October 31, 2007 - Minooka Community High School District #111

October 31, 2007
Vol. 93, Edition 3
Simple Changes
to Save the Earth
p. 8
Board Reviews
New Clubs
p. 5
Real Guitar
Heroes
p. 11
Running
Down a
Dream
Cross Country
Among the Best
Cover Page Photo
Josh Keck races to a 5th place finish at Minooka’s
Regional to help the team qualify for sectionals.
Photo taken by PPC Photo Editor Angela Mateo.
Dean’s Office cracking down on
MCHS parking violations
School Board Wrap Up
Jeff Beguin/
PPC Editor-In-Chief
The District #111 Board of
Education received a construction
update on Thursday Oct. 4,
reporting that the new Minooka
high school building is on budget,
as well as on time to be turned over
to the school district in June 2008.
Richard Och of Turner
Construction
reported
that
currently mechanical equipment
is being installed, all landscaping
work has begun on schedule, and
a new privacy fence will replace
the temporary construction fence
on the east side of the school
grounds.
In addition Kathy Mashetto
from an auditing firm confirmed
a clean audit from the 2006-2007
school year.
The next board meeting is
scheduled for Nov. 1 at 6:30 P.M.
Peace Pipe Chatter
Minooka Community High School
301 S. Wabena Avenue
Minooka, IL 60447
(815) 467-2140 Voicemail: ext. 264
[email protected]
Editors-in-Chief:
Jessica Pieszchala
Brittany Pendry
Jeff Beguin
School News:
D.J. Valera
Front Page Editors:
Jessica Pieszchala
Advertising Manager:
Eric Reynolds
2 Designed by Jeff Beguin
Students who do not park in their designated spot, or that park in a friend’s
spot without first informing the Dean’s Office will now recieve a parking
citation sticker. Mr Wenlick places the first parking violation sticker on a car
parked in an incorrect spot. A sticker is a warning, if a student again fails to
park in the correct spot, their car will be towed.
Arts & Entertainment Editors:
Kristi Lawrence
Iman Bradley
Zach Nabor
Photo Editors:
Sam Menne
Jacki Kaluzny
Amanda Alexander
Lauren Keers
Angela Mateo
Ryan Miller
Features:
Christa Jenkins
Sarah Silverman
Sam Kelley
Sports Editors:
Tommy Stokke
Mike Noe
News Editors:
Brittany Pendry
PPC Chatter Room
Managing Editors: Sam Kelley,
Lauren Keers
Opinions: Megan McEvilly
News: Amanda Alexander
School News: Sam Menne
Features: Ryan Miller
Arts & Entertainment: Ryan Kelley
Sports: Carissa Weyer
Advisors:
Mr. Matt Thomas,
Ms. Laura Erion
Copy Editors:
Eric Reynolds
Megan McEvilly
Sarah Silverman
Carissa Weyer
Journalism 1:
Susan Bahret
Kaitlynn Barker
Sarah Delaney
Breanne Downey
Michael Horath
Amanda James
Eric Klank
Cassie O’Malley
Chris Rolnicki
Taylor Roop
Jackie Schmidt
Sarah Stropus
David Tibble
Sydney Trepel
Morgan McMurtry
Submission Policy:
The Peace Pipe Chatter strongly encourages suggestions and/or
responses to material printed on its pages. Letters to the Editor
should be submitted to Mr. Thomas’s mailbox or to a Peace Pipe
Chatter editor.
While submission does not guarantee publication, PPC staff
members will do their best to respond to all admissions. Submissions will not be returned. All submissions are subject to editing
and will not be printed if they are considered to be inappropriate. They must be signed but may be printed anonymously upon
request.
1 0 . 3 1 . 0 7
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Sam Menne /
Chatter Room School News
Editor
by
Now that Homecoming is over,
the next big dance is prom. Sure
it may seem like a ways off, but
some girls are already dress shopping and thinking about what
they would like to do afterwards.
To many students, senior prom
should be the most amazing dance
of a student’s high school career,
but after last year’s prom and this
year’s Homecoming, students are
beginning to have some fears.
After prom last year, I heard a
lot of complaints about the music.
P
r
o
m
About how many kids could not
dance to the music, and how the
DJ was overall, pretty bad. I figured that student council, or whoever hires the DJ would hear these
complaints, and would never hire
the same man again.
I may have been wrong.
At Homecoming this year, I
found the DJ terrible. He played
almost no danceable music, and
made my senior Homecoming a
disappointment. The few decent
songs played were more hiphoppy kind of rap music, such as
“Walk it Out” and “Soldier Boy”.
When I talked to my friends and
other students in my classes, they
agreed.
Editorials
Taylor Hiller, senior, said, “From
what I understand both prom and
Homecoming are dances to be
danced at. So this makes me wonder why you could not possibly
dance to a good half of the music
played.”
“I think dances should have
more dance music. They should
just play straight techno at prom,”
said senior Will Harvey.
While I talked to these students
I thought to myself, “What if they
hire this guy again for prom?”
Well, that would ruin three dances in a row, wouldn’t it? Dances
are not very fun unless the kids
around you are dancing because
not many of us are bold enough
P
PC
to just start booty dancing to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”...
which they actually played at
Homecoming.
I, personally, want my senior
prom to be a blast, and I am sure
anyone else who is planning on
attending would agree. If we are
spending $50 on a ticket to get
into a dance, then please hire
someone that will play music we
can dance to.
So please, junior class representatives in student council, do
not devastate our senior prom.
It is supposed to be a wonderful,
magical time, and with the DJ you
have been hiring, I don’t foresee a
grand occasion.
Cutting the Lines of Communication
Carissa Weyer /
PPC Copy Editor
by
Technology, such as cell phones
and internet, were made to help
people communicate better, and
more frequently with each other.
But are we really communicating
more with each other, or are internet networking websites,
AOL Instant Messenger
(AIM), and text messaging keeping us from interacting and communicating with each other?
Back in the day, before
the Myspace/Facebook
frenzy, before AIM,
before cell phones and
text messaging, and before the internet was even
in existence, when people
wanted to communicate with
each other, they would get together and talk. There was no such
thing as email, text messaging,
or IM. Although communication
over the internet can be quicker
and more convenient, it is also taking the whole idea of communication by interacting with each other
away.
“I think that it is partially true that
teens are on the computer more
then hanging out with friends. I
know I am on the computer a lot
if I can’t do anything,” said junior
Kristyn Stewart.
Internet, when it first began,
was used just for getting a hold of
someone
quicker, and
ing up a friend to actually talk with
them, you can IM or use myspace
instead, which are a lot less personal forms of communication,”
said sophomore Warren Dailey.
Socially, we become inept. We
start to lack behavioral skills, such
as resolving conflicts, helping
others, accepting differences and
learning and understanding body
language. We will no longer
be comfortable being around
people and having personal
contact.
Now, you may be thinking that this is being blown
way out of proportion and
that something as small as
sitting in front of a computer can’t do this to you.
However, over time, it can.
Especially if you do it long
enough every day.
“I know a lot of people who
just come home from school and
sit on the computer all night and
all weekend. I love being on the
computer, but I would much rather
go out somewhere with friends
than sit on the computer all day,”
said sophomore Becky Kostbade.
The computer and internet can be
very addicting, but don’t let it take
over your life, and keep you from
interacting with your friends.
“I know a
lot of people who
just come home from
school and sit on the
computer all night and
all weekend.”
-Becky Kostbade
10.31.07
m o r e
easily. With
Myspace, Facebook, AIM, and all
the other wonders you can find on
the internet, personal contact with
others is taken away.
“Internet is kind of keeping teens
from having personal contact with
each other because instead of call-
Junoir Daniel Hayes frequently talks on his phone. Photo taken by PPC
Photo Editor Angela Mateo.
Designed by Angela Mateo
3
PP
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News
BUSTED:
by Sarah Silverman /
PPC Features Editor
People who are downloading
music illegally should be feeling
somewhat nervous after a woman
was ordered to pay more than
$100,000 in damages for sharing
files.
Jammie Thomas was forced to
pay $220,000 after six different
record companies sued her. They
said that she shared 1,702 songs
by downloading them without
permission and then sharing them
online. Thomas claimed that she
did not have an account on the
site where the files were being
shared.
