Volume 7 Issue 1

Friday, December 6, 2013

Meet Mr. Nabinger - Watertown High Schools New Assistant Principal

By Erin Pacici New this year to Watertown High Schools administrative staff is Mr. Thomas Nabinger. As a previous earth science teacher and vice principal of Van Duyn Elementary School in the Syracuse area, a position as assistant principal only seemed tting. These qualications along with a recommendation from a very well-respected professor helped Mr. Nabinger decide that the role of assistant principal at Watertown High School was the job for him. As for Mr. Nabingers rst impressions of Watertown High School, he described the building as very long and, found it to be somewhat overwhelming. However, after some time at the school he has become more adjusted to its size. Other rst thoughts include how great the staff is. Mr. Nabinger is particularly impressed by the fact that all the teachers at Watertown High School are on the same page. He explains that with everyone having a common goal in mind, this makes the job much easier and more pleasant. One of the best things about his job, Nabinger explains is getting to know so many different students. With the schools large population, he feels he gets to meet new people each day and he loves getting to know each and every one. Of course, with the job does come disciplinary action which requires quick and thorough thinking to resolve situations. This is no problem for Nabinger as he enjoys this challenging aspect. As for the future, Mr. Nabinger has no plans to leave the district anytime soon. He does have the degrees and capability to work in other levels of administration if needed. However, he feels comfortable in his current position. Mr. Nabinger is excited for what is tocome with his new career and is excited to discover what this new school year holds.

BRITTANY KALER

Thomas Nabinger

A Sit Down with Administrative Intern, Mr. Jeffrey Ginger

By Abigail Wells There have been many new changes at Watertown High School this year. New policies, new lunch menus and new administration staff. Recently, I sat down and interviewed Jeff Ginger, the administrative intern. Mr. Ginger was already familiar with the school considering he was a United States history teacher for numerous years prior. I was pleased to ask Mr. Ginger questions and to get to know him on a personal level and understand how his new job of being administrative intern is everything he imagined it would be. -AW: Is the new job everything you imagined it would be? JG: The school looks different when you arent in a classroom, there are more things available and you become more of a helper to the students. This job is everything and more than I thought it would be. It is more difcult also because I have to worry about 1300 students instead of just the few I taught last year. In the classroom you know the same faces and with this job you have the pleasure to help every student. -AW: Since your new position doesnt allow you to coach the boys swim team, do you miss it? JG: I miss it terribly! I do have condence in the new boys coach. It would have been harder to leave the team if it wasnt going into good hands but I am condent the new coach will lead the boys to success and more. -AW: How difcult is your new job with juggling a son and having two twin girls on the way? JG: It is wild to say the least. Although, there are advantages. Even though there are more hours I have to work when I come home I dont have to worry about grading papers and reading a mass amount of essays. I am one hundred percent focused on my son, wife, and the preparation of the twins. -AW: Do you miss being a United States history teacher? JG: I do very much, yes. In my mind I still believe I am a teacher and I truly will never stop being one. The thing with teaching though is there is a certain amount of comfort every year. You know at certain points of the year what you will be teaching and with this new job it is something new every day. -AW: What about your job is difcult? JG: Honestly. I havent had time to eat. This job includes so many things like, lunch monitor, councilor, janitor, disciplinary gure, hall monitor and of course the good guy/ bad guy. You come every day with a plan but within ve minutes it changes so, needless to say it is stressful at times. -AW: Do you want to go on to be principal? JG: Yes, it is a very rewarding job. Although, it does come with many difculties as any job does. Maybe I could go on to working in the district ofce. - AW: What are the perks of your new position? JG: Well for one, all the teachers are in class lecturing right now and you are here interviewing me. Also, I can go to the bathroom anytime I want. I can point out changes that need to be made and have a small influence on making that change happen. -AW: Would you ever want to be a United States history teacher again? JG: I will always be a teacher in my head but I do love my new job. If a United States history teacher ever wants a day off, tell them to call me and I will certainty take over. -AW: Are you closer with the students as an assistant principal? JG: No; as a teacher you grow closer to the students. But, as a principal it matters what the teacher and students day looks like. School is about learning not principals.

