with some pretty stellar new moves.”

The teams performed back-to-back starting with the juniors. Although both have the same goal, senior Chris Johnson believes strongly that it is not a competition.

“We see them as just another dance team,” Johnson said. “They are fellow peers who make me want to be the best dancer I can be. They make me a better person.”

When reflecting on the past months, each member agreed it was a fun experience that they would always cherish.

“My favorite dance team memory had to be doing shirtless push-ups in the street as our warm-up,” junior Mateen Sharif said.

Thursday, Sept. 24, all of their hard work paid off. The teams gave energetic and captivating performances while the crowd laughed, cheered and danced along.

Seniors created a seven-man worm while the juniors configured a human somersault.

The dance team members along with the rest of the school will be looking forward to the junior’s return next year.

“A tradition has been started at Westside,” Kroeger said. “And we are looking forward to keeping it going.”

DANCING DIVASJunior and senior boys form dance teams for Powderpuff, display talents at halftime

Kaylan MaloleyFeature Editor

“If you eat something and run, hopefully it will stay in your stomach,” said girls cross country coach Theresa Gosnell. This concern became a reality when the boys cross country team decided to put on an unconventional fundraiser. The Burrito Mile, which took place on the track Saturday Oct. 3, drew nearly 110 participants, all with the same apprehension. The brave souls who attended the event were required to eat an entire Qdoba burrito before running a mile on the track. Sophomore Lindsay Block led the first heat but was passed by senior Nate Coyle during the final lap. “It was kind of upsetting because I worked so hard and this kid just came out sprinting,” Block said. “It was a footrace.” Coyle, who finished with a time of 10:02, was extremely proud of his victory. “I can’t explain it in words — this might be the greatest accomplishment of my life. My long nights at Qdoba eating multiple burritos paid off,” Coyle said. The suggestion for the Burrito Mile came from a tradition started by seniors Paolo Dapo and Jack Schrager. “After every race or workout we go down to Qdoba and smash on burritos,” Dapo said. “We put two and two together and that’s how we got the Burrito Run.” Qdoba paid for half of the burritos and all competitors paid $10 for a burrito and t-shirt. The race was divided into heats based upon skill level. There were multiple average heats, a heat comprised mainly of cross country runners and a teacher heat as the finale.

Senior Laine Herron, who ran in the cross country heat, took first place overall with a time of 7:05. “I think the secret is to not chew, just swallow. Divide it into 12 parts and just swallow those one at a time,” Herron said. “The first two laps I felt good. Third lap, it really hit me and trash cans started looking really good. I feel like today a lot of training paid off.” About $1,400 was raised from the event, all of which will go to the boys and girls cross country fund. The money will cover traveling expenses for districts, state and food for the teams. Gosnell believed the Burrito Mile was a great experience for runners, helping them bond and prepare for meets, especially state. “All meets are difficult in their own way, but state is always a challenge,” Gosnell said. Dapo, who agreed that state will be the most difficult meet, has high expectations for himself and the team. “My personal goal is to place at state, which is getting in the top 15. I went to state my sophomore year,” Dapo said. “The team goal would be to get top three at state. That would make it on the record boards. Our team’s best finish at state is fourth.” Although this is the first Burrito Mile, runners hope to make it an annual event. Another large fundraiser is put on every year by the girls cross country team. “The past two years we’ve done a road race — 5K and a one mile kids run. That’s usually around Aug. 8, the Saturday before school starts at Toll Park,” Gosnell said. “There were people from all over — Omaha running club members, just whoever got the memo.”

Cross country fundraiser draws crowdBurrito Mile

Cara WilwerdingEditor-in-Chief

Juniors Bryan Brower, Austin Murray, Trent Pache, Daniel Dunn, Jeff Kroeger and Ben Wilkinson perform their dance during half-time of the Powderpuff game. The seniors also performed during the halftime show.

