2011-2012 Issue 5: February

Wauwatosa West High School has always put on a lot of great mu-

sicals and plays, but there has never been one quite like this year’s

winter play. There are s e v e r a l things that make the play Har-vey unique, i n c l u d i n g the fact that it is about a six-and-a-half foot tall imaginary white rab-bit.

H a r v e y is about a man named E l w o o d , played by Wauwatosa West senior Matt Zan-ton, whose

best friend is an invis-ible white rabbit that he calls Harvey. His sister Veta, played by junior Kylie Hogrefe, tries to commit him to an in-sane asylum and in-stead she ends up being committed. “When they realize this mistake, chaos ensues,” says se-nior Megan Falk, who plays one of the 11 un-derstudies in this year’s winter play.

This show has a 12 person cast, and every character has an under-study except for Veta. Hogrefe is so perfect for the role that the West director Tim Catlett didn’t see any use in finding a second person to play the part. Audi-tions were held Decem-

WEST SIDESTORIES

January 2012 • Wauwatosa West High School • 11400 W Center Street, Wauwatosa WI • Volume 16, Issue 4www.wauwatosawest.com

Theater department in midst of rehearsing for play

THEATER

Breanna Subotich g Staff Writer

An Invisible RabbitWith the great variety of classes

that Wauwatosa West offers, everyone has that one class that their already-jammed schedule will not permit them to take. And lately, rumors have been flying about West starting a new form of scheduling, in particular one called block scheduling, which will create space in students’ schedules, giving them room to take that class that they have been wanting to. It’s important to remember, though, that this is a very drastic change and one that may not happen anytime soon.

The process of creating a new form of scheduling for students is not one that is taken lightly. There are many steps that the Scheduling Committee has to go through before deciding on a new schedule. “First we surveyed the parents of students and the teachers in the Wauwatosa school district and we got lots of different ideas,” said Bonnie Harris, a science teacher at Wauwa-tosa West who is also a member of the Scheduling Committee. “After this, we started a process called the rank-

ing process, or waiting process, where we took all the ideas from the faculty and asked them which one was most important to them. We then looked at all the benefits of each,” she added.

In fact, this is a simplified version of what the committee goes through; the actual process includes many smaller details which are weighed in importance over a greater amount of time. Even after the committee selects a potential schedule format, the school board still has to approve it, which takes much debate from them and even more time. “At the mo-ment, we have three or four potential schedules. We are going to be look-ing for schools that are running their day with these, and we are going to be having sight visits,” Harris stated.

So as you can see, choosing a new schedule for West will really be thor-oughly researched and thought out. Because of this laborious process, it makes sense that Tosa West will not be getting a new schedule set-up next year.

Increase in female players participat-ing in Intramural Basketball Association changes atmosphere

INTRAMURAL

Deanna Ross g Staff Writer

All-Girl Teams Infiltrate IBA

Around Wauwatosa West, if you say the acronym IBA, people immediately become excited. IBA (Intramural Basketball Association) is a basketball league for those who enjoy playing basketball but are not on a school team. In IBA, students are allowed to put together their own team and play with whom-ever they want. They are allowed to name their team and make shirts with each member’s unique number and nickname. Teams then compete against other teams in their bracket on Thursday nights in both sides of West’s gym. IBA is becoming an in-creasingly popular activity at West, and students from all grade levels and genders par-ticipate, having a good time in the process. This year, there are more all-girl and co-ed teams than ever before, mak-ing the activity even more intriguing, popular, and fun.

Interested in what both guys and girls thought about

the increase of participation of all-girl and co-ed teams, we asked around to see what students had to say. Andrew Gleason, a freshman on a co-ed team, thinks that having a girl on his team “is different but makes the game more fun.” Andrew added that play-ing all-girl teams “requires a different strategy,” but chang-ing up his team’s strategy keeps the game interesting.

Kyle Hemming, who also plays on a co-ed team, really likes having girls on his team. “I think playing with girls is a fun bonding experience,” says Kyle. When asked what he thought about all-girl teams he replied: “An all-girl team is a great idea because usu-ally when people think of bas-ketball, they think of a guy’s team. I also think that they contribute to the league, just like every other team.” Kyle loves to play against co-ed or all-girl team, sometimes more

than all male teams be-cause

it’s “less competitive and more fun”. Both the boys encourage more girls to play IBA and think that they shouldn’t be afraid be-cause IBA is a ton of fun.