ERIN PACIFICI

Mr. Ginger, Administrative Intern

In this short interview with Mr. Ginger I learned that he is passionate about his job and making the teachers and students day at school easier. Yes, this job is very stressful but Mr. Ginger proves that even under the most pressure anything is possible.

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Friday, December 6, 2013

Immigration Reform: Stale or Starting?

By Rin Kang Eleven million lives were left in the dark when President Barack Obamas immigration reform proposal was impeded by the recent government shutdown, yet processes to deport unauthorized immigrants are running as powerfully as ever, prompting outraged activists to demonstrate. Supporters of immigrant reform are participating in a crusade of civil disobedience. The hope is to bring Obamas proposal, which includes continued border security and persecution of wayward employers who exploit the undocumented to a clear path to citizenship and the establishment of an efcient illegal immigration system, back from the dead. On October 10th, on the 10th day of the shutdown, over 200 demonstrators and eight Congressmen were arrested for marching on Capitol Hill. Among the members of Congress was Rep. Charles Rangel, who oversees New York 13th district, which is home to a vast Hispanic population. In Tucson, Arizona, Oct. 11th, about 80 protesters outside a federal courthouse successfully prevented deportation hearings for a day. The hearings were set by Operation Streamline, a program that persecutes mainly migrant workers who have committed minor offenses. Several protesters chained themselves onto the wheels of buses and blocked the main streets of the downtown area. Three days later, about an hour away, activists chained themselves together in front of Eloy Detention Center to protest the inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants held within. Some of those awaiting deportation trials were incarcerated for over a year. As a result, families and loved ones were kept apart and the government was heavily billed for the expensive custody of detainees. In fact, according to the Washington Post, deportation is a costly procedure, with an estimated $3 billion spent on rooting out and expelling immigrants who have committed minor offenses. The campaign of civil disobedience will continue until Obama nally halts all deportation systems definitely. Obamas suggested plan involves four major parts: continued border security, persecution of wayward employers who exploit the undocumented, a clear path to citizenship and establishment of an efcient legal immigration system. Visas and green cards would be more readily available for international students, scientists and entrepreneurs seeking opportunities. Children brought illegally by foreign parents would be given a shot at citizenship, provided they attend college or join the Army. Citizenship for these unlawful residents would boost the economy with taxes; those entrepreneurs will employ other Americans, thus opening new jobs. Unfortunately, this impressive plan is late to the party. Obama has already deported over one million immigrants in his rst term as President, according to internationalist.org, a website created by the Internationalist Group, an organization that ghts global social oppression. Thats twice the number of George W. Bush. There were over 320,000 deportations in 2011 alone. The gure was not relieved by Arizonas SB1070, a law passed in 2010 to sift through the massive Latino presence, over a half of which are illegal. Around 47% of all illegal entrances are made through Arizonas border and illegal immigrants make up for six percent of the total state population. The law is now backed by the Supreme Court as of last year, stating that is constitutionally acceptable for the police to check for immigration papers merely based on racial appearance. Although the Democratic-dominant passed a new bill in June to reconstruct Americas immigration laws, the Republican-ruling House of Representatives had a harder time approving the large-scale radical change and is consulting a gradual adjustment through smaller bills. In fact, on November 13th, House speaker John Boehner ofcially rejected the Senates bill. Any hopes for immigration reform in the foreseeable future are now hanging by a fraying string. To unite these two groups of differing political approaches and iron out the kinks in the nations ethic communities, it is up to Obama to take up the mantle as the nations leader and fulll his promise from 2009 to take the next step forward in immigration reform.

