issue 9 2010

Logan is the school’s past honors pa� ent and has been cancer free for three years

HOOVER PUBLICATIONS 4800 AURORA DES MOINES.IA. 50310 515.242.7313 3.10.10 V.43 I.9 WWW.HOOVERCHALLENGER.COM

KIRA HERRON PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

BY ERIK HOFFMANFEATURES EDITOR

BY MICHAEL ROBYOPINION EDITOR

Band travels to Japan this springSchool band takes a visit to sister school in Kofu, Japan

Deteriorating conditions

Bathrooms are simply low quality in maintenance, students say

[ PG. 2 ]

Track conditioning

[ PG. 5 ]

Behind the scenes with STUCO

[ PG. 3 ]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting

the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press

or of the right of the people to peaceably assemble and to petition the government

for a redress of grievances

Making up snow days with longer days

INSI

DE

ALEKSANDRA VUJICIC SIDEBAR

The district has to make up eight snow days. The school board had an online survey that asked community members what should be done to make them up. They decided to add 30 minutes to the school day starting Apr. 5. Science teacher Eric Hall thinks that this is the best option. “I think of the options we were given and it’s the best one,” Hall said. Hall thinks that this will help students in the long run even if it sounds stupid now. “I don’t know if it will see a huge benefit just because you add three or four minutes to a class. I think what it does though it gives the total class

time during the day is longer and hopefully it will have

an accumulative affect

and you won’t notice it right away but hopefully over the last 8-10 weeks you will see a difference,” Hall said. Hall thinks that adding days to the end of the school year is a better choice than adding time to the school day. “I don’t think on a day to day basis the extra time is really going to increase student learning noticeably if at all, I just think the extra full days make more sense,” Hall said. Hall does give credit to the school though for how they made the choice to add time to the end of the day. “I think the school did a nice job asking for input, the teachers were given an opportunity and so was the community with an online survey,” Hall

said. Senior Charae Miller thinks differently. Miller thinks that adding time to the end of the day is a bad idea. “I don’t think that it benefits

students at all because our classes are already long,” Miller said. Principal Doug Wheeler doesn’t really have an opinion on the way the school board handled the snow days. “I think that you know they are responding to the community’s desire not

to go four extra days,” Wheeler said. Wheeler thinks that there aren’t many benefits to the way the school is making the days up. “Really the only benefit is that they won’t have to go that third week of June to school,” Wheeler said.

When band director Randy Hoepker first brought up using the band’s semi-annual large trip to visit Japan, he recalls his students taking the idea as a complete joke. Over a year later, Hoepker and the band are preparing for a band trip across the world. “I think they were in disbelief we were doing anything like this,” Hoepker said. Two years ago Hoepker was invited to be a guest director at Hoover’s sister school in Kofu, Japan, and considered the idea of returning with his students. The idea officially became an effort on the part of the band in November 2008. Freshman Tyler Gilbreath was among the students who saw this idea as an inside joke from the director, and is now ecstatic for this trip. “I’m really excited to do this, to go to Japan again and play music with my band,” Gilbreath said. In total, the trip cost $135,000, which was paid for by numerous grants the band made and by students selling anything from sushi to candy to fruit. The commission song is an original composition written for their performances and made by one of the musical writers for the movie Spirited Away. As the band prepares for this trip to Kofu, Hoepker hopes they get everything out of it they can. “The kids will have a great opportunity to travel and experience another country,” Hoepker said.

Track conditioning begins in preparation of new season

Student council group organizes school assemblies, dances

and activities to try to improve school spirit

“I don’t think that it benefi ts students at all because our classes

are already long.

- Senior Charae Miller

School board makes fi nal decision on how snow days will be made up

SCHOOL BOARD ADDS 30 MINUTES TO SCHOOL DAY

TO MAKE UP SNOW DAYSHAPPY HOLIDAYS!

PatientsWhat?

How?

