The Common GroundVolume 15 , Issue 11Friday, April 10, 2009

Burris Laboratory School2201 W. University Ave. Muncie, IN 47306-1062765-285-1131

Tabl

e of

Cont

ents Page Two- Prom Preview

Page Three- Uniforms- Photo Contest- Break Days

Page Four- Book Fair- Senior Trip- Burris Talent

Cheerleading squad primed for strong yearTravis StampStaff Reporter

Burris and Indiana Academy cheerleaders are off to a fast start in order to have a very successful 2009-2010 season.

After a year in which there were only four returning players, the future looks bright with more than double that coming back. Coupled with this added expe-rience comes, for the first time in a number of years, to attend two days of six hour cheerlead-ing camps during the summer. This camp will be held here in Muncie, and is specially set up for Burris so the team will re-ceive very individualized help and support. With the camp should come great improvement and show how truly devoted the team is to being great.

The first group of team mem-bers was decided on April 3 after

two days of clinics, and a tryout on March 30. A total of 13 ath-

letes were chosen for the squad, with 15 trying out. Originally planning to only accept 10 of the participants, they finalized on 13 in hopes of having a set Junior Varsity squad.

Next season’s team includes 8th graders Hannah Brinkman,

Alesia Struew-ing, Brooke Lat, from the cur-rent Freshman Sammi Marsee and Michelle Jones, repre-senting the S o p h o m o r e s Danielle Wat-kins and Ame-lia Henitzlman and finally from the Junior

class Mackenzi Dudley from Burris and Emma Rhoads, Paxton

Lewis, Azunne Anigbo, Autumn Henderson and Janelle Williams from the Indiana Academy.

“I am really looking forward to next year. I think overall our squad will be improved a lot

with the camp and all the hard work, ” stated returning captain and Burris Junior Mackenzi Dud-ley.

Along with the aforemen-tioned members, a tryout will again be held in the fall for new Burris and Indiana Academy students. The total number for the squad is still not set, but it is thought that as many as five more members could be chosen.

“As an Academy student it was definitely difficult to join a completely new team, after leav-ing my old school, but it was also a lot of fun to learn all of the new cheers. Hopefully the next years Academy students realize this too and come out for the team,” said Rhoads.

With hard work and persever-ance, the upcoming season will certainly be a success for this group of girls who fire up the crowd like no others can.

Academic honesty to be revampedDavid MorganStaff Reporter

The newly formed Academic Honesty Committee plans to de-fine what was formerly unclear, hoping to better prepare students for college.

Language Arts teacher, Abbie Comber, noticed that the current academic honesty contract was out of date and vague. It does not define what kind of punish-

ment a student shall receive but just mentions that academic mis-conduct is grounds for suspen-sion or even expulsion. Assistant Principal, Lisa Berry, is worried that students do not understand the severity of copying a friend’s homework before class or even participating in unauthorized group work. Student representa-tive, Aditya Rajagopal says, “A lot of people misconstrue the meaning of academic honesty; it

is not just limited to plagiarism.”The committee has realized

that by not putting much focus on Academic Honesty in high school, students will be more likely to fall into trouble in col-lege. Their purpose is not to at-tack the student but to devise a plan of action to follow in the occurrence of a student not do-ing his or her own work. Comber mentions, “If we do not have an academic honesty plan in place

we are not really preparing stu-dents for the academic expecta-tions of college.”

Ideas are still being discussed and a final contract is still being edited. However, the commit-tee is hoping to phase their plan into effect by educating students specifically on what is Academic Honesty starting in the Fall of 2009.

Johnny Phipps

Members from the 2009 Varsity cheerleading squad squad cheering during Senior Night verus

2 The Common Ground Issue 11

BSU’s Annual Cinderella’s Closet CollectionDo you have old Prom dresses or formal wear that you won’t ever wear again?

Why not donate it to a good cause? Cinderella’s closet is an annual fund raiser with Ball State Fashion Merchandising Association. We collect gently used prom dresses, handbags, jewelry, and shoes which are then sold to those who are in need of prom dresses at a more affordable price. Even though this years event has past we still would like you to keep us in mind for next.

*All proceeds will go to Ball Memorial Hospital Cancer Center. SO PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND FOR NEXT YEAR!

Planing for a Prom-isingFinding a prom dress can be

a lot of work especially when you’re on a budget and not only that but no one wants to be wearing the same dress as someone else. Here are a few stores that can provide the per-fect dress:

Radiant Bride (Anderson) -“I went there not knowing what I wanted at all and found the perfect dress”- Sophomore Aer-abe Koester

Plato’s Closet (Muncie)- “They Have gently used dresses that look brand new that cost less than half the price of a new

one”- Junior Elli AbrahamDavid’s Bridal (Indianapo-

lis)- “ I don’t know what kind of dress I want yet but I know that Imp going to get it from David’s Bridal they always have a good selection”- Senior Dena Wood-gette

Von Maur (Indianapolis)- “ They had so many colors to choose from”- Junior Arin Phil-lips

Rural Bridal Shop (Yorktown) - is a boutique that has tons of dresses and accessories to choose from.