Principal With a Passion

By Rachel Smith When speaking to Mrs. Leslie Atkinson, the principal of WHS, one thing is obvious: her passion for the students and for her job outweighs anything else. She also has a strong commitment to the community and to Watertown High School. She explained, By staying in my own community and serving families in my community, in some small way I feel like Im paying back an enormous debt. She can be seen not only roaming the halls of our school, or in her ofce, but often making appearances at WHSs many sporting events, theatrical productions and musical concerts. Mrs. Atkinson was an English teacher and taught English for a decade at WHS ( her alma mater). Her classes included English 9 Enriched, English 11 and Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition. The reason she desired to change her role at WHS is simple. I adored teaching. However, I wanted more responsibility. Instead of affecting 120 kids a day, I wanted to affect 1020. Mrs. Atkinson is aware of some of the negativity associated with WHS but she intends to counter it by promoting the positive things going on. There will always be those who tend to focus on the negative much more than the positive. As a school and as a community, we should be grateful for the advantages and programs WHS provides. Across the state, many school districts have been cutting back on unessential programs such as music, art and physical education and extra-curricular activities. In some districts, budget cutbacks have forced the elimination of academic course offerings, as well. Mrs. Atkinson pointed out that Watertown High School has been one of the lucky few to hang on to all of its academic programs , including many electives such as journalism, public speaking, animal science and robotics. Mrs. Atkinson also commented on her goals for the immediate future: We need to focus on morale. Unfortunately, I see students who arent gratied as they could be because they havent found their niche. Id like to see a shift I the emotional climate of the building. Id like to see every student in this school come in each morning happy to be here and excited about the day ahead. As for the future, Mrs. Atkinson added, I dont see myself doing anything outside of education. I consider myself extremely lucky to be doing what Im doing with the people Im doing it with. I cant imagine doing anything else. While talking about her job, Mrs. Atkinson reected on one of the biggest surprises her job has brought. One of the most delightful surprises has been that in 14 years, no two days have been the same. I get up every morning knowing that today will be an entirely new experience, she said. However, because of that I dont have the opportunity to get to know each and every student as well as I would like. By the time graduation comes, I obviously know who everyone is, but I wish I could know them better. Mrs. Atkinson had one key piece of advice for anyone who wants to go into an educational eld. Pick your school wisely and experience lots of different scenarios and opportunities, she said. Youll know if its right for you. I did.

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Summer School: Taking the Difculty out of Senior Year

By Brittany Kaler This past summer, I spent six weeks waking up at six oclock to go complete three courses to get ahead in my senior year. Choosing to take these courses was fully my decision and that decision is something that was regretted at rst, but I later found out how much it would really benet me and my senior schedule. To many, summer school is looked at negatively. The assumption is that people only take it because they failed a class. However, summer school is a great opportunity to lessen the stress throughout the school year and really let yourself enjoy your last year of high school. This year, classes were held at Case Middle School and you were allowed to miss two days of class and any day after that resulted in being dropped. I believe this really pushes students to come to class because you dont want to fail in summer school or in my case, not get the credits you want to earn. My idea for taking summer school was I would complete the three main courses I would normally have to take during the year and in the end make my schedule much easier. I was given the opportunity by my guidance councilor to leave school early so I could begin working earlier in the day and this was something that appealed to me. The three classes I took were English 12, Participation in Government, and Economics. Both PIG and Eco were online classes and the idea was to log on everyday and complete the provided sections. The course outline was realistic and every section had just enough work that you could learn the subject and not have to worry about overloading yourself with too much. Although it was easy, I found myself procrastinating and not completing all the required work. For the rst three weeks of class it was very simple and I was finishing all the work, but once my summer really began I found that I was rarely logging onto the site (blackboard.moric.) On the other hand, English was going tremendously. Going into school and learning the curriculum like I usually would during the school year made it a lot easier than how I was doing it online. Students who were taking English online also admitted that it was much harder taking it through a computer than sitting in a classroom. My teacher for this class was Mrs. Shear. We read six books throughout the six weeks ( the regular amount during the year is two to three) and these books opened my eyes to so much literature. I honestly learned more from these books during those few weeks than during the previous year in English. While English was heading in the right direction, I was still rarely getting onto PIG and Eco. Overall, sitting in a classroom would have pushed me to do the work and I would have been learning in a different way. I was still passing both classes but taking them in a classroom would have denitely benetted my grade. At the beginning of the six weeks I was very upset with my decision and thought summer school would ruin my summer and it would be monotonous, but by the third week I had high 90s and knew my senior year would be a breeze. In all three classes you are required to take a midterm and a nal. Only having to take one midterm opposed to the tests every ten weeks really made it easier for me. In English class we were all working together and with the smaller number of students, I was asking for help and learning the material was incredibly easy. Even though English was going great, PIG and Eco were still going downhill because I was no longer logging onto the site and as the nal due dates approached, half of my work had not been completed. Rushing to nish all of my work was something I denitely wish I had not done. All three classes ended with high grades even though procrastination was visible in two of them. Summer school is not for someone who is going to wait around and/ or not do all the work. There are both pros and cons to online classes. The idea of experimenting with them is better to do now than to wait till you are in college and it is harder work. I strongly recommend juniors take English and PIG/Eco during the summer; it is a great chance to take a hold of how easy your senior year will be. After having a stressful junior year, a stress free senior year is something most people should want to take advantage of.

