Lacy Bakerstaff writer

Sheldon senior graces the cover of ESPN magazine

the Talismana student newspaper

page 2

Sheldon High School 2455 willakenzie Rd., Eugene, Or 97401 vol. 46 Issue 7 May 13, 2011

An organization focused on helping undereducated kids around the world

Students helping other students worldwide

Chrissy Waltercopy editor

Kelsey Shermannews editor

ASB elections decided

pages 4-5

The ASB elections occurred on April 22, 2011. Even though seven positions were available, only six people ran against one another. The positions of president, secretary, and publicity each had to compete for the spot. After the student body voted, Kaleb Stubbs won president, Payton French won secretary, and Caitlin Tilby won publicity. The other positions were fi lled by Jasmine Creighton-Manis as vice president, Laken Johnson as treasurer, Jenny Forrest as activities coordinator, and Katie Breslford as spirit coordinator. Sheldon’s current ASB president is senior Lizzie Gray. When asked how she feels she has improved the school as president, Gray stated, “We’re working with Sam (an intern for Katie Cawood) to become more aware of all the minorities in the school. We’re talking about bullying so we can teach it to Leadership and hopefully make everyone more aware.” Their job as ASB leaders is to show students the effect that bulling can have on people. By becoming more aware of the effects that bullying can have on others, students will realize the negativities to it, and hopefully start standing up for others, instead of watching them get picked on and not doing anything about it. Bullying is just one issue that leaders at Sheldon can deal with and help put an end to, but there are also many other ways to help improve the school, and create a more energetic and happy atmosphere for all students. The newly elected ASB president, and junior Kaleb Stubbs said, “I’m going to make the school both fun and entertaining for students by making every event as exciting as possible.” Hopefully by making school events, like assemblies, more enjoyable, students will become interested in attending them. More people at assemblies would be good for Leadership to give out information about the school and its upcoming events. Also, by creating a more entertaining assembly it would defi nitely help with the outcome of the amount of students that show up would hopefully increase. All Leadership students would like to help out the school and make it a better, and more friendly, environment for everyone; this includes both the ASB

From a young age senior J.J. Juilfs knew he wanted to excel as an athlete. However, after attempting to play basketball and striking out at baseball, he decided to look for a new sport to display his physical superiority. Luckily for Juilfs, he found that sport when he discovered his love for pole vaulting. For the past two years, Juilfs has been a nationally ranked athlete. This year J.J. was even chosen to be on the cover of ESPN Rise magazine for being the number one high school pole vaulter in the nation. Some may have let the excitement and recognition go to their heads, but not Juilfs; he humbly accepted the honor and continued to push himself to become even better. Juilfs’ love for pole vaulting started in the seventh grade after watching many track meets, specifi cally pole vaulter

Project our turn is a student-run organization which seeks to provide educational opportunities to prospective students in underserved communities all around the world. The students involved in this organization work hard to raise money, accept donations, and visit these countries in order to help other people their own age have the opportunity to get an education. Their work isn’t limited to just education; many students have put together enough money to purchase basketballs, Frisbees, soccer balls, team jerseys, and much more. Project Our Turn is an organization that helps students in underserved parts of the world get a better education and have a more rewarding life. Sophomore Tom Urben said, “I would rather have less education than I do now, but if I were denied the opportunity then it would be a different story.” Students in other countries don’t have the same advantages as we do and aren’t always allowed to attend school. When asked what advice he would give to another student in a different county, Urben stated, “They should non-violently protest the wrongs that have been dealt and keep fi ghting for what they think is right.” Senior Cheyenne Ford said, “It is important to help students in other countries because it shows them that there is more to the world than what they can see and they have the capability of doing more with their lives.” Student infl uences are extremely important to the growth and development of other teens in the world. Positive peer pressure is a key element to achieve success. When asked if education should be based on where your origin is Ford replied, “No, because some education is better than others and some education is worse than others. Children should all deserve an equal shot at success and have the same opportunities no matter what their situation.” What if Project Our Turn was more widespread? A poll of one hundred students at Sheldon High School showed that four percent of people knew a lot about Project Our Turn, seventeen percent of people have at least heard of Project Our Turn, and seventy nine percent of students knew absolutely nothing and had never even heard of Project Our Turn. Project Our Turn thrives on having volunteers and good support from students and their families. Senior Maria Rios mentioned, “Uganda’s use for children in the world is unfair and unjust. Kids deserve the chance to be kids and not have to worry about being punished for it.” Children in other countries are often used as slaves or even sex subjects. Rios also stated, “If more people were aware of these children’s positions, then it would be a step forward to helping the situation.”

3 Cups of lies?

Being the number one high school pole vaulter in the nation lands JJ Juilfs on cover of ESPN Rise

leaders now, and the soon to be ASB leaders. Leadership supervisor Dan Clark has a lot of faith in his students. Clark stated, “[I expect the new ASB leaders] to continue the amazing work that has been done up to this point.” Hopefully he is right, and Sheldon will have a great group of students leading the school through the next year.

A new school year will be here shortly which means there will be new ASB members leading

shstalisman@gmail.com

Prom’s many expenses: too much?

Chrissy Walter photo

Crazy designs shaved into hair.

pages 4-5

Tommy Skipper. Juilfs said, “I love pole vaulting; it’s an addiction. I’m very passionate about it. Both of my parents did track, and I’ve always loved watching meets ever since I was a little kid.” Despite his fervent love for the sport, his life does not revolve around it. Juilfs trains almost everyday, but he only pole vaults about twice a week. As an alternative, he spends a majority of his time working on his sprints out on the track, lifting weights in the weight room, and even practicing gymnastics to improve his fl exibility. When asked, his peers and coaches had nothing but good things to say about Juilfs. Senior Chloe Stiles said, “J.J. is a

fun-loving, happy about life kind of kid. Not only is he a great person to be around, but he is fun to watch out on the track because he has such a good attitude and there’s always a smile on his face.” Sophomore Ben Olsson said, “J.J. is like the nicest guy I’ve ever met.” Even his coaches admire his

competitive nature. Coach Lane Johnson said, “J.J. is a very hard worker; he has a great

work ethic. I’ve always told J.J. that he’s a weird kid—but it’s a good kind of weird—and that you have to be a little bit of an odd duck to be a pole vaulter. J.J. is a great kid.” Planning to take his pole vaulting to the next level, J.J. is attending the University of Washington in the fall. Juilfs also plans on sticking to the advice his father gave him at a young age on his journey into the college scene: “Do your thing and ninety-fi ve percent of the time your thing will be better than anyone else’s thing.”

Greg Cantwell photo

Junior Kaleb Stubbs rapped about school improvement during his elections speech.

Senior JJ Juilfs enjoys reading the issue of ESPN Rise magazine featuring his image on the cover.

2 the TalismanNews

Income tax decisions being madeA proposed income tax creates controversy with Eugene voters

Donald Trump running for PresidentTrump has accomplished many things throughout his lifetime, but will America elect him as their President?

