September 19, 2007 - Minooka Community High School District #111

Peace Pipe Chatter
Good call!
September 19, 2007
Vol. 93, Edition 1
New officiating class at MCHS, p. 15
Decoding Girls:
the meaning behind
her words
p. 8
Local
Star:
Mitch Pursell in Chicago’s
High School Musical
p. 7
Pump Up the
Volume
Homecoming 2007
p. 5
Editors’ Note
07-08 PPC Issues
Welcome back everyone! We would like to officially
introduce you to the first issue of the 2007-2008 PPC.
With a new group of journalists and editors, we hope
that you like the improvements we’re making to better
the paper. We also are trying very hard to promote a
new concept: The Chatter Room. This new version can
be found soon at www.peacepipechatter.com.
If you have any comments or concerns, feel free to
inform us through a letter. You can drop off a letter to
room 197, or e-mail our adviser at mthomas@mchs.net.
Thank you for your support and patience as we adjust
to the new school year.
Best Wishes,
Jeffrey Beguin
Brittany Pendry
and Jessica Pieszchala
Editors-in-Chief
Peace Pipe Chatter
Minooka Community High School
301 S. Wabena Avenue
Minooka, IL 60447
(815) 467-2140 Voicemail: ext. 264
ppc@mchs.net
Editors-in-Chief:
Jessica Pieszchala
Brittany Pendry
Jeff Beguin
School News:
D.J. Valera
Front Page Editors:
Jessica Pieszchala
Advertising Manager:
Eric Reynolds
2 Designed by Jeff Beguin
Arts & Entertainment Editors:
Kristi Lawrence
Iman Bradley
Zach Nabor
Photo Editors:
Sam Menne
Jacky Kaluzny
Amanda Alexander
Lauren Keers
Angela Mateo
Ryan Miller
Features:
Christa Jenkins
Sarah Silverman
Sam Kelley
Sports Editors:
Tommy Stokke
Mike Noe
News Editors:
Brittany Pendry
9/19/07
1/24/08
10/10/07
2/11/08
10/31/07
2/26/08
11/16/07
4/02/08
12/11/07
4/22/08
PPC Chatter Room
Managing Editors: Sam Kelley,
Lauren Keers
Opinions: Megan McEvilly
News: Amanda Alexander
School News: Sam Menne
Features: Ryan Miller
Arts & Entertainment: Ryan Kelley
Sports: Carissa Weyer
Advisors:
Mr. Matt Thomas,
Ms. Laura Erion
Copy Editors:
Eric Reynolds
Megan McEvilly
Sarah Silverman
Carissa Weyer
Journalism 1:
Susan Bahret
Kaitlynn Barker
Sarah Delaney
Breanne Downey
Michael Horath
Amanda James
Eric Klank
Morgan McMurtry
Cassie O’Malley
Chris Rolnicki
Taylor Roop
Jackie Schmidt
Sarah Stropus
David Tibble
Sydney Trepel
Submission Policy:
The Peace Pipe Chatter strongly encourages suggestions and/or
responses to material printed on its pages. Letters to the Editor
should be submitted to Mr. Thomas’s mailbox or to a Peace Pipe
Chatter editor.
While submission does not guarantee publication, PPC staff
members will do their best to respond to all admissions. Submissions will not be returned. All submissions are subject to editing
and will not be printed if they are considered to be inappropriate. They must be signed but may be printed anonymously upon
request.
9 . 1 9 . 0 7
www.Myspace VS Facebook. com
Editorials
P
PC
which one they feel more comfortmy friends have been doing. My er to use than Facebook.”
I think what people have a hard able with. Even though I joined
profile picture hardly takes up any
space. Let’s face it, if we put the time doing is adding applications. Myspace way before Facebook, I
picture up there, we do not need to Believe me, I was hesitant at first; find it significantly more entertainAngela is... thinking that Facebe reminded what it is every two but it turned out to be so much fun. ing.
book is better than Myspace.
Ready to compare and contrast?
seconds. People on Facebook join There are plenty of applications
Like the majority of the teento
choose
from:
Fortune
cookie,
Myspace
recently added the stagroups
like
it
is
going
out
of
age population,
tus and mood
style.
Seriously,
it
is
inI have both a
section.
Try
sane.
Facebook and a
and
tell
me
the
In
order
to
receive
a
Myspace.
creator
of
Mysfair
opinion,
I
asked
peo
A
s
pace, Tom Anple with both a Myspace
I
click
the
derson, didn’t
and
a
Facebook
which
“Home” button
steal that from
they
preferred.
on my Myspace,
F a c e b o o k ’s
Dan
Hayes,
junior,
said,
I can see a varistatus update
“MySpace
is
so
much
ety of things.
section.
better
than
Facebook.
The most obTo address the
You
can’t
even
customvious is my
top
friends reize
your
Facebook
page
profile picture
cently
adopted
and
make
it
look
how
and my name.
by
Facebook,
you
want.
Also,
FaceScrolling down
I know, it copbook doesn’t allow HT- The Facebook page differs from the Myspace homepage.
I can check if I
Photo
taken
by
PPC
Photo
Editor
Angela
Mateo
ied Myspace.
MLs.”
have anything
But what
Facebook
doesn’t
alFeatured
above
is
the
Myspace
homepage.
Photo
taken
by
PPC
new: messages,
excuse
does
low
users
to
change
Photo
Editor
Angela
Mateo
comments, phoMyspace
have
up
their
page
or
put
up
to comments,
HTMLs. While some peo- causes, Mardi Gras, zombies, mu- for adding picture albums; a comfriend requests,
ple
may
see this as a flaw, I see it sic. I recommend that all Face- ment back button, similar to FaceNow,
to
explore
this
so-called
birthdays, event invitations. Below
as
a
benefit.
That way, when you book users add the Texas Hold’em book’s write on [person’s name]’s
complicated
Facebook.
Let
me
that, the most recent bulletins postwall button; and bulletin comvisit
other
people’s
pages, it does Poker application!
start
out
by
saying,
that
Faceed and the friends on my top eight
ments?
“I
think
MySpace
is
better,
since
not
take
a
long
time
to
load;
when
book
has
the
simplest
looking
are visible. But since most readers
Now that my point of view has
I’m
more
used
to
it.
Facebook
is
it
does
load,
the
user
is
not
bomhomepage;
advertisements
are
not
already know the layout, I’ll get
been
so eloquently expressed, I
barded
with
bauble.
pretty
good
too,”
said
sophomore
crowding
the
entire
display.
After
I
to my point. Sure there are tons
would
like to ask: Which is better,
Junior
Kiani
Kotrba
said,
“I
like
Dave
Holm.
sign
in,
I’m
at
my
homepage.
Imof things to check on my homepFor some people, it is a matter of Myspace or Facebook?
mediately I can view what all of [Myspace] better because it’s easiby
age, but what takes up the most
space? Advertisements! They are
unavoidable on Myspace! With the
exception of viewing another person’s page, everywhere you click,
there is an advertisement waiting.
Angela Mateo /
Photo Editor
by Sarah Silverman /
PPC Features Editor
Danger!: Fuel Level is Low!
Beep, Beep, Beep!! You’re
alarm goes off and as you roll over
to hit the snooze button you sigh
realizing that it’s only 5 am. Its
pitch dark out and you have to go
to school? Yuck!
With this early-bird concept
comes the question, how are we
supposed to stay awake in class
when we’re getting up at the crack
of dawn? The answer appears simple, caffeine, but there’s a catch.
Even with getting up so inhumanely early, teachers do not allow anything but water in class.
“There is no way that I can stay
awake, or at least pay attention, in
class without some source of fuel,
and water just does not cut it,” said
Samantha Claysen, junior.
9 . 1 9 . 0 7
If teachers want students to be
alert and focused in class then they
need to allow them to have caffeine. When kids are falling asleep
and zoning out, nothing a teacher
is saying makes it to their brains.
Students need an extra kick to
keep them going.
Senior Brooke Gramm said, “I
can totally tell the difference in my
performance in class when I’ve had
caffeine and when I haven’t. Without caffeine, no matter how hard I
try to focus, I can’t; however, with
caffeine I’m alert and learning,
even at seven in the morning.”
The other issue with this schedule is food. Juniors and seniors
go through four ninety-minute
class periods without eating. The
school’s theory behind this being
acceptable is that when we get
done it’s only a bit past noon so
we’re fine going through school
with no food. Be that as it may,
students’ appetites are not based
on the time of day, but rather how
long they have been awake and
functioning.
When students are awake at 5
am by 10 o’clock their blood sugar
starts to run low and students energy level decreases. With that, attention spans get shorter and participation in class drops.
“By my third hour class I’m
starving! I can’t even focus because all’s I can hear is my stomach growling and I get a horrible
headache because I’m so hungry,”
said Danielle Kenney, junior.
However, don’t take what I’m
saying wrong. Students can get
up twenty minutes early and eat
breakfast in the morning; nonetheless, after a couple hours of school
(i.e. 10 o’clock) students are hungry again.