Public Privacy: The Disastrous Effects of Social Media

By Andrew Davis A recent survey done by Harris Interactive (taken in late September) shows that more than 4 out of 5 individuals use social media. Of those surveyed, (roughly more than 2000), 64% take personal responsibility for their online safety. However, you may be staggered to know, when those surveyed were asked if they read privacy policies for their social media accounts, 28% said Yes, and a worrying 51% said No. But contrary to popular belief, younger people are starting to care about the privacy of their online accounts. When wild card, Edward Snowden, revealed information on the NSA to the masses in early July, a large majority of people everywhere took to the idea of transparency; that as citizens and as consumers we deserve the right to know not only what social media sites are doing with the information they absorb from their users, but what the government does with that information as well. I have no intention of hiding who I am because I know I have done nothing wrong, Snowden said in June earlier this year. All of the surveillance done by the America federal government is to prevent terrorism. After the September 11th attacks in 2001, an overwhelming amount of people were almost enthusiastic about relinquishing their privacy to prevent something just as terrible from happening again in the future. And thats understandable; the extraordinary lengths the government has gone to however, is not. Ironically, what the government does today might even just be a form of terrorism. And sadly, terrorist attacks in America still happen, as the Boston bombings earlier this year showed people all over the world. Along with the recent government shutdown, public trust in what the government does has reached an all time low of just 19%, compared to 60% after 9/11. As far as how trust affects people in everyday life, The Google+ / YouTube integration in early November revealed that even Google is forcing consumers to use their public face. A huge backlash against this integration has been topping YouTubes news for the past few weeks, and popular content creators on the site have even disabled their comment sections in protest of the change. Anonymity is scarce, and so is trust.

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Friday, December 6, 2013

Mr. Lennoxs Pick for Star Athletes of the Fall Season

Julia Marilley Varsity Swimming Participation: 5 years

Kenny Schimpf Varsity Soccer Participation: 12 years

Jarrod Bellinger Varsity Baseball Participation: 12 years

Kali Waite Varsity Cheerleading Participation: 12 years

James Lamson Varsity Cross Country Participation: 3 years

Kira Kolb Varsity Soccer Participation: 3 years

Rachel Smith Varsity Tennis Participation: 3 years

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Should High School Start Later Than Elementary?