May 13, 2011

Ben Greenopinions editor

Annie Toddfeatures editor

Kathryn Bothmanbackpage editor

Three Cups of TeaBook about Pakistan could be fabricated

Prince William and Kate marry

Holly Fordstaff writer

A royal wedding only comes once every thirty to fi fty years. Prince William, the Prince of Wales and third eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II, married Kate Middleton, a commoner from Berkshire, England. They dated for six years—Kate picking up the nickname of “Waity Katy”—until a surprising break up in 2007. A couple months later they got back together, and in 2010 were engaged to be married. They married on April 29, 2011, at 6 a.m. Many people have opinions about the royal wedding, and whether or not a commoner should be able to marry into a royal family. Freshman Amanda Dougherty said, “Yeah I believe they should be able to marry, but I don’t know much about it. If they are in love, they should get married.” However, it isn’t only Dougherty who believes this; lots of other people worldwide do as well. When asked whether or not her family was going to celebrate the wedding, Dougherty stated, “No, we didn’t know about it until a couple days

ago.” This goes to show that even if someone approves of the union, they aren’t necessarily going to celebrate it. For their own weddings, many people want a large wedding, like William and Kate’s. However, freshman Liam Talty said, “I want it to be really small, because it’s less to manage.” On the other hand, freshman Blake Richardson said, “Gigantic, because it’s cooler.” So obviously, people have very different opinions; it just depends on a person’s personal preference and personality. If a person is quiet and reserved, perhaps they would want a small, modest wedding. Or if the person is outgoing and a people person, maybe they’d want a larger wedding. Most young girls often dream of growing up, fi nding the prince of their dreams, and marrying into a royal family. With boys on the other hand, you don’t hear much about their take on the situation. Freshman Taner Harrel stated, “No, I wouldn’t want to marry into a royal family—too much pressure.” But Blake Richardson said, “Yes, [they are] very wealthy.” So like most young girls, some boys would marry into royalty. Most people approve of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s union. Some boys would marry into a royal family if given the chance, and the size of a wedding and a wedding’s details depend on a person’s personal preference. Would you marry into a royal family? What kind of wedding would you want?

Donald Trump is running for president? No, it is not a rumor, Trump announced that he was “seriously considering” running for the 2012 election. Trump has been known to many people as different things including: a prominent business magnate, an author, CEO, and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Yet, after all of the things he has accomplished, who would have thought he would go even bigger? With a $50 million dollar salary, and $2.7 billion dollars of net worth, the only thing that could possibly be bigger is, in fact, being the president of The United States of America, and Trump is going for it. When asked about his prediction of possible outcomes, Jose Alonso, Sheldon’s Multicultural Studies teacher said, “I don’t

Three Cups of Tea is a novel by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin about Mortenson’s work building schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Along with his personal involvement in building the schools, he is also the CEO of the nonprofi t organization Central Asian Institute (CAI). Mortenson has been involved with that area of the world since 1993 when he failed an attempt to summit K2 (located in Pakistan) and stumbled upon the village of Korphe. Mortenson and Relin wrote Three Cups of Tea in 2006 and later Stones into Schools to inform people about the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan outside of the widely-publicized military confl icts. Mortenson’s philosophy is that schools, not bombs, are necessary to solve the problems in the Middle East. On April 17, 60 Minutes accused Mortenson of fabricating key events in Three Cups of Tea and using funds from CAI for his own personal needs. Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air and Into the Wind, and a well-known mountaineer himself, was one of CAI’s fi rst supporters. He donated over 75,000 dollars to the organization before withdrawing his support due to mismanagement of funds. He now heads the campaign against Mortenson. Krakauer believes that Mortenson did not get lost on K2 and that he didn’t fi nd Korphe until up to a year later. 60 Minutes got in contact with Mansur Khan Mahsud, a respected scholar in Islamabad. In Three Cups of Tea, Mahsud is part of the Taliban group that abducted Mortenson while he was in Waziristan. Mahsud told 60 Minutes that Mortenson was not abducted by the Taliban; instead they were his protectors while he was in the region. These are just a part of the hour-long segment. Since the segment was released, Mortenson and the CAI both released statements that answer all of 60 Minutes’ questions. As things start to clear up and more people are able to get their sides of the story out into the open, Three Cups of Tea may be proven false or redeemed. IHS sophomore literature teacher Rebecca Hammons makes an interesting point, “I think that [Greg Mortenson] and the CAI are already damaged. One of the problems with attack journalism—which some would argue is what has happened with 60 Minutes—is that good people can be damaged beyond repair because all people remember a year later are the accusations, and many people don’t pay attention to the slow unraveling of the truth.” If 60 Minutes is right and the book is fabricated, the IHS sophomore (teaching) team will have to decide whether or not to keep the book as part of their curriculum. Junior Michael Long said, “I believe the book still holds a good message. So, I don’t see any problem with continuing to teach the value of the story.” Regardless of how things turn out, there is a valuable lesson to be learned, best said by junior Bethany Alsin; “It will teach sophomores a valuable lesson: you can’t trust everything you learn about people and the world. Reading this book and researching the fraud will keep students on their toes when they explore the world on their own.”

Royal wedding gets reactions and spurs thoughts of future marriages

There is much controversy over the idea of having income tax where the proceeds will go for funding Eugene public schools. If this local tax levy passes, the district plans on getting up to 16.8 million dollars for Eugene 4J and Bethel schools. The people who promote the levy are putting up signs that say: “Strong Schools Strong Eugene.” The people who are against the levy have an obvious slogan that says: “Vote No on Income Tax.” There are many reasons why people would not want to have the income tax bill passed. Some people think that the money issue at 4J and Bethel schools should be left up to the state government. Multicultural studies teacher Jose Alonso said, “Before we ask people for more money, we need to fi gure out what happened to the money in the fi rst place.” Another main reason why people are not voting for the bill is because the cost of living is the same so they believe they shouldn’t have to have their money taken away and they already have

to pay enough money to the government as is. Librarian Patricia Kessinger took a similar view on the question; she said, “I think it is a very clumsy way to get around it and I think that the money will be hard to collect.” Other people think that since we are just now coming out of a recession, a new tax is not going to make it better; it’ll make it worse. The voters will decide the end result in the May 17 election. If the levy passes, Bethel School District will be getting more money to help their fi nancial shortfall. They will be receiving approximately 4.8 million dollars and 4J School District will be receiving approximately 12 million dollars. Sophomore Mito Melo took a different approach on the subject; he said, “I think it will be benefi cial to have the income tax because people will be paying the schools more money.” Issues in the Eugene schools are the quantity of people per classroom. Also, some classes won’t be offered as frequently so the seniors who need the required classes get priority in some cases. Having this extra money will help with the issue with the teachers getting laid off or having a salary reduction. It will also help the schools out so they won’t have to have as many furlough days. The end result will be featured in the upcoming weeks.

Kathryn Bothman photoThe New York Times best seller is available in the Sheldon library.

think he will go far in the next election; he doesn’t seem to have much substance or feeling for others.” Alonso compared one of his favorite, previous presidents, John F. Kennedy to Trump: “He isn’t even close to some of ‘the greats,’ including Kennedy. I honestly can’t see Trump saying or thinking of half of the things these presidents have.” Junior Mazie Boyle did not show much faith in Trump either, stating, “If he was our president, the world would look at us as a joke. Many Americans would also be very angry if he was elected. In fact, I think the majority of the people would be, so he doesn’t have a good chance of being elected.” After everything Trump has accomplished in his life, people do not seem to have much faith in him for elections, especially after his statement, calling himself a “hard right-winger.” Trump recently attended the correspondent

dinner at the White House with President Obama. While making a speech, Obama joked that the fi ring decisions Trump has had to make on his television show Celebrity Apprentice would be the type of decisions that keep him up at night as well. The crowd laughed, but Trump calmly sat at his table. Although Trump has earned many titles, it seems like most people are not ready to give him the title “President of the United States of America.” The elections, however, are many months away and things could change.