Goal: $1200 “ “

Survivor Money collected this year will be helping Zack, who goes to elementary school in Urbandale. Zack is currently undergoing chemo and whole brain radia� on


TAKE A TRIP TO JAPANBand members will be traveling with director Randy Hoepker across the world to Japan to play music over spring break

New Patient

Pennies for pa� ents is a fundraiser for the leukemia founda� on. The money goes directly to families who are dealing with leukemia * top contribu� ng advisories

will receive a pizza party

It just brings the school together for a cause and I see a lot of kids open their hearts

to the needs of someone else.-Cindy Grandquist

Donate spare change in advisory when collectors come. Or donate at assigned tables in student center during lunch to make cards as well.

Penn

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The Hoover-Meredith Gay-Straight Alliance was unable to a� end the Fourth Annual Student Day at the Capitol because of confl ic� ng schedules concerning the Diversity Assembly. GSA will be performing two skits regarding homophobic remarks, teachers and homophobia. Seniors Kira Herron, Stephen Boatwright, Ajla Kapic, Juniors Logan Sanders, Logun Buckley, sophomores Indira Sheumaker and Michael Siroise will be performing in the skits. They will also be discussing plans for next year’s GSA mee� ngs because advisor Sco� Rieker’s job was cut.

NEWS BRIEFS

aaron homard page design news 3.10.10 v.43 i9 news2BRIEFSNEWS

Deteriora� ngcondi� ons��

BY AARON HOMARDNEWS EDITOR

The school board has recently been discussing how the schools will go about the budget and employee cuts and increasing morale over the extended school days to make up for snow days. The board is discussing ideas such as sugges� ng early re� rement for some teachers and faculty to avoid a surplus of job cuts later. Those who lose their jobs more quickly will cause fewer jobs to have to be sacrifi ced at a later � me. The board has also opted to increase school days by half an hour star� ng in April, so that only two days would have to be made up at the end of the year, although the members fear some students will oppose and fi ght the idea. Member Dick Murphy has expressed the diffi culty of these issues. “There are a lot of things that are going to change next year. We have to let some people go and fi gure some money issues out, and we can just hope it won’t damage the process too much,” Murphy said.

The mock trial team fi nally wrapped up their season Mar. 3. They lost to Urbandale but can offi cially say that they made it in the top 16 of mock trials in the playoff s. Those contestants include Merisa Lengeling, Alli Nu� ng, Jacob Sco� , Andrew Woods, Ka� e Hawks, John Jordan, Zach Dickhoff , Brenna Carlson, Ann Strom and Tyler Bainter. Coach Sarah Hamilton was impressed by her team and with how far they’ve come. “They were a great team that pulled together during compe� � on. They showed excellent team work and I’m very proud of them,” Hamilton said.

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BY KIRA HERRON

BY AARON HOMARD

BY MICHAEL ROBY

Conferences will be held tonight from 4-8 and tomorrow from 12:15-8. There will be no classes on Thursday, Friday or the following week for spring break. Parents are invited to donate meals for teachers and staff during conferences. Parents have been encouraged to show apprecia� on for the staff by dona� ng drinks, salads, main entrees or dessert. Volunteers are also needed to help serve the meals tomorrow at 4 in the East cafeteria. If interested, contact Lyrio Cloma-Read at [email protected].

BY ALEKSANDRA VUJICIC

When sophomore Holden Clark walks into the school bathrooms he finds them littered and in deteriorating conditions “They (the bathrooms) are disgusting. Every time I use them, they are always a mess; paper towels are all over, water on the floor and toilets are unflushed in every bathroom,” Clark said.

Clark believes that the school is near the bottom of the chain for cleanliness across the district. “I’ve been to Roosevelt’s before and those are clean. East’s are a little bit better. Dowling’s are just better than ours,” Clark said. Senior Sydney Johnson also finds the bathrooms’ cleanliness different from her part time school Central Academy. “They’re gross. At Central, I could leave my stuff outside the stall but at Hoover I would never do that,” Johnson said. Overall Johnson thinks that the floors are nasty and the stalls are just as bad. “They just need to fix the doors and put in general maintenance,” Johnson said. Graffiti in the bathrooms is also an issue according to these students. Both

Clark and Johnson agree that it is just the immaturity of the students. “They feel like they’re breaking the rules by writing on the bathroom stalls,”

Johnson said. Head of operations Jason Kono has no idea why students would want to graffiti the walls. “I really don’t know why they have no respect. I’m sure they wouldn’t act that way at home. I think they just have no respect for the school,” Kono said. Kono does disagree with Clark and Johnson in that the school is no different from others in Des Moines.