Junior Danielle Kenney
said, “Honestly, I download
music without paying. If I
ever had to pay that much
money for it, I’d be done for.”
There were 24 songs specified in the case. The jury could
have fined her as low as $750
per song, but they choose to
make her pay high above the
minimum fee. Thomas was fined
$9,250 for each song.
“This is ridiculous. Maybe
M
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n
Nightmare
by Iman
Bradley / PPC A&E Editor
October 7th was supposed to be the day of the biggest event in
downtown Chicago. Instead it became a nightmare. The Chicago
marathon was stopped for the first time in 30 years due to the heat. It
wasn’t what it was cracked up to be. Runners passed out, one died,
and they claimed that they ran out of water.
Chad Schieber, a 35-year-old police officer from Michigan died
the day after the marathon. It was from mitral valve prolapse, a heart
abnormality. He collapsed on his 18th mile. He died at Veteran’s Affairs Hospital the day after the marathon. Forty-six runners were hospitalized, and 10,000 runners quitted because the 88 degree weather.
Many runners decided not to stop running. Ms. Leslie Hensinski,
English, decided to finish the 26-mile race. She finished in 5:42:58.
“ This worst thing about the race is being force to stop running after
you trained so hard,” said Hensinski. Ms. Candace Baker, substitute
teacher quit because she was forced to but then she kept on going
because of the cramping.
Police forced any runners that did not reach midpoint stop running
and walk the rest of the way. Runners that were almost done were
able to proceed like marathon winner Ivuti from Morocco. He won in
2:11:11. Then second came Jaouad Gharib in 2:11:11.5.
4
Designed by Brittany Pendry
illegal downloading of music files could
mean high fines for those charged
does it. That is way too
much for one person
to have to pay just for
downloading music,”
said Samanth Claysen,
junior.
This is not the
only lawsuit filed
by record companies. Companies
have filed 26,000
lawsuits since 2003
for sharing files.
However, many of the cases are
settled outside of the courtroom,
where people pay the company a
s was
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Jammie
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,
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2
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pay
forced to different
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record c
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few thousand dollars.
Senior Brooke Gramm said, “I
don’t know why anyone would
go to court to settle their cases.
It would be so much cheaper just
to payoff the company and there
would be no record of it.”
According to The Recording
Industry Association of America,
all of these lawsuits have reduced
the amount of illegal sharing
that is going on. Some bands are
now finding more sophisticated
ways to offer music online to
avoid their music being obtained
illegally.
Abused in Arizona
she was doing
something illegal, but everyone
Child beaten by father for being
unwilling to do her homework
Megan McEvilly /
PPC Copy Editor
by
In Arizona, a father was accused of beating his
five-year-old daughter over the last few months
because she didn’t want to do her homework. Ezra
Hazell, the girl’s father, was charged on five accounts of child abuse. While Kristie Hazell, the
girl’s step-mom, was only charged on two accounts.
The police found more than100 wounds on the
little girl’s back, legs, arms, buttocks, and chest.
The father admitted to discipling his daughter by
ordering her to get into a push-up position, standing
next to her, beating her with a nylon military belt.
Sophomore Carabeth Cavins said, “People who
beat their children, no matter what their children
do, have problems. It takes a lot of patience to raise
a child and the way I see it is, if you can’t treat
things and people around you with respect, then
you won’t treat your children with respect. This is
a horrid thing that should be looked down upon and
have serious consequences for.”
The step-mom also admitted to hitting the girl
with a computer cord on random parts of her body.
Sophomore Brian Nolan said, “I think it is really
sad that people would do that to their own children
and that they are terrible people. That little girl
shouldn’t have to live like that.”
According to cnn.com, Hazell told the police
that while he forced his daughter in a push-up
position, he opened a book and put it on the floor in
front of her face. He asked her definitions of certain
words, and if she got it wrong or wasn’t paying attention, he would hit her with the belt.
Junior Alicia Conley said, “That’s what school’s
for. But except for having to do push ups and read
definitions, you get to sleep during notes and write
definitions.”
The five-year-old girl was transported to a local hospital, evaluated, and treated. There was
no internal damage, but there was an abundant
amount of external damage. Currently, the victim
is remaining in the custody of Child Protective
Services.
10.31.07
School News PPC
clubs under revision
by
Brittany Pendry /
Editor-In-Chief
Seemingly, everyday in the announcements students hear “go
make a difference in somebody
else’s life.” Even though it is important to give to and help others,
sometimes a person can’t help
someone else, until they fix themselves first.
This would be the definition of
the club MARK, headed by English teacher Mr. Mike Kargle. “We
are an organization where all students can come in, sit down, and
talk about teenage issues,” said
Kargle.
MARK is not an official
MCHS club, but the school board
took action with regard to it on
Oct. 18. With a vote of 6 to 1, the
board decided MARK would be
on probation for another school
year, and at the end of the year the
board will review it again and decide whether or not it will become
an official club. Since the organization is being brought back for
another year, Kargle will be getting reimbursed for his time, unlike previous years.
In the discussion, a concern
raised by board member Ms.
Debra Warning was that the par-
Two organizations attempting to be recognized
ents would not be aware of what
Even with this rule, students every Monday at 4:00 in room
is being talked about at the club. still may not feel comfortable with 102. But, right around March it
However, board member Ms. Pat- the issues being discussed.
gets kind of sporadic, and it deti Ruettiger brought up the point
“If a student isn’t sure whether pends on when volleyball practhat this would defeat
tices and games are,” said
the purpose of the club.
Kargle. As for commitTeenagers rarely will
ment, “As long as you’re a
ever go to their parents
student, you can come and
when he or she is havgo as you please.”
ing personal issues, she
“It’s a really fun club
said. Instead, this club
where you get to talk about
allows students to talk
random stuff,” said Kyra
about their problems
Salamon, freshman.
instead of keeping them
However, MARK is not
inside.
the only organization under
“I just want kids
speculation of becoming
to know regardless of
an official club at MCHS.
the situation, they’re
The Indian Athletic Leadnot alone. There’s
ership Club, headed by
people that can help
campus monitor Mr. Jon
you through it,” said
Ryan, is also in review by
Kargle.
the school board, but will
“It’s helped me a
not be discussed until later
lot since my freshman
meetings.
Pictured above are members of the MARK club,
“It’s a club
year,” said Katelyn
junior Kaitlynn Smith and freshmen Rachel Peswhere all head coaches nomiSmith, junior. “I like get- ley and Madi Bhar. Photo taken by Photo Editor
nate their student athletes that
ting help from people my Angela Mateo.
have a 3.0 or higher GPA.
age…instead of my parThey can’t have any serious
ents.”
However, some students may or not he wants to join, stop by violations like drugs, alcohol, or
be a little apprehensive about dis- my class and we can chat. I can fighting. Also, they need to be
cussing their personal issues with tell you a little bit about the club, considered captain material of
other people.
and if you think it’s for you,” said their given sports team, or if they
show leadership skills to be poten“The only rule we have is Kargle.
what’s talked in the room, stays in
As for meetings, “Up until tial captains,” said Ryan.
Even though this organization
the room,” said Kargle.
(boys) volleyball season we meet
A night of cultural food and fun
by Angela Mateo /
PPC Photo Editor
Live entertainment and delicious food, does anything else
sound more appealing? International Club is hosting its annual
international dinner on Wed. Nov.
7.
Never been to this event? Junior Ashley Hutton explained
it all when she said, “Everyone
who attends international dinner
brings a dish that represents their
10.31.07
ethnicity; this allows us to experience culture through our taste
buds.”
Instead of the usual quiet
dinner, this year International Club has decided to liven
things up a bit. While guests
are enjoying their delightful
meal, students will perform
various acts demonstrating an
aspect of their background.
Spanish teacher Mr. Louis
Kanolis, sponsor of International Club, said, “Internation-
al dinner is going to be different
Students will
perform various
acts demonstrating
an aspect of their
background
this year because we are giving
the students of MCHS an opportunity to share their ethnic
heritage through musical or
dancing performances.”
It is noticeable that the students will be more involved
with the dinner this year. Not
only will students be supplying
the meal itself, but they will
also be taking the stage.