May 13, 2011 3the Talisman Entertainment

Kristina Tamburrinistaff writer

Britney Spears’s new CD

Jarred Rogersstaff writer

Blake Schaufl erstaff writer

WKUK’s offensive skits: some are shocked and others entertained

Chastity Barnes photo

Monty Python, The Kids in The Hall, Saturday Night Live; the list of sketch comedians and their shows goes on and on. For the past fi ve years, a fairly new group has jumped onto the scene, rising to popularity quickly and winning an award for best sketch group in 2006. Yes, the Whitest Kid’s U’ Know, or WKUK, seem to be at the top of their game. So, why are the WKUK calling it quits after season fi ve, which is already airing? What, after the show is done, will be next for Trevor, Zach, and the rest of the WKUK? “WKUK is great,” said freshman Micah Tamasaka, “all of their sketches are really funny.” The WKUK made their television debut in 2005 on the Fuse network. The fi rst season of WKUK aired on Fuse before switching to the Independent Film channel. Trevor Moore said the switch was mainly because IFC did not, at the time, censor programs, enabling WKUK sketches to air unedited. WKUK originally started with Moore, who had his own show on a local TV station. It was cancelled after an episode entitled, “I Wonder Who Died Today?,” a parody of the local senior home. Moore formed the group in college with his friend Zach Cregger, and eventually other members joined. The group was said to contain twelve members at one point, but after college graduation only Trevor, Zach, Sam, Timmy, and Darren remained. The way WKUK is viewed varies from person to person. Some people say the name alone is offensive, while others think certain sketches go too far. “I think some people are just offended too easily,” said freshman Andrew Cramton, “most of their sketches are really funny, and I doubt the WKUK is trying to offend people.” So what makes people accuse the WKUK of such things? Their sketches are often fi lled with puns and innuendos. There is also quite a bit of violence in certain sketches, making the WKUK unfavorable for some. So why quit now, at the top of their game? There are many theories as to why this is so. Maybe they wanted to go out on top; perhaps they couldn’t afford another season—or maybe they were cancelled. “Their sketches are funny,” said freshman Daniel Kemp, “but they could easily be taken the wrong way by a certain audience.” This seems less likely, however. So what’s next for the cast of WKUK? A tour has been scheduled after the fi fth season fi nishes, but no further plans have been announced. It is likely the fi ve will stay in the comedy business, as that is what they do best. The WKUK had decided to close out their series with a season-long movie, meaning one portion of the fi lm will air at the end of each episode. The movie is called Civil War on Drugs, and is supposedly one-hundred percent accurate in terms of historical facts. Either way, the WKUK is trying to go out with a bang, and with what everyone has seen so far, they have been successful. If you haven’t seen any of their new episodes, maybe try to catch a few. It could be your last chance.

The new Pirates movie is coming out this summer! PThe new Pirates movie is hitting theaters on May 20, 2011! Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides is expected to be thrilling, romantic, exciting, and spectacular. This movie stars Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, and his new co-star, Penelope Cruz, as Angelica. Unfortunately, Orlando Bloom has sailed off on the Flying Dutchman and can only touch land every ten years; therefore, he will not be featured in the upcoming fi lm. A new villain, Black Beard, (played by Ian McShane) was also added to the movie’s plot. Junior Jennifer Ontiveros, a student that isn’t very fond of the Pirates movies, said, “Because Pirates of the Caribbean isn’t very interesting to me, I’m not expecting much, probably just more pirates and fi ghting.” Ontiveros went on to explain her feelings towards Jack Sparrow: “He is kind of weird and crazy, but perfect for the part and makes the movie funny, not to mention he is hot.” Junior Michael Long explained his views of Pirates of the Caribbean: “I am expecting a lot from Jack Sparrow in this new movie. Sadly, on a scale of 1-10, in being excited for the new movie, I would be a fi ve just because Keira Knightley isn’t in the movie. I feel that Johnny Depp wears just the right amount of make-up in the movie; he’s an amazing guy.” So, as you can see Michael will be going to the premier of Pirates of the Caribbean 4 Junior Luke Allen has an apparent obsession with Keira Knightley. Allen said, “I am expecting lots of NOT Keira in this upcoming fi lm. My favorite movie of the ones made would have to be, not the new one because Keira Knightley won’t be in it.” Allen went on to explain that he was not obsessed with Keira Knightley at all. This upcoming fi lm should be exciting and new especially because the franchise switched directors from Gore Verbinski to Rob Marshall. Marshall is famous for musicals like Chicago and Nine. The fi lm is expected to make a whopping $300,000,000. This is a much-anticipated fi lm offering pirates, excitement, fi ghting, treasure,and of course, Jack Sparrow. Hope to see you at the premier!he will not be fe

Pirates of The Caribbean:On Stranger TidesIn this new Pirates movie, Captain Jack Sparrow is on a search for the fountain of youth

Gwyn LeCavalierstaff writer

Britney Spears has been famous for more than thirteen years, and during that time she has been up and down. However, in those years she has released many top hits, including her new album Femme Fatal, which was released in March. She has even announced a tour with Nicki Minaj ,which is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2011, which is stopping in Portland, Oregon on June 28. With another great CD along side of her last hit, Circus, Britney has been making an unforgettable comeback. Though critics say she doesn’t dance like she used to, Britney is still able to perform at the highest level and bring enjoyment to her loyal fans. Junior Megan Haith said, “I was really excited for Britney’s new CD, and once I got it I was really impressed with what she has brought to her fans.” Most critics have agreed this is one of her best CD’s yet, bringing a lot of dance beats to her audience. Haith also stated, “Because of her CD I am really excited to see her in concert this summer; I’m excited to see what she will bring to the stage this time.” When Britney announced on Twitter that Nicki Minaj would be touring with her this summer, fans were surprised but happy Spears chose someone that would bring a lot to the stage. Senior Amy Froehlich said, “Nicki Minaj and Britney Spears is a great combination when it comes to performing; they are both powerful women when it comes to bringing something new and different. I’m sure they won’t let any of their fans down, and will also bring a lot of energy to the show all together.” Though many people aren’t big Spears fans, they have all been surprised with what she has brought recently to her fans. Sophomore Scyla Massey said, “I don’t really like Britney; I’ve never been into her music. But I must admit I have heard her new CD and I actually did like it.” This summer’s tour will prove to everyone whether or not Britney Spears still has what it takes to please a crow, but it shouldn’t be hard with a hit CD and Nicki Minaj as her opening act. With everything Spears has gone through, it will surely be a show to remember, no matter if it’s good or bad.

The child star turned pop star has yet another unforgettable comeback

Hangover Part 2The Wolf Pack returns for a new adventure, this time in Bangkok

The fourth Caribbean movie again stars big names and promises enourmous thrills on the silver screen.

Whitest Kids You Know:shockingly offensive

What do you think of The Hangover part 2? The second part to the crazy Hangover story, will be coming to theaters on May 26, 2011. Allan, Stu, and Phil are back for Stu’s bachelor party which takes place in Bangkok, Thailand. Doug is missing again and they have to investigate what happened the night before. In other words, the Wolf Pack is back. The two production companies who produced the hangover made a $50,000,000 profi t off of a $35,000,000 production. Freshman Quinn Brotzman said, “I loved the fi rst hangover movie!” However, the fi rst movie was not expected to be such a big hit. The production studio was worried about getting sued, due to the very harsh content and the language used in the movie. The new hangover was going to be fi lmed in Tokyo, Japan, but due to the recent earthquake, producers thought it would be better to fi lm in Bangkok, Thailand. So, the cast and crew got their tickets. Freshman Dakota Daughtery said, “I can’t wait to see the cast in a new setting.” The movie began fi lming on October 15, 2009. The Hangover part 2 is expected to be this spring’s biggest hit. Zach Galifi nakas’s career has risen from standup comedy to his big movie The Hangover. Ed Helms stars in The Offi ce, a very successful comedy show on the NBC network. Bradley Cooper has been in movies for 11 years of his life. He has starred in Wedding Crashers, The A-Team, and The Hangover. Justin Bartha is a newer actor who has starred in both National Treasure movies and The Hangover. Ken Jeong is the man from the original who jumps out of the trunk and attacks the main cast. His wife was diagnosed with breast cancer during the fi lming of The Hangover. It was a very heavy burden on him while fi lming. His fellow cast supported him throughout fi lming and when he won best supporting actor he thanked his wife and the cast especially. This movie has taken one and a half years to make and fully fi lm. “The cast and crew had a great time fi lming.” said Entertainment Tonight’s host. The movie’s budget was fi fty million dollars. The director expects to make double that in profi ts.

May 13, 20114 the Talisman

Harvard graduate claims physical education affects test scoresHarvard graduate Dr. Ratey claims in-creased test scores for students who do exams after physical activity

Jordan Schmidtstaff writer

Andrew Rossstaff writer

Recycling is important but takes effort by everyone

Plastic waste: is it something to be concerned about?

