March 2005 - Our Mission: Nurture and challenge for success
Transcription
March 2005 - Our Mission: Nurture and challenge for success
M Manheim Township High School T Hi-Lite Vo l . 6 9 I s s u e 0 8 We d n e s d ay, M a rc h 2 3 , 2 0 0 5 L a n c a s t e r, PA Inspirational writer speaks at Township MT high schoolers take to the sky Richa Naik ’07 Feature Editor Craning their necks, students applaud and try to catch a glimpse of the man that has just walked in. Slowly, he walks up the stairs to the center of the stage and the applause continues. He could easily blend into the crowd if he wanted to. He doesn’t look like a man who has lived through experiences some may deem as a nightmare. It’s not as if one could look at him and know that he composed a book. If you didn’t know better, you would pass him on the street and not even look back. “It’s been a long time and coming this visit…It [Manheim Township] does feel like home,” he says in a soft voice. Author Mark Mathabane was born and raised in South Africa in the time of apartheid. He lived in a small shack with his mom, dad, brothers and sisters, and, oftentimes, he slept with a newspaper because he had given his little sister the blanket he slept with. Mathabane arrived in America on a tennis scholarship, yet tennis was not the path he wanted his life to travel. While in college, Mathabane discovered that he was not content with Continued on page 8 Emily Field ’07 Staff Writer Timmy Huynh Author Mark Mathabane spoke at MTHS on February 23 2005 about growing up under apartheid and creating a new life for himself in America. Student lawyers make their case at Mock Trial Competition Elly Bennett ’07 News Editor On Wednesday March 2, 2005 Township’s two mock trial teams competed against two other schools in the Lancaster County Courthouse. Team A, composed of lawyers Cassie Natarian ’06, Jacob Taber ’05, Phil Ehrlich ’05 and witnesses Behnaz Varamini ’06, William Tuttle ’06, Andrew Lefever ‘06, and Alyson Aghamedi ‘05, competed against McCaskey. The half of Teamb B that competed that night is composed of Christopher Matamoros ‘06, Alyssa Lunz ‘06, Sarah Kunkle ‘06, Zach Bennett ‘07, Kirstin Schneider ‘06, competed against Ephrata. During Mock Trials each team presents either the defense or the plaintiff Both teams earned important wins. Team A will move on to the playoffs and although Team B cannot move on into playoffs due to a previous Inside Hi-Lite MTHS security guard Mike Deptula has a presidential past - p. 6 Mr. Witmer cleans up at table tennis tournament - p. 10 Check out this month's music and movie reviews by the Justins - p. 6 and 8 =Jacob and Tarun go head to head over Bush's new social security plan - p. 5 loss, by winning on Wednesday they knocked Cocalico out of the playoffs. Team A’s trial began with the opening arguments for each team; Township’s was given by Natarian. After the trial, during the jury’s deliberation, Judge Roth, commended her by saying, “Overall, I thought your opening was excellent.” Following the opening arguments the plaintiff (Township) called its witnesses. Varamini played the first witness and she came off very well, perhaps a bit too well. The judge’s sole suggestion to her following the trial was that she sound a bit less rehearsed, because it would sound more natural. After Taber finished questioning her, she was cross-examined by one of McCaskey’s lawyers. The next witness called to the stand was Tuttle, and he was questioned by Taber. Tuttle was incredibly convincing, but the highlight of his performance was during McCaskey’s cross-examination. The lawyer became slightly hostile, but Tuttle kept his cool and succeeded in not conceding to any of the points the other lawyer was trying to make. After Township finished with its witnesses, McCaskey had the chance to call theirs. McCaskey’s first witness was almost unintelligible because she spoke so softly and timidly. During Ehrlich’s cross-examination she was forced to make every one of his points. The judge noticed the powerful crossexamination calling it an “excellent cross, short, sweet, and powerful.” McCaskey’s second witness was much more convincing and realistic than their first. Natarian did the cross-examination and during this time it was evident how well the team works together. Taber and Continued on page 3 Many high school students receive only a few chances to fly on a plane, and the few that do often have to put up with annoyances such as a crying little brother, an annoying older sister, and cramped coach class seats. But three Manheim Township High School students each have a seat all to themselves: the cockpit. “Flying the plane is one of the most exhilarating feelings,” said Senior Olivia Walters, who has always enjoyed flying. Walters’s stepfather is a pilot and a flight instructor, and he took her flying a few times. That was all she needed to become hooked. “I loved it!” says Walters of her first few experiences. Senior Steve Newcomer, Walters’s classmate, decided last year to take a lesson, and he has not looked back since. He has set his sights on Arizona State University to major in Aeronautical Management Technology. After earning Continued on page 8 Township students bringing new life to an old hobby Knitting craze invades the high school Laura Donofry ’05 Editor-in-Chief LIVESTRONG bracelets, Ugg boots, and . . . knitting? Although it typically wouldn’t fit into Manheim Township’s usual list of “fads,” knitting is definitely a prominent trendy pastime among students today. Customarily a pastime favorite for women slightly older than a typical Township student, knitting has been around for many years, but it seemed to only recently pop into the trend scene within the past few months. The only logical explanation for this is Manheim Lisbeth Kelley taking part in the knitting craze currently sweeping through the high school Elly Bennett Township’s Textile and Design class taught by Mrs. Wilmajean Leister. Located in a tiny room in the 9/10 Café (previously the I.S.S. room), the class’s main aspect is to teach students, usually female, how to sew and master the basic aspects of fashion design. But this year, a new twist was added to the curriculum when social studies teacher Mrs. Jackie Fuentes-Gillespie taught the textile class how to knit during downtime, between projects. Students sought knitting advice from Fuentes-Gillespie, as well as from the school librarians, who proved to be the Township knitting gurus. Continued on page 2 Page 2 NEWS March 23, 2005 Budget limits funds for educational programs Luckily for public school students, only about 9% of school funding comes from the federal government, because education programs dramatically took a beating with the announcement of Bush’s $2.5 trillion new budget on February 7, 2005. In an effort to cut the budget deficit in half by 2009, Bush decided to eliminate or dramatically reduce 150 federal programs. One third of these targeted programs concern education. This was balanced, however, by increasing spending for some educational programs already put in place by the Bush administration. Specifically, according to the Washington Post, “the budget would cut $440 million in Safe and Drug-Free School grants, $500 million in education technology state grants, $225 million for the Even Start literacy program, $280 million for Upward Bound programs for inner-city youths and a $150 million talent research program.” Additionally, the new budget reduces the Head Start program (a program which assists preparing pre-school kids) and targets before- and after-school care programs. Though many programs have been reduced in the controversial new budget, Chairman of the Lancaster County Teenage Republicans Zachary Bennett ’07 points out significant increases in some areas. “President Bush allotted $1.5 billion to states to initiate standardized testing to assure that our schools are proficient. He also increased spending to America’s Striving Readers Initiative by eightfold, giving them $175 million. Additionally, the new budget increased the spending for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs by 73%, allowing these programs $52 million. President Bush also allowed for $269 million for math and science programs, providing opportunities for math teachers to increase their skills to teach students better.” How will the new budget affect our school? Since overall federal contributions to public schools do not exceed 10% of funding, it will not have much of an affect on teachers or students at Manheim Township. The other 90% of our funding is received through local and state taxes. However, Bush’s budget does support the “No Child Left Behind” act, which may affect our school in the future. No Child Left Behind is an education policy which requires testing for the nation’s schools in the areas of reading, writing and math. In order for schools to receive Continued from page 1 There are many reasons why knitting has become so popular among high school students. It is a huge stress reliever to which many students can relate. “I enjoy knitting, because it makes me feel like I am doing something productive and it tends to be a great stress reliever for me,” said Samantha Bachar ’05. Bachar knew the basic steps to knitting prior to taking the class, but learned some of the “tricks” in class. Kristi Castillo ’05 agreed that knitting releases pentup tension that accumulates throughout the day. “As students, it gives us time to relax and settle down and gives us our own little down time away from the busy days of high school life.” Relieving stress is a major benefit of knitting, as is the end result: a beautiful homemade scarf, blanket, or whatever else the student may aspire to produce. A favorite for Castillo is scarves. “I love scarves; I can never get enough of them.” Like Castillo, Bachar has made many scarves but has recently branched off. “I have started knitting a section of a blanket that I would like to finish,” she said. After the many hours spent into making a scarf or blanket, not only do students receive a delightful new accessory, but they also receive a sense of accomplishment. “Knitting is a fun way to take a step back and accomplish something that you would have never thought otherwise you could do,” said Castillo. Diana Martin ’07 Staff Writer federal money, they must meet the guidelines set by No Child Left Behind. These guidelines require the school to continuously progress in the percentage of students deemed “proficient” in these areas. For example, if 35% of students were proficient that school year, then the following school year the school must receive at least 36% proficiency. As Social Studies Teacher Mr. Mark Reinhardt explained, “In the long term, if the legislation for No Child Left Behind is not changed, then we will not be able to achieve 100% proficiency, or 100% of our students deemed ‘proficient.’ This would result in eventually someone else having to take over the school. In 2008 though, there will be a new president in office, and this legislation will probably be reviewed.” The schools hit hardest by Bush’s new budget will be inner-city schools, and schools deemed “failing” by No Child Left Behind. As Social Studies Teacher Mr. Dan Reynolds pointed out, “Some schools (especially in areas of high poverty) receive proportionally more in federal spending, so the schools that need it the most would be hurt the most. These cuts create problems for those who most need government assistance.” Additionally, many of the programs cut or reduced directly bene- fited inner-city schools. One program in particular is Head Start, which is for kids primarily from areas of high poverty. Bush’s new budget has certainly been received with great conflict between the two parties. Bennett summed up a Republican viewpoint with his comment, “The overriding message of Bush’s budget is that President Bush views America as the land of opportunity. He would like to give Americans a good education so that they have the tools for success to prepare for the work force in the future. He is allotting money in education and particularly reaching low income schools to make sure they receive their full potential.” These views are countered however by Reynolds, one of many who does not support Bush’s budget in regards to education. “These cuts create problems for those who most need government assistance. In addition, they don’t make much of a dent in the deficit, and they do absolutely nothing to address the looming problem within Medicare and Social Security. Professionally speaking, the administration’s goals for education, expressed through the budget and through the policy of No Child Left Behind, are wrong. They will have the effect of damaging public education in this nation, almost as if that were the intent.” Township knitters unravel past trend Laura Donofry Knitting has become an increasingly popular hobby this year. Exploring teaching as a career Workshops being offered at Millersville University Elly Bennett ’07 News Editor A program entitled "Exploring Teaching as a Career" will be held at Millersvilled University on thursday, April 7, 2005. The program will last te entire day and is for anyone interested in teaching, in any capacity, as a career. Each student chooses whch workshop they'd like to participate in. The different workshops include elementary education, special education, secondary education, early childhood education, urban education, and psychology in the classroom. Any interested student can sign up with Mrs. Tate in the Career Center. The cost to students is $15.00 for the entire day. Page 3 NEWS DyVerseCity steps it up for audition March 23, 2005 Student Art Works 2005 Hi-Lite There will be an art exhibit on Saturday, May 21, 2005 from 3pm to 7pm. There will be drawings, paintings, ceramics, photographs, and sculptures. The pieces will be from sixth graders through seniors. In addition to pieces of art there will be gourmet food and music ensembles. Mock Trial Elly Bennett Keshia Gonzalez ’07 posing for the camera during DyVerseCity practice, surrounded by fellow dancers from left Thyda Nuon ’08, Sophearktra Hon ’07 and Jennifer Davila ’07. The most visible branch of the club Elly Bennett ’07 is the performance group it has formed News Editor in an effort to perform at Follies. This group, titled DyVerseCity, is composed New clubs often have a hard time of about 17 members who are not necgaining members and recognition, but essarily members of Stomp Club itself. Manheim Township High School’s The group decided to do it because, recently formed Stomp Club defies this. in the words of Gonzales, they want Keshia Gonzales ’07 developed Stomp to, “Show Township what we’re all Club with help from Jennifer Davila about!” She hopes that this group will ’07 whom she dubbed her “wing-man.” turn into a real performance group. Stomp Club already has about There is absolutely no competi20 members and is advised by Mrs. tion between DyVerseCity and the Jackie Fuentes-Gillespie, but stuHigh School Dance Team. “We dent teacher Miss Barbara Book respect them for what they do, but has been helping out as well. what we want to do is different. We The club’s mission is to provide have a more African inspired dancing. its members with a chance to dance. It’s really rhythmic,” said Gonzales. There are no try-outs and everyone is The girls are working hard for their invited to join. Gonzales stressed the Follies audition with practices every day fact that, “You see every race here, after school until five and even practice every body type, every level of dance. on weekends. Stomp Club is on its way to We take everybody for everything.” becoming a household name at Township. Continued from page 1 Ehrlich were whispering and would get Natarian’s attention between questions and say a word or two. She would then nod her head in understanding and move onto the next question without breaking stride. When asked about it later, Varamini described it as being like ESP. Following the witnesses’ testimonies, closing arguments began. McCaskey went first. Their lawyer read her statement, but she lost her place in her script multiple times creating brief pauses in her speech. Ehrlich did the closing for Township and did a remarkable job. His voice was clear and strong. As soon as he began speaking the jurors visibly perked up and the judge got a small smile on his face. It was entertaining to listen to Ehrlich speak and he kept the jurors and the audience interested with his voice inflection and body language. When asked what the best part of Township’s trial was, the judge responded by noting the opening and closing because they were memorized and said with great conviction. Once the trial was finished the fate of each team rested in the hands of the Continued on page Manheim Township High School P.O Box 5134, School Road Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17606 717.560.3194 Room 125 Editors-in-Chief Katelyn Burgess Laura Donofry Managing Editor Courtney Monson News Editor Elly Bennett Opinion Editor Jacob Taber Feature Editors Monica Kosiorek Richa Naik Photography Editors Emily Barton Elly Bennett Writers Philip Ehrlich Tarun Bhan Diana Martin Mackenzie Lind Emily Rudisill Maggie Downey Kaitlin Wedge Sara Archut Emily Field Justin Jacobs Dan Carrigan Sam Gross Ari Paskoff Frank Ready Advisers Marty Pflieger Garrett Woznicki Layout Editor Timmy Huynh “ 1519 Oregon Pike Lancaster Good food! Good times! ! m a e r C e Ic $2.00 off $10.00 purchase Fri en ds ! * Not valid with any other offer There is nothing ugly; I never saw an ugly thing in my life: for let the form of an object be what it may, - light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful. -John Constable ” so-lil-o-quy... Page 4 OPINION March 23, 2005 In Our View... Sound Bites What do you think of spirit week? “They could definitely use some creativity: Black and White Day? Itʼs so clichéd.” -Sami Hernandez ʼ05 Itʼs completely unnecessary, and a failed attempt to bring our school together. - Julio Guardado ʼ05 Meghan Jahnke ʼ05 “I think itʼs stupid because no one does it.” -Whitney Allen ʼ08 “Spirit week is just a time upperclassmen use to make fun of freshmen.” -Joey Kline ʼ08 “We love it - weʼre both in student council, and we think itʼs a great way to show Township pride. -Kelsey Frey ʼ08 - Dana Schaufert ʼ08 “ Itʼs a good idea to encourage school unity, but we need a lot of improvement in that area.” - Jenna Peart ʼ06 “I would like to see a group singing competition of the Alma Mater to involve more kids and level the playing field.” - Mr. David Hanna Senior Community Principal Spirit Week misses the mark Student Council recently held the “Clash of the Classes” as a culmination of the annual spirit week set in the dead of winter to raise class spirit and school togetherness. Hi-Lite has noticed that many students did not get quite as excited about wearing college sweatshirts as members of Student Council would have liked. We have been wondering, why are so many students uninterested in spirit week? It’s a shame that more students don’t participate, considering the school is doing its part to try to bring the all the classes together, but maybe we’re going about it the wrong way. Sure, dressing up in plaid and polka dots may be fun for the day, but with student council members more often than not the only