Alyssa Caron, junior, said,
“There’s going to be a lot more
excitement this year because
is only for sophomore, junior, and
senior athletes, the athletes will
not be doing anything related to
sports.
“The biggest thing the club is
about is to make the students more
well-rounded leaders in the classroom, hallways, and in the community.” The one way to do that?
Community service.
“I want them to be able to go
to the elementary school and read
stories to the kids, and go to the
junior high and talk to the 8th
graders about the transition to
high school. Also, I want them to
go to the senior citizen homes and
do activities with the residents,”
said Ryan.
The students would be nominated by the head coaches at the
beginning of the year for all four
seasons. And, if nominated, meetings would be twice a month, once
in the morning, and once at night.
Even though both organizations
are not officially clubs yet, participating in MARK and being nominated for the Indian Athletic Leadership Club are still options. Each
club could help students better
their lives in one way or another,
so one day “making a difference
in somebody else’s life” would be
a simple task to accomplish.
we are having a variety of students performing. Plus, the food
is always excellent and this year
won’t be an exception to that delicacy.”
As if there weren’t enough reasons to go, the entire foreign language department is giving extra
credit to students that contribute
to the dinner by providing a dish.
The cookbook containing all
the food featured that night can be
purchased following international
dinner.
Designed by D.J. Valera
5
PP
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Features
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By D.J Valera / PPC School News Editor
According to an article found on www.cnn.
com, on Oct. 3, in Lititz, PA, three white
16-year-old students threw paper wads at
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day minority students while allegedly yelling
live in a nation where they will not
racial slurs.
be judged by the color of their
“We didn’t choose our race, so don’t
skin but by the content
oppress us for it,” said John Bond,
of their character,”
sophomore.
said Martin Luther
Racial discrimination doesn’t
King Jr. on Aug.
just
lie in whites; it also resides in
“We didn’t choose
28, 1963.
minorities as well. The reasons
our race, so don’t
Today, racial
for their racial discrimination
discrimination
opress us for it,” said vary. Some bring back what
still
exists
their ancestors were put through
John Bond, sophostrongly in our
in the past, recall recent events
world. On a recent
more.
where their people have been
survey done within
racially discriminated against, or
the walls of MCHS,
just from a personal experience where
21 of the 50 students who
they were racially discriminated against.
participated in the survey felt
Some people think that racial
discrimination
is Some students bond because they share same race and culture. Picture by Mike
Noe, Sports Editor.
sometimes taken too
seriously. These people
say that it sometimes
Racial discrimination, any discrimination, has existed
should be taken at a more relaxed, or less
for
centuries. Discrimination has started wars, arguments,
serious manner.
and
issues not needed.
“I think as much as racial discrimination
can hurt people, minorities should get a
more relaxed
perspective,”
What is the percentage of students you think
said sophomore
racially discriminates?
Warren Dailey.
“You can hear
the
n-word
in just about
every rap song
nowadays and it
doesn’t offend
anyone.”
This kind of
Although some races stick together, there are still those that choose to interact discrimination
with all races. Picture by Sports editor Mike Noe.
isn’t the only
common
one.
Stereotypes of how people look,
that 51%-70% of the student body racially discriminates. act, and dress is a common one
Sixteen of the 50 students felt that 31%-50% of the student that can be seen in everyday life.
body racially discriminates.
“It happens everywhere and
“I think it’s an accurate number,” said junior Mishelle is inevitable,” said George Luis,
Cipriani. “A lot of people make racial jokes. It can be funny sophomore. “That’s why cliques
sometimes, but it could hurt others’ feelings.”
exist to separate each individual;
50 students were surveyed for this graph
Extreme examples can be found throughout the country. that’s the core of discrimination.”
6
Designed by ryan miller and christa jenkins
10.31.07
No More Indians?
Amanda Alexander /
CR News Editor
by
Monarchs: black and
orange butterflies.
A national debate over
the use of Native Americans as mascots has continued, but in a different
way at MCHS.
Some wrestlers have
promoted using the name
Monarchs instead of the
Indians. The idea was inspired from MCHS wrestlers who were calling
themselves the Monarchs.
Wrestler Brian Bokoski
and older brother Kevin
Bokosi were the minds
behind the name.
Fifty students were
given a survey and the
majority of students will
not be too happy if a butterfly change occurs.
“Well it all started
when me, my brother, and
Joey O’ Brien, all wrestlers, noticed during the
off-season that we didn’t
have a name. We jokingly threw out the name
Monarchs. We then went
by the Monarchs since
all other off-season teams
had team names. Then Tshirts had been made with
the name Monarchs so it
was the real deal. But I
think it would be totally
be cool if Minooka was
called the Monarchs because we came up with
the name,” stated junior
Brian Bokoski.
Of the 50 students surveyed 40 out of 50 did not
want Monarchs to be a
name for the MCHS mascot.
“I don’t really understand how being named
‘The Indians’ is disrespectful. Our town is an
Indian town; all of our
street names are Indian
names. I do not understand how it is disrespectful to be the ‘Home of the
Indians.’ I would take it as
an honor,” stated junior
Kara Engel.
“We want our mascot
to strike fear into the heart
of our opponents. Do
Monarchs do that?” asked
sophomore Dan Vogrin.
“It’s way too soft.
Our football team would
be a laughing stock,”
said sophomore Nick
Bretwisch.
Since the name Monarchs was kicked out the
door quickly, students
gave other options if the
name must be changed.
The Admirals, Minxes,
and Warriors were the
three names thrown out
on the table.
“Let’s just stick with
the Indians. It’s been like
this for so many years,
and I like it,” stated senior
Michelle Pillers.
P
Features PC
Would you prefer the Indian
or the Monarch for Minooka’s
Mascot?
Saving our environment
Jessica Pieszchala /
PPC Editor-in-Chief
by
In today’s society, a current trend is
changing the world. Everyone wants a piece
of it and wants to look environmentally
friendly with their hybrid cars and high
efficiency light bulbs. Well, although this
behavior is trendy, there is still not enough
of an effort to help the world.
Only 68% of waste is recycled. This is
a far number from what it should be, and
as people that inhabit this planet, we need
to make a change. This necessary change
doesn’t have to be drastic, just a small
change. Many people doing small things
can help more than no one doing anything at
all. These are the littler things to do to make
a big change in the earth.
Recycle
It may be cliché and repeated, but it is
an important movement to reduce waste
and garbage on Earth. According to the
Sun Times, only one in five water bottles
are recycled. This plastic fills up our
landfills pointlessly when it can be reused
or recycled.
10.31.07
“I think people just need to realize how
much they waste by not recycling,” said
senior Katie Latta.
According to the EPA, 66% of soft drink
bottles are not recycled. This means only
one in three bottles are recycled. However,
to prove how much of a difference recycling
makes: every ton of paper recycled saves 17
trees. Recycling can help reduce waste and
land consumption for landfills.
We could use reusable batteries to reduce
waste or reusable plates instead of Styrofoam
or paper plates. Smaller steps reduce the
biggest problem of the world today.
Waste
Everyday, almost every American takes
a shower. Almost every American drives to
work. The average 5-minute shower uses 40
gallons of water. We are all guilty of leaving
a light on when we leave the room, or falling
asleep with the TV on. Reducing water waste
by taking shorter showers and reducing
energy waste can make a big difference.
“To make a change, it would just have to
be about being more ecofriendly with water
use, recycling… Basically, not wasting,”
said campus monitor Ms. Gina Hughes.
Science teacher Mr. Sam Pavelka agrees
that conservation can make a big change.
“We could always be more conservative
with energy use. We could always drive
less, use less water,” said Pavelka.
There are also changes one can
make with a good heart and strong effort.
Although this is not as easy as anything
previously listed, it will make the world a
cleaner, better place.
Cleanup Projects
Although the prospect of community
service without reason seems insane to
many, cleaning up local areas and littered
places can really help.
Although one of the biggest ways to
avoid making a cleanup project necessary
is to not litter in the first place, no one can
control the actions of others. Many people
think “it’s only one thing” and “someone
else will clean it.” Picking up a bottle
from the ground and throwing it away or
recycling it is an easy step to making the
world cleaner, and it’s the hardest thing on
the list. However, one hopes not to clean
up other peoples’ garbage, so it would just
be easier not to litter in the first place and
encourage others to do the same.