Hayden Haugenstaff writer

People realize that plastic waste is already an issue, but how much of a problem is it really to the world?

About two and a half million tons of waste is thrown away every year. According to GreenFeet.com a large percentage of this waste comes from plastic water bottles. Over the past few years there has been some controversy about bottled water and its effects on the environment as well as the quality of water that the bottled water companies use. Plastic is the number one source of pollution on beaches and in the oceans. Ten percent of all plastic produced every year is found at the bottom of the ocean. If we keep this up, by the end of 2013 we are going to have to start sending plastic into space.

Sophomore Bryce Shaneyfelt said, “I think it’s ridiculous that people pay a lot of extra money on tap water that is packaged in fancy bottles.” A lot of people say that bottled water companies are running a scam because they are selling something that people can get for practically free. Not only is bottled water a waste of money, but it is a threat to the earth’s natural cycles. It takes plastic bottles 700 years to begin decomposing. Even with new methods of recycling plastic there are still landfills full of plastic that will not begin to break down until hundreds of years from now. Sophomore Taylor Lamb said, “I only drink bottled water at school because the drinking fountains are nasty.” According to cleanair.org, bottled water is the second most popular beverage in the United States, which is largely due to the fact that there is a negative image about tap water. Bottled water companies try to sell their water by saying that it is “pure” or more filtrated than tap water, when in reality it has been proven that they use tap water in their products. North America throws away two and half million plastic bottles every hour. That is a lot of plastic!

Some people are indifferent to the current pollution issues regarding plastic waste. Sophomore Dan Campbell said “I don’t care about any of this.” But the question is, should we care? Do we as citizens of the world hold a certain responsibility to care? Some people care, but they are uncertain on how to help, but helping is easy.

Recycling one ton of plastic saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space. If people would learn to habitually recycle then that would make a major impact on the amount of plastic waste that fills landfills across the world. So you should ask yourself: Are you doing your part or should you do something to help?

Physical education is a controversial topic because some students feel it is discriminatory due to the judgmental nature of certain sports; however, others feel that it should be required in order to teach kids how to stay healthy. A Harvard graduate, Dr. John Ratey, went to several diverse schools around the country and instituted P.E. class every day to see how it affected test scores. The schools all varied from rural schools to inner-city schools and from private schools to crowded public schools. Interestingly, as mandatory P.E. classes were included in the curriculum, test scores began to rise. But the question

is: is it ethical to require physical education in school? Ratey’s early studies compared groups of people who exercise to groups of people who do not exercise as much. The results showed that the exercise group performed more cognitive tasks than those who did not exercise as much. “I’m not surprised to hear that the test scores went up,” said junior Christian Nilsen; “I know that I can always read faster and study better after I go running or work out.” It is a realization that is appearing in many recent studies; exercise is not only good for the body’s health, but the brain’s health as well. If it is healthy for the brain, then it stands to reason why it would be a good idea to have mandatory P.E. classes every day in school. Campus supervisor Darin Henry said, “Our society is doomed if we don’t start to exercise more as a whole. In China they go to school for ten hours a day and they have good test scores, but the suicide rate is extremely high because they are so stressed out and unhappy all the time.” Exercise is a way to increase brain activity without

increasing the amount of energy spent on intellectual tasks. Obviously risking happiness for intelligence isn’t ideal to the average person. Dr. Ratey seems to have found the solution with his study in implicating daily exercise at schools. In his book Spark, Dr. Ratey suggests that schools should require P.E. classes, but that they should move away from the typical competitive-sports approach to a wide range of play involving strenuous physical activity for every student. “I love P.E. It’s fun to get active with classmates and push yourself to the limits,” said senior Eric Robinson. Although some students may not feel comfortable with the idea of daily physical activity, it is easy to argue for the addition of mandatory daily physical exercise in schools. Exercise is healthy and arguably a necessary part of life, and as long as grades would be given based on the merit of effort instead of physical ability it is not a question of ethics. In fact one could argue that it would be unethical to not require physical activity at school because of the unhealthy nature of our generation.

80’s hairstyles have become very popular lately; students at Sheldon are catching on to the styles that made the 80’s interesting. Do you know who Chris Ulloa is? He is a junior here at Sheldon who is helping bring back an 80’s hairstyle. He gets a new hair style every so many weeks. He gets most of his ideas from his friends and family. He started these crazy different hair styles this year while at Sheldon. He doesn’t pay a lot for his hair cuts; they are usually about ten dollars for each hair cut. Ten dollars was the most he had paid for a hair cut like this. It takes the hairstylist about an hour for each hair cut no matter the design. Ulloa had many different hair cuts this year such as spider webs, black widow, cobra, dove

Mari Chesterstaff writer

One would think that recycling should be taken seriously, but a lot of people do not stop to realize the importance of it. Some people might say there are obstacles that get in the way of recycling. Senior Hannah Brown does not make excuses for people who do not recycle; she said, “They’re just lazy.” Others, like sophomore Samantha Robinson, said, “There should be more recycling bins. I’d probably recycle more.” Sheldon started recycling in the late 80s. Hank Benz from the Life Skills center said, “I

Junior Chris Ulloa is going where no Sheldon student has recently gone

think it was in ‘87.” For those who do not know, Sheldon Recycling is partnered with Next-Step Recycling. Benz said, “Students and teachers can bring in electronics!” In the past five years Sheldon has changed its recycling habits. Benz said, “We have become more efficient (and) we have more receptacles in the hallways so we can collect more. So the recycling is done by more students.” How often do students recycle? Sophomore Laura Leister said, “I recycle about a boxful every week.” Junior Sam Sharpe said, “[Recycling is] very important because of global warming.” So no matter one’s ethnicity, background or location, the earth belongs to everybody and deserves respect. Next time you get done drinking your favorite Arizona tea or just finish your bottle of water, take twenty seconds, walk over to the recycling bin and toss it in. Finding a note in a glass bottle when you are stranded on a deserted island is cool, finding an empty plastic bottle is not. Remember: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

Chris Ulloa gets creative and original with many retro hairstyles

Recycling is getting more recognition

and a tribal. He has a friend of the family who does his hair all these different ways. Ulloa said there is not a design his hairstylist could not do so far, he said, “No, every design idea I have asked for he has anyways been able to make it work.” When asked what his age was when he started getting designs in his hair he said, “I just started this year when my friends

and I thought it would be a good idea.” He doesn’t have a decided favorite haircut style that he has gotten for far.

Mari Chester photos

Features

Ben Green photo

May 13, 2011 5the Talisman Features

Many students notice that the Life Skills students come into their classes and pick up the recycling. People think they are just picking up the recycling, but there is more to it than that. There is a program called “The Project.” It is where Jose Alonso’s Multi Cultural Studies class goes out and works with the D1 kids. So as we know, the Life Skills students are helpful around Sheldon, but what else can we do to involve them more or make things easier for them? Can we improve some of the Sheldon students’ misinformed attitudes towards the D1 kids? So what are some experiences the Sheldon students have had with the Life Skills kids? Freshman Daniel Rainer said, “Once I got to talk to a Life Skills student and it was interesting to get to know him. “The Project” seems like a good opportunity to get the Life Skills students more involved with Sheldon students.” When asked what he thought about “The Project” Rainer said, “I think it would be interesting to get involved with it for a new experience. I think it helps the D1 kids interact more.” We know that there are people who would like to be involved in “The Project,” but what was the experience like for the people who already worked with the D1

Sheldon’s Life Skills program works with Jose Alonso’s multicultural studies class

kids? Freshman Sripriya Johnson said, “It was a good experience. We went around the school and did recycling with them. It was a good idea to start “The Project” to help them interact more.” When asked what she thought about Sheldon students’ attitudes towards the Life Skills kids Johnson said, “I think there’s mostly a negative attitude towards the D1 kids. I think if we get students to spend time with them and interact with them, they will gain a better attitude for them.” There are students who loved being involved with the life skills students. A lot of the students who attended Alonso’s Multi Cultural Studies class got a better attitude towards the D1 kids. On the other hand there are students who haven’t even gotten the chance to work with the Life Skills kids. Unfortunately, many, kids who haven’t worked with the D1 kids have developed a negative attitude towards them. “The Project” has defi nitely helped change the negative attitude, but there are still kids who want nothing to do with the D1 kids. To help create a positive attitude towards them and make it better for them, we can try to encourage students to work with the Life Skills kids. Overall, “The Project” was successful but there are things that can be changed. Maybe instead of just picking up the recycling with the D1 kids, students can be even more involved. Having the students talk to and get to know the D1 kids better would maybe help students see their point of view. Hopefully, the desire to work with the D1 kids will continue for many years.

