Bring on the blankets

central
STAMPEDE
Volume 17 Issue 5
‘The Lorax’
is cute and
charming,
but falls flat,
pg. 12
March 9, 2012
Bring on the blankets
New heating and cooling system saves money,
but staff and students feel the chill, pg. 2
Grading Policy Update, pg. 2 · The deal with detentions, pg. 6 · Hungry for Hunger Games, pg. 12 · Wrestling for states, pg. 15
2
news
March 9, 2012
Temperature troubles Brief
in
New heating and cooling system
causes changing classroom climates
BY RACHEL BATES
Staff Writer
In order save money after the construction
of the new school, a heating and cooling
system was installed that cut expenses. This
system includes high-tech monitors and
motion detectors, but it also has created
inconsistencies in temperature throughout the
building.
Because the system is new, there have been
huge temperature variations in classrooms
throughout the school. The system is not
broken, according to Craig Ross, the energy
and facilities manager for the school; rather, it
is just new and still has bugs that need to be
worked out.
“There have been a variety of malfunctions
around the new school,” Ross said. “But with
the warranty, we have been able to fix most of
them.”
The systems in the new building have a
two-year warranty, and in those two years any
malfunctions and problems in the school will
be found are guaranteed to be fixed.
A main focus on the heating and cooling
system of the school is to save money. As the
building is bigger, it costs more money to heat
and cool. If the old system, which ran on steam
heat, was used in the new school, costs would
be far too high to handle.
“We save every penny to spend on
education,” Principal Eric Alburtus said. “The
new heating and cooling system saves us
money to use on all the resources we need.”
The new school’s system is running more
efficiently than that of the old school, and the
energy bills are very low in comparison to last
year. According to Ross, compared to other
ture
Tempera s
ie
testimon
10teachers
Very cold
All gamers welcome
Students interested in playing all of
today’s best video games are welcome to join
the Gamers’ Club, which meets on Fridays
after school in the Community Room. The club
is being advised by hall monitor Adam Laroy
and was founded by Seniors Tucker Webb and
Jeremy Witt. It is open to students of all skill
levels and all ages. If interested, bring your
favorite game and your console (if you have
one.) For further questions, contact Tucker
Webb at [email protected].
Community collaboration
Rachel Bates/STAMPEDE
Freeze Frame: The new heating and cooling system is located on the “fourth floor” of the building
and is more budget-friendly than the previous steam heat system.
buildings built by the same company, the
system has been working very well.
“Temperatures at the school are monitored
externally, so that it can be made sure they
are all between the temperatures of 68 to 72
degrees,” Ross said.
Contrary to the claimed efficiency
of the system, teachers and students are
uncomfortable due to the daily and even
hourly changing temperatures. Health teacher
Katie Eichstaedt thinks this winter the new
school is colder than the old building last year.
“There are certain hours where it’s
comfortable, but others when I can’t stay in the
room and have to go walk around,” Eichstaedt
said. “Because I don’t have classes every
hour of the day, it’s cold in my classroom a
lot.”
In a Central Stampede survey of teachers,
50 percent said that their classrooms were
cold most of the day. Twenty percent said
their classrooms were very cold, and about
30 percent said their classrooms were
comfortable.
The fewer people in a classroom, the colder
it gets because of the sensors. So if teachers
spend time in their classrooms alone, it could
get colder in the room than if there were
students in the class.
“It’s either too hot or too cold, there’s no
happy medium,” sophomore Melanie Ulsh
said.
The Central Stampede surveyed teachers on the climates of their
classrooms. Out of 49 responses, here are the results...
24
teachers
Cold
13
teachers
2teachers
Comfortable
Hot
This spring, the City of Portage, the
Portage District Library and Portage Public
Schools are joining forces to promote their
services to residents and businesses. The joint
campaign will consolidate communications
for all three entities, primarily in social media
and electronic communications. Since it is
based on existing resources, it financially
feasible. One of the changes to come will be
the library and school information appearing
in the City’s “Portager” publication that
is usually delivered every other month to
residents. The library and schools, both of
which no longer publish print editions of their
community news, would share additional
cost with the city. The three entities have
helped each other out before by featuring one
another’s links and sharing information.
Grading update
Upon recent discussion of grading
changes, the SET committee met once more
last month. Representatives from each
department came back from their own
meetings to discuss how all the teachers
felt about the proposed changes and to
discuss uniformity in grading within the
departments.Both the World Language and
Science departments had a general consensus
on how they want to grade. Policy in other
departments, like English and Social Studies,
was not so uniform. At the time, no decision
has been made as teachers in all departments
are questioning why and how to do this.
To further discuss the possibilities, a subcommittee within SET was set up. This subcommittee was expected to report back to the
whole at the SET meeting this month. news
March 9, 2012
Changing the course of learning
3
Modifications being made to Portage science curriculum
BY LAUREN AMMAR
Staff Writer
Different views throughout the past few
years have caused changes to be made to
Portage Public Schools’ science curriculum.
The new changes will mostly affect
this year’s eighth-graders, freshmen and
sophomores, although there are also more
options being offered for upperclassmen.
Among the other changes, two new courses,
Honors Chemistry 2 and Honors Physics 2, are
being offered.
In other school districts, students are
required to take Earth Science in middle
school, Biology in ninth-grade and their
choice of Chemistry or Physics in 10th-grade.
However, in 2003, Portage decided to change
its requirements for students. In order to fill
graduation requirements, students would
have to take one semester of Physics and one
semester of Chemistry as freshmen, a year of
Biology as sophomores and a semester of Earth
Science and either Chemistry or Physics 2 their
junior year.
Although many were satisfied with the
changes in 2003, parents and students still
pushed for more changes to be made. The
problem was that students who wanted to
pursue the IB Diploma were finding that they
didn’t have room in their schedules to take all
the required science classes. They wanted a
way to be able to earn all their credits without
having to double-up for a year on sciencerelated courses.
That’s why the new proposals that are set
to go into effect this fall were made.
“Now students are going to have more
options their eighth-grade year so that they
can plan ahead for high school and college,”
science teacher Jon Taylor said. “One thing
they can do is take Earth Science in eighthgrade so that they don’t have to take it their
junior year and can instead take a science
Rachel Bates/STAMPEDE
Changes
in Curriculum: A chemistry class does a lab on the separation of chemical compounds. Next year, new classes like Honors Chemistry
2 will be offered for students. In addition, students will have the option to take advanced science electives like a third year of Biology.
elective of their choice.”
Among the science elective classes are
a third course of Chemistry, Physics, or
Biology, as well as Astronomy, Ecology and
the Environment, Forensic Science 1 and
2, Veterinary Science, Wildlife & Natural
Resources, and more.
Students who are interested in science are
content to enjoy the benefits of the changes and
additions in courses.
“I’m really interested in science, and
I’m currently in Honors Physics,” freshman
Connor Richmond said. “I plan on continuing
to take advanced science classes, and I’m glad
they’re being offered.”
300 words on
Shalibria Thorpe
BY SCOTT SOLOMON
Staff Writer
Everybody deserves a second chance, and senior Shalibria
Thorpe knows this is true after she was adopted last year for a
second time at age 17.
Many people know Thorpe because of her high-energy
personality. In mock elections, she was even voted class clown. “I’m the life of the party,” she said.
Teachers are also supporting the fact that
now students have more options and are able
to take more challenging courses if they wish
to do so.
“I think it will be beneficial to students
who are serious about science-related careers,
and these classes will allow them to push
themselves,” science teacher Kelli Palsrok said.
“It will allow them to pick and choose what
classes to take based on what they’re best at, so
they can excel in them.”
Although some have suggested dropping
Earth Science as a required class altogether,
Portage Curriculum Director Lynne Cowart
wrote in a memo to the Board of Education, What people don’t know about her is the struggles she has
been through. Her first adopted family didn’t support her the
way she needed. She needed a family that would promote
success in her life. The environment she was in was not positive. Times were looking very bleak for her, she said.
Then, when she was a junior, she was adopted by another
family. Most kids might find this big transition tough, but for
her it was truly helpful.
“I wouldn’t be graduating if not for them,” she said. “They
have really supported me with everything.”
They have greatly prepared her for her future life after
high school. Because of their positive influence, she knows she
will be successful in whatever she goes into. Whenever she has
“Earth Science is an important scientific
discipline in its own right and inserting
Earth Science objectives into other courses,
as has been suggested, would only weaken
those courses as well as depriving students a
thorough understanding of Earth Science.”