According to The Facts About
Fitness.Com, “Once a teen goes
three hours without eating, their
body passes a tipping point and
signals your body to launch its natural ‘starvation protection mechanism’ or SPM. When SPM is
switched on, your body preserves
the most calorie-rich tissue in the
body to ensure your survival. That
tissue is body fat. Anytime you allow more than three hours to pass
without eating your body not only
preserves body fat, but worst of all
it begins to cannibalize precious
fat-burning
muscle. Yes, by waiting more
than three hours to eat you lose
muscle tissue.”
If students were permitted to eat
and drink in class, they would be
more productive. With having the
early schedule, juniors and seniors
find it a necessity to do something
to stay awake, and caffeine may be
the only solution.
Junior Jake Weber is found drinking water in class. Photo taken
by Chatter Room News Editor
Designed by Angela Mateo
3
PP
C
News
Never-ending
n
o
i
ct
u
r
t
s
n
o
C
by
Kristi Lawrence /
A&E Editor
Many students and faculty here
at MCHS will agree that the construction that is going on all around
Minooka is ridiculous. Roads are
being torn up, ramps are being reconstructed, and sewage pipes are
being added. The construction is
bad enough, especially when it is
trying to be done all at once.
“I-355 is almost done, but
they can’t finish a small town like
Minooka. I think if they had T.J.
Lambert do it, it would have been
completed a while ago,” said Ms.
Allie Beasley, campus monitor.
P.T. Ferro is the contractor for
downtown Minooka, and they
have been undergoing this process
for more than six months now.
Many people agree that it doesn’t
seem to be making any progress.
D Construction is now in charge
of completing the uncompleted
tasks.
“All of P.T. Ferro’s work is
done and was completed ahead
of schedule,” said Luke Kessling,
Estimator/Project Manager for
P.T. Ferro.
“The construction in Minooka
is a hassle, and has way too much
traffic, therefore, I try to stay out
of Minooka,” said Ross Hutin, senior.
Getting to and from school was
bad enough last year. Now with all
the hassle and rage people have
toward the construction, things
are getting worse.
“I think it’s dumb how they are
trying to do it all at once, instead
of one section at a time,” said junior Mike Goodale.
“I think it is unnecessary because businesses are losing business,” said Mike Kashuda, junior.
Developers are thinking about
adding a parkway that would connect Channahon and Minooka,
which would make transportation
routes to the shared school easier.
This project would cost $29 million.
People are definitely getting
turned around, lost and confused.
Frustrating students try to go back
and forth to school in a timely
matter as well as they can.
Making road improvements
was anticipated to be done by late
summer, but now that they are past
their deadline, who knows when it
will be completed.
R
E
S
I
G
N
S
Attorney General
by
Megan McEvilly /
Copy Editor
Attorney General Alberto R.
Gonzales announced his unexpected resignation on Aug. 27
in Washington before the Congress. Mr. Gonzales appeared to
be pleased and content when he
announced that he would be leaving.
An administration official said
that Mr. Gonzales called the president, who was in Texas, to offer
his resignation. The president denied the offer, but wanted to talk
to him face-to-face first. Gonzales flew out to Texas, and over
lunch, him and President Bush
agreed to the resignation.
Mr. Gonzales told his press
spokesman, at the time, to deny
the reports of his resignation.
The White House spokesmen was
as shocked as everyone else. This
was truly unexpected.
President Bush stood by Gonzales’ side during rough times.
Earlier this month, President
Bush dismissed accusations that
Mr. Gonzales had misled a congressional questioning.
“I don’t think he should have
resigned from the White House.
He didn’t have a good reason to,”
stated junior Trish Chudy.
According to an official, “The
unfair treatment that he’s been on
the receiving end of has been a
distraction for the department.”
This could be part of the reason
for Gonzales’ surprising resignation.
“I don’t know who he is, so he
must have not been that important,” said junior Tori Tobin.
However, he is not the first official to leave President Bush’s
side. Karl Rove (deputy chief of
staff) had also stepped down two
weeks ago.
“It’s very difficult for appointed politicians, like Gonzales, to do
a good job when all kinds of top
down pressures comes from both
Republicans and Democrats,”
stated U.S. History Teacher, Mr.
Kevin Murphy.
Gonzales’ resignation will be
in effect on Sept. 17. President
Bush has not decided to choose
a new replacement for Gonzales;
however, his position will not be
open for long. A few candidates
up for taking the job consist of:
Christopher Cox, head of Securities and Exchange Commission and former congressman;
Michael Chertoff, the secretary
of homeland security who is a
former federal judge; and former
deputy attorney general, Larry
R a bi d ba t s a r e c l o s e t o h o m e
by
Angela Mateo /
Photo Editor
Illinois state public health director warns citizens to stay away
from rabid bats. Most people do
not believe that they are a serious
threat in Illinois. The common
knowledge of rabid bats is that
they only live in far away places.
Junior Cassie Senffer said,
4
“Bats are extremely gross.
When I was little and in Wisconsin, a whole bunch of them
flew over my head and I’ve
been scared of them ever since.
They are so creepy.”
Not only are rabid bats
creepy, but they are also very
contagious.
“I went to Austin, Texas, and
under this one bridge, there were
thousands of bats that came out
Designed by Brittany Pendry
The number of
bats testing
positive for rabies
in northern
Illinois has tripled
since 2006
at sunset. It was really neat, but
creepy at the same time,” said
junior Stephanie Pierce.
Although most experiences
seem to be in another state,
encounters have immensely
increased in Illinois. The number of bats testing positive for
rabies in northern Illinois has
tripled since 2006.
Mr. Matt Marino, social
studies, said, “Rabid bats? All I
know is that in order to cure rabies, you have to get a series of
shots in your stomach.”
Rabies can be spread by a bite
or simply coming in contact with
saliva. Avoid rabid bats at all costs.
When coming in contact with one,
immediately call a veterinarian or
health department. Also, have the
bat tested for rabies because there
is a risk of infection.
9 . 1 9 . 0 7
School News PPC
A Night to Remember
By Jacki Kaluzny / PPC Photograper
Sept. 29th, a date you might want to write down
for it’s this year’s Homecoming dance. After much
success with last years “Las Vegas” theme, the new
idea of “Pump up the Volume” is hoping to be better
than ever.
“Homecoming will be off the wall this year,” said
sophomore student council representative Megan
McMillin. “Be there
or be square.”
Like last year,
student council is
decorating the halls.
Because of the theme being “The Soundtrack to our
Lives,” each hall will be decorated to a different genre
of music such as country, hip-hop, pop, and rock.
“Homecoming brings fun and excitement to the
MCHS students,” said sophomore Trevor Casserly.
To bring that excitement, the students will have
different dress-up days during Homecoming week
and activities during lunch.
“We wanted to get the students more involved this
Homecoming Week Events
year,” said McMillin, “and we hope the lunch activities will help do that.”
But don’t forget everyone’s favorite: the football
game.
“The football game is defiantly is the best part of
Homecoming week,” said senior Stephanie Colvin.
Be sure to be there, sporting your Minooka pride,
on Sept. 28th at 7 p.m. when our football team faces
off against the Romeoville Spartans.
M o s t
important,
remember
to purchase
your tickets
to the dance. All tickets will be sold during lunches
the week of and before Homecoming for around
$10.
Also, during lunches student council will be selling their signature Homecoming t-shirts with this
years saying being “pump up the volume.”
So girls, go get your dresses and guys buy your
ties, for Homecoming 2007 will be a night to remember.
“Be there or be square.”
Mon. Sept. 24-Battle of the Bands
from 6-10 p.m.
Tues. Sept. 25-Mr. & Mrs. Indian
from 7-9 p.m.
Wed. Sept. 26-Powder Puff Game
from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Thurs. Sept. 27-Assembly from
7-8:30 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 28-Football Game at 7 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 29-Homecoming Dance
from 6-10 p.m.
What’s All the Chattter About?
room is to be able to put more articles on the website. Especially
more timely articles and articles
Coming soon is a new edition written by the Journalism I stuto the MCHS website: The Chat- dents.
“Most articles that the Jourter Room. The Chatter Room is
nalism
I students write do not get
an online website for our school’s
a
chance
to be seen in the paper,”
newspaper, and it is going to add
said
Sam
Kelley, co-managing
a whole new twist on our school’s
editor
for
The
Chatter Room.
paper.
“I
think
our
stories are good
There are many goals that the
and
that
they
should
be read,” said
PPC staff has for the website but
Kaitlynn
Barker,
sophomore.
right
“On
now,
t
h
e
t h e r e “Our main goal is to make
website
is one
the website more known to y o u
main
will be
g o a l the students,” said Keers
able to
being
acces s
f o all arcused
ticles
that
appeared
in
the
PPC,
on.
plus
any
additional
articles
writ“Our main goal is to make
ten,”
said
Mr.
Matt
Thomas,
the
the website more known to the
Journalism
advisor.
students,” said Lauren Keers, coCheck out the website at www.
managing editor for The Chatter
Peacepipechatter.com
to see what
Room.