Photo byHannah Rector

11Sports

Page Design Lauren Florea October 9, 2009

Spor

tsBriefs

It is junior AJ Blazek’s turn to serve. He stands at the edge of the court and bounces the ball twice. Blazek tosses the ball skyward and swings through furiously. The ball drops to the court and Blazek and his partner senior Joe Slosburg have beaten Creighton Prep. Although new to the program, Blazek plays with returning stars junior Ke Arkfeld and seniors Aaron Placzek and Tyler Mercier. Blazek moved from Indiana at the beginning of the second semester last year. Although high school tennis season had passed, Blazek played for the Faust Tennis Academy under coach Rick Faust. Since the beginning of this season, Blazek has participated in seven No. 1 singles matches, winning five. One of those losses was to sophomore Anthony Del Core of Creighton Prep. Led by Del Core, Creighton Prep, is the team’s major competitor in Class A. Since transferring to No. 2 doubles, Blazek has played over 20 matches without a loss. This includes a win over rival Creighton Prep. Blazek’s doubles partners rotate between Placzek and senior Joe Slosburg. Blazek works hard off the court as well. Currently, Blazek sits in the top 10 of junior class rank, a difficult task, considering the time. “School comes first, and I really try to get as much tennis in behind that,” Blazek said. “It’s tough, but you have to try and work hard.” Blazek also participates in the weekly team dinners, which are hosted by a different player each time. The tennis team has even been seen dressing in short shorts and cheering at the varsity volleyball games.

Daniel KempSports Editor

Led by senior Jack Schrager, the cross country team is having a solid year. Schrager has placed at least third in three events this year. The Burrito Mile helped fund the team hopes to knock off Millard West which is considered to be one of the best teams in state.

The varsity girls golf team continues to do well as they prepare for Metro and state in the coming weeks. The team has just recently placed third in an 18-team tournament in Grand Island and second at Duchesne. Girls who have medaled in previous meets this season include Shauna Hill, Erin Hodges, Jami Houser, Dylan Harlow, and Lauren Krumwiede. The main competition at Metro will be Marian.

Girls cross country runners Madeline McCann and Sophie Cemaj will be looking to lead the team against major competitors Millard West and Omaha Marian near the end of the season. Other outstanding athletes include Katherine Leibel, Molly Novoa, Kaitlin Kueny, and Marissa Eltiste. These runners contributed to the team’s best performance at the Millard South Invite where they placed second.

The varsity volleyball team is currently sitting at 10-10. Led by freshman Capris Quaites and senior Joleen Jansen, the team heads to the Millard South tournament over the weekend. Oct. 16 and 17, the team will host the annual Warrior Invite. The last home game is Monday, Oct.12.

With a record of 18-8, the varsity softball team entered district play on Thursday, Oct. 8. The team is led by shortstop Tonya Peterson with a batting average of over .400, and Mariellen Doughty, who is 8-3 with an ERA of .50. Fremont and Bellevue East are the main competition in the district.

Girls Softball

Girls Volleyball

Girls Cross Country

Boys Cross Country

Girls Golf

Junior AJ Blazek returns a serve. This season, AJ has played over 20 doubles matches without a loss.

Photo byIan Holmes

Junior player stars on, off tennis court

Raven’s in Ashley Collectibles

Life size skeletons in a old castle setting “a must see Halloween gift store”

1212 Howard Street Old Market934-3100

12 Sports

The Lance Page Design Lauren Florea

A total of 21,238,087* hot dogs sold, 10,619,044* drinks consumed, 849,523* red balloons released, over 22 million people wearing red, five national championships, 300 consecutive sellouts. The Nebraska football team reached a milestone, accumulating 300

consecutive sellouts Sept. 26, shutting out Louisiana-Lafayette (ULL) 55-0.

Although this game was a blowout, Husker fans have seen their fair share of nail biters during the streak.

“The most awesome game was the 1995 Fiesta Bowl where we mauled Florida and Steve Spurrier,” said Harvey Perlman, Nebraska native and UNL Chancellor.

Nebraska Associate Athletic Director Paul Meyers, a 1983 Westside graduate, said his most memorable moment was the 1994 Orange Bowl. It was the third of five national championships NU won since 1962 including 1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, and 1997.

Class of 1994 graduate Ben Kingston joined Nebraska for the 1995 season and played through 1999. Kingston attended the 300th consecutive sellout game and described the atmosphere as “filled with hope and enthusiasm” and “very different from the time [Coach Bill Callahan] spent coaching for NU.”

Current coach Bo Pelini has brought former players back in the loop and re-established connections to the fans and alumni while Callahan kept a “closed-door” policy and there was a noticeable disconnect between the staff and the fans.

“If Callahan was still there, it is a possibility that the sellout streak would not have reached 300,” Kingston said.

Westside has sent several players to play for UNL during the streak.

“Growing up in York, NE, we played Westside during my playing days, seldom won, and saw some good football players that went on to play well for Nebraska,” Perlman said.