According to Cowart, while the changes do
not address all the parental concerns with the
science curriculum, the current proposals do
provide some reassurance.
Although there are still more issues to be
resolved, the new modifications that have
been made seem to have had mostly positive
responses from those who are concerned with
the matter.
problems at all, her new parents are there for her every step of
the way, she said.
Not only have her adoptive parents been very emotionally
supportive, but they have also provided her with a car.
After high school, Thorpe hopes to attend photography
school. Once she is done with photography school, she hopes
to earn a bachelor’s degree in fine arts.
Although the second adoption was a huge change for this
17-year-old, she said it is a very positive change in her life.
Many students may not be able to handle this drastic change,
but Thorpe did. Because of this change, her life has improved
in every aspect such as their support with education and their
support financially, she said.
4
news
March 9, 2012
New school, new lunches
BY ELAINE CHIU
Staff Writer
Over the past year, school lunch
recipes have been tweaked, items
have been swapped, and some have
completely disappeared off the daily
menu, with even more changes
ahead.
French fries used to be served
every day, but this year, items
made with regular potatoes are
being limited as sweet potato puffs
take over in place of tater tots.
The changes made some students
wonder why certain items are being
taken away while other items are
still always available.
“Crust & Stuff” is the most
popular place to buy lunch in the
cafeteria selling more lunches than
any other line, according to cafeteria
records. Senior Kristen Keeler said
she thinks it probably serves the
unhealthiest food and that “rip and
dips” might be the worst.
“You cut into them and grease
pours out,” Keeler said. “You can’t
tell me that’s healthy.”
Even though some of the food
seems greasy and unhealthy, it’s
not unwanted. Freshman Christina
Pattengaie said the school should
keep serving food like pizza, fries
and cookies. She said that the
students should be the ones to
choose whether or not to eat them.
“In the real world,” Pattengaie
said. “People are going to have to
make their own decisions.”
Susan Livingston, food director
for Portage Public Schools, said that
regular fries had to go because they
were part of a meal, while everything
else is “a la carte,” separate from the
lunches.
Livingston
also
said
that
although “Crust & Stuff” is believed
to be the worst choice in the cafeteria,
that it is actually “very healthy.”
One slice of cheese pizza has
440 calories, and “meat lovers”
stromboli is 660. Neither option is
necessarily bad. Nearly all of the
items served, including rip and
dips and hot pockets are made with
whole grain and won’t be leaving
the menu, though there are some
others that will change, starting next
year.
Livingston says the USDA will
require students to choose a fruit
or vegetable with their meal, and
cookies will be whole grain and
could be smaller.
“We are doing it because it’s the
right thing to do,” said Linvingston,
who admits a lot more time is being
put into preparing the school’s
food to make healthier lunches for
students.
All photos by Elaine Chiu/STAMPEDE
Crust & Stuff: Sophomore Kari Gluys decides to eat from the “Crust &
Stuff,” a popular new addition to the cafeteria this year.
Join us Friday, April 13th for an AQDay and see what
Aquinas is all about.
For more details or to register, visit www.aquinas.edu/
undergraduate/visit or call (800) 678-9593. If our
dates don’t work, we’re happy to schedule individual
visits between 9 and 4 Monday – Friday, and on most
Saturdays during the academic year.
1607 Robinson Road, SE | Grand Rapids, MI 49506-1799
616 632-2900 or 800 678-9593 | www.aquinas.edu
view
March 9, 2012
Kendamas are
toys; leave them
at home
High school is a wonderful
time in which young students
slowly find themselves
blossoming into adults. We
feel that Kendamas are an
5
our view
impediment to this process.
You see, kendamas are toys.
Seeing as how most of us are
almost adults, we should refrain
from bringing them to school.
It is comparable to bringing
in a “Stretch Armstrong” and
fiveon
five
1
2
3
4
5
Alex Jarvis, 9th
Is there anything
Not in my point of view.
wrong with the current
science curriculum?
Should the cafeteria
food be considered
nutritious?
Not at all, but very
costly.
What’s the most
annoying thing on
Facebook or Twitter?
Chirping about drama.
What’s the most
vulgur song you’ve
heard this decade?
“We be Steady
Mobbin’” by Lil’ Wayne.
What is your highest
bowling score?
Under 100.
expecting people to take you
seriously. It’s just not realistic.
We understand that you
get bored not paying attention
in class, but there are better
ways to fidget! How about the
classic taping of your pencil on
Emma Schaw, 10th
the desk? Or can we just go
back to texting in class? Trust
us, anything you could possibly
do is far less annoying than the
clickity-clack of your silly ball
landing in your silly cups. And
the inevitable, “Did you guys
Jake Haskin, 11th
see that? Big cup, bump, to little
cup, back to big, then a spike.
It was so cool.” I can count the
amount of people who care on
one hand.
It’s good to have a hobby.
It’s even better when you have
a hobby that you can enjoy
without annoying everyone
around you. We suggest you go
find one of those.
Mr. Tabor
Brenna Reder, 12th
Not that I can see.
No, but I’m open to
change.
No, I take Michigan
Geology, and I love
it.
Chuck Schira doesn’t
teach science.
No, it’s not. It’s pointless
that they get rid of salt
when there are way
worse things.
Tweets like “Everyone is
so stupid on Facebook.”
Do they get that it’s
moving to Twitter?
“The Ding Dong Song”
by Gunther & the Sunshine Girls.
I don’t know. I have
gone out to lunch
every day.
I eat off campus, and
I’ve never eaten the
food here.
Truth is...
Personal matters, like
boyfriend/girlfriend
problems.
“Tron Cat” by Tyler, the
Creator.
Most vulgar songs
have vulgar names
that are not school
appropriate!
I don’t keep track
when I bowl; I just bowl
for fun.
I would prefer to
eat a 1,500-calorie
Qdoba burrito
every day.
Self-Pics. 2,714
friends and none of
them will take the
picture for you?
“Sparks Fly” by
Taylor Swift.
Probably like 40.
301.
I once knocked
down seven pins.
Good oil that day.
Stampede Staff
Amy Ruimveld
Kyna Garrett
Editors-in-Chief
Ali Fulling..................................News Editor
Tucker Webb.............................View Editor
Taylor Fleck..............................Focus Editor
James Ketelaar.........................Vibe Editor
Jessica Heimonen...................Sports Editor
Assistant Editors/Staff Writers: Lauren Ammar,
Hira Asghar, Rachel Bates, Elaine Chiu, Megan
Conway, Katie Drews, Will Jacobson, Ryan
Krietz, Jimmy O’Grady, Scott Solomon, Grant
Walters, Mallory Duncan
Photographer: Nicole Leffingwell
Business Manager: Tyler Harper
The Central Stampede publishes
approximately one publication a month, primarily
by the Journalism II class at Portage Central High
School, 8135 S. Westnedge, Portage, MI 49002. It
also uses work from Journalism I students.
The Central Stampede is a member of the Great
Lakes Interscholastic Press Association (GLIPA)
and the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association
(MIPA). The purpose of the Central Stampede is
to act as an open forum for students of Portage
Central. The staff will achieve a balance between
informing and entertaining our readers.
Editorials
Staff editorials are unsigned and represent
consensus of the staff. The opinion of the staff is
represented in the “Our View” column. The opinions
of the editors, staff writers and guest writers will
have bylines and will carry their own views.
Letters
As an open forum, the Stampede welcomes all
members of the Portage community. However, the
staff reserves the right to edit letters based on
length and content.
Office: (269) 323-5218
Fax: (269) 323-5290
Room: 2116
The Central Stampede
8135 South Westnedge Ave.
Portage, MI 49002
6
view
Revenge ­— or justice?
March 9, 2012
Going through the system will solve your disputes
You can’t rely on others to fix your problems
news
editor
vibe
editor
Ali Fulling
At times, when someone wrongs you an
overwhelming urge to wrong them back hits.
Well I urge you to ignore that urge.
You know that old saying “two wrongs
don’t make a right”? Well it’s true. Getting
someone back can cause a continuous war of
who can hurt who the most. The repercussions
of getting even seriously outweigh whatever
feeling of justice you get from it.
Instead of taking the road of vigilantism,
take the high road and report any situation to
an authority figure who can help.
This is neither tattling nor immature.
Reporting a situation that’s too much for you
to handle is responsible. Even telling friends,
older siblings or classmates is better than
getting back at your perpetrator. With more
eyes watching out for you and sticking up for
you, it’s harder for the person or people to
continue doing wrong.