On the other hand, Sarah Mraz participates on an all-girls team and thinks that being on a team with just girls encourages her to “take it less seriously and make the game more about having fun.” Sarah thinks that if she were on a team with boys that their desire to win would de-crease the fun in the activity. She is definitely glad to be on an all-girl team, but has nev-er felt discriminated against by all-guy teams. This opin-ion is consistent with most girls that are involved and playing on an all-girl team.

To all the girls at West, if you were thinking about playing in IBA this year and didn’t, don’t be afraid

to go and sign up for it next year. On a broader note, IBA is an activity for everybody at West no matter your gender and age. Even the teachers have their own team! So get involved if you’re interested, and if you want to watch games, come on out Thurs-day nights to the West gym and see how much fun the involved students are having.

To learn more, go to WestSideStories.com and take a look at the broad-cast’s IBA program.

Wajahat Ali g West Side StoriesHOT SHOTS members Haily Vaughn, Megan Falk and Kasey Plonka discuss strategy and positions with their team-mates before their next game.

Committee looks into possible schedule formats

SCHEDULING

Brianna Blinkiewicz g Staff Writer

Block Scheduling

Jasmine Thomas g West Side StoriesPHOEBE ALBERT rehearses her lines with other members of the Harvey cast.

g Please see p. 2

g Please see p. 2 g Please see p. 2

Are exams really the best test?See p. 4-5

January, 2012

NewsWEST SIDE STORIES2

We invite you to see how you fit in at Mount Mary College.

Schedule your customized individual campus visit today or attend one of our upcoming group visit events. Whether it’s a visit during the day, in the evening or on a Saturday, there’s a visit option to meet your needs.

Schedule your campus visit online at www.mtmary.edu/campusvisit.htmor by calling 800-321-6265.

Get Personal!

the roles that fit them best right away. Rehearsals be-gan a mere four days later on December 12, so this produc-tion has been coming along for over a month now.

Members of the cast agree that the show is coming along great. Senior actor Will Har-rington says, “It’s going really well, and the cast gets along very well also.” Kylie Hogrefe has a similar opinion and believes “the show is coming along rather well. It’s a tough show and it’s somewhat un-conventional for high schools to do because of all of the older characters, but it’s hi-larious in a 1950’s kind of way that’s still very [relatable].”

This show is sure to make a lot of laughs. When asked about her character Veta, Kylie replied, “People can ex-pect to see a variation of the over-animated, gossip-filled grandma we all have. Well, at least the one I know I have. She’s psychotic in the very common way, and she’s the funniest role I’ve ever gotten a chance to play.” There is no doubt that Harvey is a com-edy. “Anyone who comes to see it can expect to laugh for

a solid hour and a half. It’s absolutely hilarious,” Har-rington assures.

In terms of seating, this play is going to be done a little differently than other shows are done at West. Seating will be on stage just like the senior directed plays, but not quite the same. Megan ex-plains that “the winter play

is usually done with seating on stage, but this year it is in the round.” This means that seating will be on both sides of the stage instead of just one.

Harvey is sure to attract a crowd. Anyone planning on seeing the show can an-ticipate coming to Harvey on February 10, 11, or 12.

“It definitely will not be next year. It probably won’t even be the year af-ter that,” confirmed Harris.

If West gets a new sched-ule, students can be assured that it will both benefit them and the school. It will include benefits such as longer time for projects and more use-able class time (for art classes etc.), not to mention being

able to take more classes. “We will only do it if we find some-thing better for the students”, says Harris. So although block scheduling may not be happening anytime soon, it is something to look forward to in the future, and it will be something that will profit the students and better the learn-ing environment at West.

HarveyWest Expulsions g Continued from p. 1

g Continued from p. 1

than all male teams because it’s “less competitive and more fun”. Both the boys encourage more girls to play IBA and think that they shouldn’t be afraid because IBA is a ton of fun.

On the other hand, Sarah Mraz participates on an all-girls team and thinks that being on a team with just girls encourages her to “take it less seriously and make the game more about hav-ing fun.” Sarah thinks that if she were on a team with boys, their desire to win would decrease the fun in the activity. She has never felt discriminated against by all-guy teams. This opinion is consistent with most girls

that are involved and play-ing on an all-girl team.