The purpose of the chatter all the chatter is about.
By Carissa Weyer /
PPC Copy Editor
9 . 1 9 . 0 7
by Sam Menne /
Chatter Room School News Editor
Walking down the hallways of Minooka Community High School, a typical student may hear a
few rude comments, but a gay student will hear far
worse, far more terrible things. A few years ago, a
Gay Straight Alliance
club was created to provide a safe place for
students in the gay
community,
and
supporters to
express
themselves.
Sadly, this club
died, and students
ceased to go to it. But this
year a group of students are trying to get it going again.
“I like the concept,” said Kristen Neville, senior, “and I think many people in this
school jump to conclusions too quickly. This is a
way to prevent that.”
Senior Zach Wieder said, “GSA is a pretty rad
idea. I’m not about the harsh treatment of gays,
that’s uncool.”
As it was in previous years, Ms. Jen Gabel, an
English teacher at MCHS, will sponsor the GSA,
with myself as president, and Angela Mateo, junior,
as vice president.
One of the biggest aspects of the GSA is that it
is not only for gay students. It is for anyone and
everyone who supports gay rights, has gay friends
GS
A
Co
m
or relatives, or just wants to have a good time with
open-minded people.
Many friends of people in the gay community go
through the teasing and ridicule that gay people do.
Even if these supporters don’t get the full force of
the rude remarks and hate crimes against gays, they
still need a place to feel welcome and express themselves with their friends.
That is exactly what the GSA is hoping to accomplish.
“This club is not just for students in the gay community.” Gabel said. “It is also for those who support the gay community, or are involved in it in any
way.”
Senior Brittany Rossi said, “I think it is a
good idea because it gives kids a chance
to just be themselves, and have a good
time.”
This year the GSA hopes to
have a few movie nights,
group
discussions,
p o s sibly a trip to
Boystown in
Chicago, among
many
other
things that are still
in the works. If you
have any ideas we
would love to hear what you have to say.
If you do have any ideas, or want to know more,
please contact Gabel, Mateo, or myself.
es
Ba
ck
Designed by D.J. Valera
5
PP
C
Features
When does competition go too far?
by
Mike Noe / Sports Editor
influenced the double murder, suicide.
Many other athletes have been caught
using performance-enhancing drugs, which
ended their career.
Just like sports, school academics can
cause
students to push their body and minds to
the limit by taking too many honor classes
as they compete to be the smartest. A lot
of these students end up stressed out and
un-happy because of all the work. Students
often have competitions in class to see who
gets the better test grade or overall grade
in the class.
Ms. Cathy Smith, Guidance Counselor,
said, “Cheating to be able to get the grades
would be going too far.”
Too many people believe that being No.
1 is all thatís important in life.
When people think of sports or just
playing a board game, we think of competing
to be number one.
Some people think of competition as
a good thing, they believe it drives us to
better ourselves, but that is not always the
case. Some people take being No. 1 so far
that they might be harming themselves.
Fabian Aguilera, sophomore, said,
“Competition makes us better because you
are trying to beat someone so you practice
even more.”
Earlier this year on January 12, 28 yearold woman named Jennifer Strange died
shortly after participating in a radio contest
called “Hold your wee for a Wii.” The
contest was whoever could drink the most
water without using the
bathroom, would win a
Nintendo Wii.
Strange died from
water
intoxication
because she drank too
much water and held
it inside her for too
long. This is just one of
the many examples of
someone putting their
body at risk to win.
Some
professional
athletes put their body
at risk by taking steroids
to improve their strength
and stamina, so that they
can be the best athlete.
Steroids may be harmful
to anyone who takes
them. Although steroids
may give the desired
affect to the athlete in the
present, it can harm them
physically and mentally
in the future.
School books stacked up high for class. Photo by PPC photographer
Freshman Alejandra Ryan Miller
Ortiz, said, “When you
mess something up to only benefit yourself,
Top: Student lifting weights in strength room. Bottom: Students studying in the
Coach Phil Harding said, “People need
would be going too far.”
cafetorium Photos by PPC photographer Ryan Miller
On June 25, 2007, professional wrestler to feel victory and they need to feel loss.”
Even though competition can drive us
Chris Benoit murdered his wife and son,
and then committed suicide. Investigators to be better, it can sometimes be taken too People feel that they need to win and that’s the most important thing is trying, and if
you don’t win its ok. There can only be one
found that Benoit had steroids in him at far. Some people take it so far that they all that’s important.
Coach Nicholas Lundin said, “I think best.”
the time of the incident, which may have get into fights over it, especially in sports.
6
Designed by Christa Jenkins
9 . 1 9 . 0 7
P
Features PC
Pursell stars in production of High
School Musical
by Ryan Kelley /
Chatter Room A&E Editor
One of Minooka’s own
students was given a very big part
in the production of the movie
High School Musical, when it
was made into a play in Chicago.
Mitch Pursell, who is now a junior
at MCHS, earned himself the part
of Ryan Evans, who is Sharpay’s
fraternal twin brother.
Pursell’s character is very
spectacular. He develops a
fashion sense, and it is very
different from the other students
at East High. If you watch the
movie, you can tell that he likes
hats a lot, as he is seen wearing
nine different ones during it. He
also goes by whatever his sister
tells him to do most of the time.
Pursell described his character as
“really nerdy. He is a lackey and
Sharpay is the boss”.
High School Musical is a plot
that could be referred to as a
modern retelling of Romeo and
Juliet. Being one of Disney’s most
successful movies, it was made
into a professional production in
Chicago, which was shown for
six weeks.
The story of High School
Musical is about Troy Bolton,
a basketball player who wants
to be in the school musical with
Gabrielle, a nerd.
Sharpay, who always wants
her way, and Ryan Evans, who is
her fraternal twin brother and the
nicer of the pair, run the musical,
so they sabotage Troy and
Gabrielle’s chances of winning.
“I had a lot of
support from
my friends and
family.”
--- Pursell
“My favorite part was going
up to Chicago each day, and all
the parties,” said Pursell. The play
was run at Emerald City Theatre
in Chicago. It was run for a
straight six-week run, concluding
on the weekend of Aug. 4. Pursell
said “I mostly liked everything,
but the hardest part was doing 35
shows with the same energy each
time. I might’ve been having the
worst day ever, but I still had to
do the show.”
When Pursell first found
out that he was chosen to be in
the production of High School
Musical, he was happy that he had
got in, but bummed because he
did not want the role he received.
He had a lot of support from
his family and friends. Many
people came to watch the play
every time it was run.
“My sister actually took me up
to the audition. I had a lot of support
from my friends and family. One
of the last performances we had
120 friends and family come to
the show.”
Pursell plans to try and get
into the acting conservatory at
DePaul, in Chicago, to take his
acting career to the next step.
Left: High School Musical characters Ryan (played by Pursell)
and Sharpay Evans, dance along
to the music. Below: The cast of
the Chicago production of High
School Musical (Pursell stands in
the top right of the cast).
Pictures courtesy of Mitch Pursell.
Football Jersey Tradition
by Sarah Silverman /
PPC Features Editor
Girls wearing football players’ jerseys
on game days is an MCHS tradition. The
guy wears one jersey and the girl wears
the matching one. But when did this tradition begin?
Mrs. Lehman, English, said, “When I
was in high school I don’t recall this tradition going on, but my husband and I were
‘band jeeks’, so we may have missed out
on it. What I remember is when a guy and
a girl were going steady, they wore each
other’s class ring.”
“I went to MCHS years ago and even
9 . 1 9 . 0 7
when I was here football players were giving their jerseys to girls to wear,” said Mr.
Anthony Babich, Science.
The tradition hasn’t changed much over
time, but the meaning behind it appears to
have varied. What does this gesture say
about the couple wearing the jerseys?
A football player doesn’t have to be
“going steady” with a girl to ask her to
wear his jersey.
Junior Amanda Cappel said, “I wore a
guys jersey for the first home game but we
were just friends. We don’t like each other
like that, I just wanted to support him.”
“One of my best friends just started
dating a football player, but even before
that she wore his jersey because they were
close friends. She’s not really into sports,
but even she’ll wear a jersey because she
wants to support her school,” said junior
Danielle Kenney.
Wearing a guy’s jersey isn’t as big of
a deal as students make it. Fellow classmates see a girl wearing a jersey and they
begin to whisper back and forth, “Whose
jersey is that? Oh my gosh, are they going
out? When did that happen?” But it’s really just a way for the girl to support her
school.
There are also other questions raised
by this tradition. Not just, what does it
say about the couple, but what does it say
about the individual? If a girl is wearing a
football players’ jersey, does it mean that
she’s popular? If a guy has a girl wearing
his jersey, does it mean he’s an amazing
football player?
“My best friend wears a varsity player’s jersey, but she’s not a cheerleader or
the most popular girl in school. In fact
she’s not a prep at all, she just wants to
support her friend,” said junior Samantha
Claysen.