Those Westside graduates include Dan Wingert, Jeff Hurley, Jeff Taylor, Scott Hill, and Guy Ingles who was inducted to the Westside High School Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.

Arguably, the most influential Warrior to play for Nebraska during the streak was Tom Pate. He went on to play 14 games in the Canadian Football League before collapsing and dying of an aneurysm.

“His death impacted people by reminding us that football is just a game and how precious life really is,” Meyers said.

The two Westside players currently on the team are scholarship running back Collins Okafor who carried one time for nine yards in the ULL game and walk-on quarterback Ron Kellogg. Both sported throwback jerseys against ULL to commemorate the 1962 team. The jerseys, custom made by Adidas, were red with white pants, white script numbers and white helmets with black numbers on either side. Along with the throwbacks, NU asked fans to dress in classic 1962 red-colored apparel. Bob Devaney’s family and 1962 team that began the streak were honored on the field.

Nebraska has had only one top-five recruiting class since the rankings first came out, but NU utilizes in-state players and the heralded walk-on program fostered by Tom Osborne. Current safety Matt O’Hanlon has started for the Huskers in every game this season and is a graduate of Bellevue East. Receiver Niles Paul is another Nebraska native who starts for the Big Red and is a graduate of Omaha North.

“In-state players have always been important. Nebraska players make out-of-state players better,” Perlman said.

The nation’s only 300 game sellout streak represents the average Nebraska fan’s passion and loyalty to the team. People from across Nebraska flock to watch the games every Saturday and over the years they have seen Westside players take the field for all five national championship teams.

*Numbers based on Huskers.com figures.

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CONSECUTIVE SELLOUTFormer Warriors participate in continuing record for Huskers

The cloudy sky looms over the sea of pink outside the Civic Center. Wearing their double-knotted sneakers, serious athletes stretch while other participants laugh together, preparing for the challenge ahead. Although it’s 8 a.m. on a cold Sunday morning, no one complains about waking up early. The over 1o,000 people have gathered with a purpose.

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was held Sunday, Oct. 4. For the third year, Westside’s team Warriors for a Cure — comprised of students, parents, teachers and friends — gathered for the 27th annual fundraiser event.

The team was developed two years ago as 2008 graduate Cameron Coffey’s senior project. Coffey’s mom died of breast cancer. Since then, the team has been organized by Debra Kaplan, a physical education teacher at Sunset and Swanson Elementary, who served as Coffey’s community consultant in 2007.

“I just know so many women whose lives have been touched,” Kaplan said. “I know women, mothers, children, grandmothers — it’s everywhere. It’s just important to help find a cure.”

This year, Westside’s team of about 70 raised over $425 in addition to registration fees. After rallying over 200 walkers in 2007, Kaplan hopes to increase participation in the future.

Including Race for the Cure, Westside forms teams for several fundraisers throughout the year. Fitness instructor Sally Shepherd regularly partakes in the community teams.

“I really believe in being part of this organization,” Shepherd said. “It’s the same reason why I have my son play sports here, because we are part of Westside. This is our family; this is our community.”

This was Shepherd’s first year running on the Warriors for a Cure team. She chose to run because of personal connections her family has to breast cancer.

“My sister-in-law is a breast cancer survivor, so I’ve always wanted to run in her honor and this year it worked out,” Shepherd said. “Everybody knows someone. Either they have been touched by breast cancer or they know someone who has. Especially for women, I think it’s a very important cause to be involved in.”

Kaplan also has a family connection to cancer.“On a personal level, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at

40,” Kaplan said. “She was a breast cancer survivor for over 30 years.”Junior Sylvia Coleman’s mom was a member of the Warriors for a Cure

team last year. She was diagnosed with type 2-breast cancer in 2007 and was given a 95% survival rate. After chemotherapy and radiation treatment, Coleman’s mom is now cancer free. Although Coleman wasn’t worried about her mom’s chance of survival, she was surprised by the diagnosis.

“I just didn’t think it would happen to me,” Coleman said. “It made me realize that it’s pretty common and it doesn’t necessarily have to be fatal.”

Kaplan believes there are lessons for all ages by participating in the event.

“I think it’s a really important thing for kids to be exposed to philanthropy at a young age — to know that their giving and their participation can make a difference in our community. We’re all a part of this Westside community,” Kaplan said.

Shepherd encourages friends and colleagues to get involved.“It doesn’t matter how fast you are or how good you are, it matters that

you’re out here,” Shepherd said.