When it comes to encouraging people
to stop littering, there are so many more
things people need to know about the
environment.
Raise Awareness
Stephanie Colman, senior, said it
simply:
“People just need to realize that the earth
is sick and dying. Getting people to realize
what is going on will make more of a dent
than one person recycling can.”
Raising awareness about environmental
problems can help people strive to make the
planet where they live a better place. One
person recycling could turn into a community
recycling. It all starts somewhere.
However, many people want to make
changes on their own and shouldn’t be
discouraged.
“You can’t just say ‘I’m just one single
person,’” said Melissa Hoffart, Science.
“Albert Einstein was one person. He sure
“Environment” jumped to
Page 13.
Designed by Sarah Silverman
7
PP
C
by
Features
Lauren Keers / PPC Photographer
To Zune . . . or not to Zune?
nearby Zunes. There’s also an integrated
Microsoft’s new Zune media player is FM radio tuner, something the iPod lacks.
aimed directly at Apple’s wildly success- The display of the Zune is bigger, and the
ful, music industry-changing iPod. But screen automatically shifts to a wide, horihow does it stack up?
zontal view for videos and pictures.
“I’d say the Apple iPod mp3 player is
“The Zune is better because you don’t
better because it’s cooler. It has everything have to worry about replacing the battery
you could think to put on a music player. after a long period of time, not to mention
It’s sweet, and what’s best is that it comes you can share music with anyone in the area
in a lot of colors and sizes,” said junior who owns a Zune through Wi-Fi. What betKelly Chesnut.
ter way to creatively communicate?” said
Apple fans point and laugh at MicroJacob Schmidts, senior.
soft’s entry into a market totally dominated
Battery life of the Zune is about
by the iPod and its transcendent design.
the same as the video iPod, as is
Apple’s media players are so good they
the cost (the Zune costs $250.
“The
have transformed consumer electronics, inA comparable 30GB
e
Zun r
spired a massive gadget “ecosystem” and
tte
is be ou
spawned a thousand imitators. Every prese y
tender to the media player throne -- and
becau ve to
ong
ter a l
a
f
h
a
t
there have been hundreds -y
’
r
don
can
batte
g the ntion you
has been thoroughly
n
i
c
a
l
e
p
e
out re
smacked down
in th
t to m
rry ab f time. No h anyone e
o
w
by Apple and its
o
it
n
period re music w wns a Zu
untouchable iPod.
sha
who o Wi-Fi, ”
The secrets of iPod’s
area
gh
throu chmidts,
success appear obvious: beauty,
S
-Jacob ior.
simplicity and “extreme coolness”
sen
-- three characteristics Microsoft has
never achieved in any product.
The main innovation is WiFi-based
iPod
sharing of songs and digital phowith video costs
tos wirelessly between two or more
$249). The Zune Marketplace uses a
point system in which most songs cost 79
Microsoft Points each - the equivalent of
99 cents - the same that iTunes charges for
most songs.
“Well honestly, I have never heard of the
Zune. You would think it would be a big
thing like the iPod was. I use mine every
day and couldn’t see myself without it. It’s
connected in my car, and I don’t really need
a newer or better one or whatever the Zune
thing is. I think the iPod was a big enough
advance itself, and I don’t know what the
Zune has that’s much different. I’m guessing either something people will never use,
or nothing different than the iPod,” said senior Tracie Lawrence.
So there you have it, the great battle of
new opponent, Zune, versus the king of all
mp3’s, iPod. Now it’s up to all of you to
choose which one is truly the best.
Students use their iPods as much as they
have an opportunity to. Although the Zune
is not as well known, many students like to
use the Zune more than the iPod. Photos
taken by PPC Photographer Lauren Keers.
College choice based on...location?
by Eric Reynolds /
Advertising Manager
It’s about this time of year when the senior class of MCHS begins to worry about
one of the most important steps in their
lives: college. The application process is
one thing, but having to wait to find out if
you have made it into the college that you
are vying for is another. So where do our
seniors want to go to college? What are
they basing one of the most important decisions of their lives on?
There are so many options to consider
before picking the college that is right for
you. A major concern for many students
is the distance their college is away from
home. While some would rather remain
close to home, most are worried about getting as far away from home as possible.
For those who would like a happy medium,
8
Designed by Sam Kelley
there are many colleges
rural environments, others are in the heart
for you as well.
of big cities: Chicago, for instance.
“I’d love to be
“I have high expectations
“I’d love to
able to go to
for my future and know that
University
University of Chicago will
be able to go to Uniof Illinois,”
me reach my goals,”
versity of Illinois. It’s help
said Alyssaid Cecily DeRobertis,
sa Parton,
far enough away for the senior. “This university
s e n i o r.
an incredible medi‘living on your own’ experi- has
“It’s far
cal program and this is
enough
ence, but close enough if the field I am looking to
away for
enter. Along with the high
you want to come home standard
the ‘living
of education I will
on your own’
be receiving, I will also have
for the weekend.”
experience,
the opportunity
but close enough
to enjoy the
if you want to come
great city of
home for the weekend.”
Alyssa Parton, Chicago.”
Another decision to make is rather your
There
senior
are
still
ideal college is in an area that you will enmany
who
joy. While some colleges are in completely
would love to move even further away
from home.
“[I most hope to get into] Columbia,
Missouri because it offers the major I want
to pursue: fashion communications,” said
Jacqueline Bosman, senior. Also, the campus and distance away from home seems to
fit my ideas of college life.”
“State University of New York at Buffalo has a very professional dance program,
and I was personally invited into the dance
program, so that’s an incentive,” said senior
Taylor Hiller. “So far, it’s the only I’ve applied to, so I’m really hoping to get in!”
Although the burden of applying for
colleges can be stressful, the end result is
what really matters. Being accepted into
your favorite college can start an entirely
new chapter in you life. From there, it’s up
to us to make the most of the possibility of
a successful future.
10.31.07
Arts & Entertainment PPC
Scariest Movies EVER
By Christa Jenkins /
PPC Photo Editor
Over the decades, horror has
become one of the main genres
of Hollywood today. From the
classics to the remakes, here
are some ton of the movies that
have made our top list of the 20
scariest movies of all time.
Halloween is coming up and
I’m sure a lot of people are
looking for costumes, parties,
and haunted houses, but most of
all people are looking for a horror
movie to keep their teeth cringing
and making you almost pee
your pants. From 20 to 1 listed
below are the top scary movies
in the past century, according to
media.www.thelatern.com, are as
follows:
20.) Jaws (1975) This film,
directed by Steven Spielberg,
inflated many phobias of sharks
throughout the country by playing
on realistic fears.
19.) Friday the 13th (1980),
directed by Sean S. Cunningham,
was not a completely original
idea, but this classic ‘80s horror
flick used the masked Jason to
satisfy the craving for fright.
18.) Ringu (1998), directed by
Hideo Nakata, is Japan’s original
version of “The Ring.” It proved
that dark, vivid images can still
scare, even if the villain is a
haunted videotape.
17.) Seven (1995), directed by
David Fincher, had box office
heavyweights Brad Pitt and
Morgan Freeman team up to solve
a group of murders represented
by the seven deadly sins. Great
special effects, gripping suspense,
and buckets of rain raise this
movie to a modern classic.
16.) Alien (1979), directed by
Ridley Scott, this classic sci-fi
horror film feeds off the seductive
Sigourney Weaver and stunning
visual effects.
15.) Carrie (1976), directed
by Brian De Palma, has the
adaptation of Stephen King’s
novel well acted, written, and
scored. It is an all-around horror
classic.
14.) Poltergeist (1982), directed
by Tobe Hooper, turns the security
and comfort of the suburbs on its
head. It is one of the best ghost
stories to ever grace the silver
screen.
13.) The Omen (1976), directed
by Richard Donner, is about
an evil baby switched at birth,
an influential political family
infiltrated by the Antichrist, and
a nanny hanging herself.
12.) Jacob’s Ladder (1990),
directed by Adrian Lyne, is the
best film to blur the lines between
reality and dream. Tim Robbins
plays the horror role of his life as
a Vietnam veteran with serious
mental issues.