Another benefit of reporting wrong
doings is that authority figures can dole
out better punishment. If someone slashes
your tires, egging their house isn’t the right
approach. It won’t cause them to stop the
harassment or regret it, if anything it will only
cause them to retaliate. Having to talk to the
police though, that’s a pretty solid stopper.
Take me for example, when I was
younger, a boy in my gym class would hit
me all the time while we were running laps. I
kept quiet and told him to stop, but of course
the torment continued. It wasn’t until bruises
started showing up on my arms that I told my
parents. My father called the boy’s parents
and told them what was going on and
after his father brought him to
my house and
we all had
a talk, the
bullying
ended.
Sure,
my
dad is six feet four
inches and completely intimidating, but
the general point is that I could have hit
him right back and I didn’t. I understood that
whatever I did to punish him wouldn’t change
anything, but what his parents could do to him
would.
The “don’t get mad, get even” idea is
wrong. Get mad, and then get someone on
your side who can actually change it. In school,
we’re all equals and have no real power over
one another, so give the problem to someone
who does. You’ll be safer and less stressed out,
that I promise.
James Ketelaar
We all have issues with other people.
It’s unavoidable. Sooner or later, someone
in the halls is going to say something that
offends you. Or you’ll run into intentionally
malicious people who might do things like
steal your
belongings, or
make fun of your hair
or call you a “FattyFat Fatty.” And
we’ve
been
trained since
kindergarten
to, when these
issues
arise, seek out a
figure of authority to handle the issue for you.
Like most things we learned in kindergarten,
this is a load of straight-up hokum.
I’m not saying that you should start
throwing punches every time someone
bumps shoulders with you in the hallway.
Being a vigilante doesn’t mean you go around
punching people in the face. It just means you
handle the situation yourself. Let’s be serious,
if you go to a teacher or administrator and say,
“I’m pretty sure this guy took my iPod,” they’ll
tell you that without proof, there’s nothing
they can do. But if you’re confident and you
just confront the guy yourself, (“Hey, I know
you took my iPod. I’m not gonna make a big
?
deal about it, I just want it back,”) things could
solidly work out for the better.
Going to the “authorities” just seems so
roundabout. It’s like if a friend says something
that ticks you off, and you just text your
other friends about it and never mention it
to them. So many personal problems would
get solved so quickly if we just learned to sit
down and have face to face conversations with
people on our own. We don’t, or rather, we
shouldn’t, need an outside source to help us
talk through that time that Felicity called you a
dirty name behind your back, or when Daryll
swatted you in the head when he walked past
you in the hall. That should be a very simple
conversation. “Hey, Felicity, that really hurt
my feelings and I don’t want to hate you, so
can we just be cool?” or “Hey Daryll, can you
not be such a butt all the time?” And then the
problems are resolved.
I guess what I’m saying is, given the
current state of teen culture, where everything
is Facebook and smart phones, and no one
talks in person anymore, maybe we do need
“The Man” to work out our problems for us.
I’m just hoping for a world where we’re all
smart and mature enough to not need them
anymore.
Detention: a home away from home
BY JAMES KETELAAR
Vibe Editor
Detentions. For ages, they’ve been the
go-to punishment for teachers to give to
their rambunctious, disruptive students. The
logic behind them makes sense: kids who
disrupt class probably hate school, so making
them stay in school longer should be a great
deterrent. But I’m here to take that logic, and
stick it face-first through a wood chipper. I’ve
found a flaw in the system: I like detentions.
First let me narrow this down a bit.
I’ve tried all three flavors of detention this
school has to offer; morning, lunch, and after
school, I’ve done them all. Lunch detentions
are a horrid experience, because if the loud,
obnoxious people in the cafeteria weren’t
bad enough, the worst offenders are usually
concentrated in the lunch detention room. It
was a just and right decision to abolish them.
2:50s and I just don’t work together, because
I usually have a fairly busy after school
schedule and they just tend to get in the way.
But morning detentions are like a little slice of
paradise. They are my home away from home.
Now, I’m not saying I’m asking the front
office for morning detentions or anything.
I am a man who loves his sleep, and waking
up early every day to be at school for an extra
half hour doesn’t sound like a pleasure cruise.
But every once in a while, when I pick up a
morning detention, it’s a relief. I love having
a half hour where I can do absolutely nothing.
I have a lot of nothing-time at home, but my
life at home is filled with distractions; family,
pets, phone, TV. I rarely get a chance to sit in
silence and do nothing for a half hour. And
that’s what a good morning detention brings
me: A chance to just sit down and mellow out.
And yes, the troublemakers I mentioned from
lunch detentions are usually there too, but at
that time in the day, they’re usually too tired to
make any effort towards being annoying.
It’s become such a non-issue for me that
last semester I had a grand total of 18 tardies.
And I didn’t even use up all my freebies,
because I had started enjoying the detentions
so much. And this semester I’ve already had
four or five, and I haven’t used a single freebie.
I’m saving them for... Actually, I don’t really
know if I’m saving them for anything. I just
haven’t used them.
What I’m saying is, the administrators
need to crack down on me or something. In
fact, let me speak to them right now: What
you’re doing isn’t working. I’m gonna keep
being tardy as much as I possibly can because
you people are giving me a paradise and I love
it. BRING. IT. ON.*
*Go ahead and ignore that last paragraph,
administrators. It’s a lie. I just like the
dramatics.
March 9, 2012
7
view
Things that no one
Please stop ruining Facebook and Twitter
editor
in-chief
Amy Sleepswithtigers Ruimveld
Stop it. Just stop it. Yes, you. Your
behavior on the Internet is annoying and needs
to stop. I know that you may think I have no
right to tell you what to do on the Internet, but
I must disagree. I’ve discussed this with many
of my peers and the response is unanimous:
when you do these things, we make fun of you
and laugh at your expense. So, I’ve decided to
face the issue head-on and let you know that
your atrocious actions are annoying everyone.
I understand that you think you’re
very cool and clever, but please stop adding
words to your name on Facebook. You are
not a professional athlete and have no need
to give yourself a nickname that implies that
you are cooler than you actually are. Just
in case you doubt me, here are some prime
examples of how stupid making up a middle
name on Facebook looks: “Tuffacttofollow,”
“Nowornevasquad,”
“Quake
Alwayz,”
“Staywithstacks” and my personal favorite,
“Fuzzyboots.”
This next annoyance is all the “LMS”
and “Truth is...” statuses that frequent my
Newsfeed. The “truths” that are being told
are quite often pointless and awkward small
talk, and don’t actually accomplish any
truth-telling. “Truth is…” statuses are not
synonymous with “let’s share memories.”
Please save your statuses for something
relevant and interesting, not something that
will clog up my Newsfeed.
The last offense that is unacceptable
on Facebook is the pictures that frequent
my Newsfeed. Stop taking mirror pictures,
please put your clothes on, and for the love
of God, please stop making that duck face. I
understand that you think you are the most
attractive girl on the Internet, but really, stop
taking kissy/duck face-half naked pictures
that you take in your bathroom mirror. In fact,
if you Google “duck face,” the first website
to pop up is www.antiduckface.com. If you
frequently make this face, please reevaluate
what you’re putting on Facebook before I
unfriend you. Or submit your picture to that
website.
As Twitter’s popularity grows, so does
the idiocy. That sounds really harsh, but in
all reality, it’s completely true. Many people
aren’t entirely sure exactly what Twitter is
supposed to be and then decide to make it
into whatever fits their mood. However,
I must draw the line at sub-tweeting and
Alexis Ca
llaway
Twitter drama. Let’s address these issues
/Special to
STAMPED
one at a time, shall we?
limits
E
Sub-tweeting: please stop with the
each argument to
underhanded messages. I am a firm believer 140 characters. Not only are they ridiculously
in the fact that if you cannot talk to someone
irritating, they also clog up your timeline.
about your issues directly, then there’s no Please stop trying to fight in 140 characters or
point in publishing some vague statement
less.
online. If you’re going to leave an ambiguous
While I know that I can simply unfriend
announcement of how you feel on Twitter, someone or unfollow them to avoid all of these
why don’t you just write it in a journal, since
annoyances, I simply don’t have the time to
very few people will actually understand the
take on that daunting task. So, I beg of you, for
true meaning of your stupid sub-tweet?
the sake of the intelligence and integrity of the
Also, people are so quick to become Internet, if you do any of these things, please
enraged about what someone tweeted (usually
cease and desist.
a sub-tweet) and begin an obnoxious fight that
those who must know before they depart
this mortal coil, here is how the next 40 years
would have gone down.