Sam Greenentertainment editor

The future of Charlie Sheen

Cody Kochstaff writer

Sheen has gone from a well-known comedian to a well-known joke

Prom Ticket Prices: what are we getting for our money?

Prom tickets put a strain on junior and senior pockets every year, but are tickets more expensive at Sheldon than they should be? How do they compare to other school’s prices? The tickets for prom are expensive every year. Along with that, everyone spends more on the things that come with prom such as corsages, boutonnières, dresses, and tuxedoes. The school itself could be spending way more than necessary. Let’s take a look at Sheldon’s ticket prices versus that of other schools. Senior Crystal Bivins has been to two proms in her high school career; once at Paradise High School, and another at Pleasant Valley High School. Bivins remembers the ticket prices for both schools, “The tickets for a couple ended up being around forty dollars, and a single ticket was twenty-fi ve dollars.” So are Sheldon’s prom tickets priced too high? Bivins thinks so. “I feel that they should be lower; not many people can pay such a high price for a school function.” Junior Alexander Lewis also expressed a similar opinion:

Prom is known for being expensive, but is it worth it?

Nikkita Lehtocopy editor

Many Sheldon students have musical talent, but so do staff members

Chasity Barnes editor-in-chief

Lately, on the news, Charlie Sheen has stepped into the spotlight. He already has been the center of many jokes, the star on many gossip shows, and is starting to be pretty well known in the courthouse as well. His rants are very well known for how bizarre some of them are. He calls himself a winner, but that is very debatable. Freshman Kareem Soliman said of Charlie Sheen, “He is a crack head.” Sheen recently lost his job at Warner Brothers due to his substance abuse. When asked if he felt that Warner Brothers should give Sheen his job back Soliman said, “Yes, he deserves a second chance.” To add insult to injury Sheen also lost custody of his kids. When asked if he felt Sheen deserved to lose custody of his kids Soliman replied, “Yes, he is very unstable right now.” Freshman Justin Duke said he thought Sheen’s punishment, if any, should be, “50 lashings.” While this may be controversial, everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. There is now talk of Charlie Sheen suing Warner Brothers. Justin Duke was asked if he felt that Sheen had the right to sue he answered “No, because it is a dumb reason.” Many people support Duke’s statement, saying that Sheen does not have a good enough reason to take them to court. When asked if he thought Sheen was crazy, or just really cracked out Duke said, “A little of both.” This suggests that some of his irrationalness could be sparked from mental instability and drug abuse. So why would somebody as successful as Charlie Sheen throw his life away like this? There are many reasons why people would start taking drugs like divorce, stress, loss of job, or just being mixed up in the wrong crowd. While it may be diffi cult to understand why a millionaire like Sheen would be stressed or have any problems, it is actually very common. Most stars have at least tried hard drugs, and some just get hooked. It is almost like drugs are just part of being a star for some people. It is hard to say for sure when Sheen started his drug use, but it seemed to hit him pretty hard and his life was quickly tumbling out of control. Some people believed, or still do believe, that he might die from his drug abuse. As of right now the future of television star Charlie Sheen is uncertain, but as long as he is famous, people will be following his story.

“Outrageous! A single ticket should be at least half of a double ticket.” No matter the price of prom tickets, the extras are what rings up the big numbers on the price tag. Everyone thinks that prom is a super expensive event, but junior Amanda Willson told Talisman how much she spent on the extras that go with prom, “I spent under

fi fty dollars; if you look around you can fi nd some pretty cheap stuff that still looks nice.” Searching around and planning ahead can really help with how much extras are going to cost.

Willson gave her opinion on whether the price was worth it: “It’s worth it if they play good music—something that’s easy to dance to.” Is prom important enough to spend large amounts of cash? When asked, Lewis stated, “I think Prom is really important because you can

only experience it twice in your life; after that it’s gone.” Even after all the fuss and scrounging around for cash, students are still excited to go to prom. Prom will always be a big deal within high schools. High school students look forward to it every year, some with dread and others with excitement.

Alonso’s MCS D1 experience: what is it?

Ben Green photo

Halley Fogelstrom photo

Sheldon’s own staff bands: who are they?musicians. Some are Manitoba Lights, Sheldon Marching Band, Daniel Chase, Hailee Karumba, Annie Todd, and that’s just to name a few of the big handful of musically talented students. All of these students get recognized, while staff members quietly sit by and play their music together. But what about Sheldon staff musicians? Where’s their recognition? Well it’s right here, right now. Sheldon teachers Mr. Cabrera and Mr. Kostechka are currently in the band Purple Sparrows and Cabrera said this on who is in the band, “I met Kostechka here. Our

bass player, Eric works at North Eugene High School, and Bobby, the drummer, is an old buddy of mine from college.” They are an indie rock band who plays at many local places such as Sam Bond’s, Luckey’s, and Wandering Goat. Their most recent gig was at the Willamette Valley Music Festival on May 7. There is also another friendly staff member who is a part of a wonderful band, and that person is Joe Mancuso. He is in a band called Hollowman ( w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m /Hollowmanrocks) with two other members: Alan Peth, who plays

guitar and Dann Pakeco on drums. This band has a very different sound than Purple Sparrows. While Purple Sparrows are an indie rock band, Hollowman is a power metal band that actually practices at Sheldon in room P1 twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Purple Sparrows currently practice in the attic above one of the band member’s places. When asked if his band would ever play at Springfest or any other Sheldon event Mancuso said with a smile, “No. That is where students need to show their talents.” Well whether you are a student or a staff member, being in a band is a fantastic way to pass time and do something you are passionate about. You can spend time with amazing people, make awesome music, and above all do something you enjoy no matter where you are in life or how old you are. Senior Alyssa Jensen said, “I think it makes more sense for students to be in a band, but I believe as for talent it makes more sense for the teachers to be in a band.” These several staff members show us that you can still rock out, goof around, and have a blast as an adult and not just as a spunky, young teenager.

Chasity Barnes and Ian Adair enjoy this year’s prom.

Much of the student body is very musically talented, but have you ever thought that staff members may be as equally talented? There are plenty of student bands and student

Hollowman power rock band is (l to r): Joe Mancuso, Alan Peth, Dann Pakeco.photo courtesy Hollowman (www.facebook.com/Hollowmanrocks)

May 13, 20116 the Talisman

Talisman StaffChasity BarnesTim LaurenceAnnie ToddDrew HaugenKathryn BothmanSam GreenBen GreenChasity BarnesKelsey ShermanKelsey ManagerChasity BarnesNikkita LehtoChrissy WalterCody KochRyan LandGwyn LeCavalierJarred RogersAndrew RossEmma SaisslinMelissa SampelsBlake SchauflerBrennan SchauflerJordan SchmidtKristina TamburriniGreg Cantwell

Editor-in-Chief Features Editor Features Editor Sports Editor Backpage Editor Entertainment Editor Opinions Editor Frontpage Editor News Editor Ads Manager Photo Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Staff Writers Lacy Baker Mari Chester Lauren Davies Drew Davis Connor Dryden Kendyl Fletcher Holly Ford Hayden Haugen Spencer Haugen Savannah Jones Staff Advisor

A message from the TalismanThe Talisman is run by students for students. The views ex-pressed in the Talisman are not necessarily those of the Talis-man staff, those of Sheldon High School, or those of the Shel-don community. If you have any letters to the editor, please e-mail the Talisman at shstalisman@gmail.com, or drop a let-ter in our box located in the office. We kindly reserve the right

to edit all stories we print.

