Rogue News: The Roaring 20's

The Gay-Straight Alliance is getting ready for its next big event. On April 16th, the high school will be silent in an attempt to raise awareness about the silencing effect of heteronormative bullying and name-calling on high school students; both straight and gay. The club asks of

the administration and the community, “what are you going to do to end the silence?” For the past month, the club has been preparing for this event; making posters, educating freshmen health classes, watching movies, and printing cards to explain

why the students are silent. This year’s Day of Silence is held in mem-ory of Carl Walker-Hoover, a boy who took his own life after extensive anti-LGBT bul-lying, even though he did not identify as gay. His story is a representation of the way heteronormativity affects all members of a community, not only openly gay mem-bers. Club president, Lucas Opgenorth said of the event, “participating in the Day of

Silence is not only an expression of solidarity with the community experiencing oppression, it is also a tool to disrupt daily life in an attempt to shine a light on a com-monly ignored situation.” The club’s staff supervisors, Al-lison French and Caroline Spear, echoed his sentiment. “I think that the event is definitely an effective way to raise awareness about gay-issues, but I don’t know how much real change it brings about,” commented Ashland High School student, Eliana Pool The club was set-up on the quad all week leading up to the day both educating students and signing up “pledges” for the event. The alliance encourages all community members who are interested to take part in the event by simply refrain-ing from oral communication on the sixteenth.

April 15, 2010Page 2 Rogue News

Day of Silence

Drama State

Commitment: perhaps the most im-portant word in the theater production universe. It is the heart and soul of Ash-land High School’s Theater Department. It is the finishing steps in a dance number and the sharp lightning that is so precisely

shown on stage. This is what makes it no surprise that our very own theatre depart-ment has been congratulated, yet again, for putting on one of the best productions in the state. AHS’ performance of “Anatomy of Gray” by Jim Leonard was selected as one of the best high school theater productions in the state of Oregon. It is a great honor that the AHS theater program has been

chosen for the second time in a few short years (following the success of Little Shop of Horrors) to perform at the Oregon Thespian Conference in Eugene. The remount of Anatomy of Gray packed up its 24 cast and crew members, as well as 12 other thespians, to perform in front of their peers on April 8th in Eugene’s 2400 seat Hult Center. Students arrived in the enormous theatre

only 10 hours before show time. Cast and crew had to build the set, run through lights and rehearse the entire play in this short span of time, and then of course per-form it in front of a vast audience.“It took a lot of time, effort and coordina-tion, but the result was amazing and com-pletely worth all the work,” senior and Head of Costumes for Anatomy of Gray, Nick Dake said. Sophomore and Anatomy star, Ford Mu-rawski-Brown responded to the perfor-mance, “It was fantastic, really, the experi-ence of a lifetime.” In addition to putting on a huge perfor-mance, Ashland Thespians attended in-tensive theater workshops on such sub-jects as tap and urban dance, dialects and theater’s affect on culture. Another Or-egon Thespian event “Project Newspaper Runway” included designing costumes with just scissors, glue, tape and newspa-per. The workshops also included the famed “Techie Olympics.” Where contestants design a set, hang and focus a light, make successful costume changes and set up a prop all within a small time limit. “I learned from seeing techies from all dif-ferent schools, it was an awesome experi-ence,” assistant stage manager Jacob Roe-Bauer said. It is no secret that our school’s theatre program is excellent, but we all must re-member just how much work each mem-ber truly puts into each production. It’s because of their amount of passion, hard work and dedication from all aspects of the theater department, that Ashland is undoubtedly one of the best.