To all the girls at West, if you were thinking about playing in IBA this year and didn’t, don’t be afraid to go and sign up for it next year. On a broader note, IBA is an activity for everybody at West no matter your gender and age. Even the teachers have their own team! So get involved if you’re interested, and if you want to watch games, come on out Thurs-day nights to the West gym and see how much fun the involved students are hav-ing.

To learn more, go to www.wauwatosawest.com.

IBA Participantsg Continued from p. 1

Scheduling

Enforcement changes student perceptions

POLICY

Stephanie Eberle g Editor-in-Chief

According to the statistics at the Wisconsin Informa-tion Network for Successful Schools, in the 2009-10 school year 1,218 students were ex-pelled in the entire state of Wisconsin. That year there were no expulsions at Wau-watosa West. The highest recorded number of students expelled at West in one year is five. Frank Calarco, prin-cipal of West, said, “All I can tell you is that there have

been two hearings this year.”Many students know what

you have to do to get expelled, but most do not know what the school has to do to expel them.

Want to learn more about West’s expulsion policies? Read more here:

What would you think if you saw a woman striding down a street in Wauwatosa with a king- sized blanket wrapped around her fragile neck? She’s crazy? Tacky? It’s just not that cold! Well, no matter what your opinion is, this scenario resembles the big, puffy scarves being draped around necks all over the nation. Like these scarves, the new-est trends for 2012 have already hit the shelves of local stores. You can find everything from drop earrings to ankle boots most anywhere. You might have been wearing this year’s newest styles and not even known it.

Much like the trends of 2011, bright colors, bold patterns and block-ing are especially fashionable. Starting at the top, head wraps—es-pecially thick head bands and head scarves—are very stylish. And then there are those must-have accessories. In colors like n a v y blue, black, and silvery-white, you can never go wrong. Those are also pop-ular colors for earrings, which are most fashionable in 2012 when long and dangling. Studs are also popular for a laid-back look, usually in solid colors like gold or silver.

Oversized necklaces in any shimmering shade can be the perfect accent to any dull look. But the gold and silvery sparkle doesn’t need to stop at your ears and necks. 2012 fashions are pushing us in the direction of a more Ke$ha-like look. Dresses that are coated in gold, silver, purple, pink, and dark blue sequins are per-fect for a night out on the town or a school dance. For a more casual look, sequins are not an option!

Pencil skirts, flowing blouses, and dresses with computerized patterns are however. Stripes and banded waist dresses are also what’s goin’ on! These types of dress-es add contrast and are also casually fashionable. On an even more casual note, denim still lives, but this time with a little spice. Solid-colored jeans in shades of purple, red and espe-cially bright blue are more than ac-ceptable for 2012 trends. Not to fear ladies; feel free to dress up this casual look with a blazer (tan, black, blue, red, or any other bright colors), perhaps with a striped boyfriend T underneath. But if you’re not feeling so funky, block-ing is always an option, which means sticking with solid colors in your outfit choice. This is very subtle and not quite as bold, but you’ll still be stunningly in style.

In an effort to keep warm in these cold Wisconsin months, layering is still okay. This year however, the final layer is ex-pected to consist of fur jackets, vests, and coats. If you’re not completely feeling that idea, wool sweaters will help keep the cold out. To complete your outfit and top it off with 2012 flare, suede, knee high, ankle, or calf-length boots are still as trendy as ever. Flats with a funky pattern and a solid metal toe are something a little different for 2012. This year’s fashions are all about the flare, the funk and the bold color decisions, so get out there and bring in the new year stylishly.

FeaturesWEST SIDE STORIES3January, 2012

This year, everything from drop earrings to ankle boots are in store for the fashion-forward dresser

STYLE

Genesha Murray g Staff Writer

Fashionable, Must-Have Items for 2012Becca Beitscher g IllustratorStar Donaldson g Staff WriterAnne Koepp g Illustrator

Wondering Whereto Look?

Circle ScarvesThese trendy accessories can be found al-most anywhere in the country, from rural Iowa to the catwalks of New York City. A little closer to home, they can be found at:

-For Love 21 -Forever 21 -Ragstock -American Apparel

Pencil SkirtsThese mod-based items are coming back into style.