FOR EVERYONE!
2024: Hogwarts discovered to be an elaborate
hoax. Joy disappears from the world for a
time.
2025: Sparkly Vampires do exist, joy comes
back to this world in the form of Sparkly
Vampire Hunting.
2026: First android created. To humanity’s
surprise, it doesn’t want to kill us all, but
simply watch the Fourth of July “Twilight
Zone” marathon.
2027: After Russia sees how awesome
Canamerica in Space is, they begin building
a moon base of their own on the other side of
the moon.
2028: Laser guns that make noises like the
ones in Star Wars created; military finally
allows their budget to be cut.
2029: Androids and robots gain equal rights
under the Constitution rather quickly after
they threaten to cut off access to certain
explicit content on the Internet.
2030: Last polar bear dies. Sad. Day.
2031: Russian moon base, “Russia in Space,”
completed. Ushers in new era of space-peace.
2032: Robo-Ronald Reagan and Ayn
Randroid selected by the Electoral College to
become supreme rulers of Canamerica.
2033: California sinks into the ocean.
Hipsters build an undersea dome around
San Diego and continue living there because
“Land is too mainstream.”
2013: We survived? How unlikely. Well, the
In the
Year
2020...
Do you guys remember back in 2000 when
we were all supposed to die? Something
about computers becoming self-aware and
deciding that we, as an inferior race, should
be deleted? The facts were hazy at best.
And here we are. We survived! We lived on
for another 12 years and made the most of
it. Those 12 years were a gift, and now, our
imminent demise is fast approaching (less
than a year away, according to the Mayan
calendar.) The Earth and all of its inhabitants
shall meet a ghastly end. “But what if we
were to live through this apocalypse as we
did in Y2K?” you ask. Malarky, I say, but for
apocalypse is coming soon, just you wait.
2014: Still alive. Then I guess... maybe there is
no coming apocalypse? Well, we are going to
have to find something better to do with our
time... BRING ON THE MOON BASE.
2015: Hover-boards invented, world becomes
a better place to live.
2016: Hover-board related deaths cause a
massive drop in population worldwide.
2017: United States annexes Canada, poutine
introduced into the states, average life
expectancy plummets.
2018: Canamerica builds a fence around
Mexico so large, many forget it’s even there.
2019: Skyrim II is released for the Xbox 1080,
Males aged 12-25 disappear suddenly from
the planet.
2020: Moon base completed, aptly named
“Canamerica in Space.”
2021: Creed becomes the first band to ever
play a show on the moon, simultaneously
becoming the worst band to ever play on the
moon.
2022: “Avatar 5” released in 4-D. No blue
people, just two hours of James Cameron
talking about how great he is.
2023: HOGWARTS DISCOVERED! MAGIC
2034: Space-arguments between Can-
America in Space and Russia in Space break
out over moon boundaries. Space Cold War
starts on the moon.
2035: Space Politics fall apart as
Canamerica’s Space President, David Bowie,
decides that the moon is not groovy enough
for him and takes his groovy self to another
galaxy.
2036: Space Cold War gets hot! War starts
between Russia in Space and Canamerica in
Space. War cleverly nicknamed “Star Wars”
by Fox News.
2037: Earth bombarded by stray Space-lasers.
Glow sticks and Pink Floyd albums flying off
the shelves.
2038: Space War ends after Russia in Space
and Canamerica in Space agree that they
had nothing to fight about, but they both just
wanted to shoot some lasers.
2039: Life discovered on Mars! Martians turn
out to be a highly-intelligent race of peaceful
underground peoples that look much like
Earth puppies.
2040: Mars destroyed by lasers. It gets boring
on the moon.
Tucker Webb is View Editor for the
Central Stampede. Hail his grooviness, David Bowie.
8
Gardening
Club blooms
BY SCOTT SOLOMON
Staff Writer
The front of the school building, while
already attractive, will soon benefit from the
efforts of the Gardening Club.
The club is the brainchild of English
teacher Janet LaVasseur, who didn’t like
the view from her classroom window that
included litter in the parking lot and grass
area. She was certain she wasn’t the only
one who felt that way, and called for the first
meeting of the Gardening Club in January.
LaVasseur said she hopes students
would be less likely to litter if there was
something out there besides just plain grass
and pavement.
LaVasseur also said she believes that
by creating gardens outside of the school,
students in the Gardening Club will feel more
connected to the environment, and eventually,
so will students throughout the building.
“If students become friends with Walter
[LaVasseur’s friend the crow],” she said, “then
students won’t throw trash on the ground that
will harm Walter.”
So far most of the students involved
focus
March 9, 2012
a lot of money
in Gardening Club meetings have
to create a
been LaVasseur’s freshman students
garden.
and IB Diploma Candidates. About
The
25 students are already attending
food that will
meetings, and once she starts
be produced
advertising she hopes to have more.
will go a few
Because students have a
different places,
very busy schedule with sports,
all depending on
homework and other clubs and
how much food
activities, the Gardening Club isn’t
the Gardening
going to require the attendance of
Club harvests.
Scott So
students at every meeting. The
First LaVasseur
lomon
/STAMPE
DE
students that attend must only try Spring is in
wants the
the air:
Junior Ma
and show up when they can and
bers plan
Gardening Club
tthew Pavl
t seeds fo
ovic and h
r their ne
try and help and have fun while at
members to grow
is fellow G
w garden
ardening
in the fro
Gardening Club.
Club mem
food that they want
nt of the
sc
possible
hool.
“I’m going to try to make it to as many
to eat.
to join, but she also
[meetings] as I can,” junior Conor Gorczyca
“I want the
wants all students to have fun gardening.
said. “I’ve only been to one so far, but I want
Gardening Club members
While a location for the garden has not
to go to as many as I can.”
to taste food off the vine,” LaVasseur said. “It
been chose, there are several possible options.
Gorczyca missed other meetings because
tastes much better than food off trucks with
The garden won’t just be contained to a single
he was busy but he hopes to attend to earn
all sorts of pesticides on them.”
place every year, but LaVasseur said she
hours for an IB Diploma.
LaVasseur hopes to donate the
hopes the garden will expand and get bigger
A concern of LaVasseur, however, is
remaining food to charity, likely the Portage
every year.
that the club may grow too quickly and not
Community Outreach Center so the food
To fund the club, LaVasseur has applied
everybody will feel like they have a part
stays local.
for various grants, but she said it doesn’t cost
in helping. She wants as many students as
Why Sparknotes don’t ensure ‘No Fear’
BY MEGAN CONWAY
Staff Writer
When our parents were young, there
was no easy way to simplify their school
assignments. When teachers assigned novels
to be read, the only real option was to read
the book yourself. With the invention of the
Internet also came the ability to read entire
book summaries without ever picking up the
book.
Students now have access to websites
dedicated solely to making book summaries
easy to read and readily available, most
popularly in the form of “Sparknotes.”
Students can save the time of having to
actually read the book by simply reading
the quick summaries of the chapters and the
detailed character descriptions. While reading
“Sparknotes” may save time, English teachers
feel as though kids are cheating themselves.
“Most of the books they read have some
kind of redeeming quality,” English teacher
Theresa Mills said. By not reading the book,
kids are missing the point of novel.
While “Sparknotes” may help enhance
the understanding of a novel, it is extremely
clear when kids fail to read an assigned book,
choosing the “Sparknotes” version instead.
“Sparknotes” is like looking at a map
without words on it,” intern Dan Soard said,
who commented that “Sparknotes” just
doesn’t compare to actually reading the book.
“Kids will come to class with an overall
idea, but not an understanding of what is
going on in the book,” he said.
Students who use “Sparknotes” are not
just those who don’t like to read. Some
use “Sparknotes” because they need help
understanding what’s going on after reading
and before they take the quiz in class.
“It’s really helpful if you are confused on
what’s going on in the story,” senior Annesa
Fahs said.
Fahs is conscientious of the fact that just
reading the “Sparknotes” won’t get anyone an
A on the test.
“If you use “Sparknotes” you can only get
about a B or a C on the test,” Fahs said. “Even
if you do pay attention in class discussions.”