By Vanessa Teamoh Its no big secret that waking up in the morning is difcult for many of us. It doesnt matter how long weve been doing it, waking up early just hasnt gotten any easier. Who wants to get up at 5 am after playing a long sports match, doing chores, studying all night for an important test and only getting a couple hours of sleep? High school students are very busy when it comes to school, extracurricular activities, and our social lives. With so much to do, getting enough sleep is a rare occurrence. Even if we werent so busy, getting to sleep at a decent time still proves to be a bit difcult for us. Why is that? Teenagers bodies are simply wired differently from an adults body or a young childs. Some researchers believe that our lack of sleep is due to a biological effect that causes teens body clocks to shift, making us stay up and wake up later than adults and children. This in turn, makes it hard to get up for school. Classes for high school students typically begin around 7:30 am, which means students have to be in school before then so they can make it to their rst period classes on time. While were scrambling to catch the bus, younger children are still asleep. They have a privilege that we do not have. Elementary students usually dont have to be in school until at least an hour after us. Some older children dont nd this very fair. Younger kids are known to wake up earlier and not be as tired as others because they go to sleep at an earlier time. So to some people, it would make more sense if the younger children went to school before the older kids. Others however, believe the school start times are ne just the way they are. After discussing the topic with Mrs. Sprague, an English teacher at Watertown High School, she agreed that high school students would benet from a later start time. She believes high school should start at least an hour or thirty minutes later than it does now. She explained that over the years, she has noticed that her students were more awake after a 2 hour delay than when class originally starts. Cristalle Kao-Johnson, an 11th grade student at Watertown High, said something similar to Mrs. Spragues statement. She said that when she lived in Alaska, school started at eight in the morning. The students were more awake and attentive compared to the students in Watertown High School and because of that, she thinks they were able to get better grades and pay more attention to their lessons. Nic Price, also in 11th grade at Watertown, does not think theres anything wrong with how early we get up to go to school. He stated that most places of employment go in around the same time as high schools. To him, if we had nine to ve or eight to three school hours, how would we get used to getting up in the morning to

ERIN PACIFICI

A changing biological clock causes teens to be tired.

go out and do something, like go to work? There needs to be some sort of discipline. Both sides make valid points. Even though starting school later could improve academic success and benefit the students, changing this would interfere with after school activities. Sporting events and club meetings would be altered to t a new schedule. It would also affect those students who work after school or have other activities that would be disrupted by the time change. Some students simply do not like the idea of being in school late. Not on-

ly would extracurricular activities shift, but the busing schedule would be affected too. In the end, this topic has its pros and cons. Although it might benet students greatly, changing the school start time could cause conflicts with other things that are important to high school students. Even though its difcult, early morning wake up calls arent going to go away anytime soon. Having too much homework and plenty of activities doesnt make things easier, but sleep is important so try your best to get plenty of it.

WHS Adapts to the Ever-Changing World of Technology

By Erin Pacici No more food fights in the high school cafeteria? No more sleeping students in a study hall? There can only be one cause for these happenings: There is something more entertaining holding the students attention. Recently, at Watertown High School, entertainment and productivity are made possible with the new allowance of cell phones and other electronic devices during the school day. Debuting this school year, the administration at Watertown High School has made the decision to allow students the use of their cell phones and other electronic devices with use restricted to specified zones. This new policy is effective as a trial for the first semester of the 2013-2014 school year. This electronics policy is based on a system of zones which makes it clear to students when they are and arent allowed the use of their electronics. For example, a red zone indicates an area of the school where students are never allowed to use their devices such as the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms. A yellow zone, found in classrooms, indicates that electronics are only allowed with teacher permission. Finally, green zones, such as the cafeteria, are areas where electronic usage is always allowed. A recent survey at Watertown High School showed that when students were asked whether or not they thought this new policy should be continued, 93% said yes. Of this group of students, 49% said that they nd the new policy to be helpful and have found improvement in their academic day as they are now able to use tools within their devices such as calculators and search engines to aid them in their studies. When asked what they liked least about the new policy, 35% said they didnt like being denied use of their devices in the school hallways which are considered red zones. Other factors of the policy that students do not like include not being allowed to take pictures and being restricted from use with zones. Now, this change only seems right as over the years technology continues to evolve and is constantly becoming incorporated into schools. This also gives students a new level of trust and responsibility. By only being allowed to use their cell phones in certain areas, students will have to discipline themselves to abide by these regulations. With great change comes great responsibility. It is important to remember that the use of cell phones and other electronic devices is a privilege, not a right, and when used appropriately, will work in a students favor.

BRITTANY KALeR

Just a few of the cell phones that belong to journalism students.