“They’re probably about the same. I’m saying there’s graffiti everywhere in the district. It’s just not isolated here at Hoover High School. It’s at Lincoln, East, Roosevelt and middle schools as well. It’s just not Hoover students,” Kono said.

I’m sure they wouldn’t act

that way at home. I think they just have no respect for the school.-Head of operations

Jason Kono

“KIRA HERRON PHOTOS

BEHIND THE SCENEerik hoff man page design features www.hooverchallenger.com

with student council��

BY JASON REICHENBACHERENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Senior Cody Sargent leads the student council leadership class during fourth block. Student council is an organiza� on that helps plan certain school events. “If you stay on track, you never get ‘overwhelmed’,” Sargent said. KIRA HERRON PHOTO

3

“I’m not sure that anyone uses language

in their lives. I’m afraid that just about everything English teachers dois a lot of gratuitous nonsense.Especially the teaching of concepts such as irony,” Eller said.

“Besides informa� on on teaching kids how to vote, hopefully the skills you learn in history, like cause and eff ect, sequen� al reasoning and other skills are the kinds of things we use in the workplace,” Murphy said.

“You don’t use geometry per se in the form it’s in, but the logic behind it and the idea behind it can translate to any career in life. For example, the logic and the reasoning

taught in second semester geometry could be used by lawyers,” Roney said.

Where will we use this?

“We are studying Climate Change (what some people call Global Warming) inEnvironmental Science so you can try make sense of what is said by the

many people who off er their two cents’ worth on this issue,” Goldman said.

tudents have always asked “Where will I use this?” Now teachers fi nally answer the question that has been asked for ages.

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Maureen Murphy

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Julie Goldman

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Dawnda Roney

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“John Eller

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Behind the scenes of the school’s pep, Homecoming, student of all seasons and prom court assemblies is a group of students know as Student Council (STUCO). STUCO organizes most of the student body activities up to the last minute literally running around the school making sure that everything runs smoothly. Along with the responsibility of student assemblies STUCO is always looking for ways to make the school look better. Painting murals is something that the students have done lately to improve the vibe around the school. STUCO advisor for the last four years Kirk Stevens helps coordinate these jobs. “Many people come through these walls when school isn’t in session and their only impression of us is what is on the walls. It would be nice to improve upon that impression,” Stevens said. Student body President Cody Sargent oversees and delegates all jobs in order to accomplish the goals that they have set out. “It’s good to know I can help people, I can try to make things better,” Sargent said. Sargent recognizes the importance of School activities and is always willing to help groups and clubs get started. Despite all the stress of putting

together assemblies Sargent enjoys the responsibility. “If you stay on track, you never get ‘overwhelmed’,” Sargent said. Sargent believes that they should be more involved with school policy, but in a way feels limited to what they can do. “It’s really to bad; I really feel that we should be involved. I mean, if someone has an idea they should be allowed to share it,” Sargent said. Student council has not given an opinion or been informed about any changes being made to the building over

the next few years. “We are pretty limited in what we can do. I do know we can make a difference, but a little more involvement in policy development would be good to help establish more of a stake on what is happening at Hoover,” Stevens said. Vice president

Katie King is not worried about their involvement in school policy, geared more towards the tasks at hand king tries to be as efficient as possible. “I want to see less horse play, staying focused is a problem. I mean, we get things done but without the messing around we would get things done more efficiently,” King said. King steps in for Sargent when he is absent and assists in making executive decisions on assembly agendas and themes for dances. “We can definitely make an impact on the spirit of the school, there is nothing better than when an assembly goes well and students are all pumped up,” Stevens said.

anyone uses language in their lives. I’m afraid that just about everything English teachers dois a lot of gratuitous nonsense.Especially the teaching of concepts such as irony,” Eller said.