All it really means is that a guy and a
girl are close enough, be it friends or more,
and the girl wants to support him and Minooka on game day, and that the guy wants
her to model his jersey.
Designed by Sarah Silverman
7
PP
C
by
Features
Brittany Pendry / PPC Editor-in Chief
ATTENTION GUYS: Ever Wonder...
“What is a girl really thinking?”
“What more does she want from me?”
“I don’t get her!”
“Girls are too complicated!”
If you answered yes to any of these questions, read on, for your sake. Because this
is just a sample of some of the hundreds of
thoughts that run through guys’ minds about
girls, well...24/7.
Here’s a hint for guys: Girls are not as
complicated as you think. Most of the things
girls do can easily be read if a guy just pays
attention. The first step for a guy is to stop
focusing on what she is saying, and start
concentrating on the words that she is not
saying. Find the meaning behind her words;
find out what she is really thinking. Finding it tough? Well, congratulations, you
are about to take a peek into the wonderful world of girls. She says one thing, but
means something completely different.
Popcorn Time
Picture it. You are sitting down, watching
a movie, and all of sudden the microwave
dings. The popcorn is ready. You start to get
up but then your girl says, “No don’t worry
about it, I can get it.” What do you do? Do
you let her get it? Do you get up and get it?
Do you go together? First of all, breathe! It
is just popcorn. Now, it is time to interpret
what she is really thinking.
She says she will get it, but what she really means, “Yeah of course I’m capable of
getting it, but if you got it for me I would
think you are a great guy.”
Word to the wise, be a gentleman. Get up
and get the popcorn for the two of you.
Movie Time
Now, you are on the couch watching the
movie, say A Walk To Remember. The scene
is Shane West and Mandy Moore sitting under the stars having a picnic, when West
says, “Can you find this star, right here...I
had it named for you. See? It’s official. It’s
from the International Star Registry.”
Your girl now says, “Oh my God! That
is so cute.”
You shrug it off as if she had said nothing,
just a girl being a typical girl. However, you
overlooked a very important key factor. Pay
attention to what she says at the moment she
says it. She mentioned those words at one of
the most romantic parts of the movie; right
now all she can think about is how much
she wants someone to do that for her. Even
though she did not say it, she really means,
8
Designed by Sam Kelley
You think you know,
.
.
.
a
e
d
i
o
n
e
v
but you ha
“I am hoping that you would
do something as romantic as that for me.”
Now, this does not necessarily mean that
you have to name a star after
her,
but a simple response like “I
would do that for you any
day” makes her notice that
you are paying attention to
not only her, but the movie
as well.
The meaning behind her words
will be guys. Therefore, the first words
out of a guy’s mouth should be, “You look
amazing.”
Unfortunately, guys do not tend to do
this. Therefore, she may start dropping hints.
First hint: She slyly inserts a few words into
the conversation about
her new outfit.
This in turn means
that she wants you
to comment on the
outfit and how she
looks in it. This is not
about being self-indulged or a narcissist. This is about
wanting to be
acknowledged for
spending
time
on
looking nice for you.
en s
do
h
o
“W ask nt t ’t
wa don
e
h
u
Date Time
yo y, ‘I h is
Now, fast fort
ha
sa trut e,
ward to your first
w
r
u
e
“real”
date.
you d yo ’ th do ca ant
You are pickan are, ally ’t w
ing her up at her
c u re don
house to go to the movo ust
t.”
y
i
j
ies. Whether a girl likes to adyou say
mit it or not, she spent a lot of time
and effort into getting ready.
to
Most guys like to start off a sentence with, “Hey, what’s up?” or possibly, “I am so excited for this movie.”
As for senior Steven Cerovac, “The
first thing I say to a girl is ‘How’s it going?’”
Big N.O.
Before you even arrive at the house she
is already thinking, “I really hope he thinks
I look great.” Not just good, but great. Now,
she is hoping that you will know to do this
all on your own, but hey, let’s face it, guys
Deciphering Time
Feelings for a guy from a girl tend to
get tricky. There are times when a girl finds
it difficult to express how she really feels.
This is where the all-powerful body language comes in to play. Guys: pay attention
to how a girl moves with her body.
For instance, a girl says the exact same
thing to two different guys, but she has a
crush on one of them, but only wants to be
friends with the other.
How does the guy
decipher who she is
really in to? Simple.
Body language
is key. She says to
both guys, “Aw, you
are so sweet!” However, to the first one
she gently hits on the
side of the arm, to
the second she leans
in to while maintaining eye contact. So,
who gets the girl?
Come on down guy
No.2! With the first
guy she is thinking,
“You’re a great guy,
but we’re only going
Juniors C.J. Jones and Amanda Shawnesey whisper secrets about
to be friends.” To the
how they really feel. Photo by photographer Sam Menne.
second, she is think-
ing, “I am totally in to you, and I want you
to see that.” The eye contact alone is enough
for a guy to decipher whether or not a girl is
in to him because eye contact is crucial.
Formal Dance Time
Now, the guy and the girl are not dating,
they are potential boyfriend and girlfriend,
but are not quite there yet. So, one day the
girl casually drops in their conversation
how she has never been asked to Homecoming in a “really cute way.” She does not
say it, but this is what she is thinking: “I am
telling you this because I want you to ask
me to Homecoming, but not in just
any ordinary way. I want you
to sit down and
think of
--Kara
the best
McPherso
w
a y
n,
you
can
senior
ask me to go
with you.”
Take It From Us
Take a different situation, like the relationship between a boyfriend and a girlfriend. “When he doesn’t call because he
said he was busy, I say ‘ok,’ but I’m really
thinking ‘what was more important than
calling me?’” said Michelle Pillers, senior.
“When he asks you what you want to do
and you say, ‘I don’t care,’ the truth is you
really do care, you just don’t want to say it,”
said Kara McPherson, senior.
And the winner of them all? When a girl
says, “I don’t think we should see each other anymore,” she really means, “I want you
to fight for me.”
Either way a person looks at it, girls,
at least most of them, will hardly ever say
what she really means. Except for Rachel
Brooker, senior, because “[she] always says
what [she] means, even if it’s harsh.”
Honestly, girls do not do it to mess with
guys’ heads, despite what guys think. Many
times, girls just cannot blatantly express
how they feel like guys can. Unfortunately,
no matter what girl you run into, she is always thinking something; sometimes it is
good, and sometimes it is bad. Either way,
when she starts to speak, at least the guy
will hit the ground running now that he has
a head start on what she is thinking, despite
what she says. 9 . 1 9 . 0 7
Before We Try on The Good
Eric Reynolds /
PPC Copy Editor
by
As the first official day of
Fall rapidly approaches, another
generation of fashion trends is
making its way into popular stores
everywhere. From the fantastically
affordable Forever 21 and H&M,
to the slightly upper-scale Urban
Outfitters, our favorite stores are
introducing the newest revelations
in style. And frankly, some of the
trends this year are a bit horrifying.
Many didn’t think it could get
much worse than last year, like all
of the shirts with necklines that
plunged mid-torso. My advice
to you? Don’t give in! Kill these
trends before you draw the ire men
and women all over the world.
Let’s reveal the bad news first…
Zippers,
zippers,
zippers.
Those classic metal fasteners that
for centuries have made jeans and
dresses more functional are now
making classy, tailored business
outfits look like space uniforms.
Please…don’t use a zipper unless
Arts & Entertainment PPC
Let’s Quarantine the Bad
I’m feeling the need
it’s needed to keep an
to splurge, I know
outfit together.
exactly where to
“What’s the point?,”
go!”
said Colleen Urbanski,
With the bad,
senior.
“There
is
there
always
absolutely no reason
comes some good.
to have zippers lining
After the cheerful,
every crevice of a
but
sometimes
piece of fabric. They’re
nauseating summer
gaudy, they’re tacky,
brights, fall and
and they add nothing
winter hit us with
but hideous to every
a sea of black.
outfit. They’re almost
It figures. But if
as bad as large buttons
you could afford
that serve no purpose.”
just one item for
Next, we venture
fall, what would
into the sad reality
A good store to get the latest fall fashions for a reasonable price,
of wearing maternity try going to Forever 21. Photo taken by PPC Photographer it be? I would
suggest you get the
dresses when you’re Lauren Keers.
quintessential black
not
pregnant.
So
jacket. The blackmany un-impregnated
are for fall, not strictly for funeral
women are being rendered huge in wear. How about some rust, burnt on-black look is so hot for Fall to
tent-sized outfits. These bohemian orange or teal? Urban Outfitters, Winter 2007, the purchase of just
pinafores are all the rage, but many however, has no shortage of color one black jacket would update
your entire fall wardrobe and take
wonder why.
this fall.
The absence of color has left a
“I just love Urban Outfitters; it’s you through winter and many more
few upset shoppers behind. H&M, my favorite store to shop at,” said seasons to come.