“Sparknotes” has changed the way
students are experiencing today’s novels. For
some it’s a helpful tool in gaining a better
understanding of a book after reading and
helping prepare for a quiz. For the students
who fail to read books assigned, it’s an
informative website where they can get the
main points of a story, and hopefully skate by
on the reading quizzes.
Sophomore Rachel Cubbage uses the
website almost every time she is assigned a
novel for school.
“I don’t need to read the whole book
when I can read a summary of each chapter,”
Cubbage said.
Teachers do have a system to filter out
those students who actually read the book.
“Quote quizzes” which include quotations
that ask students to identify which character
is speaking, are relatively impossible to pass
by just reading the “Sparknotes.”
Junior Ethan Jacobs started out just
reading the “Sparknotes” on novels assigned
for school but now uses them as a supplement
in addition to reading the novel.
“Teachers use quote quizzes so I can’t get
by on the quizzes and end up having to read,”
Jacobs said.
focus
March 9, 2012
Her heart beats for music
9
Sophomore releases debut album ‘Kalipoe’
BY KATELYN MYERS
Staff Writer
When sophomore Celeste Dely lost one
of her drumsticks while performing at last
summer’s Ribfest, the sophomore didn’t miss
a beat. The same kind of passion she used to
play the rest of her show one-handed is an
example of the commitment she showed in
releasing her first CD, “Kalipoe.”
Dely grew up around music and the beat
from the drums influenced her. Her grandpa
was a radio broadcaster for WMUK. When
Dely was a little girl her older sister, Alaina,
used to make Dely dress up like Brittany
Spears and sing. Dely isn’t the only one in the
family who loves to perform. Her brother Joe
Dely is a Portage Central alumni, and he was
heavily involved in the musicals and drama.
Delys debute CD called Kalipoe. It
contains six songs all composed by her, with
a little help from some friends. Dely mainly
sings her alternative rock and jazz beats.
At the beginning of her singing career Dely
didn’t expect to be an amazing singer. She just
found it deep inside her heart.
Just like a lot of singers she
has her idols, including The
Beatles and Patti Smith, who
was the Queen of Punk Rock
in the 70’s.
Before Dely performs
she usually looks over the
music once or twice. “The less prepared I am
the better,” Dely said, “I do it from my heart.”
Dely prefers to sing jazz and alternative
rock. Jazz because it gives her more of a calm
feeling letting her mind drift off into the song.
When she is on stage singing alternative rock
Dely finds it a lot of fun to be on stage and be
able to just lose control.
Dely is not just a singer she also plays
the drums and guitar and wants to continue
that on through college. She wants to start
out at Western and then move to New York
University for more of a challenge.
Dely didn’t think she would have so
much talent to not only sing but to write her
music too. “Ever since I started singing I’ve
always had a passion for it,” Dely said.
Photos Courtesy of Mary Gleason
Junior jumps from classroom to film studio
BY HIRA ASGHAR
biggest inspirations were “Band of Brothers”
and “Saving Private Ryan.” I would like to
make a more realistic movie about everyday
soldiers rather then Special Forces. We
ended up using the script as a model or guide
line rather than exact. I was skeptical of the
improvisation at first, but after editing it
turned out great.
Staff Writer
The Annual Teen Filmmaker Festival,
sponsored mostly by the Kalamazoo Institute
of Arts, allows aspiring directors and
filmmakers to submit a creative short film
to compete against other teens. Mitch Jump,
a junior and CEO of Punch Line Studios,
directed his own short film, called “Operation
Hornet’s Nest,” and entered it in the contest.
What follows is the Stampede’s one-on-one
with Portage Central’s most cutting edge film
student.
Stampede: What is Punch Line Studios?
Jump: It’s a production company of friends
that makes videos and films for YouTube.
We have been making videos since Feb. 9,
2011. We have about 44 videos, ranging from
prank calls, sketch comedy, short films and
just breaking stuff. I got grounded last year
and wanted to start a business or company.
I got my friends together on Facebook, and
we decided to make videos. We have so
many hilarious memories and stories from
Stampede: How long did it take to make the
film?
Here’s The Punch Line!: Punch Line
Studios is the brain child of junior
Mitch Jump.
things that have gone wrong. We would like
to become YouTube partners, so everyone
should subscribe!
Stampede: What is the storyline of the film
you submitted?
Jump: A CIA team is killed while undercover,
and a task force is sent in to grab Mikhail
Dresnov to get information. The mission
goes wrong. We left on a cliffhanger so we
can make a second film. I love war movies
and have always wanted to make one. My
Jump: It was a five-day process with more
than 10 people. We put a lot of man hours in
and some questionable locations. We actually
shot some scenes at an abandoned golf course
off Highway 131. I had to drive with three
rowdy teenagers through the horrible blizzard
over winter break.
In three scenes,
Tyler Schillaci
from Portage
Northern had to
lay in the cold,
wet ground for
extended periods
of time. It was
also extremely
hard to get multiple people available. We had
to buy ski masks so we could recycle bodies
rather than get more and more people.
Stampede: What are your hopes for the
future with regards to filmmaking?
Jump: I plan on going into film for college. I
would love to direct, produce or be a
screenwriter in the future. My favorite
directors are Quentin Tarantino, Clint
Eastwood, Steven Spielberg and Kevin
Smith. My top five favorite movies are
“Forrest Gump,” “Pulp Fiction,” “Tropic
Thunder,” “The Wackness” and “500 Days of
Summer.”
Stampede: Did you make it into the Festival?
Jump: We ended up not being in the
festival. It’s disappointing that we didn’t
make it in but we believe the video will be a
hit on YouTube and it has some extra scenes
in it.
To see the video entered into the Film Festival and
a subscription link to Punch Line Studios, follow
@CentralStampede on Twitter for the link.
10
focus
March 9, 2012
Kendama: behind the craze
The growing trend irritates teachers, entertains students
BY TAYLOR FLECK
Focus Editor
When students began bringing Kendamas
to school in the weeks before Christmas,
nobody would have guessed the wooden toys
would develop into the next big high school
craze.
With most people explaining Kendamas
as a re-invented game of “ball in cup,”
the reasoning for its sudden explosion of
popularity is unknown. However, junior Matt
Dolfi was one of the first people to be seen
using the wooden toy.
“I got the idea from a friend in Traverse
City,” Dolfi said.
Kendamas had already been very popular
around the schools there, and after being
introduced to them, Dolfi knew he had to
have one.
Not realizing how widespread the
Kendama epidemic would become, Dolfi
agrees that it is pretty amazing how fast
something can catch on.
“I think it’s crazy how many people have
them now,” Dolfi said. “It’s also crazy how
good some people have gotten at it.”
Even with all the students being so crazed
about the Kendamas, teachers and hall
monitors have a different view on the game.
“I think they’re fun things, but in school
they get annoying,” hall monitor Adam
LaRoy said. “Plus, I’m really bad at them
myself.”
Along with LaRoy, various teachers and
staff members agree that school is not the
place for Kendamas. Some have declared the
toys aren’t allowed in their classrooms.
However, despite the nuisance the
Kendamas have proven to be for fellow
students and staff, players claim that there
are actually some benefits to spending hours
attempting to get “birdies” and “180’s.”
“They actually help with your hand-eye
coordination,” freshman Evan Kish said.
Being a member of the hockey team, Kish
along with various others believes the game
helps their stick handling skills and keeps
their coordination on point.
No matter what a person’s reason for
getting into the Kendama commotion, it is
clear that they have taken over as the latest
trend. Nonetheless, the on-and-off trends of
high school don’t stay for long. In fact, many
people have already moved on from the phase
of non-stop Kendama.
“I don’t even really play anymore,” Dolfi
said. “It’s kind of getting old, and everyone
else is way better.”
Krazy
for Kendamas: Many students can be
found playing with their Kendamas before,
during and even after school. However, some
teachers are frustrated with the distracting toy, and have banished them from their
classrooms.
Nicole Leffingwell/STAMPEDE
Hello Mustangs!
The PC TV talent show will be held on Friday, March 23, at 7 p.m. in the
auditorium! Admission tickets are $5 and for the first time, raffle tickets, concessions and T-shirts will also be sold.
In addition, on Tuesday, March 20, Stuco is holding their annual Red
Cross blood drive. Please come out and donate as all blood types are needed
and the goal is to have 100 donators. Just remember one donation can save
three lives. Thank you for your continuous support.
-Your Student Council
vibe
March 9, 2012
:
Bad band or baddest band?