Student Council Officers��

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SENIOR CODY SARGENT

SECR

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JUNIOR KIANNA ROPPE VICE

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SID

ENTSENIOR KATIE KING

TREA

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SENIOR MARISOL MEZA

It’s good to know I can

help people; I can try to make things better, -Senior Cody Sargent

ENGLISH

MATHSCIENCE

HISTORY

Climate Change (what some people call Global Warming) inEnvironmental Science so you can try make sense of what is said by the

many people who off er their two cents’ worth on this issue,” Goldman said.

“

SCIENCESCIENCE

the form it’s in, but the logic behind it and the idea behind it can translate to any career in life. For example, the logic and the reasoning

taught in second semester geometry could be used by lawyers,” Roney said.

MATHMATH

on teaching kids how to vote, hopefully the skills you learn in history, like cause and eff ect, sequen� al reasoning and other skills are the kinds of things we use in the workplace,” Murphy said.

edward rodriguez page designhealth/lifestyles 3.10.10 v.43 i9 health/lifestyleshealth/lifestyles4Coping with Legg-Calve Perthes Disease��

Legg-Calve Perthes Disease Quick Facts

You usually get it when you are four to

eight years old. I guess mine was late.

-Senior Chris Neal

Senior Michael Neal plays li� le league before he was diagnosed with Legg-Calve Perthes disease. The disease aff ects 1 in 10,000 people across the world. “I permanently limp but I can kind of hide it now. When it hurts people can usually tell because I limp a lot and move a lot slower,” Neal said.

Femoral head Fla� enedFemoral head

Normal hip with rounded femoral head

Legg-Calve-Perthes diseased hip with fl a� ened femoral head

EDWARD RODRIGUEZ SIDEBAR AND ILLUSTRATIONSSOURCE: HTTP://EMEDICINE.MEDSCAPE.COM

SYMPTOMS Hip or groin pain, which may be referred

to the thigh Mild or intermittent pain in anterior thigh

or knee Limp

Usually no history of trauma

CAUSES The blood supply to the capital femoral

epiphysis is interrupted. Revascularization occurs, and new bone

ossifi cation starts. Changes to the epiphyseal growth plate

occur secondary to the subchondral fracture.

RANDOM Caucasians are affected more

frequently than persons of other races.

Males are affected 4-5 times more often than females.

LCPD most commonly is seen in persons aged 3-12 years

BY AARON HOMARDNEWS EDITOR

MICHAEL NEAL COURTESY PHOTO

While other students go out for football, basketball and swimming, one student is

restrained from those commodities. Senior Michael Neal is diagnosed with a rare disease known as Legg and Calve Perthes Disease (LCPD). LCPD prevents blood flow to the joints and deforms the ball in the joint. He was first diagnosed in seventh grade. “I woke up in the middle of the night and I couldn’t move my leg. It was in a lot of pain and I couldn’t walk,” Michael said. It didn’t take long for Michael to realize there was a problem. “We went to the doctor at first and then we went to a couple different hospitals for x-rays. We had it done within two or three days and then we went to Iowa City to meet my surgeon,” Michael said. Only one in ten thousand people get this disease. Of those, only one in eight get it in both legs. Michael falls into the one in eight. “You usually get it when you are four to eight years old. I guess mine was

late,” Michael said. Michael now cannot play in any contact sports. He does, however, work at Skate North where he pushes the limits in his safety by skating. “It’s just something I can enjoy. There are days I can’t skate because it hurts too much,” Michael said. There are a few restrictions put on Michael. For instance he cannot walk without a constant limp. “I permanently limp but I can kind of hide it now. When it hurts people

can usually tell because I limp a lot and move a lot slower,” Michael said. Michael’s girlfriend of 10 months

Senior Ashley Neal is has been there for him a while. “I know only a little about it. I know it’s a very very rare disease,” Ashley said. Ashley thinks LCPD has brought the two of them together. “We were out to eat and there was

a girl making fun of how he walks. He knows I’m always there. When someone makes fun of him, I’ll always stand up for him,” Ashley said.