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Friday, December 6, 2013

The Importance of Knowing Thy Neighbor

By Marina Rancourt The days of borrowing a cup of sugar from the house next door are nearly gone. The friendly ties that help link members of the community are slowly being severed. What used to be time-honored traditions, like including your neighbors on the list of Christmas card recipients, have dwindled before our eyes. Welcoming gifts to bring to the new family on the street and inviting the so-and-sos to dinner every Saturday are becoming ideals only witnessed in movies. In a recent poll of one hundred WHS students, it was discovered that less than half of the group would describe their relationship with their neighbors as pleasant. Fifty-seven of them view their relationship with their neighbors as nonexistent, limited to morning greetings, or even hostile. Of these people, nearly all of them voiced wishes of enhanced relations, and four expressed surprise at the cut-and-dry notion that they simply could not recall their neighbors names. Nevertheless, the fact remains that there is a decline in sociability between neighbors. In order to develop a solution to this, we should rst examine the cause. Perhaps this began with our endeavors to keep-up the Jones next doorand we built a fence too high to converse over? Or maybe we have isolated ourselves from each other as we utilize technology and general mindsetsthat center on privacy, arguably to the point of detachment from others? While any or all of these may be the reason for this deterioration, it is up to our community to become more proactive in the effort of knowing our neighbors. However, all is not lost; examples of camaraderie are still present in our community. I am fortunate enough to be a part of one such example. On a small driveway-esque street lives a man named Eugene Abell, a gentleman with a gravelly voice and a penchant for stories, Mr. Abell has enchanted quite a few people. He has earned the fond title of Mayor-attributed to his many years of living on his street, and many enjoy his company, including my family. Though I have recently moved to another part of town, Mr.Abell remains a touchstone in my life. Mr. Abell has found a place in my parents hearts, and my own, as more than just the man from next door, but as a close family friend. Hopefully, as the years continue to pass by, we can return to some of the traditions of old. I hope that I speak for many, if not for all of us, when I say that Im looking forward to a future in a more close-knit community.

Why Social Justice Became a National Punchline

By Nicholas Price In this day and age of information being easily available at your ngertips, the internet seems like a perfect place to publish your ideas. Due to unforeseen consequences, many people dont realize that saying absurd things and opinions can make you seem like a joke. And being an internet joke is hard to change. Social Justice itself is a very noble and worthy cause. Social justice has a basis in unity and equality. Such causes as feminism and the civil rights movement are technically social justice movements. However, many internet bloggers seem to have an inaccurate idea of what social justice is. Such people are called Social Justice Warriors. These Social Justice Warriors throw around words like oppression and privilege to seem smarter than they really are. Many of these people also take rather violent stances on many issues. For instance, many of these bloggers want their oppressors to subjugate like their groups have been, even if they never actually experienced any oppression. They are also known for doing things like invalidating peoples experiences if they are in any majority (Such as male rape victims or white Irish people who have faced racism), or telling opposing people to kill themselves. The biggest problem is that many dont know what they are talking about. Many have never actually been oppressed, and nd the littlest things offensive. Sites like Feminist Frequency, Jezebel and some articles of Cracked also fall under the area of not knowing what they are talking about. They create blogs on sites like Tumblr that spread hatred and ignorance instead of equality. Many are also huge hypocrites. They whine about people anonymously suggesting they commit suicide, and then go and tell their opposition the same things. They yell, scream and holler about racism or sexism and then make white people or men out like theyre scum, no matter if its someone nice or someone who actually thinks negatively. There are many incidents such as when a person said she was a woman of color and then was found to just be a white girl. In response, people have made blogs pointing out the deceit and hypocrisy of the Social Justice Warriors. Tumblr blogs like ughsocialjustice and thatsnotevenaprivilege have taken to responding to false claims by the warriors to set things right. I interviewed Grace English (via email), also known as the Lesbian One, a moderator for ughsocialjustice. She found out about social justice warriors through social media, specically, through Tumblr, as this is where most of their work is centered. They are so prevalent that its hard to miss them. I also asked why she runs the blog pointing out their inaccuracies. To me, its important to raise awareness about aws of the Tumblr social justice system, said English, Whilst social justice is a good thing and something I try my hardest to advocate for both on and ofine, the messages and signals sent out by this specic group give the movement, as a whole, a negative reputation; a negative reputation for a movement that aims to promote equality is one of the worst things it could have, and the aim of the blog is to counteract this by calling out ridiculous aspects and helping people to understand where the line is drawn. When asked about their buzzwords, she responded that These buzzwords are important, but so is this context. Thin privilege, attractive privilege, ect. Are all pretty insulting to those who are genuinely oppressed. Speaking as a lesbian, I can safely say that straight privilege is a thing and is shockingly prevalent, and certainly something that people should be made aware of; speaking as a conventionally unattractive person, I do not feel oppressed on anywhere near the same level as I do for my sexuality. However, while there are people like English who work to correct inaccuracies, there are some people who just discredit social justice without knowing the actual basis behind it due to the ignorance. These rather unsavory sites, along with the instability of Social Justice Warriors, allowed a ne cause to turn into a stupid joke.