BY JAMES KETELAAR
Vibe Editor
In the days since hipsters began ruling the world, it has
become quite trendy to hate on popular things. In most cases,
hipsters harp on stuff for the same reason bullies harp on little
kids: to make themselves feel better. “Oh, you like [[Band A]]?
Yeah, they’ve been pretty lame the past five years. I only listen
to [[Band B]] now.” But, in rare cases, unification arises when
hipsters and even the general populous join hands in
hatred of something popular that also happens
to be egregiously awful. The perfect
example: Nickelback.
In case you live alone
in a cabin in the woods,
or haven’t turned on
a radio in almost 20
years, Nickelback is
a band formed in
Canada in 1995
(Nickelback
AND Justin
Bieber? At
least they
make up
for it with
Arcade
Fire. I
guess.) I
guarantee
you’ve
heard them
almost once,
from their
song “Hero,”
which was a
huge success
“Spider-Man
2,” or their song
“Photograph,”
which was a huge
success after people
with bad taste started
listening to it. Ask a group
of 100 people what they think
of Nickelback, and 90 of them will
dismiss them as awful, and the other 10 will
proclaim them as the greatest rock band on the face
of the Earth.
Everybody on the internet (aka: everybody) seems to
hate them. There even used to be a website called www.
isnickelbacktheworstbandintheworld.com which just
displayed a giant “YES.” 24/7. And yet they still sell out giant
theaters and arenas. They played the halftime show for the
Detroit Lions this year to a cheering crowd, even though there
were over 50,000 people signing an online petition against
them. They may just be the most controversial working
band in the business. So what position am I going to take?
Is Nickelback the greatest band in the world or the absolute
worst? Surprise, surprise: They’re neither.
This is not to say I like Nickelback, not by a long shot. I
find their songs tedious and annoying, and if one happens to
worm its way in my earholes, I tend to head in the opposite
direction. But while they may very well be the worst band on
the radio station you’re unlucky enough to be tuned into, or
the worst band on your 11-year-old brother’s iPod, they are far
from the worst band in the world.
People who think Nickelback is the worst band in the
world have obviously not branched out their musical tastes
any farther than Nickelback fans themselves. If you want a
band that competes for worst in the world,
look no further than Insane Clown
Posse. I hesitate to call them a
“band,” since they are only two
people, and they perform
rap “music,” but I’m
willing to loosen my
definition here for
this article. ICP
became a big hit
on the internet
in the last
couple years,
but for their
nonsensical
lyrics
(“[bleep]in’
magnets,
how
do they
work?”)
rather
than their
musical
prowess.
If you want
to listen to
music that
will make your
ears bleed, blast a
little bit of “Halls of
Illusion” in your ears.
Be warned: That may or
may not actually be one of
their songs. I honestly have no
idea. Or, y’know, try to sit through
a Justin Bieber album without puking up
rainbows. Better yet, try listening to a Sex Pistols
song that isn’t “Anarchy in the UK.” I promise, they’ll all drive
you closer to insanity than any Nickelback you’ll pick up.
I know that Nickelback is hopelessly mediocre; I
know all their songs are identical (it’s true, check YouTube),
and I know they are far more popular than their talent
lends them to be. But we have to stop reaching for the top
shelf for everything. Not everything good is amazing, not
everything bad is awful. Sometimes, things just kinda suck.
And now I’m gonna go register the domain name www.
nickelbacksucksbuttheresworsestuffaround.com. Coming next
November!
11
Too much sugar in
that sugar bowl
Vulgar music is nothing new
BY JAMES O’GRADY
Staff Writer
Music today is so
filthy and raunchy it
probably makes your
grandparents cringe. It’s a
good thing the “Greatest
Generation’s” music had
much more wholesome
messages. No, you’d never
hear good old fashioned
music from the ’20s and
’30s advocating grotesque
violence, promiscuity or
substance abuse.
What’s that? This
thinly-veiled build up has
you under the impression
that music from the ’20s
Nicole Leffingwell/STAMPEDE
and ’30s is much more
risqué than you’ve been lead to believe? Well, astute reader,
you’d be more than correct.
Poet laureate and professional stupid girl Ke$ha (that
dollar sign was painful to type) shows off her dedication to
maintaining her professional model on performing with such
profound quips as, “When I leave brush my teeth with a bottle
of Jack.” She never gives up on the character she constructed
or her values of treating addiction like a good time. After all,
selfish party girl is the new black.
The tribute to a favorite substance is nothing new,
though; just ask Cab Calloway the lyricist and singer of the
1933 song, “Reefer Man.” Quoting the lyrics would be fruitless
since the whole song is a lengthy “how to” on knowing
whether or not you’re all right in the head. This follows suit
with Calloway’s most famous song, “Minnie the Moocher,”
released two years earlier and heavily laden with drug
references.
“Give me gunpowder; give me dynamite; yes I’d wreck
the city; wanna blow it up tonight.” Whoa! Whoever wrote
that song must have been raised around a lot of violent media
and gangsta rap. Nope, the writer responsible for this gem is
Josie Miles, and she wrote these lyrics nearly 90 years ago. I’m
amazed my grandparents didn’t respond to this music the way
that my peers respond to hip hop and heavy metal.
Bessie Smith is considered one of the greatest blues
singers of the 1920s and 1930s, an immense influence on
subsequent jazz vocalists. What they don’t tell you about
is how raunchy and easily understood her metaphors are.
I consider myself a man of little to no shame but even I feel
uneasy printing the lyrics here for the public to see. Let’s just
say that her song “Need a Little Sugar in My Bowl” was a lot
more fun for me when it was more about grapefruit and less
about Smith’s troubles with men.
So don’t be fooled when your parents or your
grandparents tell you your music is awful because its lyrics are
suggestive. The next time you hear “In my day …” wait for the
next part of the quote for it is crucial. “… we had real taboo,
obscene, and lewd stuff!”
12
Why we’re hyped for
vibe
March 9, 2012
‘THE HUNGER
GAMES’
A COMPILED STAFF REVIEW
As March 23 nears, it’s obvious that
fans of the enticingly addicting trilogy “The
Hunger Games” are growing increasingly
excited for the movie’s big debut. While the
transition from book to big screen is difficult
and usually approached with trepidation
from the fans, based on the trailer, the movie
will be just as phenomenal and exciting as the
novel.
If you haven’t read “The Hunger
Games,” stop whatever you’re doing and go
buy the book. Actually, go buy the whole
trilogy while you’re at it. Suzanne Collins
always keeps you guessing and intrigued
with her breathtaking plot and complex and
compelling characters.
We expect the first “Hunger Games” film
to uphold the book with an all-star cast that
almost seems too good to be true. It’s difficult
to see how the movie won’t do the book
justice. There’s little room for failure with
award winning actors like Jennifer Lawrence
and Josh Hutcherson and heartthrob Liam
Hemsworth.
With an amazing cast and incredible
story, all the movie needs is a talented
director with vision. Director Gary Ross is the
director of “The Hunger Games,” and we feel
he’s up to the challenge. Ross directed movies
like “Seabiscuit,” “Big” and “Pleasantville,”
and has won many awards for his work, so
we know that the movie is in good hands.
While the book has set high expectations
for the movie, there’s nothing to fear because
Collins adapted the novel for film herself.
It’s the ultimate combination of a postapocalyptic world, inspiration and action.
This movie looks like it will be an electrifying
thriller that will succeed on the big screen.
If you’ve yet to read the series, we urge
you to read them as quickly as possible, and
we hope to see you at the midnight showing.
REVIEWED BY JAMES O’GRADY, TUCKER WEBB AND JAMES KETELAAR
I’m going to beat Fox News to the punch: “The Lorax” is a bunch of dirty, hippie, commie,
pinko propaganda. But being self-proclaimed dirty hippie commie pinkos, that is A-okay.
“The Lorax” took what was a 50-page Dr. Seuss book and fleshed it out into a 100-minute
movie. Many filmmakers have tried to bring Dr. Seuss to a feature length film (not the ‘60s
cartoons), but they range from pretty good (“Horton Hears a Who!”) to pants-soilingly awful
(“The Cat in the Hat,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”). Thankfully, but not grandly, “The
Lorax” falls into the former.
“The Lorax” is not the best kids movie or even the best environmental kids movie we’ve
ever seen. That prize goes to “WALL-E.” If you haven’t seen “WALL-E,” see that before you see
this. But otherwise, go ahead and see “The Lorax.” It’s a good bit of fun.