Despite some of the physical movement disabilities, Michael still wants to pursue his dream of being a fireman. “I’ve liked the idea of putting out fires and pulling people out,” Michael said. Michael thinks things will work out for him even though he’s dealing with this issue. “You have to pass physical training. If I can’t do that, they won’t let me in,” Michael said. In order for Michael to have the chance to become a fireman he will have to go through a couple of surgeries first. “There will have to be a replacement of the ball (in the joint) and maybe a hip replacement,” Michael said.

edward rodriguez page design sportswww.hooverchallenger.com

BY ERIK HOFFMANFEATURES EDITOR

5Track team condi� ons

Tennis team to decide on varsity

players

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Accomplishments

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Reeves le� ered last year for managing. His personal bests include scoring a goal for the Hoover team in tenth grade. He also scored two goals in one game for the Northwest soccer club. He’s also been a part of the Menace U18 team last season.

Goals Reeves hopes the team makes it to state. Individually, he hopes to con� nue playing in college at Indian Hills for two years then he will transfer to a four year college.

Athlete of the issue Reeves started playing soccer at the age of four. “I wanted to play soccer because a lot of my friends played. Then I grew to love it,” Reeves said. His best memory is from his freshman year when the team went undefeated.

Age: 18Height: 6’0”Sport: SoccerYear: Senior

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Boys soccer to hold tryouts

SPORTS BRIEFS

Track team prepares for

mee� ng Mar. 16

BRIEFS

BY MICHAEL ROBY

SPORTS

BY AARON HOMARD

BY ERIK HOFFMAN

Buy your yearbook

today!

Only $75!

See Timm Pilcher in room 172 for more information

expires 4.8.10

Junior Kaleb Thomas stretches during a track condi� oning prac� ce. Team members are condi� oning to increase their endurance. “One it gets you into shape. You feel accomplished each day if you try your best,” junior Anna Strait said.

Track Conditioning

Bio

We are trying to increase our endurance and then work on

speed once we can go outside. -Track coach Byron Williams

LONG RUNS

MILES ON THE BIKESQUATS

RACESSTRETCHING

EDWARD RODRIGUEZ SIDEBAR

The boys soccer team is preparing for their fi rst game. Their fi rst game is Apr. 9 against Urbandale. Soccer coach Josh Griffi th says that he is not worried as long as the team plays together and as a team. Right now the team is just ge� ng into shape and they start prac� ce during spring break. They also have tryouts during the start of spring break. “I’m excited to see how the boys play for the fi rst � me together,” Griffi th said.

The season is just about to begin and the athletes are ready. Senior Parker Wolfe is one of the athletes ready for the season which starts the week a� er spring break. According to Wolfe tennis is one of those sports which is relaxed but when game � me comes is compe� � ve. “Each match really ma� ers. It’s relaxed and we play for fun but we s� ll want to beat teams,” Wolfe said. The top six on the varsity team is predicted to be fi lled with a few underclassmen such as Jerod Smith, John Joy and Ma� Andorf. Wolfe just wants to make his own personal goal. “All I want is to make it on varsity,” Wolfe said.

The girls track team meets nightly at the Hoover track from 3-5:30. The girls will be off on their fi rst offi cial compe� � on Mar. 16 at Iowa State University. The exercises will range from basic runs to some cardio to keep up muscle mass. Track member Kayleigh Wren is looking forward to the day as another opportunity to show off some raw power and speed. “We’re going to go out there and show off why we’re the best there is,” Wren said.

Girls soccer team condi� ons weekly

BY JASON REICHENBACHER

The girls soccer team is ge� ng ready for another season with condi� oning at least three � mes a week, and weekly prac� ces for goaltenders. Coach Jon Rubino is looking forward to the upcoming season with a program that according to Rubino has close to doubled in size. “Its extremely high, all nine of our returning starters were either fi rst team, second team or honorable men� on all conference,” Rubino said. The team’s fi rst match is Apr. 6 at Lincoln, and prac� ces begin the day school begins a� er spring break. “I think we have great leadership returning, we are excited to defend our conference championship and have a chance to qualify for state,” Rubino said.