ones actually wearing black and white or sporting mohawks and pigtails, we’re not convinced that these spirit days achieve their ultimate goal. So, we propose a more involved way of raising student spirit. Everyone remembers the field days of elementary school and sixth grade. Why not have a similar event for the High School? We could compete in the sports of the upcoming spring season and maybe even pit students vs. faculty. And hey, scores could be based on actual rules, meaning that underclassmen could win when they deserved it. Maybe it’s just us, but we suspect that some fresh air on a beautiful spring day would do a lot more for students’ spirits than an hour of incoherent noise in an overcrowded, sweaty gym. MTSD should put learning first Phil Ehrlich ’05 Staff Writer One of my favorite things to do in school is to listen to the Scantron Machine whirring away in the teacher’s lounge. Like a bowl of Rice Krispies, with a few snaps, crackles, and pops, the faceless arbiter quickly tells us whether the sheet of filled-in bubbles will end up on our parents’ refrigerator or at the bottom of the nearest recycling bin. Essentially, our fate rests in the hands of this metal Osiris, with every red slash a dagger to our hearts. As entertaining as the symphony of mechanical clicks can be, I recently realized that the Scantron Machine is simply a loud reminder that our education and learning is being reduced to right or wrong, A, B, C, D, or the agitating “All of the above.” No longer do we learn for the sake of learning, but instead, armed with a #2 pencil, we study and cram to defeat the next test. Unfortunately, this degradation of education is largely a result of the world around us, a world that increasingly takes learning for granted. Since most of the posters in our classrooms are too small to read, as my eyes roam the walls, I usually end up staring at our district’s mission statement. According to the incredibly long run-on sentence, “The Mission of the Manheim Township School District… is to ensure that each student…realize his or her own genius, by paths that transcend the traditions of traditional institutions, within environments that nurture passion for lifelong learning and stewardship in our global society.” Too often today, society sends us a conflicting message, with a lot fewer prepositions – learning and education are no longer one and the same. As unintentional and discreet as these messages may be, they are clearly changing what it means to go to school, to learn, to know. On a national scale, the No Child Left Behind Act sets a precedent for test-based teaching, not once mentioning improving how we learn among the legislation’s fundamentals goals. On a much more local level, even as the school board is in meeting after meeting fielding citizen complaints about the outrageous costs of our ‘Taj Mahal” new school building (because apparently it’s a luxury to have a school that, say, meets the fire code) the Township Commissioners are considering millions of dollars of new spending on a fitness center that many residents don’t even want, let alone need. This clearly indicates to us that instead of helping students reach their genius, Township’s new goal is to help the district reach a profit. While our teachers push carts from class to class because the school doesn’t have enough classrooms, the district spends money building miniature golf courses. Though hitting a ball through a windmill is a pretty useful life skill, we cannot continue to trade books and teachers for superfluous diversions. As hard as it is to admit, our education is a gift. Though homework and tests sometimes make it difficult to understand, the fact that we can go to school, see our friends, participate in activities we enjoy, and as an added bonus learn something along the way cannot be taken lightly. Throughout the world, millions of people – people like Mark Mathabane, who just recently brought his message of the saving power of education to this very high school – crave basic schooling, yet our society continues to devalue education. Until we get our priorities straight, our school’s mission statement will be little more than an empty promise, drowned out beneath a chorus of Scantron Machines ticking away the end of learning. presents: America, land of the too free? Kaitlin Wedge ’05 Staff Writer What are your freedoms? And how far, exactly, do they reach? Most people at least get the general concept of first amendment rights. Let’s see, hmm, they’re bigger than a breadbox... They just may be the most important protectors of your individual rights as a US citizen and, oh yeah, aren’t there still ten more amendments or something? Here’s the up-front apology to civics teachers everywhere: I don’t mean to break your hearts on this one, but after numero uno, those amendments get a little blurry. Apparently there’s something about no unwarranted searches and seizures of personal property and some spiel between six and eight about speedy trials, unbiased juries, and fair bail. Yada, yada, yada, it’s not as if I, or anyone else for that matter, has them memorized and printed on a handydandy little card that can be whipped out, with the three-snaps-mmmhmm “I know my Bill of Rights better than you” attitude. I, however, as an esteemed high school “journalist,” have to know the big Kahuna of all amendments pretty well. That’s right...I’m calling in number one. I’m pretty sure that if a reporter doesn’t throw around “First amendment, individual rights, blah, blah, blah” every once in a while, the collective journalistic They will fly down from the newspaper heavens on delicately constructed Washington Post-paper-cranes-of-doom to exact a revenge of Page 6 gossip proportions. Personally, I don’t want to end up chronicling some Backstreet Boy concert, elbowing 12-year olds out of the way for the scoop on teen-dream clone number four’s favorite color (I just know it has to be red–the passion!), just because I couldn’t say, “hmm, my freedoms–religion, speech, press, assembling, petitioning– I kinda like having them!” Well gee golly gosh, maybe, if I’m lucky, someone will think of protecting them. Until a few days ago, I really thought people knew the Bill of Rights. I mean, hello, fought for by the founders here...this has to be pretty important stuff. Yet, recent surveys by the foundation for some awesome dudes, John S. and James L. Knight, show that 99% of adults can’t name the five freedoms of the first amendment and that 51% of high school students think that the government should control what news- papers are allowed to publish. Personally, I not sure that I could handle having the government control my column. As it is, I’m already four rungs down on the “get the article published” ladder, five just doesn’t look so hot. Plus, at that point I probably wouldn’t have anything left to write about. I can only assume that “Wedge’s World presents: absolutely nothing” isn’t incredibly enticing to readers. If the government, with its limited powers, closely adhered to the Constitution that gave it no explicit authority to infringe upon personal freedoms, we wouldn’t really need the Bill of Rights. But, it isn’t. So, we do. For now, I’m going to agree with the antifederalists because I’m not too keen on housing a British soldier sans my gun while standing around, neither assembling, nor petitioning, but doing absofreaking-lutely nothing about it. I’m not exactly sure how to put this tactfully, so I won’t. I don’t really think that you should have first amendment rights, or any of those Bill of Rights rights for that matter, if you can’t even name them. Not only should we know our rights, but we should be thankful for them and respectful of them, because at one point, they weren’t rights at all. Page 5 OPINION March 23, 2005 Left vs. Right Social Security Insecurity Jacob Taber ’05 Opinion Editor Tarun Bhan ’05 Contributing Writer In 1935, President Roosevelt described his new, as-yet-unnamed social program, as providing “security of the men, women, and children of the nation against certain hazards and vicissitudes of life.” In English, FDR wanted to keep Americans safe from the whims of fate – safe from unemployment, safe being orphaned, and safe from sudden bankruptcy in old age. His program, better known as Social Security, was never meant to serve as a retirement plan. Instead, it was a kind of insurance – money in the bank to make sure that no citizen of this nation will die old and penniless, that none of us will someday have to beg for bread on the streets. President Bush, though, has a plan to change all that. The centerpiece of his bold second term agenda is, surprisingly enough, not another war, but rather a plan to change the way Social Security works by taking up to a third of this insurance money out of safe government bonds (more or less, a really large bank account) and dumping it into the much riskier stock market (which never, ever crashes – just ask FDR), all in the name of making a profit. “...personal retirement accounts do nothing to solve the [Social Security] problem...” Now according to the Bush administration, we need to drastically change this system that has worked pretty reliably for the past seventy years because in 2052, the Social Security trust fund will dry up and the government will have to start borrowing money in order to pay benefits to retirees, because our parents had fewer children than their parents did, and so when they all retire there will be fewer workers to pay into social security for them. In a way, it almost makes sense. But to solve this problem, Bush wants to create personal retirement accounts – the stock market plan – at a cost of $2,000,000,000,000,000. No, that’s not a typo – his plan could cost two trillion dollars. You may be wondering – where does the president planning on getting all this money? Certainly not by taxing the wealthy, or by denying social security benefits to millionaires who are pretty secure in their retirements. No, he wants to borrow it, adding $2 trillion to the deficit over the next ten years. So, to avoid going into debt in 2052, Bush wants to borrow $2 trillion now, on top of the biggest deficit in American history, when we’re fighting a war that could last for generations. Which makes sense…somehow. But here’s the best part – personal retirement accounts do nothing to solve the 2052 problem, because they don’t increase revenue (they decrease it) or decrease costs (which actually go up). Now I’ll be the first to admit that the Social Security system isn’t perfect, but at a time when the President is trying to cut programs that help students, farmers, police officers, and doctors in the name of ‘fiscal responsibility,’ we simply can’t afford the money it will take to bring about a truly fair solution. So while millions of people keep investing in the stock market by themselves, without the help of Uncle Sam, like they always have, let’s relax, stop trying to make Social Security into a crisis it’s not, and protect FDR’s insurance program. Let’s take a trip to the future for a second. It’s 2042, and after the successful careers MTHS prepared us for (yeah, right) we’re ready for retirement. Every paycheck we’ve been giving a percentage of our pay to Social Security, with the expectation that we’ll be getting that money back when we retire. Suddenly, however, the government announces that the Social Security system has gone bankrupt, and we will be receiving a dramatically smaller amount of money than we paid in, or even none at all. This scenario is all-to-possible if we do not take steps to reform Social Security now. Fortunately for us it isn’t 2042 – it’s 2005, and we can do something to prevent this future crisis. See, Social Security was created decades ago, for a very different era. In those days, people did not live as long, and benefits were much lower than they are today. The system has worked well for generations of Americans, but 21st century demographics doom it to insolvency. Because of the baby boomer generation, the current system promises to give increasingly generous benefits, for “As we fix Social Security, we...[must] make the system a better deal for younger workers.” increasingly long periods of time, to an increasingly large number of people – and to pay for it by taxing a proportionately smaller number of people. It simply cannot be done. As we fix Social Security, we also have the responsibility to make the system a better deal for younger workers. If we are going to have a government-run retirement plan, we have the obligation to give workers at least as much money as they could get investing on their own. Right now, every male currently under the age of 38 will actually lose money under the current Social Security system. And the average rate of return of Social Security is 1.5 percent, which pales in comparison to the stock market’s historical average rate of return of 10.7 percent. There are many ways to go about reconciling this difference. One is to create voluntary personal retirement accounts for younger workers. Under the plan, instead of workers paying into the system and not seeing that money for another 40 years, they can invest their Social Security payroll taxes to amass wealth for retirement. The accounts make sense because the current rate of return of Social Security is so low that it’s sometimes lower than the rate of inflation, and investing in a mix of conservative investments would increase returns for the American worker. Not to mention the fact that investing spurs economic growth. If Americans invest, they are pouring more money into the economy. It’s a win-win situation – workers get more retirement money, and the economy gets capital to expand. People who are against personal retirement accounts or even against reforming Social Security altogether share one fundamental difference from the rest of us: They believe that once you give money to the government, it’s the government’s money. It’s not – it’s our money and we should be allowed to keep it to improve our retirement security. Filling out the paperwork of the soul Maggie Downey ’05 Opinion Columnist I love filling out paperwork. Absolutely love it. It requires a trace amount of cognitive effort but leaves the most amount of gratification. Such a feeling of confidence, of security, of competence. Given the progression of my apathy over this, the second semester of my senior year, meaningless paper work is about all I have the desire or capability of attempting, other than playing solitaire, eating rice krispy treats and staring out the window. Online tests are my new thing. Taking the religion one was rather fulfilling, besides the obvious troubling of finding my current spiritual inclination ranked something like thirty out of forty-five. I’ve been indoctrinated, though; I really don’t know where to go from here. The which-classic-movie -are -you was fun; right up until I found out I was equal to Schindler’s List. Really don’t know where to run with that lovely little uplifting tidbit, either. I took a personality test the other day. This was not one of those ten-question forays at the bottom of a page in Vo g u e ; no, I’ve taken those before a n d they’re completely transparent, a waste of time. Believe me, save yourself three minutes and just trust that if you like vanilla icecream, you’re doomed to a life of anonymity and if you happen to prefer chocolate, well, your adventuresome nature will one day get the best of you. This test, however, was the mother of them all, two hundred and twenty-five probing, soul-searching questions. The sum of your existence is tallied in a matter of seconds, and then they plot it out for you in black and white, with little charts and visual aids for those who just can’t get that So it turns out I am a timid but socially comfortable, curious but incompetent discoverer, with a thirty-eight percent chance of being emotionally stable. Thirty-eight percent. That’s an F, right? I failed emotional s t a b i l i t y. That can’t be good, but it says here that I’m relaxed and transcendent. Hmm. Maybe it’s my own fault for not being perceptive enough (perceptiveness, though…eighty-two percent…I thought that was okay…) to discern anything significant. I guess I shouldn’t put so much faith in this pseudo-science. There is a French social theorist, philosopher, logician, dreamer, wise man, whatever they’re calling themselves these days, named Jean Baudrillard who would probably blame it on my post-modernity, the common cold of my generation The Low Downey to make technology our new god, our new source of enlightenment. Or maybe he would cite the dichotomies we have worked ourselves into, with conservative and liberal, right and wrong, strong and weak, even using a binary code to reveal the inner workings of ourselves. It simply cannot exist: a being leaning toward introversion (eighty-seven percent) that likes people, or an inefficient pragmatist. But it does. I do. Or at least I do my best. And I like things that are bulky and hard to define, so reconciling the personality on paper with the one I have, and the one I hope to have, may not be that difficult. It seems I already have. The Hi-Lite is the official student-run newspaper of Manheim Township High School. Its staff consists of 24 writers, editors, cartoonists and managers who devote their time to covering news around MTHS and communicating information to the student body. The Hi-Lite is published 10 times each school year. It is distributed roughly once per month with an additional two issues in April and May. The Hi-Lite appreciates any contributions from the MTHS community. Any questions or comments can be directed to the Hi-Lite’s e-mail address, [email protected] Furthermore, the Hi-Lite reserves the right to edit any articles or refuse publication of any materials it deems offensive or inappropriate. Other comments or concerns can also be directed to the staff advisor, Martin Pflieger, in room 125 of the high school. Page 6 FEATURE Stick to what you do best, Mos Def Justin Jacobs ’05 Feature Writer “The New Danger” 2/5 ** In 1999, Brooklyn rapper Mos Def released “Black on Both Sides.” The album was a breakthrough for underground, socially-conscious rap (yes, it does exist). In the five years since his major label debut made him a prominent figure in hip-hop, Mos Def has worked on two major side gigs. Both new sides of the rapper have an obvious influence on his latest release, “The New Danger.” Mos became a respected actor, appearing in “Monster’s Ball” and Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled.” Great. He also founded a rock band called Black Jack Johnson. Not so great. Mos definitely plays many different characters on “The New Danger.” This diversity is one key factor that separates him from the indistinguishable garble that is much of today’s rap acts. He tackles the roles of social commentator, laid-back jazzman, old school rap star, and even impassioned soul singer with relative ease. The one character he fails to portray convincingly, though, is rocker. Mos Def’s new rock mentality shows up throughout the album, and in smaller doses, it is palatable. The bluesy, backbeat drumming and meandering dual guitars of “Bedstuy Parade and Funeral March,” for example, gives the song the feel of a smoky, dimly lit club at 3AM. The album suffers the most at