“I actually just got a black
please do something about all of senior Stephanie Fink. “Although
that gray and black. These designs it can be a bit pricey, whenever leather jacket,” said Kristen
Neville, senior. “It’s a nice touch
to any outfit, in my opinion, and
I’m sure that I will be able to wear
it often once it starts to get colder
outside.”
Casual has a studied look for
fall. Fashion clues show longsleeved blouses, cardigans, long
flowing pants and long chains
around the neck. The look is
constructed, long, elegant. Fall
fashion is made of separates, not
a complete one-off outfit. Mix
and match means flattering colors
and accessories for clothes that go
together.
Fall 2007 is promising to deliver
its fair share of the good, the bad,
and the ugly. Just remember, if you
saw it on Maui Fever, it’s got to go,
as Summer 2007 is done and over
with. Bring on the cold weather!
every one’s best idea to study the
script, and students did not have to
memorize it; but knowing it well
would definitely be helpful. It
is recommended to practice and
read it over a few times aloud, and
even better if you have someone
to practice with you. In a couple
days, I and many other students
would be on that stage giving the
best they have or at least what
they know. That night I went into
the auditorium area, and found a
couple friendly faces and students
on the floor quietly reading the
scripts. Behind doors was their
time to shine. It was soon then my
turn and I went on stage. I had a
partner with me, which was also
helpful. In the basic auditions, all
male and female roles are summed
into a couple lines of the lead roles
tion; she is most likely wrong. Its
is great performance and charisma
that are obviously key.
I am not that much of an experienced actress, so I did not make
the play, but learning what it takes
and getting that little experience
of going through the try outs was
helpful. It is always interesting to
step into another persons’ shoes for
a day or week knowing what other
students were going through.
The Lady of the House is a patriotic comedy written by Jim Brochu that should be much appreciated by its audience. Just naming a
few, this year’s Fall Play is starring
Eric Reynolds, Paula Bernhard,
Mitch Purcell, and Lacey Bersano.
The Fall Play Performance will be
held to all public on Nov. 2 and 3
in the school auditorium, 7 p.m.
Student Experiences Lady of The House Auditions Experience
by Carissa Weyer /
Chatter Room Sports Editor
With everything in life, there is
always going to be someone out
there to take your spot. For the fall
play auditions this was definitely
the perfect example. On August 27
- 20, Mrs. Patricia Grawey- Beeler, fall play advisor, hosted auditions for the fall play, Lady of the
House. To better the experience
and feelings going through the auditions, I actually tried out for the
play among many other students
of all years.
First, students could pick up the
scripts in Beeler’s office and sign
up for the time and day they would
like to try out. From here, it was
9 . 1 9 . 0 7
and everyone tries out for that one and I was pretty confident with my
part. As I was reading my lines and acting,” said freshman Kyra
acting with my partner, all I could
Salamon.
think was don’t stumble the words,
She says she was not made to do
give it your best, and just relax.
a pantomime, which is acting withSenior Mia Mcconaughy said, out speech and just using gestures
“I went through
the script once and
“I wasn’t intimidated,
worked on the stronand I was pretty confident
ger parts. I was busy
with a lot of things
with my acting,” said
but I worked on it.”
freshman Kyra
Mia has a lot of
experience with actSalamon.
ing, including being
in the play for four
years now. She says she still get and expressions. This was somescarred till this day because you thing new to me, because it made
never know how it really is going me even more interested. Although
to turn out and what Mrs. Beeler is Salamon, as many freshman may
looking for.
think, thought her chances were
“I wasn’t intimidated, slim just because of her inspira-
Designed by Kristi Lawrence
9
PP
C
Arts & Entertainment
Rob zombie’s Halloween 2007
by Iman Bradley
PPC A&E Editor
Halloween the sequel/remake is a horror
movie; however, I found it to be more like
a tragedy. Unlike the original, this movie
basically sums up the reason why the
infamous Michael Myers went on a killing
spree that Halloween night.
Director Rob Zombie’s version of
Halloween is much better than John
Carpenter’s version. The story is the same,
but with more. Zombie’s version goes back
to 1963 in the beginning of the movie a little
before 10-year-old Michael Myers (Daeg
Faerch) was sent to a mental institution. In
the modern version, Myers (Tyler Mane) was
verbally abused by his mother's boyfriend,
Ronnie White (William Forsythe), and
his fellow classmates
at school
bullied him because of
his promiscuous sister,
Judith Myers (Hanna
Hall).
Then,
one
Halloween night,
young
Myers
decides to kill
his older sister,
and his mom’s
husband. After
the killings,
he was sent to
a mental institution, and
now, 15 years later, he’s back to
Haddonfield, ILL, and no one knows what is
coming their way. That’s when Dr. Loomis
(Malcolm McDowell), Myersí doctor,
comes to find him.
Halloween 2007 was more graphic,
unlike the 1978 version. Zombie, who
also wrote the film, added
more blood to this
popular
Zom
b
mor
e bl ie add
ed
ood
can
look get a so you
bet
at t
he m ter
ovie
.
look at
The killings were
horror
so you
can get
a better
the movie.
actually
hard to look at. When you see it you will
be ready to close your eyes or hold your
stomach. Zombie’s Halloween didn’t make
Myers look as scary as the first one. He
made him look like he was actually a killer
with heart; he was just torn apart from his
past. Myers was not presented as just a
crazy killer.
The best part is when he reveals himself
to his baby sister, Laurie Strode (Scout
Taylor-Compton). She was the only one he
could show his face to after 15 years. At
that moment, he was ready to give up and
let go of all his pain. It’s not cool to give
the ending away, so go see Rob Zombie’s
Halloween 2007. This one won’t leave you
hanging.
High School Musicial takes over
by Amanda Alexander
Chatter Room News Editor
“It’s like the new Grease,” stated junior
Tiffany Creamer.
Disney’s
original
drama/musical,
teenage love story, High School Musical,
has hooked millions of people from all ages.
With a talented cast starring Zac Efron,
Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tinsdale,
Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, and Monique
Coleman, the movie drew 26.3 million
unduplicated viewers according to Nielsen
Media Research.
On May 23, two versions of the film
were released: the original and a sing-along
edition that displays on-screen lyrics. Fans
all over then could sing and dance along
with the cast. Not only did the movie itself
sell unbelievably, the soundtrack took over
the billboard charts. A total of 303,000
copies were sold.
“The songs are so annoying that you
have to love them, stated junior Lauren
Anderson.
“I love the movie so I ended up
downloading some of the songs on my
10
Designed by Iman Bradley
iPod,” stated freshman Sean Macko.
With High School Musical’s huge
success, a sequel was proposed. The movie
countdowns, and big anticipation, High
School Musical 2 was released August 17.
The movie had a total of 17.2 million
From left, Sophomores travor casserly, dan vogrin and Nick Bretwisch sport their High school
musical favorites. Photo By Jacki Kaluzny
portrayed the summer of the students,
while all working together at a resort. With
viewers.
“On Aug.17, when the movie came
out,me and my sister had people over, we
had snacks and everything. When the movie
started I didn’t move from my chair,” stated
junior Brittany O’Brien.
“The movies were equally good and the
songs were more upbeat,which I liked,”
stated junior Kara Engel.
During its first week in stores, over
615,000 copies of the High School Musical
2 soundtrack were sold.
“I keep my head in the game by keeping
up with the High School Musical movies.
I got invited to a party for the premiere of
the second one, so I ended up tagging along,
and somehow I have both soundtracks now,”
stated sophomore Trevor Casserly
With a laugh, junior Hannah Erickson
stated, “I guess you could say I’m obsessed.
I’m guilty of buying the soundtracks, I
recorded the movie on TV, and I even have
a Zac Efron folder. Plus he’s my computer
background.”
Overall the High School Musical movies
are taking over. As you can see, even high
school students here at MCHS are in love
with the movies and soundtracks.
9 . 1 9 . 0 7
P
Arts & Entertainment PC
Halo 3
get ready to pwn
by
Jessica Pieszchala /
Editor-in-Chief
During the release of the
Halo 3 mulitplayer beta, players
got to experience the new weapons and methods of play, as well
as new maps.
“There will definitely be better vehicles and maps [in Halo
3],” said Roglzinski.
Others are excited just to
play
in
general.
“I’m
looking
forward
to the fast
p a c e d
multiplayer action
and
the
four-player co-op
option in
campaign,” said senior Robert
Reilly.
There are also more features
in gameplay, such as the ability to save a faux video of the
gameplay during a match and
watch it at a later date.
I’m most excited for The
Forge. It’s basically a map
editor built in so you can play
while other players are editing
the map,” said senior Taylor
Reeves. “Customization is a
huge leap from what it was [in
Halo 2] in every aspect of the
game.”
Some players just want to
play with friends.
“I can’t wait to cut down
Taylor Reeves with my plasma
sword,” said senior Jon Kaege-
bein. “I think it’s the most efficient weapon in the game.”
With all the excitement and
new features, like any new anticipated product, buyers want
a way to ensure their copy.