The track team has started conditioning for the upcoming season. The track team for guys and girls do a lot in conditioning. Junior Anna Strait has run track since she was in fourth grade. “One it gets you into shape. You feel accomplished each day if you try your best,” Strait said. Strait thinks that the girl’s team will do well this season. “I think we will do well because there is a lot more girls out and more positive attitudes and attitude is what counts,” Strait said. Woodshop teacher Byron Williams is the boys track coach. According to Williams the track team goes through tough difficulties during conditioning. “Conditioning right now we do a lot of long runs, miles on the bike and a lot of squats. We are trying to increase our endurance and then work on speed once we can go outside,” Williams said. Williams said that right now they are really good at sprints but this year they have a lot of distance guys so they are looking to be good at distance. Williams says that there is a difference between girls and boys track. “Speed is different; the boys are a lot closer in speed. In girls you usually have the slow girls and the fast girls it’s not as close,” Williams said. Williams thinks that they will do well

for the season. He is staying positive and would like them to get to state and maybe a good showing at the Drake Relays. “I would like to thank all senior guys, and to the coaches as well,” Williams said. Math teacher Megan Smith is the girls track coach. There seems to be a big difference between track and cross country. “Cross country is through the woods and outside, and track and field we also have more options. We have the shorter distances we have the hurdles we have field events,” Smith said. Smith looks for a good season this year with a lot of key people returning. “We have a lot of star returning athletes. We had quite a few events qualify for state last year and we have a lot of those girls returning this year,” Smith said.

jason reichenbacher page designentertainment 3.10.10 v.43 i9 entertainment6

Mrs. Peacock, with the knife, in the auditorium��

The Script

Bio: The Script is an Irish trio whose music has the ability to mend a broken heart and inspire a hur� ng soul. The band began in the James street area of Dublin near gennus brewery as teenagers. The band now is touring around the world as a successful produc� on.

The Music:

Must Hear songs from The Script are “Together We Cry” a hip hop feel song with a message of togetherness, friendship and support. “Break even” a classic song for every heartbreak and the smash hit “Man who cant be moved”.

The Album:

The Script has released only one album that went double pla� num. It also hit number one on the billboard charts in London and the U.K.

With a night of food, laughs and one mysterious murder, the drama department is ready to break all barriers between the audience and actor.

As part of thespian fundraiser requirements, senior Alyssa Gourd and sophomore Jay Jacobson came up with the idea of a murder mystery dinner theater. During dinner the audience becomes a lead role in a sudden death mystery. “We’re required to raise $500

(as thespians) and my dad does it for a career. He did it a few years before for Hoover when my sister was here,” Jacobson said. Audience members will receive dinner from Felix & Oscar while watching a mystery unfold as actors interact with everyone in the room in the hopes of finding who among them murdered the hostess. “Expect the unexpected because there’s no actual script and you never know what’s going to happen next,” Jacobson said. The interactive production calls for a cast of 12 with additional servers who also are in character. Each performer gets a role but there are few lines, making the show heavily dependent on improvisation. The script loosely guides the actors with a storyline they must follow. “No experience is needed to audition. It’s a low time commitment, it’s fun and it’s like being inside CSI,” Gourd said. Performers would be able to develop improvisation skills and act one on one with the audience, which is a change from main stage shows. “They’re going to have to stay in character and keep what they’re doing fresh and interesting,” Jacobson said. The show will be directed by assistant drama director Billy Kirby and mime coach Melissa Chavas. “I’m always excited to work with Hoover drama, any opportunity. The students come up with a cool and unique project like this; I want to help,” Kirby said. Kirby also hopes this opportunity