the hands of Rock’n’Roll on “Freaky Black Greetings.” The track finds Mos rhyming sparse lines over a churning guitar/bass riff that would be more at home – dare I say it – on a Limp Bizkit record. Thankfully, Mos proves he still knows how to create chilled-out hip-hop jams for the majority of the album. With the rock tracks out of the equation, the best moments on the album come when Mos stops trying to be someone else and just raps. The bounce of his rhythmic talk-rap style is similar to Kanye West, with the added freestyle attitude of Talib Kweli, with whom Mos has recorded under the moniker Black Star. “Sex, Love & Money” displays Mos Def at his head-bouncing best. Over a churning funk beat complete with jazzy flute lines, Mos seems to have a great time with rhymes like, “I hit the streets/Easy in my seat/Lightning on my feet/Breezy like the evening.” Rap tracks like this, his first single off the album, along with several others feature the most natural side of Mos Def. Mos reveals himself to be a very talented rapper: he has fun with playful rhymes while remaining focused, thoughtful and full of power and passion. Continued on page 8 March 23 , 2005 Former White House cryptologist secures Township halls Monica Kosiorek ’07 Feature Editor across the globe. have to know your skills.” If a mistake were to take place it However, the job wasn’t all work could have caused an international inciand no play. Going on honeymoons was While many children dream of dent. The President leaves Washington also part of the deal. After Kissinger got becoming firemen or professional musiat least 200 times a year and can travel married, Deptula and two others took cians someday, not many would consider anywhere in the world; wherever he is, a trip with Kissinger and his wife to a job as cryptologist for the White House he needs to be in Communication Agency (WHCA). For constant contact “It takes hard work, moral character, and MTHS security guard, Mr. Michael with the White you have to know your skills.” Deptula, this unusual dream became a House. - Mr. Michael Deptula reality. The Deptula went through high school White House their vacation spot in Acapulco, where unsure of what he wanted to be, but Communication Agency used technolDeptula worked eight to ten hours a after being drafted into the Army he ogy that Deptula views as “old school day. was trained as a cryptologist – someone stuff” like the telephone, telegraph, andAfter working with Kissinger, who codes and deciphers important messwitchboard, along with photography to Deptula estimated he had traveled the sages. In 1972, after an extensive backcommunicate and support the President. world a total of five times, and helping ground check, Deptula was selected to Deptula helped provide communicathe President’s wasn’t too shabby either. work at the WHCA as a cryptologist for tions support for Presidents Nixon, Ford, Seven five star hotels have welcomed President Richard Nixon. Carter, and Reagan, ending his WHCA Deptula and the respective President The WHCA is a joint service orgacareer with President George H. W. he happened to be working with at the nization that has experts from the Army, Bush in 1990. time. Navy, Airforce, and Marines all working Working with these Presidents “It gave me the opportunity to see the to deliver and present information to the allowed Deptula to witness first hand entire world that people would never get President. During Deptula’s tenure at the the Paris Peace Talks and the Middle the opportunity to do” said Deptula. department, he worked alongside close East Peace talks, as well as take a trip In 1990 after working for WHCA for to one thousand other cryptologists, data to Dacca, Bangladesh with Dr. Henry 18 years, Deptula decided it was time technicians, and other agency staff. Kissinger to broker a peace agreement. to retire for family reasons. Deptula The main goal of the White House He also had behind-the-scenes access worked in the Federal Government Communication Agency is to move to the Iran-Contra Arms Scandal with afterward but said that, “I couldn’t get along with the President as he travels Colonel Oliver North, and even watched to be satisfied…when I was in WHCA I as President Nixon’s infacouldn’t wait to go to work.” mous Watergate scandal “A lot of what you guys learn about After working in close contact with unfolded. the presidents in school...I lived it.” five presidents and visiting places in “A lot of what you guys - Mr. Michael Deptula learn about the presidents the world that some may never know existed, children everywhere might in school…I lived it,” said from place to place. Employees like start thinking about obtaining unique Deptula. Deptula are responsible for setting up jobs, instead of dreams of becoming With such high stakes on the job “you and breaking down communication America’s best pop singer. couldn’t mess up” said Deptula. “It takes equipment that allow the President to hard work, moral character, and you get up-to-date information anywhere Supreme Court questions rights Orange County High School newspaper censored for controversial article on student homosexuality Emily Barton ’07 Feature Writer Society is accustomed to concerning itself with what is publicized through the newspaper, television, or even radio. In today’s society, censorship is a common word considering the liberal ways of many television stations and radio hosts. However, the consideration of restrictions on what is printed in a high school newspaper has come under a closer watch in recent years. In a recent case, the newspaper of Orange County, California’s Troy High School, caused an immense dispute between staff writers and the administration. According to the Los Angeles Times, the co-editor in chief, Ann Long, wrote an article about, “openly gay classmates.” In response to this article, the school administration, in particular the principal, threatened to remove Long from staff, if she herself did not resign. His decision to remove her was not prompted by the subject matter of the article, but rather it was by the manner in which Long gathered her information. According to the report, Long did not ask the permission from the parents of these openly gay students before printing their names in the paper, a requirement under the state educational code. Long’s removal triggered a forceful response from fellow staff members as well as some legal analysts. Recollections from previous situations similar to this one arose; legal analysts all the while considering all facts and comparing this case with other Supreme Court cases, regarding students’ rights to freedom of speech and self expression, such as Tinker v. Des Moines. In this 1969 case, students wearing black arm bands meant to oppose the Vietnam War were punished for expressing their opinion regarding the war. It also serves as a more recent example of the Hazelwood case of 1988, when the administrative censorship of school newspapers was brought into question. Ann Long’s situation has many legal analysts still questioning students’ rights concerning press limitations and freedom of expression. According to the First Amendment of the Constitution, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the rights of people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” What rights do the students have then, if Supreme Court rulings such as Tinker v. Des Moines limit the students’ rights to self-expression? According to the Manheim Township Code for Student Expression, “The School Board reserves the right to designate and prohibit manifestations of student expression which are not protected by the right of free expression because they materially and substantially interfere with the educational process, threaten immediate harm to the welfare of the school or community, encourage unlawful activity, or interfere with the rights of others.” Mr. Randy Butson, ninth grade principal in the High School, said, “Students Continued on page 7 Page 7 FEATURE March 23, 2005 Faces in the Hallway Compiled by Amanda Bareuther Name: Courtney Ducey Grade: 9 Siblings: Jacks (11) and Liz (12) Nickname: Duce If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Andy Roddick or Tom Brady... just to make my sister mad. Favorite Movie: “Grease” 3 adjectives to describe you: Talkative, caring, and loud. What is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to you? In 7th grade I went to Worlds for Odyssey of the Mind. Extracurricular Activities: Winter Track, SAS, SADD 3 things to bring on a deserted island and why: A cell phone - to call for help, another person - to talk to, and a computer - so I could talk to people. If you were invisible for a day, what would you do and why? Follow my friends around and see what they would say about me. Pet Peeve: People who eat loudly and breathe loudly. Worst Pickup line: Are you tired? Because you’ve been running around my mind all day. Worst Joke: Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side. What’s under your bed? A box of purses and basically my whole closet. If you had 3 wishes, what would you wish for and why? A cell phone - because I won’t be getting one for so long, a cure for cancer - because there are too many sick people in the world, and for the war in Iraq to stop - because too many people are dying. What is your dream job? To be a forensic scientist - to figure out why people die. All of the money I’d be making would help too. What is your theme song? “I Hope You Dance” by Leanne Womack Describe your childhood in one word: Interesting. If you had an unlimited amount of money, what would you buy first? A Dooney and Bourke purse First Amendment rights questioned for HS press