Opinions

In today’s society skateboarders get a really bad reputation. Whenever a skater walks into a store, employees and security seem to have one eye trained on them. Some parents are under the impression that if their children hang out with skaters then they will start doing drugs. Whenever a skater does an average good deed such as holding a door for somebody, people seem way too surprised. These are a few of the stereotypes a common skater has to live with. Junior Ayantu Megerssa said this happens because, “Some of the stereotypes are based on facts from individual groups of skaters and by what’s seen in the media.” When asked why she thinks that skaters have a worse reputation than bikers or rollerbladers, Megerssa stated, “Skating is more like a sub-culture while biking or rollerblading is more of a sport.” Police are really cracking down on skaters these days. Freshman Calvyn Villarino mentioned, “Skating just so happens to destroy public property.” This is the main reason why there are areas where people cannot skate. These areas are called no-skate zones. Though property can be slowly damaged by being skated on, the fines for this makes more

Could 2012 spell the end of the world as we know it?

Skaters undeservedly get a bad rapStereotypes seem unfair for skaters

Connor Drydenstaff writer

than enough money for repairs and misdemeanor. The punishments for skating in a ‘no-skate zone’ are getting more severe. Police and security are taking away boards, ticketing, and sometimes even arresting skaters just for skating. A lot of people, skaters or not, would agree that losing a board that costs well over 100 dollars each and getting fined is way too harsh. When asked if the punishment for skateboarding outside of a skate park was fair, Megerssa said, “…it’s way too extreme!” Freshmen Cesar Garibay agrees. Garibay said, “There are hardly any skating areas in town so it is nearly impossible to skate legally.” The fact that it is hard to skate legally adds to the stereotype that skaters are all law breakers and hoodlums. Villarino said, “Some people consider skaters punks because what we do doesn’t really follow any guidelines and gets in the way of other sports/recreation so there really are no rules to follow to do our thing.” Because skateboarding has no set rules to the sport, people can often assume that it is unorganized and lacking discipline. Nowadays, skateboarders have to deal with being considered bad people, drug abusers, and/or thieves. Though this may be true for some skaters it is the individual person, not the fact that he or she skates. Skateboarding is forming in to its own sub-culture and is becoming more and more taboo. So next time you see a skater think twice before you think of them as a bad person.

Prom is a great time for girls. They have their dates, beautiful dresses, they get their hair done, and a whole day of getting ready, which most girls enjoy. Is it the same excitement for the boys? “No,” said junior Elaina Ackley. People stress before the big night, and some stress too much. They think about how their date from another school will act, their plans after the dance, whether

or not their dress/tux will be too big or too small, or even what this year’s prom will be like. Some say the prom should be more laid back and others say it is already laid back. A lot of different people view prom as exciting, boring, fun, and lame. Ackley said, “It’s kind of exciting because all you do is dance and eat.” She most looks forward to after-prom activities. That’s when all the after parties

will be going on. But to make prom even more exciting the prom committee should change the theme to something exotic. Ackley said, “The prom theme should be a black light rave theme.” Junior Vanessa Tshionyi agreed. Some students do not have dates for prom. Tshionyi said, “It’s more fun to go with a group of friends than by yourself.” Some students can bring their dates from different schools or sometimes their dates are in the military. Most students don’t like how they have to have a signed signature for their dates. Ackley said, “People from different schools should be able to go, and no signatures!” Prom is for the upper classmen to have fun with their dates and not be worried about signatures. They should be able to have fun and have no worries. After all, they do deserve it.

Melissa Samples

In the ancient Mayan culture, there were three calendars: the Tzolk’in, an outlook on the upcoming year; the Haab’, a calendar showing a year divided into eighteen months with each month consisting of twenty days; and the Long Count, numbering the days from creation to current times. The calendar began on the mythical day of creation, August 11, 3114 BC, and ends on December 21, 2012, completing the cycle of an age. This date has caused much speculation as to what the Mayans believed will

happen on this day. Some people believe it will be like New Years—a celebration before starting again. Others are not so optimistic. They believe that December 21, 2012, is the beginning of the end. As this day approaches, it is something we must consider. Freshman Nellie Jacobson said, “I think the planets will align and a huge meteor will crash into Earth and wipe us all out, just like the dinosaurs. We all need to go underwater,

or underground, like the turtles because turtles have survived through everything.” Regardless of whether or not it will kill us all or cause a meteor to strike, there will be alignment happening in our universe. “On the winter solstice in 2012, the sun will be aligned with the center of the Milky Way for the first time in about 26,000 years,” a USA Today article stated. “This means that whatever energy typically streams to Earth from the center of the Milky Way will indeed be disrupted on 12/21/12 at 11:11 p.m. universal time.” Another popular theory is that the Zombie Apocalypse, which has been around since the 1960 movie Night of the Living Dead, will occur. In this scenario, a disease infects the human brain turning them into mindless creatures whose only desire is to eat other humans. “I think it would be fun to be a zombie,” freshman Courtney Carman said; “then you could go around and be like ‘brains, brains, I’m gonna eat you alive.’” Surviving the zombie apocalypse would be difficult; the most common piece of advice is to grab a gun and then camp out at Costco (because it’s a big store with metal walls and enough food to last for years) until the apocalypse ends. “I think it’s all overdone. Everything is about zombies these days,” freshman Meredith Bothman said. And the apocalypse has gotten a lot of media attention as ‘Doomsday’

approaches. It may be ridiculous because there is always the possibility that all the hype is for nothing. But what if December 21, 2012 really does bring about disaster? What if life as we know it is about to be permanently changed? Will you be ready?

Book your tickets for 2013, because believe it or not, you will still be alive. Our world will not “end as we know it” on December 21, 2012. Statistics show that even with the “global warming” factor, our world is in a stable condition. There has been no evidence whatsoever that signals the

coming of the apocalypse. Ladies and gentlemen, do not panic or fret: Our world will continue to function

past 2012. Trust me, the movie is not reality. Many students at Sheldon agree with my opinion. Junior Caitlin Tilby said, “The world won’t end because there is nothing that would destroy the world. It is all just a bunch of hogwash.” When asked about the concern over the Mayans being right about the time of eclipses and

seasons, Tilby stated, “Well they can’t be right all the time, can they?” Many do not know this, but the Mayans predicted that the world was to end three years ago. The Mayans just might not be as smart as they are portrayed to be by scholars. Sophomore phenom Mitch Lewis stated, “If (the Mayan civilization) was so smart, then they would still be here.” Mitch’s twin, sophomore Dylan Lewis, also gave his opinion on the subject: “The 2012 theory sounds just like the Y2K scare; it’s all a scam.” If you do not already know, the Y2K scare was about how all computers would shut down because the original programmers used a two-digit year code to save memory space. It was thought that computers would think it was 1900 instead of 2000. As a result, all electricity and water appliances would quit working, and the world would fall apart. I personally agree with Dylan. The 2012 epidemic is just another publicity stunt to keep life interesting for those who truly have no life. Personally, I believe that the 2012 theory has been exploited for profits. With people obsessing over the world ending, they will buy clothing or apparel related to the subject. Some people may even buy shirts or items as a joke, but still, they are paying money for those things. Another example of this is the movie 2012. Some critics may say that it was created to warn the public, but seriously, it was created strictly for money making purposes. Junior Curran Mendez said, “This whole 2012 theory is driving me nuts! I mean, really people?! This is just a scam to make more money and give us something to talk about.” As I interviewed many other students and adults, their opinions became clear and obvious that they didn’t think much about it and they weren’t worried. So those of you that are sophomores this year, you will in fact have a senior prom, so don’t worry.