by Willis Plummer

Photo submitted by Betsy Bishop From left to right: Uriel Wolfe-Blank (11), Sophie Javna (11), Tay Smith (11) and Emma Harding (12), practice Anatomy of Gray

by Erin Keoppen

Page 3April 15, 2010 Rogue News

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Editorial BoardEditors-in-Chief........................Anna Hume, Arthur Lawniczak, Ella Riley-Adams...........................................................................................................Jackson SanteeFront Page Editor............................................................Kostja Farrell, Jesse Smith News Editor.....................................................................................Jasper Raynolds Feature Editor....................................................................................Jackson SanteeIn-Depth Editors.............................................................Jacy Mairs, Hannah SaylesOpinion Editor....................................................................................Jack DempseySports Editors................................................................Meris B, Mason CostantinoBackpage Editor...............................................Arthur Lawniczak, Taylor Patterson Photography Editor....................................................................Grace Riley-AdamsManaging Editor.................................................................................Adam PavlichChief Designer...................................................................................Hannah SaylesProduction Manager................................................................................Jesse SmithBusiness Manager…….…..….............................................................Heather Case Executive Editors’ Assistant................................................................AJ Bottimore

Rogue News is published by the newspaper classes of Ashland High School, 201 South Mountain Ave., Ashland, Oregon 97520. (541) 482-8771 ext. 195. The edi-torials written by the Rogue News express the opinions of the editorial staff on issues relevant to the staff, the school and the community. Personal columns do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the entire staff and are written as the opinion of the individual author. Letters to the editor, which should be under 250 words, are encouraged. They can be dropped off outside of Room 202, put in Mr. William Gabriel’s box in the main office or emailed to [email protected]. No letters will be printed without a verified signature. Letters received in the second week of production will not appear until the next is-sue. The Rogue News staff reserves the right to refuse to print any potentially libelous or obscene material, anything that would invade the privacy of others, or anything that could cause a disruption of the school environment.

Rogue News

Tourist Troubles

In order to thoroughly prepare for the writing of this article, I took the time to look up the definition of tourist in the encyclopedia. It read, and I quote: “A tour-ist is a common variety of mosquito which feeds off the social lifeblood of flower-ing metropolii worldwide.” Usually, I’m not prone to agreeing with the dictionary, flaunting its denotations about as if it owns the place, but in this case, it may just have a point. Now, the tourist, although benign and perhaps cuddly to the untrained eye, is truly a vermin-ridden porpentine leeching onto our otherwise pristine economy and corrupting our youth with their designer clothing and general n00bism. Our children tremble in their beds at night, whole families walk about in a daze, mut-tering to themselves, “They come, they eat, they leave. They come, they eat, they leave.” No more, I say! They may come! They may eat! But they will leave no more! Or perhaps they will. The underlying bullet point, however, remains the same: tourists are our penance for Eve’s promiscuity, and we will only be free of them when we absolve ourselves of all sins. That said, we can move on to more concrete affronts which these tourists proffer on a daily basis. First, they are sadly bereft of all sense of timing when crossing the street. They only take their cue to go when their comrade is three-quarters of the way across the street, a phenomenon which is more than vaguely annoying to the average driver. Secondly, they flock in outrageous numbers, especially during the spring and summer, when they stop hibernating and foray into the open in search of cultural sustenance. This swarm aspect is particularly annoying because tourists invariably congregate in popular eateries, forcing us locals to wait in lines which can sometimes last hours, if not days. I must entreat you, my dear students, be not gentle with these touring locusts. We must gather together in a holy union of geographic locality, and through hands firm and words harsh, banish this blight back to California.

Spring has sprung, and a familiar smell is in the air. What could it be, you ask. Newly blossomed flowers? Steaming asphalt after a slight drizzle? Not quite. ’Tis the aroma of other worldly wealth being poured into the coffers of Ashland’s finest businesses by affluent and careless tourists. Only a fool would refuse such monetary advances, and I, my friend am no such fool. The generous tourist is the backbone, nay, the entire skeletal structure of our town’s economy. Tanner Hebert, a local Grizz of a guy, once told me, “Tourists are like rainbows, they come in all colors and each one has a pot of gold hidden beneath their fashionable exterior.” Without their rich monetary tinder to kindle our fiscal fire, we would slowly shiver our way into poverty. Let’s be honest, hip-pies hanging out on the plaza aren’t exactly droppin’ Benji’s like it’s going out of style. In fact, the only thing they’re dropping is mad beatz. Uhn-tss, uhn-tss, uhn-tss. Moving on. If their cash isn’t enough to wet your whistle, perhaps the plea-sure of their company is. I often grow tired of discourse with the local feminine population in our community, and find myself scouring Siskiyou Boulevard for some tanned foreign foxes to spend some quality time with. In accordance with a concept theorized by the Beach Boys, I wish they all could be California girls. Besides the more obvious benefits offered by interactions with alien boys and girls, there are also more subtle cultural blessings. Our local obligation to put up with tourists teaches us to be more tolerant of people from different back-grounds. So, next time you see that fanny-pack sporting Shakespeare enthusiast chillin’ at the Green Show, remember what I’ve said here. Next time you see a tourist aimlessly walking across the street, refrain from impatiently muttering obscenities to yourself; instead, offer them a warm smile and a heart full of love. Next time you see Wilder, tell him to cheer up and make some new out of town