Continued from page 6 should be able to publish reasonable lic to conclude that students of Manheim journalistic pieces in student publicaTownship High School are in fact tions. There is a real fine line between required to disregard their constitutional appropriateness and offensiveness. Of rights, including the right to free speech, course, what is offensive to one may not outlined in the First Amendment. be to another. That being said, the courts Is the Hi-Lite staff of our high school have been very detailed and narrow limited to what can be published? when issuing rulings on cases.” According to the Manheim Township The Pennsylvania Administration Code Regulations for Student Expression, for Student Rights and Responsibilities, anything that interferes with the educastates that “The right of public school tional process is censored. The adminstudents to istration has freedom of the legal right “[Students] shed their constitution- to review all speech was affirmed by the al rights at the schoolhouse gate.” subject matUnited States - Supreme Court ruling ter before Supreme Court publication in Tinker v. Des and remove Moines Community School District.” any contents which he/she deems inapThe rulings of the court have been propriate. viewed to fall either in support of This may include crude and or students or in support of the school vulgar language, racial slurs, adveradministration. Examining these rultisements for a profit-based company ings, a student’s right to the First (outside of prepaid advertisements), Amendment comes into question. “The gang affiliations, drug and alcohol First Amendment absolutely protects representation, and acts of violence. students, but within reason,” Butson These areas are restricted because they said. “One First Amendment case you interfere with the learning process, can look at is Tinker v. DesMoines and therefore cannot be published. (1968), a case about students wearing “School officials have the right arm bands to protest the Vietnam War. to require pre-printed submissions The students won.” for review. However, if an article is According to the Supreme Court denied publication, the student may ruling, students are to “shed their conseek legal remedy,” said Butson. stitutional rights at the schoolhouse However, should material such as gate.” As this statement is upheld by teen pregnancy, news briefs on openly the Pennsylvania Administration of gay students (as in the Long case), or Education, it is upheld by Manheim drug use be limited, or even removed Township High School, leading the pubContinued on page 9 Name: Jeff Kramer Grade: 10 Nickname: Kramer Hobbies: Trumpet, music, politics What does your locker smell like? Books. Employed? No. Post high school plans: I plan to go to college and study psychology. Three adjectives to describe your personality: self-righteous, sarcastic, goofy What would you do if you were invisible for a day? Walk around school and slam people’s lockers Worst joke ever: This guy with a wood eye goes to a dance. He sees a girl with a peg leg and asks her to dance. She says, “would I, would I” and he says, “peg leg, peg leg.” Worst pick-up line: If you were a booger I’d pick you first. Pet Peeve: When people don’t say the pledge of allegiance. Most Addicting TV show: House Best Band: Led Zeppelin 3 things to bring on a desert island and why: A yacht - so I could leave, party food - for a fun ride home, and music - to add to the party. Dream car: 1964 Chevy Stingray Corvette One person to meet for a day and why: Will Ferrell - cause he’s hilarious! Optimist/Pessimist: Pessimist, but I prefer realist. What is under your bed? My trumpet and guitar case Who’s your role model and why? George W. Bush because he is assertive, strong and decisive. Favorite Nursery Rhyme: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star If you had an unlimited amount of money, what would you buy first? A brand new guitar and an enormous amp. What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done? I met Jen Huston. Famous last words? “Watch this.” “ A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What one can be, one must be. -Abraham Maslow ” so-lil-o-quy... Page 8 FEATURE “The Jacket” packs more thrills than chills Justin Heller ’06 Contributing Writer If you’re looking for head-splitting, eye-popping gore, “The Jacket,” starring Adrien Brody (“The Village,” “The Pianist”) and Keira Knightly (“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”), isn’t for you. In fact, the film runs more like a love story than your typical horror bloodbath. The focus of the movie is on Jack Starks (Brody), a Gulf War veteran, who is institutionalized to a rather “cruel and unusual” mental hospital in Vermont after having lost his memory of shooting and killing a police officer. Under the care of Dr. Thomas Becker (Kris Kristofferson), Jack is diagnosed as being delusional, which is why, they believe, he would have lost recollection of his crime. Jack denies this but is forced to undergo the behavior modification techniques of Dr. Becker including “The Jacket.” Forced out of his cell and taken into the morgue, Jack is strapped into a full-body straightjacket and put, very much alive, into one of the mortuary drawers. With the help of tight camera angles and quick editing, the audience gets the sense that this is as close to death or hell as one can get. Bouts of silence are interrupted with terrifying screams and visions of Jack, accompanied by various faces and the brutal realities of war. As Jack finds out, the mortuary drawer acts as a time portal. Together, he and the audience are swept back and forth between the last week of 1992 and the last week of 2007. In 2007, he meets the beautiful Kate (Knightly) who informs him of his untimely death in the beginning of January 1993. The movie then schizophrenically sweeps through the two decades as Jack tries to solve the mystery of his own death. The plot isn’t terribly gory and don’t expect it to be. Except for an occasional March 23, 2005 Student pilots learn to fly high continued from page 1 blood puddle, there are no flesh-eating zombies or demented serial killers. I found, sadly, that the most frustrating aspect of this film were these “time trips.” They’re almost dreamlike. Director John Maybury wants us to consciously accept these lapses and move on, yet it is rarely accepted outside our subconscious – only in our dreams do we feel comfortable with these unmethodical transformations. Second to that is the poorly written dialogue. Certainly, Brody and Knightly are capable actors, but they are left with so many dry lines and clichés that there is little left to salvage. Marketed as a horror film, but certified as a thriller, “The Jacket” offers a typical student moviegoer little more than they’ve already thought about or seen. If you can imagine being buried alive, you’ve seen this movie. If you can imagine your creepy dentist, you’ve seen this movie. And if you can image time travel, I’d hope it would be a little more coherent than it is in this movie. Mos Def: One identity too many continued from page 7 The most controversial track off the album is “The Rape Over,” a heated cover of Jay-Z’s “The Takeover.” Over an agitated bass heavy beat, Mos overtly addresses his qualms with the record industry, indicting many familiar targets. “Listen/Old white men is runnin’ this rap s**t/Corporate forces is runnin’ this rap s**t,” he says with fiery conviction, declaring that artists are left to “Poke out the ashes for a chance to cash in.” Unfortunately, the track fails to live up to potential, dwindling to a close just before it reaches two minutes. The rest of the rap tracks all fall from decent to just a little better than decent, from the soulful, piano-accented “Sunshine,” to the sharp, horn-driven “Life Is Real.” The remaining tracks are scattered between genres. “The Beggar” is a painfully slow R&B tune (yes, he sings, or attempts to), while “The Boogeyman Song” actually sounds like a haunted lullaby. Scary. Students practice law and order Continued from page 7 jurors. The jury is composed of lawyers from the area. In mock trial there, is a score sheet that each juror must follow, so there is more to it than deciding if the defendant is guilty or not guilty. The jury came back deciding that in this case the defendant was guilty, thus declaring Township the winner. The teams politely congratulated each other, but the smiles on the faces of the Township team betrayed their pride at winning. This is the sixth year for the Mock Trial Club at Township. Four of the past five championships have been won by The only danger in “The New Danger” is that Mos Def has forgotten which of his characters is real. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that this is one album at all, and not a mix played completely at random. On the screen, Mos, play as many different characters as you want. But in stereo, please just be yourself. If you like Mos Def, check out: Cody ChestnuTT, “The Headphone Masterpiece” (2002) Township. The single championship that a Township team didn’t win was the club’s first year, which Advisor Mr. Mark Reinhardt explained by saying, “We didn’t know what we were doing.” They’ve moved quite far from not knowing what they’re doing. The teams have been preparing their case since mid-October and had their first trial February 1, 2005. Practices are held during club periods and after school. They have the help of three Assistant District Attorneys. Mock Trial Club is open to any student during club selection next year. the many pilot licenses required, he wants to begin his career as a commercial pilot. “I felt everything from nervousness to pure excitement,” said Newcomer of his first time flying alone. Walters is considering using her flying skills on mission trips in the future to reach hard-to-access locations, but does not want to make a career out of it. Her favorite part of a flight is the takeoff. “There is a huge rush, and no matter how many times I leave the ground, it is still awesome,” she said. According to the student pilots, earning a private pilot’s license is no easy feat. A flying student must have at least forty hours of flight time. This includes hours spent flying solo, hours spent flying cross country and hours spent flying at night. Next, the students have to pass multiple written tests that include physics problems and regulations. Last, students must pass a test with a certified instructor who commands the student to demonstrate specific maneuvers. Walters compared the flight test to a driving test. “They instruct you to fly in certain directions and even try to distract [the pilot].” Newcomer needs only five hours until he earns his license. Currently he is preparing to fly to Ocean City, New Jersey. Will Bruey ’07, is also working towards his pilot license, and he has yet to even receive his driver’s license. He first became interested in flying after his father gave him a flight over Lancaster as a Christmas present in 2003. When the pilot offered him lessons, Bruey made the commitment right away. Bruey explains that while flying is recreational, it is also exhausting because “…it requires one hundred percent concentration one hundred percent of the time.” These ambitious students have also had their share of frightening experiences while flying. Newcomer recalls a storm that blew in faster than anticipated. “[The plane] was knocked around like a rag doll. It felt as if we were on a roller coaster 3,000 feet above the ground without tracks underneath us.” Even so, he said he is usually not nervous when flying. Walters once landed roughly when there was a strong wind gust. The plane’s left wing ended up in a snow pile beside the runway. She thought she would never fly again, but her step-dad explained to her, “A good landing is any landing you walk away from.” She described flying again after the incident as a “…get-back-on-the-horse experience.” Walters added that most pilots find her young age to be surprising, and that there are also no female teachers and few female students at the Lancaster Airport. Despite Newcomer’s terrifying experience, he added that flying is a great stress reliever at the end of the day. “When I am flying I feel as if I am on top of the world. When you are flying everything in your life that is bothering you seems to just disappear.” The other students could not agree more, and they all continue soaring in the sky, working toward their goals. Page 9 FEATURE March 23, 2005 Mathabane advocates human connection continued from 1 simply having a career that provided a good life. It was his calling, Mathabane said, to tell the people that he met of his experiences in South Africa. Soon, however, he realized that telling was simply not enough, he wanted to reach out to the hundreds of people that he knew he may never meet. Sophomore year of college, Mathabane began typing his first draft of Kaffir Boy. Yet, typing a novel is not an easy feat when one doesn’t know how to type. By graduation in 1983, he had finished his first draft. Two and a half years later, the novel was published and ready to spread its message. “Through reading the book…you have come to care about humanity,” Mathabane told Township students at an assembly during his recent visit to the High School. While Mathabane stood by the podium, he simply had one request for the students; to find this generation’s destiny. In the 1960s, students protested the Jim Crowe system, while the youth of the 1970s protested for peace. The youth of the 1980s fought against the injustices in South Africa, and the youth of today, Mathabane said, must show the world, “…that America does really care about people and what happens to them in other lands.” While growing up, Mathabane would pray for a moldy piece of bread. He drank sugar water to just get some glucose in his system, and shoes were a rare commodity. Mathabane wishes that Township students will take his story to show the world that, “No matter where the child is born…[he or she has a right] to realize his or her potential.” Mathabane reminded Township students how lucky they are to have grown up with their television sets, iPods, computers, and cars, “instead of being consigned to hell in an apartheid ghetto.” Although education is Mathabane’s love today, it was his enemy when he first began. His mother and grandmother had to tie him up, while he was kicking and Timmy Huynh screaming on the floor, Mthabane is presented with a $2239 check by student council president, Dan Zangie ʼ05, and sutdent fling him over their council member, Gina Cimmino ʼ07, which will used for the education of South African children. shoulders, and drag him God,” Mathabane said. Mathabane wishes for people to worto school. Growing up, religion, to him, seemed ship their god through their actions. It is That phase was only temporary. an ineffective concept, and he would a copout, Mathabane said, the one can Education quickly became his oasis. He curse it for allowing apartheid to occur. do horrible things to their fellow people had a thirst for knowledge and would Survival was key, not going to church six days a week, and on Sunday, all read anything he could find. He once on Sundays. To this day, Mathabane could be forgiven. risked his life to save books from a considers himself a spiritual person, not Instead, Mathabane’s path to God burning library. a religious person. is different. Mathabane’s faith is, “…a When Mathabane first stepped foot It was his mother who changed his faith of deeds.” into Manheim Township High School, view on religion. Mathabane’s mother, Understanding the world is key, he called it, “A paradise of a school.” through all her struggles, from beatings Mathabane said. Don’t eat lunch with “I thought, my goodness. There’s from her husband to being denied a job, people similar to yourself. Don’t get food for the soul.” Mathabane said of always radiated love. to comfortable. Read, read, read, the music wing. It would have been so much easier for Mathabane said. That is the only way He was even more astonished when her to have been bitter, yet she wasn’t, that this world will ever truly be free his eyes caught a glimpse of the school and Mathabane respected her for that. buses. “Do you know what a privilege of hatred. it is to ride a school bus?” Mathabane asked the Township student body. By contrast, many students complain when they must ride home on the bus. Mathabane then discussed the need for all people on Earth to look past the each other’s differences and to love one another. “No one who is incapable of loving his fellow An artist is a person who can hold two contradictory human beings is capable of loving thoughts in his mind at the same time. “ Timmy Huynh Mathabae speaks to Township students about his love-hate relationship with educatioin. -Anonymous The right to write continued from page 7 from student newspaper contents? According to the Manheim Township High School Code of Student Expression, “The School Board respects the right of students to express themselves in word or symbol and to distribute materials as a part of that expression, the School Board recognizes that the exercise of Butson also added, “There need to be standards and restrictions. This has now become a very controversial, religiously, and politically charged issue.” This subject matter is justified due to the fact that the material does not interfere with the educational process, and student consent is always acquired before print“This has become a very controversial, ing someone’s name who may represent a controversial topic. religiously, and politically charged isStudent expression is visibly sue.” difficult to monitor and create - Mr. Randy Butson laws for, due to the technicalities of many federal rulings as that rights must be limited by the need to well as the specific rights of individuals maintain an orderly school environment within a school community. and to protect the rights of all members of the school community.” ” so-lil-o-quy... Page 10 SPORTS March 23, 2005 MT Table Tennis proves that “It’s No Joke” Team’s first tournament a success, Witmer is the last man standing Sam Gross ’06 Sports Writer Their shirts proclaim, “MTTT- it’s no joke,” and for the Manheim Township Table Tennis team, table tennis is a serious sport. The underground team of juniors is taking the sport of Table Tennis to new heights in Manheim Township. While most people might consider it something to do on a rainy day, the MTTT has created a team spirit and level of professionalism that would rival any one of the other MT scholastic sports t eams. For being a club-organized team, the MTTT says that their players maintain strict standards of conduct and grades. The standards include: following the school district drug and alcohol policy, maintaining an 85 NPA, and being active in the community. “It Matt Wood ’05 puts on his game face. was just a dream, we wanted to protect and showcase the athletic and academic ability of MT,” said Junior Jimmy Way about the standards. Way has been on board with the MTTT since the beginning as a founding member and a strong enforcer of the “No Joke” policy. The “No Joke” policy is exactly that, the members are there because they want to be there. They take the game seriously and are committed to improving their skills. Way and Junior Matt Wood