The parts of the movie surrounding Zac Efron’s character are a little lacking. The musical
numbers contained therein are dull and uninspired, and the love storyline between Zac
Efron and Taylor Swift is as boring as you would expect it to be, despite Efron providing an
endearing performance. The only saving grace is Rob Riggle’s performance as Mr. O’Hare, the
film’s primary antagonist.
The film shines, however, in the parts that stick to the book. Danny DeVito is perfect as the
titular Lorax, and Ed Helms’ Once-Ler is brilliant and relatable, providing the only toe-tappable
song in the whole movie.
The jokes are a little on the light side, and most of the comedy is the slapstick from the
animals in the Lorax segments, but the one or two parts meant to tug at your heartstrings do it
well. Toward the end, the preachy environmental message does rather bash you over the head.
It’s sort of like, “HELP THE ENVIRONMENT. IT’S GOOD. DO YOU GET THAT YET?!” But it’s
inoffensive and still charming to see a movie promote such a message.
“The Lorax,” in two words, isn’t great. But, in a few more words, it is cute and worth a
watch if you’re willing to lend a good ear to the little guy who speaks for the trees.
vibe
March 9, 2012
The best of apps, the worst of apps
It is noticeably clear that we are
surrounded by technology that can do it all—
even entertain us. Let’s face it, pointless video
game apps are addicting. There are some,
though, within the past year that I believe
are overrated and then some fun, fast-paced
games that I highly recommend you to spend
mindless hours on in order to beat your latest
high score.
Tiny Tower This offers a virtual
world of owning a skyscraper with all its
components: department stores, rental stores
and even apartments. Now at first it seems
exciting to run your own “Tiny Tower”, but it
loses its charm after so many plays. To put it
simply, it’s boring.
Most users enjoy it because you manage
the characters’ lives by restocking stores
and giving each little character, known as a
“Bitizen” his or her own job. But after that,
there’s not much you can do but wait for
the stores to restock. (Perhaps this requires
patience, in which I have none.) The only
Angry Birds This is the
one app that I wish would
go away. It makes me angry.
Why are there Angry Birds
shirts and even a board game?
Don’t get me wrong. It was
fun at first. Users loved it and
many still pull and release
their “Angry Birds” daily,
but it has gone on too
long.
It was the most
played app in 2011 and
its popularity arises
from its multiple outlets.
It offers a dead-end of
opportunities, however.
Angry Birds continued
to release spinoffs for a
while, but now that they’ve
got us hypnotized, the
Horoscopes
As predicted by staff psychic James Ketelaar
AQUARIUS (21 January –19 February):
The space colony will finally be completed
on your birthday in 2022. You will have the
privilege of being the first citizen. I realize
that this applies to roughly 40 birthdays.
Figure out which one I mean.
PISCES (20 February – 20 March): Next week,
there is a quantum probability that you will
have iced tea with Ice-T. If you don’t know
physics, though, know that it isn’t very likely.
At all.
ARIES (21 March – 19 April): The flames of
love grow cool in your heart. Swallow hot
coals to heat them back up.
TAURUS (20 April – 20 May): Stop eating
eggs. If you don’t, trolls will crawl into your
mouth and stop you manually.
GEMINI (21 May – 20 June): Something has
seemed out of place in your dreams lately,
has it not? There’s a very scary reason for
that. But I’ll never tell! Muhuahahaha!
creators are just rolling in cash
from this most downloaded
game.
interesting part to this is
the “Bitbook”, which is the
Bitizen Facebook that the
characters update from
time to time.
CANCER (June 21 – July 21): Suspect the
unsuspectable, and you will find your culprit.
Or something.
LEO (22 July – 22 August): Oic da shi’kh jaj. OIC
DA SHIKH JAJ SOOOOOOOO MUCH!
VIRGO (23 August – 22 September): Bunnies
make for a fashionable hat when dead, but
much better if still alive.
LIBRA (23 September – 22 October): I had
writers block for this one. Sucks to be you.
SCORPIO (23 October – 21 November): If you
happen to like Keanu Reeves, you’ll be very
excited next Christmas when you see a large,
man-shaped package on your doorstep.
SAGITTARIUS (22 November to 21
December): The Labradoodle cometh for thee.
CAPRICORN (22 December – 20 January):
The Elephant of Adequacy grants you
with straight Bs this next marking period.
Congratulations, kind of.
Fruit Ninja Who doesn’t
like a good fruit slicin’? The
object is to slice as many
fruit as possible, keeping
them from falling too
soon and avoiding
tricky bombs that will
immediately end the
game. And who knew
chopping produce
was so revitalizing?
Fruit Ninja isn’t only
exclusive to your
handheld; in fact, it’s
been turned into an
arcade game—one that
can be found at Airway
Lanes and Craigs Cruisers.
Dragon, Fly! You may
have heard of Tiny Wings, but
Dragon, Fly! is a step up. In this
game, players fly a baby dragon from
realm to realm, flying on hills, collecting little
shells and speed vials and achieving “Fire
Mode” just to outrun the Dragon Mum. She
picks up speed with each realm so the game’s
difficulty rapidly increases and requires
patience. Each player must press the screen
when flying downwards and release when the
baby dragon takes off upwards.
Temple Run This is undoubtedly
the most popular app out there for Apple
products, such as the iPhone, iPod Touch,
or iPad. Recently, the makers of Temple Run
have announced that they are working to
bring the game to Android phones, too.
It has been around for a while, but
its appeal is not only because it is free, but
mostly due to its flawless graphics and
dynamic challenges, as the player can tilt
their screen from side to side to collect
coins while escaping evil demon monkeys
and dodging trees and gaping holes. It also
allows a player to unlock characters with
coins and “purchase” new skills which can
improve gameplay. Now, I suggest you stop
what you’re doing, get the game and try for
1,000,000 on Temple Run.
from
RUNWAY
HALLWAY
to
BY KYNA GARRETT
Editor-in-Chief
13
Mustangs strut their stuff
Spanish Teacher Edition
Even teachers know the latest
trends straight off the runway,
bringing their fashion trends to
the hallway with these unique but
classy, professional styles.
Text By Kyna Garrett
Photos By Nicole Leffingwell
Spanish teacher Deb Ross
wears a floral-pattered
blouse on black to highlight the vibrant colors of
this fun trend.
Spanish teacher Lindsay
Steenbergen keeps it
cozy and simple with a
detailed Paisley scarf on
a black silhouette.
14
sports
March 9, 2012
Time for change
Schira and McNeal resign as coaches
BY JESSICA HEIMONEN
Sports Editor
With the growing demands of being a
teacher, psychology teacher Chuck Schira
found it increasingly difficult to also commit
to after-school activities such as coaching.
Schira, who resigned this year as the men’s
varsity golf coach, is also the International
Baccalaureate coordinator for Portage Central.
He believes coaching became more strenuous
for him in the spring of 2007.
In 2007, the Michigan High School
Athletic Association was forced to realign the
sports schedule for both boys and girls due
to a class-action lawsuit filed in 1998. This
lawsuit claimed the Michigan sports schedule
discriminated against girls.
The realignment moved men’s golf to the
spring instead of the fall, which collided with
AP and IB testing.
Schira had coached men’s golf for about
10 years but made the decision to depart from
coaching this year in order to focus more on
AP and IB testing.
“Any time a coach leaves, you’re
disappointed because they are part of the
program, and they have built the program,”
Athletic Director Jim Murray said. “Mr. Schira
has done a wonderful job. He just got way too
busy with coaching in the spring and doing
the IB testing in the spring. He managed to do
it the last couple years, but it has been a real
struggle.”
Schira will be missed greatly by players
and the administration.
Junior Jake Flight, a member of the men’s
golf team, will miss Schira’s “easy-goingness,”
in addition to Schira’s willingness to allow
players to train at their own athletic pace.
“Mr. Schira just has an incredible positive
outlook on things,” Murray said, “and a great
perspective on the balance between academics
and golf, and what is best for the students. He
will be missed.”
For Schira, what he will miss the most
about coaching is spending time with the team.
“I’ll miss the interactions with the boys; it
was always fun to be with them when they did
well,” Schira said.
Schira is not the only Portage Central
teacher to step aside from coaching this year.
Former men’s varsity basketball coach Corey
McNeal also resigned mid-season, but for
personal reasons.
McNeal was in his sixth year as head
coach of the Mustangs when he resigned. He
acquired an overall 17-94 record, including a
1-6 record this season.
Junior varsity coach Darryl Blasingame
immediately took over for McNeal on an
interim basis.