District team rallies for causeWarriors for the cure

Charles W. ZiegenbeinPhotographer

Mary SusmanManaging Editor

(From left) Westside alumni and former Husker Ben Kingston, current UNL Associate Athletic Director Paul Meyers and Tom Pate.

Photos byHannah Rector

Counselor Kirk Henning-sen participates in the 27th annual Race for a Cure in down-town Omaha Sunday, Oct. 4. Over 10,000 people participat-ed in the fundraiser. Below, a crowd gathers during the walk.

13Rage

Page Design Emma May October 9, 2009

It’s that wonderful time of year again . . . fall. For upperclassmen that means testing, college visits and scholarship applications. Last issue I lent a helping hand to high school freshmen, so how about some help for the soon-to-be college freshmen. Here I have compiled some helpful hints when looking at colleges this fall.

Go behind the scenes. If you go on a college visit, chances are you will only see what they want you to see. Ask your tour guide to take you behind the scenes, to the places you want to see. It is helpful to have a knowledgeable tour guide.

Getting Around. Before you decide where you want

to go, you need to see the town or city in which the college is located. At first you might think this is not a big deal, but it really is. The average student spends four years at a campus; this is longer then you think. If you are used to a larger city with activities and you go off to a dinky college town, chances are you will get bored, fast.

Community. Being a freshman is going to be scary enough, but there is one thing that will help ease the anxiety. It is important to choose a college that incorporates community. That way you can meet new people without stepping too far out of your comfort zone.

To spot community when your college visiting is looking at the layout of the dorms. If the dorm has shared bathrooms, student lounges, or things of that nature chances are you will meet more people. Most people would like to have it all right there in their dorm, but if you do you will be less likely to interact with other people.

“My freshman year, we were forced to hang out with and get to know the people on our floor,” college sophomore Joanna Leath said. “At first, I thought it was really annoying, but as time went on, I got close with a few people because I had been forced to get to know them.”

We upperclassmen have been scared younglings before, and a second coming of those awkward times is just over the horizon. Keep in mind these three things and your freshman déjà vu will be a little easier.

Film Streams is a nonprofit organization that provides the community with a unique experience: viewing films from unknown directors as well as highly successful professionals. The theater has two screens and hosts both guest speakers and visiting filmmakers. Family and individual memberships that include free tickets and other benefits are available. Film Streams also offers a “Student Night” the first Monday of every month, when Students with ID can receive free movie tickets.Tickets range from $4 for a member to $8 for an adult. Visit www.filmstreams.org for more information.

How to visit collegesBe prepared

LOCAL VENUES Unique places in Omaha offer activities for all ages

The Foundry works as a multipurpose nonprofit venue. It is a coffee shop, art gallery, community meeting place and concert shop. The Foundry is located in Benson and its mission is to bring its surrounding community together. It provides local bands with the opportunity to have their music heard and gives residents a place to hang out in a relaxing environment. The Foundry is also available to rent for hosting events, parties and meetings. Visit www.omahafoundry.com for events.

Pizza Shoppe Collective, or PS Collective, provides artists and musicians with a chance to put their work out into the public eye. This venue welcomes both local and national bands to perform for the Omaha community. Hosting various events such as art galleries, concerts, poetry slams, theater performances, and comedy acts, it also provides unique ethnic cuisine. PS collective is located on 60th and Maple and books fundraisers and private parties. The venue provides a rustic yet artistic atmosphere, with high top and low top tables, along with a performance area. Check out their calendar along with other information at www.pscollective.com.

Ps Collective FilmStreamsThe Foundry

Ready or not here it comes. Every student loves standardized testing, especially those already knee deep in school and sports. The ACT, SAT, and PSAT are coming up sooner than you think. Here are some helpful dates

when preparing for the tests.

October10/14- PSAT Test10/17- PSAT Test10/24- ACT TestNovember11/7- SAT Test

December12/5- SAT Test

12/12- ACT Test

January1/23- SAT Test

February2/6- ACT Test

For more information, test registration dates, or frequently asked questions go to

http://www.test-guide.com.

JUL

IE D

WO

RA

K

Staff Writer

Before you decide where you want to go, you need to see the town or city in which the college is located.

“

“

Kaylan MaloleyFeature Editor

Photos byLindsay Lee

14 Rage

The Lance Page Design Lauren Florea

Cars stuffed the small parking lot. The doors couldn’t be shut due to a line that snaked out of the entrance. Muttering could be heard about tacos, chalupas, and quesadillas. Everyone cheered as the first order arrived. What was this madness? The second annual Taco Bell Challenge, of course.