They can be stylized to fit any occasion, whether you are working on Wall Street or chilling in Converse. Re-

lease your inner Twiggy and head over to one of these suppliers:

-Banana Republic -Black House White Market -Ann Taylor Loft -Target

Chunky Jewelry & HeadbandsThese started coming back in style around 2009 during Isaac Mizrahi’s exposé, in which large, colorful acces-sories were featured. To pump up your look with some of your own, visit:

-Claire’s -For Love 21 -Aldo -Goodwill

Bold PatternsIt’s classy to sport clashing patterns this year. Mix and match colors and styles for a fresh look. Don’t be afraid to wear bold patterns from:

-Target -Delia’s -American Outfitters -American Apparel

Exams have come and gone, taking another semester with them. With the freezing chill of true winter finally in the air, now is the time for some reflections or that season of stan-dardized fear. New traditions have replaced the old, kicking old policies to the curb like so many dried-up Christmas trees.

Perhaps the most controversial change comes with mandatory attendance during exam week. The usual project-based exams, like English and Social Studies, must have something going on during those two agoniz-ing hours. “Exam week was turning into a week where we would see hardly any stu-dents here,” explained Frank Calarco, prin-cipal of West, “teachers were giving their exam the week before, and we were losing

an entire week of learning for students. “A more welcome change came with the

new rules for exam exemptions. Instead of just upperclassmen, all grades can now exempt one exam. Both this and required attendance were part of a district mandate. District adminis-tration charged both West and East to “make sure we were doing things consistently at both schools,’” Calarco clarified.

Of course, not everyone is happy with these changes. “I overheard some students yesterday that it’s change for the sake of

changing, just to make students suffer more,” recalled Lauren Hill, an English teacher at West. The new attendance mandate could prove challenging for some English teachers, who have a hard time testing with traditional exams. “I have given in-class essay assign-

ments or advance preparation and submission on the day of the exam,” explained Hill. The common scantron multiple choice is usually off-limits, since, as Hill explained, thy “tend to test only content, expecting students to recall factual information.” This type of learn-ing only through memorization is common in many classes, and poses especial difficulty in English. There, students cannot just learn facts—throughout the year they learn skills like writing and analyzing.

Final exams have been put under the mi-croscope in recent years, and have been found lacking in several respects. “Is it the best way to learn? Maybe not,” admitted Calarco. Many have wondered if it is fair to place twenty per-cent of a final grade on one exam. “Of course there’s always that what if you’re not having a nice day, or what if you’re not a good test tak-er, or what if you experience test anxiety?” Hill empathized. Partially for this reason, a new rule this year limits the percentage exams can be of freshman grades. Unlike upperclassman, exams can only account for ten percent of a freshman’s grade. This measure is partially intended to “phase-in” ne Trojans, who often have no exam experience from middle school.

Or course final exams are not the only way West staff assesses what students have learned during the semester. One of the dis-trict’s goals is to have common assessments, where teachers in the same subject give the same tests, quizzes and projects. As Calarco pointed out, teachers are now using “data to inform themselves. Hill explained: “You look

at the data and say: my kids did not do well in this concept, yours did, what did you do differently?” With these common assessments, teachers are forming Professional Learning Communities or PLCs, where they analyze test data to see how they can better teach information. In many ways these common assessments, given throughout the year, are more effective than final exams, since they give teacher the chance to improve and change throughout the year.

Even final exams, however, can serve a teal purpose at Wauwatosa West. “The main goals of schools in general is to get them [students] used to what’s happening in col-lege,” iterated Calarco. Colleges generally do not have one hundred plus assignments per quarter. Instead, a large portion of the final grade is based off of the final exam. Having these rigorous two hour exams in high school now prepares students for what will happen to them in college latter. As Hill recalled, “I was just talking to a former student last night, who had a five hour exam for his freshman-level philosophy course.” Even students who are not crazy enough to take freshman-level philosophy can get something out of final exams. Any one, no matter what their job will be, are “expected to perform, and show mas-tery of skills and knowledge,” as Hill pointed out. Even worse, real adults will be expected to retain and apply that knowledge for more than one semester.

Natalie Mullinsg Staff WriterJordan Llanasg Illustrator Stephanie Eberle g Editor-in-Chief

Caylin Roseneg Photography Editor

January, 2012

OpinionsWEST SIDE STORIES6

Being a wrestler is some-thing you cannot easily ex-press in words. Fewer sports require the dedication, te-nacity, control, aggression, and discipline that wrestlers have to maintain through-out the year. Many people fail to look past shallow mis-conceptions that they have about the uniforms wres-tlers are required to wear.