draws in some students who haven’t yet realized their potential in theater. “It’s a unique opportunity for actors with another kind of theater and setting. You learn how to maintain and stay true to your character and what you say is meaningful with the story,” Kirby said. The dinner theater is one of the few productions organized by students. Gourd and Jacobson along with other thespians have been in charge of finding a venue, talking to caterers, getting auditions and show dates approved and organized publicity with posters and press releases. “I’ve learned that trying to do a production is a lot of hard work and it takes organization and patience. If we do everything we need to do, it will be a very successful fundraiser, maybe the most successful of the year,” Jacobson said. Gourd is looking forward to participating and performing in a new situation with new people. “It’s a good way of showcasing Hoover drama which is a part of promoting good representation in our community. All money benefits Hoover drama. It’s going to be a fun night full of dramatic mystery,” Gourd said. With new skills comes a rewarded night in which all talents are showcased in close proximity of each audience member. “Hoover drama students have a unique passion for performing. It will be a lot more intimate for the audience and actors alike. There’s no dinner theater in the metro area so it’s a great opportunity to have a different kind of theatrical experience,” Kirby said.

JASON REICHENBACHER SIDEBAR

BY ALEKSANDRA VUJICICMANAGING EDITOR

Location: THEDEETS

Walnut Creek Community Church- 900 64th Street Windsor Heights

Cost: $25.00 individually or $175 for a table of six. All money goes to the drama department

For Tix: Contact Chelsea Cunningham: 242-7263 or email: [email protected]

Grubb:Felix & Oscar’s

Brought to you by: Dinner theater company: E 2 G Inc. Entertainment


Seniors Alyssa Gourd and Cassandra Tant visit UpTempo owner Dave Khorry to put up a poster to adver� se the murder mystery dinner. Sophomore Jay Jacobson is the event chair alongside Gourd. “We are required to raise $500 and my dad does it for a career,” Jacobson said.

KIRA HERON PHOTO

KIRA HERRON PHOTO

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��BANDCOVER

The CHALLENGER is published by the newspaper staff of Herbert Hoover High School, and exists to serve as an open forum for the students, faculty, staff, administration and community. All state and federal laws regarding the publication of student materials shall apply, and the CHALLENGER will not publish materials which also fall under the guidelines established by the Des Moines Public School system, and are deemed libelous, obscene or a material and substantial disruption to normal classroom activities. The views expressed are not those of Des Moines Public Schools, faculty, staff or administration. All articles are researched, written, edited and designed by the staff, and are the result of editorial decisions made by the entire staff. Any student, faculty, staff, or community member wishing to contribute materials will need to submit copy within deadline restrictions; however, final publication is at the discretion of staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged, and must be 250 words or less in length and signed; letters may be edited for length, grammar, spelling, etc. Every attempt will be made to verify the authenticity of the author, and no anonymous letters will be published. Advertising will be accepted for all products or services that are legal for minors to possess or utilize. Advertisers wishing to reserve publication space should call 242-7313 and leave a message.

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CHALLENGER��

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Publica� on dates for 2009-2010:

• august 27-orienta� on • september 25-homecoming • october 9 • october 30 • november 13 • wednesday, november25 -Thanksgiving • december 18 • tuesday january 29-second semester • february 5-black history month • february 19 • february 26 • march 10-spring break • april 9 • thursday, april 22-drake relays • may 14-commencement • may 28

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PAPER

Teenage drivers should drive be� er and have fewer

distrac� ons.

The Challenger staff voted 9-0

for this editorial

michael roby page designwww.hooverchallenger.com opinion

Teenage Dick and Jane love to text. Dick and Jane love to drive. Dick and Jane love to text and drive.

Dick and Jane love to crash. Across the country teenagers have unified to become the most dangerous drivers out there. As cell phone usage skyrocketed so did the number of vehicular accidents among teenagers. Even more horrific than the growing number of accidents among teenage drivers is the overall reckless mentality toward driving among this age group. Teens like Dick and Jane would find it perfectly acceptable to text, eat and even do their makeup while driving. Distractions such as these have already led to numerous reported and unreported “accidents” in the student parking lot. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) set up a program to try to decrease the number of unsafe drivers on the road by imposing restrictions on teenage drivers. The program, however, is obviously flawed. The DOT program does not punish distracted drivers until it’s too late and their actions have caused an accident or death. Driver education classes don’t spend too much time on driving distractions either.