What exactly is the Taco Bell Challenge? Basically, you order $10 worth of Taco Bell food; the challenge is to eat it all. Now $10 worth of food isn’t that hard to eat, unless you go to Taco Bell. This year 14 students completed the challenge.

“The quesadillas are heavier in my system, I tried keeping it lighter this year,” said senior Michael Richards, who completed the challenge both this year and last year.

Most students planned their orders ahead of time, basing them on price, quantity and taste.

“Do not do four quesadillas,” senior Nathan Packard said. “[Last year] it was a disaster; I was about to throw up.”

That is exactly what drew some student’s attention.“I came for the enjoyment of watching other people

throwing up,” senior Andrew Anderson said. Although last year a few students failed the challenge

with rather unpleasant results, this year no one puked. That isn’t to say difficulties did not occur.

“They had to call in another worker because of us,” senior Tim Brawner said.

I stood behind the line watching employees scramble from the bombardment of orders, and couldn’t help but feel slightly sorry for them. It took 30 minutes to get my Mexican pizza and soda. I considered participating in the challenge, but my intestines persuaded me against it.

Two hours and a mountain of trash later, students who completed the challenge took pictures and drove away, no doubt with bellyaches and clogged arteries. The challenge took place Friday, Sept. 18, at the Taco Bell on 84th and Center.

TAC O B E LL C H A LL E N G EBrian Frey

Entertainment Editor

Senior Alec Brewer12 Cinnamon twists

“Instead of completing the challenge, I thought I’d go for most ridiculous

order possible.”

Junior Creighton Gerber5 Volcano tacos3 Sides of Rice

1 Cinnamon twist

“Nick Goeser planned it out. Volcano tacos are more expensive than regular

tacos. Rice is easy to eat.”

Senior Michael Richards2 Chalupas

5 Hardshell Tacos

“The quesadillas are heavier in my system, I tried keeping it lighter this

year.”

Adam Young, the one-man band behind electronica sensation Owl City, has come a long way from making music on his laptop out of his parents’ basement. Too bad the quality of the music has not improved.

In Ocean Eyes, Young croons lyrics like “There’s an underwater Ferris wheel where I found the missing link to this island chain” and you begin to wonder what his lyrical writing process is. The nonsensical lyrics become apparent and distracting immediately in this album. If only making music was as easy as generating beats on your laptop.

Young tries too hard to match other electronic pop bands to date, such as the Postal Service. He strains himself until the beats and styles of Ocean Eyes become repetitive. The only small breath of fresh air is the questionable hit, “Fireflies”, where Young’s catchy chorus can almost make up for his subpar lyrics: “I get a thousand hugs / From ten thousand lightning bugs.” You know you are pushing yourself lyrically when you rhyme “thousand hugs” with “thousand lightning bugs”.

Sadly, millions of fans cannot see through the mediocre laptop beats and corny lyrics, including many fans in our own school. Don’t worry, Ocean Eyes is easily something all of you “Owl Heads” will not remember loving this time next year.

He’s back. This time it’s for real. The alleged “Jay-Hova” of hip-hop made another trip

into the studio to record The Blueprint 3. The album, originally to be released Sept. 11 in honor of the 2001 album, The Blueprint, was made available on Sept. 8. For such a traditional fellow, why the early release? The record was leaked over the Internet.

However, this album sounds anything but traditional.When I was informed about the early release of the

long awaited album, I purchased a copy after school and immediately imported it into my iTunes library.

After listening to it, I grinned to myself, Jay certainly hasn’t changed. His play on words and sarcastic, sharp tone continues to impress, and he still isn’t concerned with hurting feelings. The single from the album “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” trashes the use of auto-tune in the hip-hop industry. He makes a point that offended many when he said, “Get back to rap you T-Pain’n too much.” Ouch.

Upon listening to the album, I couldn’t help but note his occasional references to the election of Barack Obama. Jay-Z, an Obama fan, mentions in the first track, “What We Talkin’ About” says, “Now you could choose to sit in front of your computer/ posin’ with guns, shootin’ YouTube up/ or you could come with me to the White House get your suit up”.