11.) The Haunting (1963),
directed by Robert Wise, is
the
perfect
haunted-house
film. Although the effects are
understated, the scares will linger
in your gut afterwards.
10.) Nightmare on Elm Street
(1984), directed by Wes Craven,
puts Craven on the map as the
king of horror movies. A solid
screenplay lifts this Freddy
Krueger flick to classic status.
9.) Nosferatu (1922), directed by
F.W. Murnau, is the best vampire
movie ever created. Despite
the advancement of cinematic
technology, no one has been able
to capture the essence of Bram
Stoker’s “Dracula” since.
8.) Night of the Living Dead
(1968), directed by George A.
Romero, is the first horror movie
that didn’t use monsters to scare.
It set the stage for the “real life”
horror movies we are accustomed
to today.
7.) Rosemary’s Baby (1968),
directed by Roman Polanski, is
Polanski’s most visionary work.
The creepy dream sequence will
make it hard to sleep a wink.
6.) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
(1974), directed by Tobe Hooper,
is pure horror. Walking into a
dark hallway will never be the
same.
5.) Halloween (1978), directed
by John Carpenter, is now
imitated constantly; this film sets
the stage for the modern horror
movie, and it oozes suspense.
4.) Silence of the Lambs (1991),
directed by Jonathan Demme
- Anthony Hopkins and Jodie
Foster create the best on-screen
chemistry in the history of
scary movies. The suspense is
unmatched.
3.) The Shining (1980), directed
by Stanley Kubrick - Jack
Nicholson plays the perfect role.
It involves an isolated, haunted
hotel full of ghosts. What could
be better?
2.) Psycho (1960), directed by
Alfred Hitchcock - Contains
the greatest scene in any scary
movie. Pay attention right before
the knife comes down in the
shower.
1.) The Exorcist (1973), directed
by William Friedkin - Just the
voice can send chills up the
spine. This classic will never get
old and will never stop scaring.
“Scariest Movies Ever” continued on page 13
10.31.07
Saw 4
Jigsaw’s puppet alter ego in Saw III. Photo Taken by Jacqueline
Kaluzny.
by
Jacqueline Kaluzny /
PPC Photo Editor
Just when you thought the
game was over, Jigsaw’s back for
another round in Saw 4.
Saw brought a whole new
meaning to horror movies back
in 2004. Director Darren Lynn
Bousman twisted crazy mind
games and gory traps together to
create a series of thrillers that you
don’t want to miss.
The first Saw began with two
men waking up, ankles chained
to the wall, in a dirty old cellar
bathroom with a dead man in the
middle of the room. The two men
search the room and find clues that
slowly tell them how to get out of
the room. One man, getting fed
up with Jigsaw’s games, saws off
his ankle in order to get out of
the room, the other gets locked in
there forever.
Saw II brings eight victims
into an abandoned shelter. The
shelter is slowly being intoxicated
with lethal nerve gas. The eight
of them must find their way out
of the shelter before the gas kills
them all.
In Saw III we were last left
with Amanda (Shawnee Smith),
Jigsaw’s new apprentice, capturing
Dr. Lynn Denlon (Bahar Soomekh)
and bringing her into Jigsaw’s new
game, the task, to keep not only
herself alive, but Jigsaw, too. Lynn
is told that she must keep him alive
until Jeff (Angus Macfadyen), the
other victim, completes his own
game.
Racing against the clock
of Jigsaw’s (Tobin Bell) own
heartbeat, Lynn and Jeff struggle
to make it through their tests. Two
horrifyingly gory deaths later, Jeff
is left alone in the room, killing
Jigsaw.
“He can’t be dead,” said
sophomore Nick Bretwisch. “I
think he’ll come back to life.”
But as reviews show, both
Jigsaw and his apprentice are
dead.
Saw IV brings a whole other
game into play. The news of
Jigsaw’s death has detectives on
the case of unveiling his secrets.
S.W.A.T. Commander Riggs is
putting the pieces of Jigsaws
puzzle together but is unaware that
“Saw 4” continured on page 13
Designed by Kristi Lawrence
9
PP
C
Arts & Entertainment
Britney Spears’ Custody Battle
her two children
would be the ultimate prices she
would have to pay.
On Oct. 1, Kevin Federline
By Kristi Lawrence /
temporarily
received custody of the
A&E Editor
children, until further notice. The
As we all know, Britney Spears court orders them back on Oct. 26.
“I think that it’s a good thing
was the Pop Diva of the 1990s.
She sold hundreds of thousands that her kids are taken away from
of albums when she was first her because otherwise she would
recognized. She was idolized from be putting her kids in danger,” said
the moment she became famous junior Brad Greenup.
Senior Lizzy Burns said, “I
from every teenage guy that wanted
to date her to every teenage girl that think they should’ve taken [her
wanted to be her. She was making kids] away sooner.”
Many students here at
millions of dollars, she was
MCHS said that
dating Justin Timberlake,
Britney
was
and she had her
“I
already given
friends, fans, and
think
that
way
too
family backing
m a n y
her up. At one
it’s a good thing
chances,
time she had
that
her
kids
are
taken
and she
everything
together, until
away from her. Because wouldn’t
be able
she took a
otherwise
she
would
to
get
drastic
turn
her life
down the wrong
be putting her kids
back
on
road.
in
danger,”
track, even
After
getting
ten
years from
married to Kevin
now.
Federline and giving
“I think that if she
birth to her first son, Sean
tries
to
get
her
life back on track,
Preston, on Sept. 15, 2005, and her
second son, Jayden James, on Sept. she’s just going to end up where
12, 2006, Spears got herself into a she was before,” said junior Mike
Kashuda.
lot of trouble.
“She messed up. When she gets
It all started when she shocked
her
act back together she should
America by shaving her head. Then
her hit and run accident on Aug. 6, be allowed to have her kids back,”
2007 didn’t surprise anyone. Her said junior Matt McDonough.
Although it seems like she is
insane actions continued when she
was caught driving without a valid trying to get her life back on track,
license. She was also reported to many of her fans think she is too
have used drugs after refusing to far gone, and believe that she won’t
take a drug test. After all the chaos ever be the same Britney Spears the
and trouble she caused, giving up whole world loved long ago.
10
Designed by Iman Bradley
Aux Sable Em
bers
By Ryan Kelley /
Chatter Room A&E Editor
Aux Sable Embers. A great band
from Minooka continues to get their
name out. The trio consists of junior
Mike Burns, Steve Zaffino, and
Aaron Schuck. The trio is perfect
for each other, and as time goes on,
better things just keep coming for
them.
On Aug. 19, they released their
new EP called “Fall Apart.” On
the first night being released, 100
copies were
sold, going
through the
band’s first
pressing of the
album. The
next night, 50
more albums
were
sold,
going through
the next press
of them. The
album
was
a
success
early on, as
they sold out
the first two
nights it was released.
The same night their album was
released, Aux Sable Embers placed
third in the Three Rivers Fest Battle
of the Bands, and were invited to
play on the family stage the next
night, where they tore up the music
scene once again. They finished
selling the rest of their EP’s and
were played WCSF radio station
in Joliet. The EP can be purchased
from each of the band members
listed above for $3.
On Sept. 25, the MCHS Battle of
the
Bands was held on Tuesday
during homecoming week. Aux
Sable Embers easily won, edging
the second place competitor by
about 40 votes.
Good things just keep happening
for this band, and they deserve it.
They recently acquired a huge show
in Milwaukee, where they will be
playing with big name bands such
as All Time Low, Boys Like Girls,
The Audition, and Valencia on
Saturday, Nov. 10. Tickets can be
picked up from Mike Burns for $20
each. They will
also be driving
any fan who
is
interested
in going to the
show.
In
the
summer, they
will be going on
a Midwest tour
through states
like
Illinois,
Wisconsin,
Michigan,
Indiana,
and
Ohio.
There
is not much
information about it right now, but
continue to check their Myspace for
new updates.
Aux Sable Embers continue to
destroy the local music scene, and
are getting their name out after
every show they play. The trio is
working hard, and they deserve to be
recognized. For more information,
or to buy tickets to the show on Nov.
10, visit their myspace at www.
myspace.com/aserock.