friends.

It’s the final countdown. Spring has sprung, progress reports have been sent and seniors seem like their be-coming an endangered species. The mutilation of the quad has turned many students into wandering refugees and for some, waking up at 7:00 a.m. has never been so

excruciating. The days are dwindling like sands through an hourglass. Graduation is just around the bend, but so are AP exams, finals and Senior Projects. Teachers rub salt in our open wounds, only to find that they’ve increased their own workload. On top of all this stress,

we need to find dates to prom -- the zenith of our high school career -- the pinnacle of our mundane lives. Do we ask our friends, freshmen, faculty, (Mrs. Wallace, will you go with me)?

Yet, hope is just around the corner. That’s why now, more than ever, it is important to keep on keeping on. Al-though you may have seemed to lose all motivation back in January, there is light at the end of the tunnel. After all this stress passes and the worries go away, the hope of summer will come. So in the words of the late Albus Dumbledore, “Happiness can be found even in the dark-est of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

by Angelica Florio

enjoy your spotlight, it’s AlternativesThe Roaring 20’s!!

Prom -we all know it can get pretty expensive; we have to get the dress, and the shoes, the nails done and the “hurrr did.” Not to mention dinner and admission. However, don’t fret, there are many alternatives for those of us living with champagne taste on a beer budget. Some of these ideas include:

The 4-1-1onProm

Dress/suit swap: Gather a group of similar sized friends and swap outfits. Resist consumerism and save money while you’re at it.

Skip the fancy corsage and pick a flower: Test your crafty side and choose a beautiful spring blossom with a little bit of twine to make a lovely accessory.

Dine for less: Make your own dinner at home or plan a romantic picnic in the park.

If your friends’ dresses aren’t working out, there are plenty of stores that offer dresses and shoes for cheaper prices. Discount stores like Ross and TJ Maxx, or second hand stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army can have great finds. Remember, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Have a beauty day: Stay at home, pop in a couple chick-flicks and have your own spa day. It can be way cheaper to buy nail polish and a face mask than going to the professionals. Plus, you avoid the awkward small talk.

Buy your ticket with a friend! Buying a ticket for a couple is a few dollars less than two individual tickets. Save your extra dollar and treat yourself to a chalupa. You deserve it after all your frugality. Remember, none of these preparations are necessary to have a

memorable prom. It is perfectly acceptable and possible to spend nothing at all (besides the cost of a ticket) because prom is truly priceless.

Trade those corsages, boutonnieres, tuxes and dresses for feathers, se-quins, tail coats and top hats because Ashland High School is going to party like it is 1929. On May 1 from 8:00 to 11:30 p.m. at the Ashland Armory, with a 1920’s theme, Ashland will hold its 2010 prom. The 1920’s was a turning point in American culture. Jazz stars like King Oliver and Kid Ory helped create this time known as the Roaring Twenties and Jazz Age, the flapper style was on the rise with the short dresses and hair, and Babe Ruth became the iconic baseball player of all time. However, even though jazz, sequins and baseball became popular then, will it work as a theme now? “I think the theme is appropriate and really fun. If people get into the theme it should be enjoyable,” senior Casey Jillson said. Even though the theme may be fun, will it be like other proms where no one dresses up and no music from the time is played? In the past dances with themes like “Night on the Nile,” “Black Light” and “Winter Wonderland” students at Ashland High School continue to ignore the motif and dress to impress rather than match the décor. “ I don’t necessarily think you have to dress up for the theme,” Senior Molly Davis said, “It’s mostly just for decorations.” “No guy will dress up to that extent,” junior Neil Pressici commented about tail coats and top hats. Whether like it or not the May 1, 2010 prom theme is the 1920’s baby, swing dance, show tunes, and all that jazz.