Also another alternative to

getting a dress on a budget that some students are doing this prom is borrowing one from a close friend.

Here are five easy tips to finding a last minute date that work!1. Make a specific request By now your friends are aware you’re dateless, but don’t expect

them to help you without you having to ask.2. Go to the database Look through all your friends on Facebook or MySpace, but don’t

stop there. Make a list including acquaintances, friends of friends, and distant cousins, best friends fathers, everyone.

3. Work a room Talk to as many boys as possible in the least amount of time. That

means going to parties. Don’t forget to mention casually to each guy that you’re in need of a prom date -- and don’t be surprised if one happens to appear out of thin air.

4. Ask a guy who’s not expecting it Go with the guy who’s been crushing on you, even if he’s not

soul mate material. If he’s shy, chances are he hasn’t asked anyone else, and if he’s smitten, he’ll treat you like a princess.

5. Capitalize on a loss Heard of any recent breakups? A number of perfectly presentable

peeps are probably short on prom dates. (Note: It’s better to ask a “dumpee”, not a dumper -- otherwise his dumped ex will be extra-hurt when she sees him so soon with another girl.) You’ll gain a date and help another person get over heartbreak in the process.

*http://www.promspot.com/ps_yourdate.shtml

Needing a Last Minute Date?

Renting a tux for guys isn’t so much work as a dress but if you’re looking for a sharp tux to get for prom here are the places to go:

Mr. Penguin Tuxedos (Bloomington)S&K Famous Brand Menswear (Muncie)The Shed (Anderson)Ford’s (Muncie)

Sophomore Aerabe Koester tries on dress-es at Deb in the Northwest Plaza.

CG Photos/Johanna Hillgrove

CG Photo/Johanna Hillgrove

Kelli AndersonStaff Writer

Night in Paris

3 The Common Ground Issue 11

Final break excites students

Staff WriterKevin Reeves

Muncie Community Schools may have uniform dress codes by the start of fall next year.

Students going to Muncie Community Schools, this does not include Burris, would no longer be allowed to wear jeans or flip-flops. The dress code would require students to wear solid-colored tops with pants, capris, skirts, shorts or jumpers that are either black, navy, khaki

or brown. The Muncie School board decided clothing was dis-tracting students, and clothing also sparks competition within the school.

Some parents are arguing that the uniformed clothing will be too expensive for them to buy with the failing economy, but the school board reassures them that they will give financial aid to the family’s that need help paying for the clothes.

Even though not affecting them, Burris and Academy stu-

dents are in an uproar about these new policies.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” said Burris Junior Weston Reed. “Uniforms take away each in-dividuals ability to express their own feelings and religion. I like to wear my American Eagle and Aeropostale clothing!”

The Muncie School Board also stated that the clothing students wear is distracting to students in class and created competition, thus lessoning the child’s learning.

Academy Junior Sarah Para-dise thought that statement was outrageous. “I definitely don’t think that everyday cloth-ing distracts people. People who want to wear designer will wear designer, no matter what colors. People who can’t afford nicer clothes will not have nicer clothes, no matter what color. If people can’t separate cliques by clothing, they will separate it by something else. I think that statement underestimates us and what makes us competitive.”

Staff WriterMaya Halley

This past fall several students, for their final proj-ect in photography, entered a contest to get their pictures put up at Riley’s Children Hospital, or at the Indiana Associations of Principal’s Office.

Four of the photographs entered won. The win-ners were Cierra Beal, freshman, Mary Coleman, freshman, and Zach Jones, senior at Burris.

“I was really surprised that I won. My photo is being put up in Riley’s children hospital. I just en-tered it for my final project because it sounded re-ally interesting,” said Beal.

“I was really excited I won, and not only that I won, but that two of my photos won. I didn’t really think I would win, but I’m really proud of myself. I have no idea which of my photos are going to which facility but it’s a really big honor,” said Cole-man.

This was one of the many choices for students in the fall semester photography class could have done as their final project. Betsy Ahlersmeyer, pho-tography teacher, received the information about the contest from the art department. The art depart-ment received their information from the Indiana Associations of Principal’s Office.

Staff WriterBryce Rector

The consensus among most high school students as to how they are going to spend the second spring break is clear… SLEEP-ING.

Most every high school student agrees that they will be using these extra two days off to catch up on some much needed sleep. Burris Junior Lillian Liu said, “I am going to be sleeping a lot over the break. I just want to relax and enjoy my time off from school.”

That seems to be the case for most stu-dents, another junior Will Spengler said, “We are high schoolers so we can always use the sleep. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The days which Burris is taking off are sit-uated around Easter so many students enjoy that aspect as well. “I am going to spend of lots of time with my family over Easter. I’m going to be at church throughout the week-end so that should be fun,” said Burris Senior Colin Airriess. “I’m going to be playing some basketball and eating lots of candy too so this should be a pretty good break,” added Air-riess.