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MRS. FREGOE CRONK

Abby Wells and Brittany Kaler put together props for this years Holiday Ball.

WHS Holiday Ball 2013

By Rachel Smith and Abby Wells Its a new school year and that means Holiday ball is in order. This years theme, which is chosen by the senior class, is New York City Christmas. New and exciting things will incorporated into the Holiday Ball by the students on the committee. Decorating the gym to look like Rockefeller Center, complete with the big tree in the center of the gym, is one of the many things that will make this years Holiday Ball bigger and better than ever. The students plan to go above and beyond this year and are hoping to make this Holiday Ball one to remember. This year will be different; I believe it will be the best one ever, commented Brittany Kaler. Students should wear something dressy and classy for this event. For girls, this means a sparkly, festive dress or a nice pair of pants with a dressy top. Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, and Debs are all great places to nd affordable, great looking outts. For men, a simple button-down shirt and loose tie provide the perfect laid back, but still classy look that this event requires. Burlington Coat and Kohls are both good places to nd these essentials. And if shopping isnt your forte, do something different: ask a friend to borrow a dress or a tie; and remember, having a swapping party is a fun an inexpensive way to get what you need. There are many enjoyable alternatives to going to house parties after this dance. Consider bowling, dining out at Dennys or another late night restaurant, or getting together with a small group of friends. Regardless of what you choose to do, dont miss this danceit promises to be the best ever.

Since You Asked

By Brittany Kaler and Andrew Davis Dear Mr./Miss Advice: I need some advice. I really like a boy, who also seems interested in me. I want to ask him to the Holiday Ball, but I dont know if it is appropriate to do so. Can I ask him to the dance, without looking desperate? Please let me know what you are thinking. Sincerely, Confused Dear Confused, There are a lot of subjective underlying factors that could hinder or promote, in any case, your situation. There have been, for what seems like forever, a number of societal notions that a certain gender has specic roles in society. It is generally expected that a guy will ask a girl to the dance, or out on a date. This is not because its their job, but almost always because they are obligated to do so by society. But dont let that stop you, do what feels right in your heart. From my perspective, do I think that it would look desperate? I suppose it depends on how others are making you feel. If you are the one who is afraid, dont worry about it. I think that you should ask him. Who cares if it is appropriate for a girl to ask a guy? Who cares how you look to others? If its in your heart and you know it is something that you want to do, then you should take the risk. You might be pleasantly surprised with how it turns out. Dont let your fears stop you from being happy and remember, you never know what will happen until you try. Asking someone to any dance can be nerve-wracking, whether it is Prom, or a simple dance, like Holiday Ball. The last thing about which anyone should be concerned is whether or not you look desperate. Mr. Advice When it comes to asking someone to a dance, I can tell you that I have never done so. I believe that the boy should ask the girl, but that is just the way that I have been brought up. Things are changing now, and it truly is acceptable for you to ask the boy to go to the dance with you. Before you ask, however, consider the fact that you could be rejected. Dont let this stop youconsider these famous words from A Cinderella Story: Never let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game. So, if you really like that boy and he seems interested, just ask him. It never hurts to have twenty seconds of insane courage! Miss Advice