Valentine’s day wreck

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See Jane crash��

It was Feb. 14, a Sunday without school in the morning, and I was hoping to spend a long day with my girlfriend. I was excited we’d give each other gifts, go out to eat and see the movie Valentine’s Day. This was all well on its way until we came to our last turn to Jordan Creek Mall. As I pulled to the front of the left turning lane, everything got quieter. I looked at my dashboard and all my lights suddenly turned on. When the light turned green I released my brake. Nothing happened.

This had only happened once or twice before. I stayed calm and attempted to restart the car. The engine started, the radio played and the heat came on, but the car would not budge. That’s when the cars behind me started to honk and yell at me and there was nothing I could do. I looked over at my girlfriend and we both knew we were going to be stuck there for a while. She called her mom to try and figure out what to do. When she was done I reluctantly called my own. She wasn’t mad at me, but was frustrated by the situation and comforted me, saying she was calling a tow truck and she’d pick us up so we could finish our date as soon as she could. After about 20 minutes a cop knocked on my window and wanted to know what was going on. When I told him I couldn’t get the car to move, he called in a high priority tow truck so we just sat there and waited. The car’s heater, radio and hazard lights soon went out as well. We were now trapped in a car in the middle of winter without any heat, entertainment or any way to let anyone know there was danger. To add insult to injury, my hood was frozen shut. I couldn’t even pop it to let other drivers know not to enter the lane.

Eventually another cop arrived and instructed me to put the car in neutral so he could push me out of the lane with his car. It was only after he was gone that I found I couldn’t shift the car’s gears. I became frantic. If he pushed us and we couldn’t move at all on our own, my girlfriend and I could have easily been tossed into oncoming traffic and killed. The moment his covered bumper hit mine was easily one of the scariest moments of my life. Both of us screamed in fear and hoped that he would hear us. When all else failed, I ripped open my door and screamed at him to stop. When the officer demanded to know what was going on, I said the gears would not shift and invited him to try himself. When he came up empty handed he walked back to his car frustrated. After an entire lifetime adding up to one hour, my mom and the tow finally arrived. My girl and I were both freezing, terrified messes. I remember we both embraced close, both about to cry in terror and joy. We finally made it to the mall, exchanged our presents, ate dinner and saw our movie, not forgetting how lucky we were we’d made it. It made the date all the sweeter to finally enjoy.

by michael robyopinion editor

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CASSIE TANT ILLUSTRATION

In 2008, nine teens ages 16-19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries.

Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16-19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash.In 2008, about 3,500 teens in the United States aged 15–19 were killed.

In 2006, the motor vehicle death rate for male drivers and passengers ages 15-19 was almost two times that of their female counterparts.

SOURCE: CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL(CDC)

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So in order to keep students from giving in to these distractions, driver education classes must put more emphasis on the dangers of these distractions. If a few extra classes focused on safe driving, then the point would be received among Dicks and Janes across the country. Alongside the shifted curriculum in driver

education classes, the DOT should take steps to create safer drivers. The DOT could create safe driving tips handouts and distribute them in high schools, create extra driving classes centered on distractions or push a law prohibiting these distractions while driving. These were just a few examples of what others

could do to keep teens like Dick and Jane from being reckless drivers. But the biggest change can only come from the Dicks and Janes themselves. Teens should become more conscientious of what they are doing and what they shouldn’t be doing. A conscientious driver could be the biggest difference between a safe

drive home and a fatal car accident. If these steps are not taken, Dick and Jane will continue their careless driving habits, endangering the lives of those around them. Teenage Dick and Jane love to text. Dick and Jane love to drive. Dick and Jane love to text and drive. Don’t be a Dick.

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I was suddenly frantic. If he pushed us and we couldn’t move at all on our own, my girlfriend and I could easily be tossed into oncoming traffi c and killed.

MONDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

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1st Prac� ce BoysTennis

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Mock Trial @PCCC

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