In addition to the presidential remarks, Jay-Z often refers to his roots in his hometown of Brooklyn. In the track, “Empire State of Mind” (featuring the soulful voice of Alicia Keys) the Hov reminisces on his life growing up in New York and drops notorious landmarks of the Empire State. The pride he expresses of this folk culture is nearly contagious.

Along with Keys, the album features artists ranging from the ever so intelligent Kanye West to the electronic band Empire of the Sun. Newcomer Drake also collaborates with Jay on the album. I’m sure this opportunity is the best he’s ever had.

The album is fairly respectable. I am a huge fan of Jay-Z, and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s a creative record, but I’d have to take off a star for his ego that he never fails to make known.

No, Nas hip-hop’s not dead. If you’re feeling pessimistic, pop in the BP3. Hova sums it up in one of his

tracks when he says, “Please don’t bow in my presence How am I a Legend?/ I just got 10 No. 1 albums, maybe now 11”. A week after his album debuted, it was No. 11.

So, yeah man, you are a legend. You overthrew Elvis at 10.

15Rage

Page Design Cara Wilwerding October 9, 2009

“When I put on my glasses, I kind of become a different person. I think it’s really funny how they look on me. I realize completely that I probably look like a huge dork, but for some reason I think that’s hilarious.”-Senior Dillon Jones

“In January I was working at Target. This girl had them on and I thought ‘those are hot, I like those’. I looked forever for them. I got four pairs from Wet Seal and one pair from Forever 21. I wore them a couple times to school and people called me weird so I stopped wearing them, and then I started wearing them again.”-Senior Egypt McKizia.

“I just wear them cause it’s a certain style that I put out. I saw it from other people, but I wanted to make it my style. I was creative with it. These are the 3-D glasses from Rave. I just took the lenses out and put tape on them.”-Junior Cardearo Baylor-Vaughn.

“They’re unique and I just like to wear different accessories. They’re fun. I get my inspiration from a lot of fashion designers, whatever flows and feels right. Generally, whatever is different from someone else.” -Junior Kia Moore.

SPECSNerdy trend flies through Westside Cara Wilwerding

Editor-in-chief

Photos byLindsay Lee

H H H H

H H

HOVA RETURNSHip-hop artist makes comeback with new album, impresses fans, does not disappoint

Lindsay LeePhoto Editor

Daniel KempSports Editor

AWFUL CITY‘Fireflies’ can’t keep album out of the dark

Graphic ByEmily Nachun

Jay-Z album The Blueprint 3 & Owl City album Ocean Eyes.

16 Photo Essay

The Lance Page Design Lindsay Lee

After running the mile, senior Nick Goeser recovers. Not all par-ticipants held their food down as well as Goeser. “I was the second to finish the burrito, it was hard to eat so fast. Then while I was

running, I could feel it coming up almost every lap,” junior Joe Essi said. “Then in the last 100 meters it finally did. But after I got done

with the trashcan, I felt great, and sprinted the last 100 meters.”

Showing off his burrito costume, ju-nior Max McDermott arrives at the event. McDermott made the costume using a cardboard box, newspaper, three rolls of tin foil and a cape once belonging to a princess dress. “I don’t have a shot at winning this cause I’m in the fastest heat with a five-pound burrito costume. My goal is to finish the burrito fastest so I might have to take the costume off for that portion or have someone feed me,” McDermott said. “Bur-rito Boy is in it to win it today.”

Senior Laine Herron sprints towards the finish line on his final lap. Herron took first place at Burrito Mile with a time of 7:05, fin-ishing his burrito in less than two minutes.

Photo byHannah Rector

Juniors Drew Con-ley, Nick Schroeder and graduate Bolun

Ye scarf down Qdoba delicacies. Schroeder

won the third heat, on the brink of re-

gurgitation. “It was awesome, I felt like I was gonna throw up

three times. I Choked it down though,”

Schroeder said. “Don’t mess with the

best.”

BURitto MILE

Nom Nom Nom. Biology instructor Pat-rick Caffey smashes his buritto with a cup of water to follow. The winner of the teacher heat was instructor Rick McKeever with a time of 7:13, just eight seconds behind se-nior Laine Herron’s time.

Beginning the first lap, senior Joe Slosburg leaves com-petitors in the dust. Nearly 110 students, graduates, staff and community mem-bers participated in five different heats, raising about $1,400 for the boys and girls cross country fund.

Photo byHannah Rector

Photo byHannah Rector

Photo byCara Wilwerding

Photo byCara Wilwerding

Photo byCara Wilwerding