But there is a side to wres-tling that nobody sees unless they are a wrestler. That is the one that needs to be get-ting the recognition. Count-less lifting sessions, off-sea-son practices, tournaments, and camps are just some of the things we do to prepare for the real season. Nobody sees wrestlers getting up in the morning on weekends be-cause everyone else is asleep

by the time they are work-ing out. 8:00 a.m. practices with the occasional before and after runs to stay in bet-ter shape than the guy who is ranked above you. Not to mention, the injuries, pain, blood, sweat, and tears that get put into the mat everyday by everyone on the team, and are left there with nothing left to say at the end of it. This is the side of wrestlers that people need to know about.

Our sport is unique in the fact that each individual wrestler is unique. They each have their own style, their own limits, and their own set of skills that they need to im-prove. Before matches, each wrestler has their own ritual they go through; many try to relax, pray, listen to music, or just plain get angry. Every

match is a one-on-one battle to see who is in better shape, who has better technique, and who has the most heart.

The great thing about wrestling is that anybody can beat anybody; no mat-ter who you are you can beat the best in some way or an-other. That’s why we train, cut weight, and work out like madmen. It’s because that kid you’re wrestling next has a chance to beat you. We train to make that chance as small as possible, and to make sure we dominate our opponents. Wrestling is not for the weak-hearted, weak-minded, or for those who are not willing to give everything they have every time they step onto the mat. Wrestling is the sport of champions.

Max Nelson g Guest Writer

WRESTLING

Hidden Side of WrestlingWrestler pins stereotypes, explains what being a member of the Wauwatosa High School wrestling team is actually like

Over the summer, my un-der-16 friends and I had to rely on our bikes to get us from place to place. So, one day we were biking from Mayfair Mall to the White House of Music, via North Avenue. I was in the front of the line as we approached the highway on-ramp. I looked up and saw a yield sign. I felt as if that sign shielded me so I could safely cross. My friends must have been yelling at me because a car was speeding down the street about to turn onto the highway. Just as I was crossing, the car screeched to a stop as I stopped right in front of it. The driver and the passenger were struck with fear because they almost hit me. I was just confused, not knowing what to think. I backed up, the car drove off and we continued on our way. I felt that my actions were justified. I haven’t taken driver’s education yet, but I do know that a yield sign acts as a stop sign if a pedestrian is present. That car should have stopped for me. But why wasn’t he ready to stop? He must have seen us right as he went under the train bridge, giving him plenty of

time to slow down. I believe he thought it was our respon-sibility to stop for him. I have been taught that the hierar-chy goes: pedestrians, bik-ers, mopeds, motorcycles, and then cars. Cars are the most deadly out there; the driver must have realized that. On the other hand, it was my responsibility to look both ways, as I’ve been taught since I learned to walk. My friend asked his driving in-structor recently who was right in the situation and he replied that the car should have stopped for us. But what if he didn’t? What if I were hit by that multi-ton ma-chine? I’d be either dead or seriously hurt, and the driver would have been sued for not stopping and following the rules of the road. Who would have won? Neither the driver nor me; I learned that there is always something differ-ent both of us should have done. People make mistakes on the road and you have to be ready. Can you really trust that the guy speeding to the red light at your car isn’t texting? Can you take the consequences if he is?

COLUMN

“Hey! I’m Walk-ing Here!”Though pedestrians legally have the right of way, drivers do not always stop. In light of this, how much blame does each person deserve when an accident occurs?Christopher Trojan g Staff Writer

Bloggers post on web site regularly

BLOGS

If you want to hear more from these and other students, check out www.wauwatosawest.com, where bloggers upload new posts weekly. Here are some students to check out:

Want More?

Natalie Mullins: if you enjoy snarky commentary, Natalie always has opinions to share.

Sarah Galaszewski: if music is your thing, check out the dif-ferent bands interviewed here.

Not Pictured:

Christopher Trojan: always happy to share experiences, even if not near-death ones.

Andy Hanson: the newest blogger on staff, Hanson spe-cializes in movie reviews.

Deanna Ross: no one likes a whiner... unless their com-plaints are this entertaining.