Murray supports McNeal’s decision to
resign because McNeal believes it was the best
option for him, even though it is tough because
it happened halfway through the season.
“Corey is an incredibly positive person,
and it was a challenge to do that midway
through the season,” Murray said. “But, it
Nicole Leffingwell/STAMPEDE
Time Out: Coach Darryl Blasingame, who took over for former Coach Corey McNeal, consults with senior Derek Schneider during the game against Harper Creek.
turned out OK, and we are moving forward.”
Yet, everyone can agree McNeal’s positive
attitude and charisma will be missed the most
on the court.
“When he walks in a room he tends to
kind of just light up the room, he has that kind
of personality,” Murray said. “I’ll miss seeing
him in the gym, and his positive approach at
what he does.”
For McNeal it was difficult for him to
decide what he would miss the most about
coaching, but there were two parts to coaching
he knew would be the hardest to give up.
“The relationships with the kids,” McNeal
said. “You develop different relationships with
Springtime is in the air
Men’s baseball team prepares for its new season
BY RYAN KRIETZ
Staff Writer
There are a plenty of good things that come with spring,
such as fresh air, warmer temperatures, and of course, baseball.
Last year’s baseball team posted a 35-3 record, and they
advanced to the semi-finals of the state tournament. From that
team, there are currently three players playing Division One
baseball.
These players include, Ryan Krill playing for Michigan
State University, Kyle Jusick playing for the University of
Michigan and Jordan Tillman playing for Western Michigan
University.
Logan Templeton and Derek Schneider are two seniors
that are expected to make quite a big impact.
“We have a lot of confidence going into this year, with
last year almost making it to states,” Templeton said. “The
seniors are our key to success. We don’t really know about
the underclassmen but we expect to see some things out of
sophomore Ryan Mergener.”
There are multiple aspects to be excited for this year.
All the players seem to be really anxious to get back on the
diamond.
“Our goal is to win a lot of games like last year and win
states,” Schneider said. “We lost some offense so we’ve got to
build on that. We have good pitching and good defense behind
it. The juniors and sophomores need to step up.”
The team is currently conditioning every week on Sundays,
Mondays and Wednesdays for two hours. They are just working
on the fundamentals: throwing, catching and hitting.
The expectations are high on this team to do big things,
such as winning the conference championship and making a
run for a state title. Their first game is Thursday, April 12, at
Niles.
kids who are athletes when you are coaching,
then you do when they are a normal student.
After watching a lot of these kids grow for the
last six years from kindergarteners to seniors
that is probably the part I will miss the most.”
Aside from the relationships with his
players, the other part of what McNeal will
miss most about coaching defines charismatic
personality.
“A close second is going to battle with
them night in and night out during basketball
games.”
Like Schira, Flight, who also plays men’s
basketball, will miss McNeal’s “easy-goingness
on the basketball court, and his smile.”
Nicole Leffingwell/STAMPEDE
Practice
Makes Perfect:
Junior
Gavin
Porter
practices
his baseball swing
during
conditioning.
The team
hopes to
improve
its fundamentals
in the offseason.
15
sports
March 9, 2012
State champ!
Senior Angelo Latora wins state title
and three wrestlers make top 10
BY WILL JACOBSON
Staff Writer
It had been 20 years since a Portage
Central wrestler won a state championship
before Angelo Latora did it last weekend in
convincing fashion.
In the 140-pound weight class, Latora
defeated Jenison’s Trent Samuals for the third
time in as many weeks. This victory was the
200th of his career and was the perfect ending
to his near-perfect run as a Mustang wrestler.
Angelo Latora’s state championship run
included wins against Waterford-Kettering’s
Dave Doleharty with a pin, Roseville’s Kirk
Wawrzyniak 7-0 in the second round, and
Oxford’s Rocco Borg 5-1 in the semifinal.
Latora has made it to the state tournament in
his previous three years at Portage Central,
finishing 7th as a freshman, 4th as a sophomore,
and 3rd as a junior.
As a junior, Latora finished 3rd because of
a questionable call that disqualified him in the
semi-final.
“Last year was a disappointment to me,
because I know I should have won the whole
thing (the championship)” Latora said. “...Oh
well, I guess it just makes this year’s win that
much sweeter.”
Although Latora stole the show, he was
not the only one from Portage Central in hopes
of being a state champion wrestler.
Senior Austin Gulick made it through
regionals in the 130-pound weight class and
earned himself a spot in the state tournament.
In the first round, he was defeated by Detroit
Catholic Central’s Ken Blade, an eventual
state finalist. Junior Kevin Haughn wrestled
his way to all-state honors and 7th place in the
135-pound weight class, after battling back
Workin’
the mat:
Angelo
Latora
puts his
opponent
into collar tie,
attempting to
win the
match.
from a first-round loss.
Junior Travis Vanderveen made it to
the quarterfinal by defeating Romeo’s Alex
Christofis 17-3 and Westland John Glenn’s
Anthony Long 9-6, where he was then pinned
by Detroit Catholic Central’s Alec Mooradin.
Vanderveen’s effort earned him all-state
honors and 6th overall in the 152-pound weight
class.
Dominic Latora’s (Angelo’s brother)
championship run may be the most remarkable
at the whole tournament. As a sophomore,
Latora defeated Dearborn’s Arfan Khathem 7-0
in the first round, Davidson’s Pat Rooker 5-4
in the second round, and Bloomfield Brother
Rice’s Thomas Giradot 4-3 in the semifinals,
before losing a heartbreaker to Westland John
Glenn’s Jake Weissend 1-0.
Dominic Latora ended up 2nd in the state,
also receiving all-state credentials.
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16
sports
March 9, 2012
Rolling down to Vanderbilt
Tori Ferris bowls her way to a scholarship
BY KATIE DREWS
Staff Writer
For senior Tori Ferris, bowling is
not just recreational. She is more than
thankful her mother signed her up for
the sport when she was 7 years old
because Ferris was able to discover her
natural talent for bowling.
Today, bowling allows her to spend
time with family and concentrate on her
future simultaneously.
Her father admits that it’s a
challenge to coach his daughter along
with the other bowlers.
“My dad definitely pushes me
hardest,” Ferris said. “He helps me to
push myself.”
“The reality is, is that it’s harder
than coaching other kids, but at the same
time, it’s a great honor,” Coach Ferris
said. “It’s a rarity to have a child that
listens so well to a parent, which is a big
part of her success.”
During her first high school
season, Ferris scored within the top
30 at the Division 1 individual state
championship. Then, in her sophomore
year, Ferris received 10th place, but she
strived to improve.
In her junior year, Ferris again
advanced to the state championship, but
wasn’t positive she would be able to go
on because of a back injury.
But, Ferris stayed focused on
her goal and after all her hard work,
she succeeded with a first place title,
beating out her major competitor Lauren
Kingsley.
“I wanted to make sure I beat her
and won championships,” Ferris said.
This high school season started in
December, so Ferris has been training
for three months. Along with attending
coaching seminars, she works out two to
three times in a normal week, and more
frequently when a competition is near.
Ferris’ highest-scoring game so far
is an impressive 289 points from this
season.
Ferris and the women’s team both
advanced to state competition this year,
but fell short last weekend in Battle
Creek.
With Ferris’ full ride scholarship
to Vanderbilt University in Nashville,
Tenn., she looks forward to the start of
her college career on Aug. 22.
Sophomores Kelly Mott and Brittany
Leach both believe that Ferris has earned
the scholarship.
“[Tori] is a very good bowler. She
completely deserves the full ride,” Mott
said.
Other than bowling, Ferris is
anxious to experience the warm weather
in Tennessee, to meet new people,
and mostly, just for the experience in
general.
Nicole Leffingwell/STAMPEDE
Community unites
Bowling Her Way Down South: Senior Tori Ferris
perfects her strike-out technique.
Kyna Garrett/STAMPEDE
Second annual
Coaches vs. Cancer
fundraiser game helps
fight breast cancer
When: Friday, Jan. 20.
Where: PC gym.
What: The Varsity Women’s
teams raised money for the
Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser,
Photo Courtesy of Matt Tabor
and ended up raising $2,500 to
go to American Cancer Society’s
Hope Lodge. This was the second
annual “Pink Out” basketball
game to help raise awareness
and research funds for breast
cancer. Hope Lodge is a place
where cancer patients and their
caregivers are able to stay for
free when the most effective
treatments are in another city.
Text by Amy Ruimveld