10.31.07
Remembering
by
P
Arts & Entertainment PC
s
The Real
e
o
r
e
H
r
a
t
i
Gu
Ryan Miller / Chatter Room Features Editor
As the lights dimmed and the audience silenced, everybody was ready to go crazy. Just then, fireworks and lights
brightened the stage, with the sound of a bass guitar and
drum set exploding all over the stadium. This was the age
of rock and roll, and this was the age of the rock and roll
spirit.
Rock and roll is one of the earliest and popular forms
of music around, next to pop, rap, country, etc. But sadly
enough, people have forgotten the famous artists who have
made music history. Here are my top five artists of the rock
and roll era.
AC/DC
AC/DC was formed in 1973 in Australia by guitarist
Malcolm Young with his younger brother Angus who is lead
guitarist. Angus was only 15-years-old at the time and his
sister suggested that he should wear his school uniform onstage; the look became the band’s visual trademark. Powerage released in spring of 1978, expanding their audience
even further, thanks in no small part to their dynamic live
shows. What really broke the doors down for the band was
the following year’s “Highway to Hell,” which hit No. 17 in
the U.S. and number eight in the U.K., becoming the group’s
first million-seller. AC/DC’s train was derailed when Bon
Scott died on Feb. 20, 1980. In March, the band replaced
Scott with Brian Johnson. The following month, the band
recorded Back in Black, which would prove to be their biggest album, selling over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone.
For the next few years, the band was one of the largest rock
bands in the world, with For Those About to Rock We Salute You topping the charts in the U.S. In the fall of 1995,
their 16th album, Ballbreaker, was released and the album
received some of the most positive reviews of AC/DC’s career. It entered the American charts at number four and sold
over a million copies in its first six months of release. Stiff
Upper Lip followed in early 2000.
Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi spent the years from 1983 to 1988 establishing his hard rock band Bon Jovi as one of the most popular in the Western world with multi-platinum albums such
10.31.07
as Slippery When Wet and
New Jersey. He then put
the band on hold and made
a solo album, Blaze of Glory
(July 1990), whose songs
w e r e
inspired by the motion picture
Young Guns II. Bon
Jovi the band was reactivated with Keep the Faith in 1992.
A hits collection, Cross Road, followed in 1994, and in the
fall of 1995, they released These Days, which proved to be
a bigger success in Europe than America. After appearing
in the 1996 film Moonlight and Valentino, Jon Bon Jovi released his first official solo album in the summer of 1997.
Three years later, Bon Jovi regrouped and released Crush.
“It’s My Life” and “Thank You for Loving Me” were a chart
hits, and Bon Jovi’s star power soared beyond their wildest
dreams. Recently this year he has sung a duet with LeAnn
Rimes and Big & Rich which grabbed the band a healthy,
new-country music fan base in the process.
Van Halen
With their 1978 debut, Van Halen simultaneously rewrote the rules of rock guitar and hard rock in general. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen redefined what electric guitar could
do, developing a blindingly fast technique with a variety of
self-taught two-handed tapping, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and
effects that mimicked the sounds of machines and animals.
It was wildly inventive and over the top, equaled only by
vocalist David Lee Roth, who brought the role of a metal
singer to near-performance art standards. Together, they
made Van Halen into the most popular American rock &
roll band of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, and in the process set the template for hard rock and heavy metal for the
‘80s. Through all the upheaval over lead vocalists, Eddie
Van Halen and his prodigious talent remained the core of
Van Halen. Van Halen still plays to this day, right now on
a concert tour. They performed at the Allstate Arena Oct.16
and Oct. 18 at the United Center, both in Chicago.
KISS
Rooted in the campy theatrics of Alice Cooper and the
sleazy hard rock of glam rockers the New York Dolls, KISS
became a favorite of American teenagers in the ‘70s. Most kids
were infatuated with the look of KISS, not their
music. Decked out in outrageously unrestrained costumes
and makeup, the band fashioned a captivating stage show
featuring dry ice, smoke bombs, elaborate lighting, blood
spitting, and fire breathing that captured the imaginations of
thousands of kids.
But KISS’ music shouldn’t be dismissed -- it was a fistpounding hard rock driven by sleek hooks and ballads powered by loud guitars, sickening (in a good way) melodies,
and sweeping strings. It was a sound that laid the groundwork for both arena rock and the pop metal that dominated
rock in the late ‘80s.
Guns ‘N’
Roses
At a time when pop was dominated by dance music and
pop metal, Guns ‘N’ Roses brought raw, ugly rock & roll
crashing back into the charts. They were not nice boys; nice
boys don’t play rock & roll. They were ugly and violent;
but they were also funny, vulnerable, and occasionally sensitive, as their breakthrough hit, “Sweet Child O’ Mine,”
showed. While Slash and Izzy Stradlin ferociously spit out
dueling guitar riffs worthy of Aerosmith or the Stones, Axl
Rose screeched out his tales of sex, drugs, and laziness in
the big city.
Their music was basic and gritty, with a solid hard, bluesy
base; they were dark, sleazy, dirty, and honest -- everything
that good hard rock and heavy metal band should be. There
was something refreshing about a band that could provoke
everything from love to hatred, especially since both sides
were equally right.
There hadn’t been a hard rock band this raw or talented
in years, and they were given added weight by Rose’s primal rage. As the ‘80s became the ‘90s, there simply wasn’t
a more interesting band around.
These are, in my eyes, the top five of rock. But they aren’t
the only ones; bands such as Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Poison, Queen, etc., still rock the nation. As long as teenagers
are rebellious and free spirited, rock and roll will live on for
generations to come.
Designed by Lauren Keers 11
PP
C Interactive
Sup er st it io ns
Tuck your thumbs into your fists
when you pass a cemetary, it will
protect your parents.
To prevent ghosts coming into the
house at Halloween, bury animal
bones or a picture of an animal near
the doorway.
You should walk around your home
three times backwards and counterclockwise before sunset on Halloween
to ward off evil spirits
Do not lean a broom against a
bed. The evil spirits in the broom
will cast a spell on the bed.
If 13 people sit down at a table to
eat, one of them will die before the
year is over.
When bobbing for apples, it is believed that the first person to bite an
apple would be the first to marry.
If you hear foot steps behind you
on this night, don’t look back. It
may be the dead following you.
Turning back could mean that
you will soon join the dead.
A person born on Halloween can
see and talk to spirits
If you see a spider on Halloween, it
could be the spirit of a dead loved
one who is watching you
If a bat flies around a house 3
times, it is a death omen.
Word Search
Info from OldSuperstitions.com
Word Of The Week:
Bucolic- rural or rustic
answers on page 13
12 Designed by Lauren Keers
Bat
Haunted House
Cauldron
Skeleton
Ghouls
Trick-Or-Treat
Halloween
Witch
Pumpkin
Candy
Spooky
Ghost
Werewolf
Graveyard
Boo
Jack-O-Lantern
Costume
Spiders
Goblins
Vampire
10.31.07
“Top Scariest Movies”
Continued from page 9
scaring.
Today a lot of the most popular
and loved movies are most likely
remakes
to
the
favorites
in the 60s,
70s, and 90s.
Some of those
include;
The
Ring, Disturbia,
Texas Chainsaw
Massacre,
The Haunting,
The
Omen,
The Exorcist,
Halloween, etc.
In
this
present day a
lot of the remakes turn out to be
better than the original. With the
technology and more opportunity
in creative graphics, the movies
“ I love scary movies,
they are the best ones to
go to with friends or your
significant other. I really
liked Disturbia for scary
movies this year,” said
senior Krystal Ornealas.
today literally have you clinging
to the person in the seat over. Why
do we all love something that
scares us so much?
Senior, Krystal Ornealas, said,
“I love scary movies, they are the
best ones to go to with friends
or your significant other. I really
liked Disturbia for scary movies
this year.”
Halloween is right around the
corner, so have fun, and maybe
rent a couple of the top 20 or their
remakes of the best horror movies.
And if you’re too scared at home,
look for some of the upcoming
horror movies one at your nearest
theater. This month some to look
for are 30 Days of Night, Saw 4,
and The Signal.
P
Jump PC
“Environment” continued
from page 7
changed a lot, didn’t he?”