There are three versions of
Halo 3 available for reserve at
GameStop, Best Buy, and other
game retailers. There is a standard version, running for $59.99,
a Collector’s edition for $69.99,
and a Legendary edition for
$129.99. Yes,
$129.99
for
a videogame.
The
legendary
edition
includes a legendary DVD
and a Master
Chief helmet
replica, as well
as the game
and an interactive disc.
“I reserved my copy over a
month ago. I got the Collector’s
Edition,” said Reilly.
On August 29, Bungie stated
that Halo 3 has already gone
gold. However, it has not yet
exceeded Halo 2’s 1.5 million
pre-orders in North America.
This, of course, is due to
extreme marketing techniques.
There is, in fact, a new version
of Mountain Dew, called Game
Fuel, marketed specifically for
Halo 3. Even some 7-Eleven
stores will be selling the game.
So if you’re ready to get
caught up in the action and the
game, you could join one of the
over one million people with
their copy reserved. I have.
“ I can’t wait to
cut down Taylor
Reeves with my
plasma sword”
-Jon Kaegebein
9 . 1 9 . 0 7
Owen Wilson’s suicide attempt
Lauren Keers / Chatter
Room Managing Editor
by
Lindsay Lohan’s alleged cokefueled car chase. Britney Spears
shaving her head. Paris Hilton
going to jail. For most actors or
actresses, people aren’t surprised
when they hear about their bizarre
actions on the news. However, the
news about “Wedding Crashers”
and “You, Me, And Dupree” star,
Owen Wilson, trying to commit
suicide, shocked all.
Sunday, Aug. 26, Wilson was
hospitalized after being found
with slit wrists, next to a bottle of
pills. The rumors about him having a drug over-dose are a false
accusation. The only type of drug
found in his system was his antidepressants. It was stated that his
brother, Luke Wilson, also an actor, found him.
“Well, I was really shocked
when I found out. I didn’t think he
was the type of person who was
unhappy,” said Jordan Alberico,
sophomore.
Senior Tracie Lawrence said,
“Honestly, I think Owen Wilson
has it made. Look at his fame. I’m
sure it comes with problems, but
a lot of people don’t have half or
even any of the things he has in
his life. His lifestyle is envied by
millions of people, and I’m sure
he has the resources to get the help
he needed and needs. While a lot
of people out there have hit rock
bottom and have nothing going for
them. If I was him I would have
taken what I was given and be
fortunate for it, and like I said, if
help was needed I’m sure he easily
could have found it.”
According to Time.com, Wilson is shown to be in good condition at Cedar’s Sinai Medical Center, in Los Angeles. He also stated
that he would like to be respected
and have the media allow him to
receive care and heal in privacy.
“My personal opinion on this
whole situation is that celebrities
seem to deal with the same exact,
real-life situations as everyone
else in the world does. There are
so many people that are having the
same trouble, it’s just that this particular problem is of a famous person and is being exposed all over
the nation. So because it is Owen
Wilson, it is made out to be a really big deal, when average people living their everyday lives are having the same exact issues. It is not
shocking to me, but it is a very upsetting thing to know that people
really do these kinds of things to
themselves,” said Carabeth Cavins, sophomore.
It just goes to show you, that
even with their “ideal lifestyle,”
celebrities can still do tragic things
to themselves that aren’t just for
publicity.
Led Zeppelin reunion
in the works
by
Zach Nabor/ A & E Editor
I was listening to the radio
while in the car; it was August
20, coincidentally the birthday of
Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant,
when the radio host announced
some information regarding Led
Zeppelin.
For people who don’t know
Led Zeppelin has gone down
in history as one of the greatest
rock bands of all time, the second
highest-selling act (only to be out
sold by the Beatles), and one of the
most influential rock bands from
the seventies.
Led Zeppelin debuted in 1969
with their eponymous album; this
album showcased their trademark
sound, combining hard rock, blues,
and psychedelic elements into one
dynamic sound. Led Zeppelin or
Led Zeppelin I (as most refer to
it as) went on to gain critical ac
claim and sell 10 million copies.
Led Zeppelin then released seven more multi-platinum albums
from 1969-1979, and attained status as the biggest band in the world
through out the mid-seventies. In
1971 they released the album Led
Zeppelin IV, this album has sold
over 23 million copies, and “Stairway to Heaven” has become the
most played song in radio history.
Led Zeppelin’s demise was initiated when drummer John Bonham
died in 1980, the band then disbanded.
The information announced
during included a re-released version of The Song Remains the
Same film, the latter announcement addressed that Led Zeppelin
reunited (with all living members
Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and
John Paul Jones, it is not evident
who will be replacing John Bonham on tour) for a benefit concert
on June 25 2007. People have been
anticipated this reunion for at least
twenty years. Steve Melzer, freshmen, said “I doubt there are going
to tour.” There are higher chances
that this may not be factual, due to
the 1994 reunion that never came.
Although touring dates (if any) are
not concrete, it was said to be likely for Spring/Summer 2008.
Designed by Zach Nabor 11
PP
C Interactive
Sudoku Puzzle:
n
a
rb Le ge n ds
U
True- Michael Jackson owns the rights to the Beatles’ songs.
True- A girl required surgery after swallowing a wire that
had come loose from a barbeque grill cleaning brush and was
cooked into a hamburger.
False- Baseball’s championship is known as the “World
Series” because it was originally sponsored by the New York
World newspaper.
False- The look of Tinker Bell in Peter Pan was based on
Marilyn Monroe.
False- Taco Bell ended its famous ad campaign because the
dog died.
False- More woman are victims of domestic violence on Super Bowl Sunday than on any other day of the year.
All facts by snopes.com
Word Of The Week: Paragon a model or pattern of excellence.
Brain
Busters
A man leaves home,
turns left, left and left
again, then runs past
a man in a mask. Where
is he and what is he doing?
-On a ballfield, playing
baseball.
What commonly known
sentence uses each and
every letter in the
English language at least
once?
-The quick brown fox
jumps over the lazy dog.
Dark with white markings,
And smooth like a rock.
Where learning occurs,
I help convey thought.
What am I?
-A blackboard/chalkboard.
What occurs once in a
minute, twice in a moment, but never in an
hour.
-The letter M
Until I am measured
I am not known,
Yet how you miss me
When I have flown.
What Am I?
-Time
Take me out and scratch
my head
I am now black but once
was read
What am I?
-A Match
Check Your Answers
When You’re Done!
All brain busters by http://people.cornell.edu/pages/bs16/brain_t-s.htm
12 Designed by Lauren Keers
9 . 1 9 . 0 7
P
Jump PC
‘Baseball”
Continued From
Page 15
themselves 10.5 games out
of first place. Their starting
pitching has come around and
they have begun to swing the
bats well. However, all are
following the Chicago Cubs.
Lou Piniella directed radical
changes since the beginning
of the year. Only three players
are starting where they were
opening day. Numerous call-ups
have paid dividends. The fact
that the Cubs are not dependent
on two injury prone pitchers, or
one single offensive player has
led me to believe that they are
the real deal. Having to deal
with struggles from staff ace
Carlos Zambrano and injuries
to All-Star left fielder Alfonso
Soriano and clean-up batter and
starting third baseman Aramis
Ramirez, the Cubs have shown
resiliency during the year and
have a never-say-die attitude.
My picks for the National
League are as follows: the return
of Carlos Beltran and the rest
of the injured Mets will boost
them on their way to a National
League East Crown. The Cubs
have given up the second
fewest runs in the National
League and the return of leadoff
man Alfonso Soriano will be
huge. The Cardinals pitching,
dependent on a rotation where
the 3rd best pitcher plays left
field will let them down in the
end. The Brewers will run out of
gas after the early season sprint.
I see the Cubs taking this one.
The West goes to the Padres in
a dogfight, not literally PETA,
with the Diamondbacks closely
falling behind but taking the
wildcard.
Now
as
World
Series
predictions go, who knows?
Perhaps we will see you in
Chicago.
MCHS Photo
Club
If you are interested in
MCHS Photo Club, their
next meeting is Sept. 20,
in Room 240.
9 . 1 9 . 0 7
Fresh School, Fresh Start,
FRESHMAN
Susan Bahret/ PPC
Journalism I
idea where I was, or where to go
next.
When reaching my locker, I was
pretty sure first period had begun;
yet, the hallways were still full. I
must have tried the combination at
least 10 times before I realized my
locker was three down. This began
the start of a headache that was to
I fell asleep in two of my classes
and daydreamed in the rest.
As I sat in one of the last
classrooms
for the day, trying to
My first day into the everkeep
my
eyelids
open, my stomach
exciting high school years had
was
growling
ferociously.
Man oh
come quickly and passed just as
man,
all
I
could
think
of
was
getting
fast. I wouldn’t exactly call it a
home
and
stuffing
some
grub
in
fun, kiss-on-the-cheek, walk-inmy
face
to
make
that
aching
pain
the-park, easy-as- pie sort of day.
of hunger stop screaming.