A guy’s take on prom differs a bit from the girl’s take. The guys opinion seems like it would differ in the stress level of

finding a date and having money for prom, or if a guy did not have a date, if he would be going. Also whether or not they should split the cost or if he should pay for the whole thing. Junior Joe Spears said, “I’m paying for my date’s ticket and for the dinner.” Guys do seem to pay more than the girls

but some guys would argue that’s the way they like it, others might say that it should be equal. That is for the couple to decide.

When I asked junior Brandon Moore if he would go without a date, he said, “Nope, I would sit in the corner and dance

with no one because all the girls have a date.” I agree with Moore and I think a lot of guys do. Prom is the one dance where couples are mostly

necessary. I wouldn’t go either if I didn’t have a date. Junior Kolte Rotherham said, “I think girls are way more into prom because they get a nice dress and do all their things to get ready for it.” I agree with this also. Guy’s prom stress is about money and asking a girl to go. Girls seem to stress on the dress and choosing other things like dinner and the flowers for the boutonnière and corsage. Prom was fun no matter if you are a guy or a girl. I had a blast and all my friends did too. The theme didn’t turn out as bad as everybody thought it would. There were amazing acrobats and fire swallowers. All in all I think both genders were satisfied. Good job prom committee!

Prom perspective varies for boys and girls

Brennan Schaufler

Ryan LandEmma Saisslin

May 13, 2011 7the Talisman Sports

Irish baseball sees both varisty, JV successSheldon shows its dominance on the diamond by winning big and playing for the love of America’s pastime

Tim Lawrencefeatures editor

Sheldon track hits the ground running in 2011

Spencer Haugenstaff writer

Gifted athletes and strong team leaders keep Irish track at the top

The John Gillilan/ Tim Torrey fund has given underprivileged students the chance to compete for over ten years

Drew Haugensports editor

Gillian/Torrey fund helps to support SHS athletes

Ah baseball, America’s favorite past-time. What exactly makes baseball America’s true sport? The atmosphere, that great moment like a home run to break the other team’s spirit, and the 7th inning stretches to keep the crowd on their feet. There are many other examples, but the bottom line is that baseball is a classic sport. It’s a sport that was made long before 99 percent of all other professional sports. The idea is simple: all one needs is a bat, a ball, and a padded glove to catch the ball. There are many popular features for MLB stadiums, such as the Green Monster at Fenway, the mediocre lighting at Wrigley that holds back night games, and the bay area over the right fi eld wall at AT&T Park. If you build it, they will come: When the sport was made, it didn’t take long for hundreds, even thousands, of people to catch on to it. Baseball has greatly evolved over the years and will continue to do so. Speaking of baseball, Sheldon High School is full of young talent, with some who even have a future career in baseball. The SHS varsity baseball team has great abilities. Some take the sport very seriously, practicing non-stop until they perfect a certain fundamental of the sport. Others play for the enjoyment of being with their friends. Senior Cason Cunningham, who

is a pitcher for the varsity team, said, “What I like most about playing baseball is the team comradery. It’s fun to joke around with my teammates.” When asked about his favorite position, he said, “My favorite position is pitcher. It’s a big responsibility and I love to put the team on my back like Darren Sharper.” Cunningham has previously played baseball on the varsity team for Sheldon. There are a good amount of players on all SHS baseball teams who are considering playing the sport after high school. Sophomore Wyatt Swick said, “I plan to play baseball after high school. I would like to play at University of Oregon so I can stay close to home. If I can’t get there, Arizona State would be a good place so I can play ball year round.” Swick is currently playing on the Sheldon junior varsity team. He’s been playing ball for several years and said, “Between fi elding and batting, I like batting more because I can change the game with one hit.” Sheldon doesn’t just have an impressive varsity team, their JV team is doing extremely well too. Sophomore Kyle Oyler, who currently plays on the JV team, said, “Our team is pretty beast this year. So far we have an awesome win-loss record.” Oyler has been into the sport for several years, and plays other sports such as basketball and water polo. The baseball teams this year are looking quite impressive, from the incredible JV talent to varsity’s. There is much talent within each team. Some players also look like they could have a great future with their baseball career. Who knows, some could even make the big leagues (MLB). While football still reigns as Sheldon’s most prominent sport, baseball does have a chance to compete.

WORDS TO LIVE BYSheldon athletes share words of wisdom that inspire them, both on the fi eld and off

“HARD WORK BEATS TALENT WHEN TALENT DOESN’T WORK HARD.” –junior Sam McCaskill, football & basketball player

Throughout the years, many great Sheldon athletes have left their mark on Oregon high school sports. However, some of these sports stars may not have gotten a chance on the fi eld if it hadn’t been for the John Gillilan/ Tim Torrey Memorial Scholarship Fund. John Gillilan and Tim Torrey were both Sheldon High School students in the 1970s, and the two shared a strong love for athletics. Tragically, Tim’s life was cut short by a car accident in 1978. Three years later, John died as well in a motorcycle crash. Following their losses, both the families wanted to memorialize their sons’ lives and love for athletics. Remembering what a positive impact sports had on both young men, they created the Gillilan/ Torrey fund to ensure that no Sheldon student would be denied the opportunity to participate in Irish athletics. Starting in 2000, both fathers, Dr. Gillilan and Mr. Torrey, placed 5,000 dollars in the fund as the fi rst donors. Word quickly spread, and in no time, donations were arriving from SHS alumni and family friends, eager to support. Over the following years, the fund continued to grow and expand. As of last February, the Gillilan/Torrey fund has raised over 150,000 dollars for under-privileged student athletes. Sheldon’s athletic director Matt Binkerd said, “Even after ten years, the fund continues to support kids who are unable to pay the fees required by their sport. It has provided great opportunities for numerous students.” Last September, fi fty-one scholarships were paid in full by the fund for athletes participating in fall sports. This spring, fi fteen to twenty more scholarships are expected to be covered. Even in these hard economic times, people still work hard to raise funds and awareness for the cause. Just last summer, the class of 1980 capped off their reunion with a six mile bike ride around Alton Baker Park called the “Tour de Irish.” Junior Sam Hannah said, “It’s stupendous to see the community come together for such an awesome cause.” The ride raised even more money for the fund and offered people an opportunity to show off their school pride. The annual Irish Night of Giving also donates a portion of their money to help support the Gillilan/Torrey Fund. Finance secretary Debi Brooks said, “We are so lucky to have this great fund. It’s something I really wish every school had.” Brooks continued, “Numerous people’s lives have been changed because of it. I know that Dr. Gillilan plans for the fund to be around for many years to come.”

“DO OR DO NOT, THERE IS NO TRY.” -senior Logan Burger, lacrosse player

“GO HARD OR GO HOME!” -junior Payton French, volleyball

player

For years Sheldon track has been the highlight of spring sports. This year’s track team already shows promise, with many young and returning athletes on the team. From seniors to freshmen, the Sheldon track team is ready to perform and dominate every team in their league. The track team has always done well, but this year looks more promising than in the past. The team has numerous returning seniors that have experience and talent ready to shine at the state level. Junior Curran Mendez said, “The team looks great and we have a lot of good talent. All of us are healthy for the most part and are looking forward to participating in our meets, but most of us are looking forward to the state meet.” Mendez has been performing at a high level on the track team since his freshman year and is considered to be a leader on the team. Even though he has been injured for most of the season, he refuses to give up and continues

to push himself to become better. Mendez not only pushes himself to the limit, but he uses his experience, as a three-year varsity track athlete, to teach the younger kids how to perform at the highest level under pressure. Junior Ross Cline is one of many outstanding sprinters on the Sheldon track team. Cline runs the one hundred and two hundred meter dash, and also the four by one hundred relay. Cline’s personal bests for the events are 12.01 seconds for the one hundred meter dash and 24.88 seconds for the two hundred meter dash. Cline later said, “The team is looking really strong this year. We have a number of kids who could go to state in their events.” Sheldon track has many athletes who are ranked in the top ten in the state for their events. Senior Matthew Melancon is ranked second in the state in the 1500 meter race and is also fi rst in state in the 3000 meter race. Senior Tre’Vonn Robinson is ranked fourth in state in the 400 meter dash and junior Jacob Foutz is third in state in the discus event. Senior Amy Froehlich is also ninth in state in discus and senior J.J. Juilfs is second in state in the pole vault. Freshman Noah Miller said, “I enjoy watching Sheldon track very much and I can’t wait to watch the athletes from Sheldon compete at the state meet on May 20-21 at Hayward fi eld.”