However, if you’re one of
those people that believe that
the world can only be changed
with a group effort, then there is
a place for you. If you want to
join a few good people working
to make a bigger change, there is
a student organization, H.O.P.E.
(Help Our Planet Earth), that
works to recycle and clean up
the Earth.
Currently H.O.P.E. is selling
T-shirts to save the rainforest.
Every ten shirts they sell save
one acre of the rainforest in the
Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica.
They strongly believe they can
do a lot.
“We want to make the 20 acre
club which would be selling 200
shirts,” said Hoffart.
H.O.P.E. does other things
than sell T-shirts. They build
birdhouses and raise awareness.
“We basically try to make the
world and community a better
place to live,” said Coleman.
A better place to live is
a worthwhile goal for every
human on this planet.
Word Search Puzzle Answers
10.31.07
Designed by Jeff Beguin 13
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Sports
Tiger Woods vs Roger Federer
Who is More Dominant?
by
Tommy Stokke / PPC Sports Editor
The question in the PGA tour is no
longer who is winning, but by how much is
Tiger Woods ahead? When Roger Federer
walks onto the tennis court, the crowd
wonders who will get second. These two
athletes are in an elite class. No one is on
top of his or her respected sport like these
two. The question remains, who is the more
dominate athlete?
While Tiger Woods may have the video
game, be the face of Nike, and have the
model wife, when it comes to the court,
Roger Federer is simply the man. No one
can take away Woods’ accomplishments.
His 13 majors trail the record by only five
held by Jack Nicklaus. Odds are that record
will be his. Woods is obviously much
more accomplished off the green. With
every other commercial featuring Woods,
do people even realize he shares one with
Federer?
Which brings up the question, why don’t
people know who Roger Federer is? In a
class poll of Mr. Kevin Murphy’s freshman
World Cultures 3A class all 23 students
knew Tiger Woods. How many had heard of
Federer? Four. America doesn’t appreciate
the action sport of tennis as much as the
watch-one-shot-every-three-minutes sport
of golf. Federer is also European, which
may be a reason Americans don’t follow
him as much. But Federer is so good
and even has seven doubles titles. Think
about that. In golf, if you have one bad round
you can come back and play tomorrow. If
Roger doesn’t bring his best every time on
the court, one bad match and he’s at home
watching NASCAR instead of winning
Wimbledon. Federer
also
is in a much more physically
demanding sport. When golfers
like John Daly are considered
by many to be one of the top
golfers, you know that staying
in shape is a must in golf.
Unless you believe that since
round is a shape, he is staying
in it. Federer is running sideline
to sideline for two hours with
a short intermission after each
game. Tiger can drink some of
his Gatorade after each practice
A poll taken of 23 students in Mr. Murphy’s 3A World
Cultures class shows the percentage of students who
swing if he wanted to.
could identify Tiger Woods or Roger Federer.
In the last three years,
Federer has put on a clinic. He
that people need to realize who the more has a 254-15 record while taking down all
dominant athlete is.
but 15 of his last 50 tournaments. Tiger
Federer has compiled a record of 512- who? Oh yeah, he has won just 16 of he
131. This is at age 26, five years less than last 56 tournaments.
Woods’ 31. He has 51 career singles titles
Federer is the first player to ever win
three consecutive majors twice in a career.
I would like to say he’s chasing the record
books, but at age 26, pretty soon the record
book will be named after him.
While John McEnroe might be on his
couch screaming, “You can’t be seroius!”
Federer is clearly at the top of his sport.
However, Federer will not have the luxury
of playing into his 40s like Tiger can. Tennis
is a much more grueling sport.
In a sport where more upsets happen
and more injuries could occur, Federer has
been the best. I can’t give as much respect
to an athlete that plays a sport where the
other team cannot stop you from reaching
your goal. There is no defense on Tiger
Woods. He isn’t trying to hit the ball over a
lake and then through a goalie to reach the
hole. It is just him and the hole. There is
nothing stopping him but himself. Federer
has to worry about the other guy and how
the other guy will play him.
I will end this debate on this note. Let’s
see what Tiger Woods thinks about Roger
Federer. After winning the 2006 AP athlete
of the year, Woods said, ”What Federer has
done in tennis, is far greater than what I’ve
done in golf.” Well said Tiger.
Olympic gold medalist admits to steroid use
by
Sam Kelley / PPC Features Editor
United States track and field Olympic
gold medalist Marion Jones admitted to
using performance-enhancing drugs before
the 2000 Olympics.
According to The New York Times, Jones
admitted to her friends and family through
a letter that she had used steroids on Oct. 5.
Her five medals, three of them gold, were
retrieved from her house on Oct. 10, and are
planned to be relocated to the International
Olympic Committee.
Jones pleaded guilty to a U.S. District
Court in New York, followed by a press
conference on Oct. 5.
“It’s with a great amount of shame
that I stand before you and tell you that
14
Designed by Mike Noe
I have betrayed your trust. I have been retire. However, according to the World
dishonest, and you have the right to be Anti-Doping Agency’s rules, an athlete
angry with me. I have
cannot retire, but
let my family down. “It’s good that she admitted must be sanctioned
I have let my country it, even though it is delayed for the drug use.
down, and I have let
In Jones’ case, this
myself down,” Jones by seven years. It’s horrible means serving a
told the press after that she used them, and that two-year suspension
she pled guilty.
and forfeiting her
Prior
to
her all of her accomplishments awards from 2000.
admittance,
Jones are lies. She’s supposed to
“At least she
had been severely
could admit it. It’s
anti-doping.
She be a role model!” said Erin better than getting
had denied any
caught. It was still
Bermingham, junior.
performance
wrong to do the
enhancing drug use.
drugs, but she’s
Following
trying to take responsibility for it,” stated
her conviction, Jones wanted to simply Ana Antunez, junior.Jones now faces jail
time. Her hearing is scheduled for Jan. 11,
2008, and she can face up to six months in
prison and returning up to $100,000 in her
bonuses.
“It’s good that she admitted it, even
though it is delayed by seven years. It’s
horrible that she used them, and that all
of her accomplishments are lies. She’s
supposed to be a role model!” said Erin
Bermingham, junior.
“Anything that is not natural, such as
talent, ability, and hard work, should not
be in the Olympics at all. I figured the
tests that the athletes had to take would
prove who was a cheater would have been
enough. Instead, we have to rely on the
athletes themselves to admit to steroid use,”
said Christina DiBartolomoeu, senior.
1 0 . 3 1 . 0 7
Worst to First
P
Sports PC
Chicago Cubs come back from last place a year
ago:Win NL Central for second time in 5 Years
By Tommy Stokke /
PPC Sports Editor
The Chicago Cubs came close once
again. Close, yet still so far. After winning
the division the Cubs were swept in the post
season leading to another disappointing
season. But all was not bad in Chicago.
A look back at the year shows a lot of
progress.
After finishing last place in the National
League central division in 2006, the Cubs
had plenty to work on. The biggest move
of the off-season wasn’t just one player. It
was Jim Hendry, general manager, and the
Tribune Company, owners, opening their
checkbook and spending the big bucks. Over
300 million dollars were spent on players
such as Alfonso Soriano, Mark DeRosa,
Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis, and manager Lou
Piniella.
From the beginning of the season up till
the All-Star break, the Cubs were in a funk.
Behind surprising division leader Milwaukee
Brewers by as many as 8.5 games, the Cubs
had their work cut out for them. Some
may have panicked. There was turmoil in
the clubhouse with ace Carlos Zambrano
mixed with power, speed, experience, and
youth seemed to be the perfect formula for
a comeback. The Cubs went on to be the
hottest team in baseball in the second half.
Eventually, on Sept 28th, the Cubs clinched
their second NL Central crown in 4 years.
As the playoffs approached, so did high
hopes. Many were calling the
Cubs the favorite in the NL.
All this as they entered the
playoffs with the worst record
of the three other teams. Also,
they had to play the Arizona
Diamondbacks, who had the
best record of all NL teams.
The Cubs came in sluggish however and
were swept three games to zero. They
were outplayed in all aspects of the game.
However, one shouldn’t look at the season
and base it all on that last series. The Cubs
made major strides from last year to this
year.