Jill Morin g Used With PermissionDEVINE BURT of Wauwatosa West High School sizes up his opponed from Nathan Hale High School during the Bauer Brawl Wresltling meet that took place January 7-13 at Whitnall, Johnson Creek and Cudahay High Schools.

January, 2012

FEATURESWEST SIDE STORIES 7

These days, one of the most sensationalized conspiracy theories is that revolving the Illuminati. The term, mean-ing “enlightenment” is now used to describe a variety of groups and ideas surround-ing every aspect of society from music to government.

Historically, the name re-fers to the Bavarian Illumina-ti founded around 1776 by a man named Adam Weishaupt. The group broke away from the Catholic Church and supposedly had branches in most European countries, which fostered freethinking.

The group was apparent-ly banned by Karl Theodor when he became ruler of Ba-varia. All of their literature was seized and members’ homes were searched to pre-vent the groups ideals being released. It is said that they were effectively wiped out.

Today, some argue that the Bavarian Illuminati sur-vived and grew to control the entire world. Many orga-nizations claim to be “heirs” of the original organization and use the name “Illumi-nati” openly. Not surprisingly, most of these theories are publicized on the internet.

One of the most common ru-mors is that they are planning

a “New World Order” which refers to the emergence of a one-world government run by the leaders of the Illuminati.

Many sources also say the Illuminati worship the devil. According to one web site, members have traded their souls to Satan in order to gain their fame and fortune.

There are also several symbols be-lieved to stand for the secret society. Ba-phomet, the figure of a goat head with two horns, stands for Satanism and is found on member’s clothing. The all Seeing Eye, or the Eye of Horus, is also linked to the organization. This symbol is seen on the back of the United States’ dollar bill.

The most powerful mem-bers of the Illuminati are the 13 bloodlines which include 13 of the wealthiest families in the world. The Kennedys, Rockefellers, and Disneys have all been attached to this underground organization.

The Council of Foreign Re-lations is said to be the Amer-ican branch dedicated to the New World Order. Presidents

of the United States are popu-lar targets for being members of the Illuminati. According to some, it is impossible to elect someone who is not a mem-ber and if by some chance they are elected, the prob-lem will be “corrected” soon.

Music artists, actors, and writers are also common tar-gets. The plan for the New

World Order is supposedly hastened by the infiltration of their prod-ucts society.

H o w e v e r , while it’s logi-cal that some of the original

Illuminati’s material sur-vived, it’s absolutely ridicu-lous to believe that these peo-ple are controlling the entire world. Secrets rarely remain secrets, if they did exist, they would’ve taken down the web sites and disposed of those who were knowledgeable. The symbols may be some-one’s idea of fashion, or per-haps celebrities are aware of the rumors surrounding their membership and fuel the flames in order to boost their popularity. Whatever the ex-planation, there is no all pow-erful underground society.

A comprehensive look at a famous secret society, spanning from the Georgian era to the modern day

CONSPIRACY

Kaitlyn Hembrook g Staff Writer

Exploring the Dark Past of the IlluminatiThe Illuminati are supposedly responsible for…

• The 2000 election results between President George Bush and Al Gore.

• President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. • The Holocaust and September 11th

The Illuminati controls…• World wars. Conflicts between nations are a

result of feuds between different branches of the Illuminati. A third world war is planned for later in the 20th century as the final step in the New World Order.

• Weather. They have a HAARP machine which can manipulate the seasons.

• Medicine. Apparently they have a cure for cancer that they aren’t sharing.

• The drug trade. This is the organization’s main income.

Modern day members of the Illuminati…• Jay Z. His “Rocafella” sign is extremely similar to

the Eye of Horus and sounds quite a bit like Rock-efeller, one of the 13 families. His clothing line, Rocawear, also features the All Seeing Eye.

• Beyoncé. She’s been seen wearing a ring with Ba-phomet on it, and has an alter ego, Sasha Fierce, who is supposedly Beyoncé possessed by a demon.

• Lady Gaga. In many pictures, videos, and appear-ances she is seen covering one eye, which is the symbol of the all Seeing Eye.

• Taylor Swift. The country superstar was linked to the group during 2009’s Video Music Awards in which Kanye West jumped up on the stage and interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video. This was supposedly her initiation ceremony which included a prayer to the devil.