both agree; if a player is not part of MTTT for the table tennis, then they shouldn’t be there. “If you’re not here to honor the game, then get out of our way,” said Way. Junior Brad Miller said, “People don’t realize how serious it can be, they just think it’s a casual game, but you can spend hours practicing.” Though the commitment to character and performance may seem daunting, the bond of the team members is another way for MTTT to show their spirit for the game. Players have a nickname that represents either something about their playing style or personality in general. Written on the back of the MTTT team shirts, names like “Wolfman Jack” (Wood), “Genie” (Junior Corey Bauer), and “40 Millimeter” (Miller) give the game a new personality. Originally started as an exclusive club, MTTT has recently been branching out Timmy Huynh and trying to recruit Timmy Huynh Mr. Witmer focuses in on his game in the final round of the tournament. He went on to become this year’s ping pong champion. new members for the team, including an advisor. While MT is the only school in the area with an actively playing team, MTTT has been looking at other schools in the area for competition. Currently the team is restricted to challenge matches and practices due to lack of any close competition, but that hasn’t dampened their enthusiasm for the game. In an effort to raise awareness for Table Tennis as a sport, MTTT held an invitational tournament after school on March 3, looking for any possible new prospects. The tournament also gave a chance for current players to advance in the team rankings, which the team keeps track of. The top fifteen players are considered the competition team, with the top eight classified as Varsity, and the bottom seven as Junior Varsity. Table Tennis may be only a novelty sport in Pennsylvania right now, but it is a big deal in other states like New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina. Table Tennis is now sometimes televised on sports channels, and international rankings exist for nationally sponsored teams. The current world leader is China, and the US isn’t far behind. The current leader for individuals in the international circuit is from the US. Table Tennis is also at the college level, with an active team at Penn State. Like all organized sports, Table Tennis has regulations for ranked matches. Current rules include best of seven games for a match winner and a game is played to eleven points instead of the pickup version of 21 points. The regulation table is also nine feet by five feet by thirty inches. The entire goal of the MTTT is to live on after the founding members have graduated. The idea of setting up a scholarship for Table Tennis alumni has been tossed around among team members, but nothing definite has come out of it. “We want this (MTTT) to continue after we’ve left,” said Way. Clash of the Classes ’05 left: Sophomores and freshmen face off at the Clash of the Classes during the Piggyback Polo at the spring pep rally as the rest of the classes look on. This year the seniors won the clash for cheering the loudest during the last event. below: Sean Smigel leaps over hurdles representing the senior class at the pep rally. TImmy Huynh Page 11 SPORTS March 23, 2005 Spring sports are in full bloom Township tennis, track, and lacrosse teams prepare for their upcoming seasons by Coach Lefever, they should make out the team’s biggest weaknesses. “If another run into the postseason. Top we can maximize this, we should have a returning seniors include Austin Ehrhart, very good season.” Dave Lambert, Brian O’Neill and Ty Coach Lisa Lyons returns for her As the birds return to the North, so Nehlig. The Township lacrosse team has fifth year to lead another strong girls too do the spring athletes return to the had much success in the past, and looks lacrosse squad. “I am anticipating that playing fields. Lacrosse, tennis, track, to continue that into this year. They have we will end at the top of our league. soccer, and baseball players all begin been training Unfortunately, because their training shortly in the hopes of all year round lacrosse is new to the area, “I am anticipating that we bringing home the gold to Township. by working we only have league play- will end at the top of our After finishing at the top of the league out at the gym, offs,” she said. There are 20 league.” last year, the Manheim Township Boys running, and new freshman playing this Tennis Team looks to go deeper in the year, so depth should not be -Lacrosse Coach Lisa Lyons playing indoor postseason than ever before. Led by games at Lanco an issue with this team. Led Seniors Eric Schreiber, Todd Frey, Dan Fieldhouse. All by senior Becca Weaver, and juniors Tara Trach, Ryan Smith, and Matt St. Cyr, of this off-season work should pay off Walls, and Liz Hendrix, the team looks Township is looking good in the prewhen it counts most. to dominate the league. Other promising season. One of the better juniors on the All of the other Township sports teams returnees include sophteam, Jim Stoner, are looking to improve upon last year’s omores Jen Waughtel, will unfortunately “If we can maximize this, we success, and with all of the off-season Emily Rudisill, and miss most of the should have a very good season.” Sarah Canosa. Kirstin work they have done, we should finish season because at the top of the league in nearly every Schneider is a talented -Tennis Coach Doug Pennington of surgery. “This sport. The school has high expectations goalie who just recently year we will try for the spring, and it seems certain that moved here from to emphasize our Georgia. the school will not be let down. depth and really work on our doubles,” The boys lacrosse team also looks to says Coach Doug Pennington, pointing finish near the top of their league. Led Ari Paskoff ’07 Staff Writer Boys Lacrosse Leaders Senior Austin Ehrhart, Senior Dave Lambert, Senior Brian O’Neill, Senior Ty Nehlig Girls Lacrosse Leaders Senior Becca Weaver, Junior Tara Walls, Junior Liz Hendrix Sports Shorts Tennis Team Leaders Senior Eric Schreiber, Senior Todd Frey, Senior Dan Trach, Senior Ryan Smith, Senior Matt St. Cyr Manheim Township Swim Team races hard in District III Swimming Championships Over March 5th and 6th, at the District III Swimming Championships, held at F&M College, the girls’ swim team placed 5th overall and the boys’ team placed sixth. The girls team acquired 192.5 points, while the boy’s earned 162 points. The girls’ 200 Freestyle Relay team, comprised of Anna Dogger, senior, Mariel Frey, sophomore, Mercedes Minney, sophomore, and Lauren Sindall, senior, placed first in the AAA competition with a time of 1:38: 38. The four also placed 2nd in the 400 Freestyle Relay with a time of 3:33:91, which broke the school record. Dogger, a senior, broke two school records in the 200 free, where she placed second, and the 100 free, where she placed fourth. Also, Minney placed third in the 100 Fly, Sindall placcd third in the 50 Free, Kevin Rybicki, a senior, placed third the the 200 Free and fifth in the 500 Free, and Ricky Walters, a senior, who placed third in the 100 Fly and second in the 100 Breaststroke. Sindall and Minney placed fifth and sixth respectively in the 100 Free. On the boys’ team, the 200 Medley Relay team of Darren Hill, Robert Rutkowski, Walters, and Rybicki placed fourth and the 400 Freestyle Relay team composed of Dan Powers, Hill, Rybicki, and Walters placed sixth. Of the squad, Dogger, Minney, Frey, Sindall, Walters, and Rybicki automatically qualified for States. The State AAA Championships will be held at Bucknell University March 18th and 19th. Township Ice Hock- Sophomore Mike ey team fights for Lee breaks records title in lifting On the night of March 10, the Manheim Township Ice Hockey team nearly melted the ice, capturing the Tier II Championship and for the first time ever, the Viola Cup with their 3-2 victory over Cumberland Valley who was considered the favorite with their 18-1 record. The Streaks fought their way to the title with goal-keeping from Josh Shoffstall, sophomore, goals from Kyle Gerlach, senior, and a strong defense. On March 8th, Michael Lee, sophomore, broke the school incline press record of 135 pounds, set by John Decare in 2000. The new record weight for the 123 pound weight class stands at 150 pounds. A day later, on March 9th, Lee broke another school record. The bench press record was previously held by Neil Myers who set it at 150 pounds in 1999. Lee has set the bench press record to 165 pounds for the 123 weight class. Send original art and lit to Room 418 for submission to our new monthly issue or Senior Tom Kocher at PIAA state wrestling tournament Township Bowling team places 6th of 38 Over the weekend of March 12th and 13th, Tom Kocher, senior, represented Manheim Township at the PIAA state wrestling tournament at Hershey’s Giant center. Kocher is the first Township state medalist in 21 years by finishing 7th at 171 pounds. On his way to the top, he beat two regional champions. His final match was a fall over the southeast regional champion, posting his 24th fall on the year. He has a record of 37 victories for the year. Over March 12th and 13th, the 14th Annual Pennsylvania State High School Bowling Championships were held in Pittsburgh. The Township bowling team is comprised of Merle Burkhart, sophomore, Ryan Forry, junior, David Gerhart, junior, Bryant Palmer, junior, and DJ Thatcher, sophomore. The township team placed 6th out of 38 boys teams from across the state. Top Township bowler was DJ Thatcher who bowled an average of 197 is six games, earning 19th place out of 167 bowlers. our annual magazine. Thank you, so-lil-o-quy