Sophomore Jesse Etsler says he will en-joy the days off no matter where he is. “I am hoping to stay in town and be able to hang out with friends but if not I will go to my grandma’s and celebrate Easter. I’ll have fun no matter what,” said Etsler.

The Friday and Monday off are built into the schedule as extra snow days, if needed. If there are days where school is canceled because of snow during the winter these two days are built into the schedule so that school would be in session during these days instead of at the end of the school year. Most students agree that they are glad we didn’t have any snow days this winter.

Johnny Phipps, a senior at Burris said, “The snowy days really weren’t that difficult to get to school and I wasn’t going to be do-ing anything on those snow days any ways so I’d much rather have them during the spring when the weather is awesome.”

Students win photography contest

Muncie Schools may get uniforms

This is the picture that Mary Coleman sent in and won the competition.

The Common Ground Staff

Staff WritersKelli AndersonRachel BakerMaya HalleyJohanna HillgroveJohn PhippsBryce RectorKevin ReevesTravis Stamp

Business ManagerDaniel Cheesman

AdviserBetsy Ahlersmeyer

Contact us at:bahlersmeyer@bsu.edu orin Burris room 123

Purpose of the NewspaperThe Common Ground began publication in 1994 as an open forum for students, staff, parents and other interested readers. The Common Ground is designed to provide both a source of information as well as an academic tool by which student staff members explore journalistic skills and cooperation. Its duty is to inform students about events, and ideas that are pertinent to them, their school and their community. The content of the Common Ground will inform, entertain, persuade, and analyze. The Common Ground will strive for accuracy and responsibility in this endeavor, as well as fairness and impartiality.

4 The Common Ground Issue 11

John PhippsStaff Writer

The Burris Library hosted its annual spring Scholastic Book Fair on March 23.The weeklong book fair attracted students of all ages and grade levels, providing them with the very newest edi-tions of both series and non-se-ries books. The book fair brought the Burris Library around $2200, but rather than taking the money in cold, hard cash, Burris accept-ed the $2200 in new Scholastic books and material.

“We could have chosen to receive money, but at a price much lower than $2200,” said Kim Carr, one of three librarians who run the Burris Library. “The price we received in books was of more value than the price we could have received in money, so we got the better deal.”

Best of all, the $2200 in new Scholastic materials came at a price of: zero dollars. Scholas-tic puts on the event completely free of charge. Additionally, they

provide the library with flyers to hang around the school as ad-vertisement, as well as deliver and pick up the books and book carts. They even take their own inventory. The only thing the Bur-ris librarians are charged with is setting-up all of the displays.

Returning students look for-ward to picking up their next new book when the Scholastic Book Fair makes its appearance at the Burris Library in the fall, which will be followed by yet another visit in the following spring.

“Setting up is a little difficult, but the rest is pretty easy and overall simple process,” said Carlotta Hardin. “The kids really like it too, and that’s the most important part. Its really great to see them get excited about going in with their family and buying new books to read.”

The Burris librarians hope to make as much, if not more, than the earnings in materials during April when the book fair returns in the fall of 2009.

Book fair returns to Burris

Johanna HillgroveStaff Writer

As the end of the school year approaches, students are antici-pating the upcoming summer.

Seniors have been anxious to

see if the long awaited senior trip would be a go. With much de-bate about where the trip would travel, the class finally decided to go to the Great Wolf Lodge as well as Kings Island for their final destination.

Class sponsors Katy Debbink, Judith Sponseller and Lilly Stokes assisted in planning what turned into an overnight trip.

“For as much as we changed the trip, I’m glad that it is af-fordable,” says Debbink. “I like

that the group has one last get together and it’s always fun to watch the seniors.” The trip is scheduled for April 24-25 with 30 seniors expected to attend.

Rachel BakerStaff Writer

The Burris Variety Show showed all the creative expres-sions of a wide range of stu-dents.

The annual talent show at Burris displayed singing, tap dance, acting, and the playing of various instruments. Over all the talent show c a n be described as a success, but what other talents can be found

at Burris? An interview with nu-merous students illustrated these hidden talents.

Sophomore Cameron Terrell revealed his talent as being draw-ing. More specifically Anime. For those unfamiliar with this term, anime is the Japanese styles of motion-picture animation, char-acterized by highly stylized col-orful art, and futuristic settings. Anime has been used in the well know AniMatrix based off the popular American, Matrix Trilo-

gy. Burris Junior, Thomas Starkey comments, “ I think Cameron is skilled in sketching both anime humans and animals.”

Also holding a talent is an-other sophomore, Sarah Baker. Baker’s talent is creating imagi-native and inventive hairstyles. “ I started doing hair around the age of ten. “ Many people who have had personal experience with Sarah’s artistic ability say they are fond of her work. Junior, Khalid says, “ Sarah has done my

hair about four times, it’s cool. ” The hairstyle she is most familiar with is the French braid. “I like doing French Braids most of the time, because I can incorporate them in other styles. “ Making hairstyles helps me for the fu-ture, since I want this to be my profession.”

Countless other students have a talent of some kind; you just have to look for them.

anxious seniors prepare for trip

Variety Show was only the beginning of Burris talent