• Rihanna. Sources claim she’s a member because of her dark image and habit of covering her eye to represent the Eye of Horus.

Contrary to popular belief, quality productions aren’t only on Broadway; check out these local shows

THEATER

Erin Stapleton g Staff Writer

Affordable Matinées in MilwaukeeDo you find yourself do-

ing the same things over and over on your Friday and Sat-urday nights? Why not try something new? We live in Milwaukee, which is—believe it or not—one of the most ac-tive theatre communities in the country. Take advantage of all of the wonderful produc-tions it has to offer. Take a date and share an exciting and different experience…make a night out of it: a love-ly dinner followed by a mov-ing performance. Just go and laugh your head off by your-self, or, if you don’t like flying solo, with a friend or family member. All are destined to enjoy! And you never know…you might just leave forever changed…or simply want-ing to come back again soon!

Address varies by show

Now, this is not your ordinary theatre. Bunny Gumbo, unlike other theater companies in the area, does not have a specific location or a specific season. What they are known and loved for is their different and impossible way of approaching the art of theatre: Combat Theatre.

Here is how it works: Writers pick a random subject and loca-tion out of a hat (literally) and have one all-nighter to write a 15 to 20 minute script. Then the actors and directors come in and are assigned to each of the (on estimate) eight scripts and have 24 hours to cast the show, memorize their lines, block the show, costume the show, tech the show, and finally perform the final product…what a whirlwind! It’s a challenge for those be-hind the scenes a joy for the audience. These shows are notori-ous for being delightfully, yet sometimes crudely funny.

Also enjoy the Combat Theatre’s high-school version. If the professionals can do it…wait till you see the teens!

Ticket Info: Buy at the door! Arrive at least 15 minutes before show time because seats fill up fast! Prices can be found at www.bunnygumbo.com

108 East Wells Street Milwaukee, WI 53202

Cool Fact about The Rep: At any given point in time, there is a show running in each of its four theaters!

More theaters mean more productions, and more productions mean more opportunities for you to enjoy some high-quality entertainment.

This year’s season has a great deal to offer a high-school stu-dent, like you. The productions are fresh and relatable, rang-ing from the dysfunctional family story of the award-winning Broadway Musical, Next to Normal, to the literary classic, To Kill a Mocking Bird, to the outrageously hilarious, The Com-plete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).

Those listed above are bound to be hits this year. Don’t make the mistake of missing them!

To save you money on your tickets…don’t call the designated number for tickets or order online. It will save you $3 if you actually go to The Rep (a few weeks before you want to see the show) and purchase your tickets at the box office

According to one web site, members have traded their souls to Satan in order to gain their fame and fortune.

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January, 2012

SportsWEST SIDE STORIES8

Student-organized Table Tennis club begins meeting each Monday after school in the Trojan Room

Competitive Paddle Swinging is Back

Alec Kirtley g Guest Writer

TABLE TENNIS

Combined Wauwatosa swim team in midst of successful season even after loss of lasts year’s leadersWauwatosa Hurricanes The Perfect Storm SWIMMING

Alex Lindstromg Guest Writer

Every Monday in the Trojan Room, the repetitive click-clacking of ping-pong balls echoes through the hallways with constant persistence. These sounds are only to be outdone by the groans of the defeated clashing with cheers of victory from the winner, and even these battle cries don’t compare to the uproarious cheers and jeers emanating from the spectators. We were witnessing the intensity and raw emotion of West’s hip new Table Tennis Club. The origins of this red-hot club date back to this Fall, when a ragtag, unofficial group of ping-pong radicals went earned a third-place trophy at the all-state tournament at the Shorewood Table Tennis Club. Pretty impressive considering they were the only ones there not part of a formal club!

From there, they transformed through the dedication of table tennis visionary Luke Sal-amone into a unified team of players. Sal-amone masterminded the whole operation, talking with teachers, finding supervisors, get-ting the okay from administration, and even getting the tables because he felt West needed “to foster the development of table tennis Skills at our school.” From there, everything took off.

The style of play from meeting to meeting is ca-sual for the beginner players, yet provides a mean-ingful practice for the more proficient players who are more likely to compete in tournaments. Meetings are “King of the Hill” style; People play-

ing at one of the two tables are only allowed to continue playing if victorious, and once they lose they must surrender their po-sition and wait for their turn to tackle the current champ. This usually continues for an hour and a half, or however long the stu-dents are supervised. For beginners, losing is no big deal, but those with expe-rience have a chance to show their mettle. It is the perfect environment for the beginners to grow in skill while the experts maintain theirs, and the perfect recipe for a good time.