Of course not. This would be
I was staring at the clock,
a complicated, rushing, fullcounting
down the seconds
of-migraines sort of day. You
for
the
lovely
sound of that
too? Well welcome to high
bell
to
ring.
school baby. After waking up
When it did, I burst up and
way too early, forgetting my
power
walked right out. The
school supplies somehow, and
hundred
handouts I received
sitting in an extremely over
that
day
fell
out of my folder
packed, hot, sweaty bus for 20
just
as
I
entered
the hallway,
minutes, I didn’t think it could
which
held
my
locker.
get too much worse. Boy was
Sadly, I was smack dab in the
I wrong.
middle…
bad news to the girl
I stepped in to the doors and
gathering
her
many, scattered,
inhaled the new scent of this jail
and
spilled
papers.
I had never
which I was to be sentenced
Susan Bahret, freshman, tells her tale of the
been
trampled
by
a
stampede
in for the next four years of
first day of school. Photo taken byPPC Photo
before.
I
think
it
would
be
my life. As soon as I began Editor Jacky Kaluzny.
fair
to
tell
the
teachers
a
herd
to walk I realized it was not
of elephant stomped on my
going to be as fast paced as
last
until
the
end
of
the
day.
homework.
junior high. It was a very simple
“Where is that class?”
Upon seeing my locker, I heard
conclusion figuring that I was
“Where
do
I
go?”
that
slow motion music that’s
only moving about one centimeter
“Which
way
is
that?”
always
played at the end of movies.
every five minutes.
“I’m
so
confused!”
I
ignored
the usual shoving and
As far down as I could see
“Late
again.”
pushing,
and
this time I opened my
(which wasn’t too far considering
Phrases
such
as
these
were
sent
locker
on
the
second try. Someone
my rather short height) the hallway
back
and
forth
everywhere
I
went.
call
the
Guinness.
was jam-packed with other kids
The bus was unfortunately
moving at the same slow rate, I believe I had to have said all of
them
at
one
time
or
another
during
extremely
crowded again. There’s
having the same look of boredom
the
day
trying
to
figure
out
this
a
shocker.
I saw my brother
and frustration that sat on my
complicated
process.
(actually
my
twin)
had saved me
face.
Getting
to
my
first
class
was
a
a
seat.
We
had
no
classes
together
I was saying to myself that there
huge
pain.
I
stared
at
the
map
they
and
I
missed
him
and
his
dorky
better be some kid lying dead
had
provided
me
with
my
schedule
little
smile.
up there, holding up the crowd,
“Hey Dan. How was your day?”
because if this is what the hallways and it seemed to somehow make
me
even
more
confused.
I
went
I
said. My headache was still
are going to be like every day, I
down
two
wrong
hallways
and
pounding.
might as well join him.
“It was fun. How bout you?” he
For what seemed like an eternity finally reached the right one.
The
first
class
I
went
to,
followed
asked
me.
later, I finally reached some space
by
my
second,
and
the
third,
so
on
“You
really don’t want to know,”
where I could breath. As it turns
so
forth
all
seemed
to
be
the
same.
I
said
with
a sigh.
out there was no kid lying dead,
He
asked
no more of school, and
It
was
a
teacher
giving
you
obvious
but just an incredibly slow moving
we
talked
of
what we would eat
instructions
and
rules
that
you
had
crowd of kids as confused as I. I
when
we
got
home.
heard
one
too
many
times
already.
looked around realizing I had no
by
Designed by Jeff Beguin 13
PP
C
Sports
Questions still
Dogfighting Falcon
surround Grossman
pleads guilty
fans questioning his ability to start in the
NFL.
“Grossman should be fine if his hands
After a monster of a season in 2006, the
don’t
get sweaty, said senior Mike
Chicago Bears are coming into a new season
Targonski.
with more offensive weapons, an improved
Another problem plaguing
defense, and an increased motivation to win
Grossman is
his constant inability
the big game. With this much to look forward
to
take
snaps.
He
fumbled
twice in the
to, why are Bears’ fans left with question
playoffs
and
four
times
in
the
preseason.
marks coming into the 2007 season? The
Really
there’s
no
excuse
for
that
type
of play.
question mark: Rex Grossman.
He
has
one
of the
“Bring on Chris
best
centers
in the
Leak
(Chicago
th
NFL
in
Olin
Kruetz,
Bears’ 4 String
and beyond that,
Quarterback out
he’s a professional
of University of
quarterback.
Florida),”
said
Professional
junior Tyler Cap.
quarterbacks
Everyone knows
don’t
fumble
the Grossman saga:
snaps.
High
school
he’s been great at
quarterbacks
don’t
some times, and
fumble
snaps.
at others he failed
T
h
e
terribly. He had as
inconsistency
of
many games with a
Grossman to do
quarterback rating
simple tasks is
of 100.0 as Peyton
painful to watch,
Manning, but on
but then at other
the other days he
times
his
performances
are.
had ratings of 1.3, 10.2, and even
“The Bears need to stick with Grossman,
0.0. It’s these games that have Bears’
he got them to the Super
Bowl,” said senior Mike
Redican.
No matter how
badly critics like to rip
him, Grossman threw 23
touchdowns last year, he
won 13 regular season
games, and he took
his team to the Super
Bowl. Still, after every
interception Grossman
throws this year, the
stands will be filled with
“Boos” and the infamous
“Bring in Griese” chants.
Leave it to Bears’ fans
to remind everyone, the
backup quarterback is the
most popular player on
Students wear Chicago Bears T-Shirts to support their team.
the team.
By Jeff Beguin / PPC Editor-In-Chief
Ryan Miller /
Chatter Room Features Editor
by
Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons
quarterback, pleaded guilty to federal
judge Henry Hudson. In the written plea
filed in court, Vick admitted to helping
kill six to eight pit bulls and supplying
money for gambling on the fights. Vick
directly apologized to NFL officials, his
Atlanta Falcon coach and teammates,
and to children
who look up
to him, for
lying about his
participation in
the dogfighting
ring based at his
Surry County
property.
The
case
began in late
April
when
authorities
conducting
d r u g
investigation of
Vick’s cousin
and
seized
dozens of dogs,
some injured,
and equipment
commonly
used in dogfighting. A federal indictment
issued in July charged Vick, Peace,
Phillips, and Taylor with an interstate
dogfighting conspiracy. Vick initially
denied any involvement, and all four men
pleaded innocent.
Taylor was the first to change his plea to
guilty, saying Vick financed the dogfighting
ring’s gambling and operations. Peace
and Phillips soon followed, disclosing
that Vick joined them in killing dogs that
did not perform well in test fights.
The sickening details outlined in the
indictment and other court papers
prompted a public backlash against Vick,
who had been one of the NFL’s most
popular players.
The NFL suspended him indefinitely
and without pay Friday after his plea
agreement was filed. In the merest case
of associating with gamblers it can lead to
a lifetime ban under the leagues conduct
policy. Federal prosecutors recommended
12-18 months in prison. “If you were a
football star making millions of dollars,
why would you risk it by gambling on
an illegal and inhumane sport?” said
Matt Hartsell, sophomore. “Even though
h
e
apologized for
it, it shouldn’t
affect
his
sentence
at
all.”
Vick
said he lied
because
he
was “ashamed
and
totally
disappointed
in himself.”
“If he was
so ashamed
of doing it he
wouldn’t have
done it in the
first place,”
quoted Nick
Kettman,
sophomore.
“A
firsttime offender might well receive no jail
time for this offense,” U.S. Attorney
Chuck Rosenberg said in a
statement. “We thought, however,
that the conduct in this conspiracy
was heinous, cruel and inhumane,” so
three of the four defendants, including
Vick, should receive harsher sentences.
“Just because you’re famous and make
millions of dollars doesn’t mean that you
get any special treatment above the law,”
said Little League coach Mike Noel.
In fact, judge Henry Hudson even stated
that he doesn’t favor athletes. Vicks final
hearing is not until late this December.
“Just because you’re
famous and make
millions of dollars
doesn’t mean that you
get any special treatment
above the law,” said
Little League coach
Mike Noel.
“The Bears need to
stick with Grossman,
he got them to the
Superbowl,” said
senior Mike Redican.
Photo taken by PPC Photographer Ryan Miller.
Success in a semester
P
Sports PC
Officiating students get certified in school
by Sam Kelley /
Chatter Room Managing Editor
Getting more out of school than
just grades? Like getting a job that
pays money from taking a class at
school? Is that even possible?
The answer is yes. Just beginning this year, MCHS now offers
an officiating class that counts as
a P.E. credit. Besides the semester
credit (three years of physical education is required for graduation),
students can also become licensed
officials. By obtaining this license,
they can referee and umpire for local sports events, possibly earning
some “dough” in the process.
“In order to become an official,
you have to be 17 years old and
need to apply to the IHSA,” stated
Mr. Frank Yudzentis, who teaches
the class. According to Coach Y
(Yudzentis), students must have
three recommendations. When the
application is received, three cards
are sent to the people that were
games that are played in the team younger people involved in offirecommended.