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Cychronicle

Friday, December 6, 2013

By Emily Leopard-Davis This past August, I had the opportunity to meet my dads great aunt, Fairbell Jenkins. This extraordinary woman has lived through many historic events including the Great Depression, World War II, Jim Crow laws, the Civil Rights Movement, the Kennedy assassination and everything in between. Ms. Jenkins was born Pharaoh Bell Lloyd on December 24, 1924, in Camden, S. C. Because she didnt have a birth certicate, she changed her name to Fairbell when she went to school. She did this because she thought Pharaoh Bell sounded like a boys name. This was just the rst time that Fairbell used her quiet, disciplined manner to get what she wanted. Aunt Fairbell lived in a segregated South. My grandmother, her niece, said that there werent any problems as long as you stayed where you were supposed to. Fairbell said the same thing, but that didnt mean that it was OK. She believed that African Americans should have the right to vote without intimidation and that they should have equal rights. As a young woman in college, she participated in sit-ins to support the Civil Rights movement. Ms. Jenkins remembers listening to F.D.R. declare war after Pearl Harbor on the radio when she was 17. Her family had four radios because her brothers always argued about what they should listen to. To solve this problem their father bought one for each of them. At this time it was normal for a family to have one radio if they had one at all, so her family having four showed that they were a family of means. This was the rst historical event and family story that she mentioned. Growing up, her father told her, If you

Fairbell Jenkins Has Quite a Tale to Tell

EMILY LEOpARD-DAVIS

Fairbell Jenkins

have the means, you should be educated. Because her family had the money to send her to college, she went to become a teacher. She did this at a time when few white women went to college and always recognized that this was a privilege. She taught second and third grade, along with raising six children. Fairbell remembers hearing about President Kennedys assassination and crying.

She couldnt understand why this would happen to a person who provided so much hope for the future. She felt that the world had gone crazy with assassinations during this period of time. In ve years, Malcolm X, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King were all assassinated and all were ghting for the Civil Rights of all Americans.

Fairbell always hoped that she would see the rst African American president elected but didnt think it would happen in her lifetime. She said that when President Obama was elected she was proud. When he was re-elected she was speechless. To have this happen after growing up in the south during Jim Crow laws showed her that the country was moving forward.

There Goes the Empire: Crisis in the U.S.

By Jacob Khan Our nation is in crisis as the federal government no longer has a foundation to rest on. We have congressional representatives who would rather go through hell and back than to cross party lines and nd common ground as well as a president who is unable to control the momentum of the disorder. The American people are beginning to question the legitimacy of their government as they start to echo the same questions asked by early Americans just before the liquidation of the articles of confederation which made the federal government too weak to support a united country. Mean while as these echoes begin to become more persistent the once deaf ears of the government are beginning to hear again, but is it too little too late? According to a CNN/ORC poll, 87% of Americans disapprove of the job Congress is doing and 53% of Americans disapprove of President Obamas job. The numbers seem to speak for themselves; the American people are clearly dissatisfied with their government. As the voices of the American people grow louder by the day, the eyes of the world stare in shock as they bear witness to the worlds most civilized nation struggle to keep the pros of democracy from uncovering the cons of its reality. As the U.S. economic recovery continues to be plagued by the game of politics, our most feared enemies are taking notice. Our government continues to ignore and attempt to forget issues such as the debt ceiling, budget crisis and credit default, among many other issues. This persistent pattern of kicking the can down the road is wearing heavily on the United States and is beginning to disclose the weaknesses of our government which are quickly revealing themselves from behind the strength and power of our military defense. Terrorist groups like Al-Qaida and the Taliban arent staring in shock but rather with gratication as the American empire is suppressed by its own hand. The world has watched great empires like the Roman, Greek and Ottomans collapse; all the while, the world was left awkwardly standing on the sidelines not knowing what to say or what actions to take. Once again the world is left speechless and stiff as the United States drifts ever closer to what can only be perceived as the impending collapse of its once glorious global empire.

BRITTANY KALER

Will America fall because of the foolish mistakes of politicians?