Now, what does all this playing and practice amount to? The competitive atmosphere of tour-naments provides the perfect outlet for a talented player to utilize their skills towards a team goal, such as a trophy, medal, or cash prize. However, more open, less professionally run tournaments provide a good starting point for the budding player. These types of tournaments have very little buy-in, and no limit on the number of play-

ers, meaning anyone on West’s team is free to

participate. However, it really does depend on the tournament. De-pending on whether West brings its four-player, five-player, or six-player guns, much more serious tournaments can

cost around $40, $50, or $60 dollars re-spectively. And winning those suck-ers? Well, it can mean thousands of dollars in cash prizes. Just like the meetings themselves cater to play-

ers of all skill levels, the wide selection of tournaments also meet the needs of everyone. However, Salamone is opti-

mistic about the team’s performances, re-marking, “We have an opportunity of getting third or fourth at state and we don’t have many official practices, some teams have more practices and 15-16 players”

An awesome, brand-new club that anyone, re-gardless of skill level, can join and enjoy—what more could you ask for? Well, as sweet of a deal as this is, West’s table tennis club needs involve-ment! According to Mark Salamone, younger brother to Luke, the club has little money and few members. More members means more money and more tournaments and equipment! So everyone, get off the couch and join this raging new club.

Charlie Koepp g Staff Writer Ben Maklouf g West Side Stories

If you head over to the Wauwa-tosa West pool after school, you will find a group of approximately 25 boys hard at work, determined to improve their swimming skills. These boys are the Wauwatosa West and Wau-watosa East combined swim team—the Wauwatosa Hurricanes. The two schools have chosen to pool their tal-ents (no pun intended) and become a combined team due to a shortage of male swimmers from both schools.

Though the team has had a suc-cessful season thus far, Captain Alex Swenson from East remarks, “We lost a lot of very good seniors last year, and I approached the season kind of wor-ried. However, we gained a lot of im-pressive freshman, who will be the key to success this year and in the future.”

Swenson is very proud of the team for their two dual meet victories, and their fourth place finish at the Wood-land Conference Relays meet, where they competed against a number of very talented teams. He also shares his excitement for the upcoming meets against Brown Deer and Whitnall, both of which he thinks the team has a very good shot of winning. Manager Monica Wojnowiak also shares this ex-citement, and says “although we lost a great deal of seniors, the captains have

done a great job of leading the team.” Swenson leads the team along with

other senior captains Peter Hovel and Caleb Hernday, all veterans to the team. “The seniors have laid the foundation for not only hard work, but also a very positive team experience,” says Coach Heidi Goetsch. She is very proud of the work that the captains have done both inside outside of the pool. They have succeeded in unifying the team and providing a good atmo-sphere for all team members, a critical aspect to the success of any sports team. Goetsch also remarks that “Overall, the team is really surprising me. They have overcome the losses that we experienced last year through the loss of our seniors, and we have had a lot of athletes stepping up to fill their shoes.”

Not only have the seniors stepped up to support their team, but three freshman boys have stood out as major contrib-utors to the team as well. Jack Lutz swims the 200 yard Indi-vidual Medley and the 100 yard butterfly well, Michael Siver-ling swims distance freestyle and the 100 yard breaststroke impressively, and Jake Falk

has proven his talents as a sprint free stylist. The team, despite its loss of many talented swimmers last year, has truly had many athletes step up and make the season successful.

The Hurricanes are looking for-ward to many more victories. A goal for the team is to increase participa-tion to continue the program in further years, and they are hoping to qualify several swimmers for the state meet later this year. “We hope to make two

relays to state, qualify Tony Benz in diving, for Caleb Hernday to make a return appearance in the 200 yard In-dividual Medley, and possibly to sneak a few other events in,” says Goetsch. “The end of the season should be very exciting,” remarked Wojnowiak, and the Hurricanes all agree. Despite the hardships they face, the team has united and is looking forward to a very successful conclusion of their season.

HURRICANE swimmer competes with students from Pius XI High school at West January 19th.Kou Vang g West Side Stories