The class covers six sports: soc- sports curriculum. Guest speakers ciating. It is a great way to make
cer, volleyball, basketball, foot- will come to speak to the students, some money, but that can’t be the
ball, baseball, and softball.
including major league umpire main reason for getting into officiating. There must
“Prior to beginbe an interest in the
ning the actual teachsport you wish to ofing of the rules and
ficiate. If your main
mechanics, students
reason is the money,
are taught some genmore times than not,
eral guidelines of
you are going to get
becoming an official,
burned out and not be
such as assertiveness,
a very good official,”
sportsmanship, conYudzentis explained.
flict resolution, and
“I took the class
profes s ionalis m,”
because I’m really
Yudzentis said.
looking forward to
Of course, rules,
getting a summer
regulations, and enjob, especially one
forcement are taught
2A Officiating class demonstrates proper soccer mechanics.
dealing with sports,”
with each sport. Photo by PPC photo editor Angela Mateo
stated Rachael Pifer,
Along with rules,
junior. “It’s a really
proper mechanics,
cool class; we talk about sports all
proper positioning, and techniques Mark Carlson.
are taught. Simulated games are
“I think one of the major at- the time and Coach Y is fun. It’s
used in class to demonstrate how tributes of taking this class is that also good to get more knowledge
well each student can apply these students are able to get jobs. There of the games,” Pifer continued.
“I love baseball, and I would
techniques. Students also officiate is a major push by the IHSA to get
love even more to be able to officiate it. It’s cool that we could get
jobs from just one semester course,
plus it counts as a P.E. credit. I
want to get a job locally, but in the
end, I would really like to officiate
Cubs games some day,” said Jeremy Lakoskey, junior.
“One of the main benefits of
officiating would be staying involved in something that you really enjoy,” said Yudzentis. “Playing a sport as a profession is an
opportunity few people get. Some
get a chance to play in college, but
after that, their playing days are
basically over. Officiating gives
you an opportunity to continue to
be active in the sport you love.”
The class is open to juniors and
seniors. If any of the sports covered in the course sound appealing,
officiating is a class that could be
extremely beneficial to you, your
career, and your knowledge of the
game.
too tough, and the teams behind
them are too good for this to last.
My picks for the American
league are the following: Boston
wins the East, Indians win the
Central, The Los Angeles Angels
of Anaheim take down the West,
and the wildcard goes to, no not
the Yankees, but the Detroit Tigers.
Their starting pitching is too good,
their bullpen is finally healthy, and
the offense will only get better
with the return of Gary Sheffield.
As we move to the National
League, we find the real excitement.
Following a sweep at the hands of
second-place Phillies, the New
York Mets sit just two games
ahead. Don’t count out the Atlanta
Braves, however; they are just 4.5
games back. The always-wild west
contains four teams within 5.5
games. At the top is the San Diego
Padres led by the two-headed
monster of Jake Peavy and Chris
Young. Following close behind
is the Arizona Diamondbacks.
While many predicted Arizona to
fall off late because of their youth,
the pitching of Brandon Webb
and timely hitting has led to the
Diamondbacks keeping pace with
the Padres.
What may turn out to be the
best finish of the year, lies in the
National League Central. The
Chicago Cubs sit atop followed
closely by the sinking Milwaukee
Brewers and surging St. Louis
Cardinals. Milwaukee at one time
held the best record in the National
League. However, the injury to
ace Ben Sheets, the fall off of
J.J. Hardy, and the inconsistency
of the starting rotation has led
to the sinking of the ship. The
Cardinals are the exact opposite.
After June 30th, the Cardinals
Baseball season heats up
By Tommy Stokke /
PPC Sports Editor
Put away the pigskin for now.
There is a playoff race to watch.
As the calendar turns to
September the games get tighter,
more meaningful, and more fun
to watch. With double-digit teams
eyeing four playoff spots in each
league, the playoff race is as
unpredictable as which Cincinnati
Bengals player will get arrested
next.
We start off in the American
league where the Boston Red Sox
will try to end the nine-season
streak of division championships
for the New York Yankees. Don’t
look too far into the Yankee’s
sweep of Boston too much.
Boston’s one-two punch of David
Ortiz and Manny Ramirez is as
good as any. If you can name four
9 . 1 9 . 0 7
starters you’d least like to face than
Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka,
Curt Schilling, and Tim Wakefield,
I’d call you crazy. Once you get
to the seventh inning, good luck.
Boston’s bullpen posts the best
non-starter ERA in the MLB. I
would probably see Rick Ankiel
,with the help of his HGH, throw
a strike before someone touches
up Eric Gagne, Hideki Okajima,
and Jonathon Papelbon. With
starting pitching problems for the
Yankees, they can start worrying
about the wildcard. Where does
Mike Mussina end up? Can Alex
Rodriguez carry the team the rest
of the way? These are questions
that will determine if the Yankees
sneak in there or not.
In the American League Central,
C.C. Sabathia will carry the Indians
to the division crown just ahead
of the Detroit Tigers, who have
caught the injury bug as of late.
The more intriguing race in the
Central just might be at the bottom.
The Chicago White Sox are trying
to accomplish the unthinkable and
dethrone the Kansas City Royals
from the bottom of the standings.
That’s right, the same Kansas City
Royals that lost 100 ballgames
last year. It wasn’t even the end
of August and Ozzie Guillen was
already barking louder than any of
Michael Vick’s dogs.
The surprise story of the
American League could be the
Seattle Mariners. The Mariners
have finished last in the AL West
every year since 2004. Leading the
wildcard race as of Aug. 30, Seattle
had to adjust to a new manager
amidst a winning streak. However,
not all Cinderella stories have a
happy ending, and this is one of
them. The Mariners schedule is
“Baseball” Continued P. 13
Designed by Tommy Stokke 15
PP
C
Sports
Varsity football kicks
off with a big win
their offense.
outspokenly.
“We look good on both
“So many have stepped
sides of the ball,” said ju- up this year that it would be
Touchdown! The crowd nior Travis White, running an injustice for me to single
goes wild as the
anyone out,” said
home team wins
Kooi.
the game.
As the saying
In recent years,
goes, there always
the football team
is room for imhasn’t
started
provement. After
with a win. It
all, it still is the
did on Sat., Aug.
beginning of the
25 when they
season.
beat Oak Lawn
“Defense
is
33-7. Minooka
what we want
football fans, as
more
improvewell as the varment in mainly,”
sity team, went
said Kooi.
crazy. Unfortu “Concennately, they lost
tration is where
25-10
against
I think we need
Marist
improvement,”
“This
year,
said Kelley. “But
we have a tight
that can easily be
group,” said head
helped.”
On Aug. 25 Minooka varsity football beat Oak Lawn
football coach Bert Community High School 33-7. Photo taken by photogra
To help have
Kooi. “We taught pher Lauren Keers.
the team concentrathem the analogy
tion for upcoming
of a chain that evgames, the coaches
“We taught them the
eryone is as immake more shortanalogy
of
a
chain
portant as the next
term goals instead of
guy.”
long-term goals.
that everyone is as
Their team unity is visThe varsity football
ible since the team gets important as the next team practices every
along really well with
week Monday to Thursguy.”
one another.
day from 4 p.m. to 7
–Coach Bert Kooi
“This year, more of the
p.m. Thursday is a game
seniors are friends with
preparation day where
the juniors,” said senior C.J. back. “The rest of the season they go over everything they
Kelley, offensive line.
did that week. This year the
should go really good.”
Another reason to their
Also this year a lot of the Minooka community has
success is their improvement players seem to have stepped high hopes and can’t wait for
on their defense, as well as up to help with the team more the rest of the season.
D.J. Valera / PPC
School News Editor
by
16
Designed by Tommy Stokke
MCHS
Scoreboard
Varisty Football
9-07-07
Minooka 14
Plainfield South 20
Jim Ruther’s touchdown
pass to Jordan Bodenlos
and James Hoffman’s
touchdown run capped
the scoring for Minooka.
Varsity Soccer
9-10-7
Minooka 2
Plainfield North 1
Varsity Volleyball
9-11-07
Minooka 25-22-25
Plainfield South16-25-16
Lyndsay Kooi led the
Indians with 17 assists
and Breanna Rivera had
4 kills and 8 digs.
Girls Cross Country
9-11-07
Minooka-20
Oswego-58
Plainfield North-101
Maddie Simon, Lizz
Celmer, Rachel Morman
Maggie Raynor, and
Rachael Williams
finished 2nd through 6th
for the Indians
Girls Golf
9-11-07
Minooka-207
Plainfield S. 239 Mallory Carr was a Medalist with a 46
Boys Cross Country
9-11-07
Minooka-30
Oswego-43
Plainfield North-49
Josh Keck paced the Indians with a second
place finish. Sean Coyle
(4th), Julian Hoshell
(7th), Kevin Smith (8th),
and Ryan Kelley(9th)
rounded out the top 5
for Minooka.
Mark Phillips scored both
goals for Minooka. Jordan
Cabrera had 8 saves
9 . 1 9 . 0 7