While the season ended
in disappointment, the
big picture looks good.
swinging a fist and catcher Michael Barrett
and grunted veterans not getting the playing
time. Piniella stuck with his plan though and
played who was hot. With changes all over
the field, new starters were at every position
except for three. Only third base, first base,
and left field remained the same. A lineup
Chicago finished with a winning home
record (44-37) for the first time since 2004.
The pitching came a long way finished
second in the league in earned run average
(4.04). Third baseman Aramis Ramirez
finished with over 100 RBI and Lilly tied
his career high in wins (15). The Cubs’ also
had 13 more wins than the cross-town White
Sox.
Overall the Cubs’ season has to be
called a success. While the season ended in
disappointment, the big picture looks good.
There seems to be a balance of experience
and youth and there are some interesting
position battles shaping up for spring. One
may be to see if top prospect Felix Pie can
win the starting center field job. With free
agents on the market like Alex Rodriguez
and Andruw Jones, anything can happen.
Next year may not be here for the Cubs, but
it is only a few players away.
Major Meltdowns
Significant collapses in sports History
By Jeff Beguin /
PPC Editor-In-Chief
In sports there are winners, and there are
losers. It happens to everyone, someone
has to lose. Still, some teams and athletes
lose worse than others. Take a look at some
of the biggest collapses and choke artists in
sports’ history.
One of the biggest team collapses falls
in 1995, on the then, Anaheim Angels. The
Angels started August with a 9½-game lead
over Texas in the division, and a 12-game
lead over the Yankees in the Wild Card.
The Angels finished their season with a 1226 record and failed to make the playoffs.
“The Cubs will shine in ‘69.” Of course
it was before our time, (excuse the rhyme),
whatever, Cubs’ fans are well aware of their
team’s history, which unfortunately includes
blowing a 9½-game lead in August, and
ultimately finishing eight games out of the
playoffs.
The next choke goes back to the 19921993 NFL playoffs in Houston. The
10.31.07
Houston Oilers, took a 35-3 lead over the
Buffalo Bills going into halftime of the
AFC Wild Card. The Bills would come out
after halftime and go on to win the game
in overtime 41-38. Must have been some
Remember 2004? The New York Yankees
held a 3-0 game lead in the ALCS, and were
literally three outs away in game four only
to drop the game to the Red Sox in the 12th
inning. The Red Sox would win the next
three games of the
series and go on to
reverse the curse
against the St.
Louis Cardinals in
the World Series.
In 1993, the
University
of
Michigan
Men’s
Basketball
was
primed for an NCAA
championship. The
Fab Five, including
up-and-coming star
Chris Webber, had run through all of their
opponents to the NCAA Championship.
With four minutes left, Michigan held a
four-point lead over North Carolina only to
turn the ball over three times to allow North
Carolina to leap ahead 73-71 in the final
twenty seconds. Webber grabbed a rebound
Mickelson said it
best when describing
his Phailure, “I’m an
idiot.”
halftime speech.
Everyone knows the Boston Red Sox
have had their fair share of chokes, the
1946 World Series, Bill Buckner’s error in
1986, Aaron Boone’s walk off homerun in
2003, but in this specific circumstance, the
Red Sox are the team forcing the choke.
off a missed free throw and in a panic he
called a timeout with eleven seconds left on
the clock. The only problem, Michigan had
used all their timeouts previously, resulting
in a technical foul, and two free throws for
North Carolina.
In golf sometimes the biggest story is
when Tiger Woods doesn’t win, but in the
2006 U.S. Open, Phil Mickelson’s choke
made all the headlines. Going into the 18th
hole, the Lefty had a one shot lead on a
par four. If he played it safe took the par
he would have guaranteed a playoff, but
he pulled out his driver, shanked it off the
hospital tent, and sent the ball bouncing
into the forest. With a tree in his path he
attempted to slice the ball with his four iron
onto the green only to put the ball in the
bunker and ultimately lose to Geoff Ogilvy.
Mickelson said it best when describing his
Phailure, “I’m an idiot.”
In the end, whether its Bartman,
Buckner, or Boone, nothing hurts more than
a collapse. So if it helps, think of it this
way, only a good team can collapse.
Designed by Tommy Stokke 15
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Sports
Cross country
takes 2 SPC
varsity titles
MIke Noe / PPC Sports Editor
The Minooka varsity cross-country team is having one of the best
seasons in the school history. Both the boys and girls finished the
season with a 7-0 record and won their conference titles.
The girls won their conference title with six of them under 20:07.
They finished with 28 points, and the nearest to that was Morris with
71, PNHS with 91, PSHS wit 92, and Oswego with 100. Six girls earned
all conference including, senior Kylie Plese, juniors Rachel Williams
“I think this is one of the closest
teams we’ve ever had,” said Lizz
Celmer, junior.
and Maggie Raynor, sophomore Rachel Morman, and freshman Maddie
Simon.
“Overall we’ve had pretty good performances and we’ve improved
a lot from last year’s team’s times,” said Williams, who was also the
conference champion.
The boys ran hard all day, finishing with 42 points. Julian Hoshell,
junior finished with a time of 18:30. Sean Coyle, sophomore, ended up
getting a third place finish at the meet. Second to them was Oswego with
58 points, PNHS with 61, and PCHS with 68. All conference for the boys
included juniors Josh Keck and Hoshell, and sophomores Kevin Smith
and Coyle.
“We’ve done good. We’ve had a lot of tough meets but we still run
well and we don’t let the pressure get to us,” said Hoshell.
Obviously the pressure didn’t affect either of these teams as both
walked away as Conference champs. They were both ready to run hard
and tough throughout the meet. The teams worked together as they have
done all year to show why they went undefeated and just how in sync
they really are.
“I think this team is one of the closest teams we’ve ever had. We
always try to help each other out and cheer for each other,” said Lizz
Celmer, junior.
It will be exciting to watch and see how far both these teams go as
they head into the IHSA state series.
Plese said, “I want to go to state and because, as a senior, I’ve never
been to state, and I really want to make it there.”
MCHS Scoreboard
Varsity results as of Oct. 24
Boys Cross Country
Girls Tennis
7-0
Oct.2 Dellwood
park,Lockport
1st- 19
Oct. 6 Sterling
8th- 246
Oct. 13 SPC Meet
1st -52
Oct. 20 IHSA Regionals
2nd-81
Highlights: Brian Papp placed
30th with a time of 17:15
4-6
Sept. 25 vs. Plainfield
Central
Loss, 4-3
Sept. 27 vs. Morris
Win, 5-2
Sept. vs. Rich South
Win, 3-2
Compiled by Chris Rolnicki
and Cassie O’Malley
Boys Golf
7-1
SPC meet-2nd
Regionals-3rd
Highlights:
All-conference:
Joe Niles- 11th
Alex Walter- 4th
Compiled by Morgan McMurtry
and Jackie Schmidt
Compiled by Taylor Roop
Girls Golf
Dual and Triangular Meets:
4-6
Conference: 3-1
Sept. 22 Naperville North
Invitational 14th place
Sept. 25 Conference
3rd place, 2nd overall in
Conference
Sept. 29 Rosary Invite
13th place
Oct. 3 Regionals
Mallory Carr advanced with
a score of 91
Oct. 8 IHSA AA Sectionals
Mallory Carr qualified for
state with a score of 81
Hightlights:
Senior Mallory Carr qualified
for sectionals for the 3rd time
in 4 years
Boys Soccer
15-4-2
Sept. 18 Vs.Geneva
Loss, 1-4
Sept.20 Oswego East
Win, 2-0
Sept.25 Plainfield Central
Lose, 2-3
Sept.27 Oswego
Win, 4-2
Sept.29 Providence Catholic
Tie, 2-2
Highlights: Jim Kelly scored
two goals to help Minooka
slaughter Plainfield South.
Compiled by Eric Klank and
Sarah Delaney
Girls Cross Country
7-0
Oct. 2. Triangular at Romeoville
1st-15 points
Oct. 6. Sterling Invitational
6th-202 points
Oct. 13. SPC Conference
1st-28 points
Oct. 20. IHSA Regionals
2nd-52 points
Highlights: At the SPC Conference, there were 6 girls in
the top 11.
Compiled By Breanne
Downey and David Tibble
Compiled by Sydney Trepel
and Michael Horath
10.31.07