“LIVE SIMPLY, LAUGH OFTEN, LOVE DEEPLY.”-junior Sammie

Kalen, tennis player

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in Eugene. He currently has a sister who attends Sheldon High School. She is a junior and was on the dance team last year; she also played lacrosse, but only for a year. “Outside of school I like to play hop scotch, videogames, jump rope, and four square,” said the mystery person. His group of friends consists of people like: Harley Turner, Kristian Tharp, Cooper Strom, and Jason Geiger. One of his favorite types of food is hot wings, or any other kind of fi nger food. “My favorite type of movie would have to be a comedy, because they’re funny,” said the mystery person. Out of all the genres of music, his favorite is hard-core country. His favorite places to vacation (although not very explanatory) are “sunny places.” Everyone will deeply miss him after the school year of 2010-2011. Can you guess who he is?

This mystery person is male, Caucasian, has dark brown hair, brown eyes, and is around 6’4”. He mostly wears basketball shorts and t-shirts, as do most guys here at Sheldon. He currently is a senior and he will be graduating this year along with the rest of the class of 2011. As far as sports, he has played football and is currently playing lacrosse. Being a senior, means leaving his place as captain of the lacrosse team and a starting position on varsity football. The mystery person said, “Yes, I’m sad that I will be leaving this year, but I will have other opportunities in college.” “I really like Sheldon, mainly because it’s not Jesuit,” said the mystery person. He attends classes in the Sheldon comprehensive program. For college, he will be attending Southern Oregon University, which means leaving his friends and family behind

Many teens have numerous favorite childhood movies. What was your favorite Disney movie? Most teens or adults today look at these movies and feel as if they could or do relate to them in a way. Some childhood movies have made teens or adults the people they are today. Over the years, people have begun to make sequels to these movies we loved so much, for example Toy Story or Shrek. People look at these movies and think of them as symbolizing something. Freshman Daniel Rainer s a i d , “I think the

Most high school students have heard of the new trend, gauges, which are rapidly becoming more and more popular. They are body piercings that stretch holes in the skin. Gauges are most often placed in the earlobes; however, they can also be put on other parts of the body such as the tongue and nose. As weird as they may sound, they are becoming very popular among people, mainly between the ages of fi fteen and forty. On the other hand, many people think that they are gross and

disturbing, so why are they so common? Freshman Taner Harrel knows someone who wears gauges and said, “Yes, several of my brother’s friends wear them.” However, this might only show that they are popular between that specifi c group of people because they have very similar tastes and personalities. Harrel then stated his personal opinion on them: “I think they look good on some people, but bad on others because they make their ears look really funny.” After interviewing other people, his opinion seemed to be common. Many people do not particularly like gauges but think they are fi ne depending on the size. Sophomores Ryan Fisher and Cooper Stiles said, “They are okay if they aren’t too big.” How big is ‘too big?’ Sophomore Chico Barajas said, “I think they should be Pepsi can size but no bigger.”

There are different types of gauges

such as the hollowed out

circles that show the hole in your ear and the kind that are just discs. Many people wonder how people get the huge opening in their ears in the fi rst place. Senior Austin Neet has gauges and said, “They use a big earring or tapers to make it stretch.” Neet stated, “It was painful but they are very attractive, which makes it worth it.” As one can see, opinions on gauges vary from person to person. Gauges themselves are priced the same as regular earrings or piercings; they can cost as little as three dollars and prices rise depending on the quality and what they are made of. Some people do not like gauges at all, but many get them because they think they are cool or to get attention from the people around them. Would you get gauges?

n e w e r movies are a lot better than the old ones.” It may have been a long time since anyone has watched one of these movies. Freshman Keith Yager stated, “I think the older movies send out a good message that most kids don’t see these days.” Freshman Ian Addair added, “I think it teaches us something we will eventually use in life, the new and old.” Freshman Krystal Dewy stated, “If I could change something in our childhood movies, it would be adding more romance, so little girls would grow up actually believing in love. Women lack that these days.” What would it take for girls to start believing again? Freshman Cody Blankenship said, “I think a lot of the guys in this generation are pigs. They don’t show little girls that prince charming could or is real.” Also, Rainer added, “A lot of parents

get divorces, and it doesn’t give little girls or boys hope for success at a

relationship.” Maybe producers can produce a movie that would benefi t the children of today’s society so they can grow up knowing, and believing in love. Everybody has different outlooks on Disney, or our childhood movies. Some believe they could be improved, and some believe they are inspirational as they are. Junior Kacey Baker said, “I think teen stars are getting away with making songs from the past better today because little kids love them so much.” Are children today going to decide if our childhood movies are going to be added on with a sequel? Baker also stated, “The publicity makes kids seem as if they want more. Because they have so much new technology and they think the older movies don’t look as interesting.”

Oh look! A mystery person! I wonder who it is.

..

G a u g e s : e x p l o r i n g t h e t r e n d

T h e r e t u r n o f c h i l d h o o d m o v i e s

C h i l e a n s t u d e n t s b o n d o n a 4 0 k m b i k e r i d e

Kendyl Fletcherstaff writer

From ancient tribal traditions to a growing American fad, gauges have come a long way

Savannah Jonesstaff writer

Okay. It’s all fun and games ‘til someone loses an eye. -Tarzan

Jackson Darlandcontributing writer

40 km is the equivalent of 25 miles (almost as much as a marathon)

Lauren Daviesstaff writer

Guess who!

For this column, I’m just going to jump right into the action. I got to be a part of the annual cicletadawith a group of some sixty boys from my school—all different grades. We all took a big bus forty-fi ve minutes down to Puerto Octay, a small town located next to Llanquihue, the third-largest lake in South America, with all of our bikes loaded into a truck. The next day, we rode the forty kilometers back to school. It was a great experience; I became closer to a lot of my classmates after the ride as it was meant to be a bonding activity. Bunking out on the fl oor of a giant wooden school hall in the town, all of us enjoyed each other’s company the evening before we began our ride. To pass the time, all of us split into small groups and were given prompts with which we had to invent and act out plays in front of the rest. It turned out to be quite entertaining. In

my favorite act, the plot was about a boy who had a crush on his friend’s mother, and in the end when he fi nally admitted it, his friend (the son) told him that it was the same either way for him—he didn’t care! All of the acts were silly like that, but suffi cient for some good laughter! After a breakfast prepared cooperatively, we took off with the signal given by one of our teachers. The ride started out with several big hills, but then leveled out nicely. The cold foggy landscape was very refreshing as we rode past the grassy fi elds with meandering cows in the rural outskirts of Osorno. I’m used to riding forty to fi fty kilometers on a daily—or better to say—weekly basis, so the ride wasn’t too tiring. On top of that, it wasn’t even technically a race! Well, it wasn’t a race until we had three kilometers left (which was basically when we entered the main part of the city). I should explain that we all had to stop three different times along the way and wait for all of the guys further behind to catch up before moving on; my friend, Jose, and I wanted to ride faster, so we reached each ‘stop’ about ten to fi fteen minutes before the next person would show up

huffi ng and puffi ng, followed by the other fi fty-fi ve boys. Okay, so back to the point; the fi nal three kilometers were crazy because everybody decided to stop lagging, becoming very competitive in trying to reach San Mateo fi rst. We sprinted through the busy streets of the city, literally ignoring all of the rules of the road (actually, I think we stopped for one red light). It was a rush! I ended up coming in third by a few feet because the fi rst and second guys had cut across the fi nal street right in front of a big truck to save time, and I decided to wait for it to pass before sprinting across and through the school gates. I didn’t want to get squashed! I have been a part of many great adventures here in Chile, all of which will become special memories.