by AJ Bottimore

to

$ $

What’s YOUR perfect scent?

Step 1

Step 2

enjoy your spotlight, it’s Alternatives Step

corsages

Ah prom, the pinnacle of high school. Each year there are a handful of cliques that think they are too cool to attend or are too afraid of the Go-liath tradition to venture off of the

quad and on to the dance floor. Let’s not forget that freshmen and sophomores are not allowed unless they’re taken by a desperate upperclassman. Alas, me ‘ardies, I myself have once been amongst a long lineage of non attendees, and let me tell you there are activities to be partook of away from the tuxedos, limos and bad DJs. After scraping the metaphorical barrel of student factions, there were a few prom alternatives present-ed that caught my attention. While some are more se-rious than others, it doesn’t hurt to have an arsenal of fallbacks in case your first option doesn’t work out. “I would have an evening to myself,” senior Kevin Cassidy said. “Maybe prepare myself a candle lit dinner and watch endless hours of Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Whilst Cassidy seemed to show no signs of despair of missing out on his senior prom, others were heart-broken at the thought of missing out. “If I didn’t go to prom, I would cry, eat my weight in ice cream and im-merse myself in the heart wrenching love story known as “The Notebook,”” senior Emily Greenblatt said. Other ideas compiled by students include going to see a movie, going roller-skating, watching “The Office’ and even doing some homework. However, even though some may not have a date or the dance just isn’t appeal-ing to others, prom is an experience not to be missed.

by Paul Schwarzer

Cologne and perfume are liquid scents that are worn to make one smell more presentable. But lately, it seemes that this

“liquid luck” has the opposite effect. It is too often that I walk past an aquaintance in the hall and am nearly

suffocated by the strong aroma of over applied co-logne. I’ve arrived at the conclusion that most

Americans don’t know how to apply their scented formulation. In fact, they practi-

cally spray it over the crop duster,. Eau de Cologne was the first spir-

it-citrus Italian perfume launched in 1709 by perfume maker John Maria Farina. Since then, cologne and perfume have gained wide spread popularity all over the world. I, myself, wear cologne on occasion; Burberry, Armani and Polo are my weapons of choice. However, my rule is nothing above the neck and one to

two sprays. Living in Ashland, the overall appeal

of wearing fragrances isn’t good. When asked what cologne he sported, junior

Kevin Schilling responded, “I wear cologne on occasion, my favorite is Bod Money”.

According to About.com, the top seven hottest smelling colognes consist of: Chrome by Azzaro, Good

Life by Davidoff, Happy for Men by Clinique, Angel by Thierry Mugler, Cool Water by Davidoff International, PI by Givenchy

and Hugo by Hugo Boss. “I wear perfume everyday and I wear all the Ralph Laurens,” senior Callie McCoy said. “I have three bottles of his brand.” Cologne and perfume is an ageless tool used to impress the op-posite sex, smell good for work, throw on if your smelling ripe, or just to wear if you’re felling lucky. You never know where the day will take you.

Perfume Perfection

by Steffan Westerberg

1,2how to make

your own

Using floral tape; tape the stems together and trim stems to desired length. Ac-cessories such as ribbon now may be added.

Prepare a small bouquet of flowers will all the stems fac-ing the same way. Add green-ery and form a pleasant shape/ arrangement.

Cut the stems to appropiate length then put a dab of hot glue on the back side of flow-ers.

Pin into hair or any elastic band and wear!

Step 3

Step 4

to prom

I only wear Vera Wang Princess. Yes, it does make me smell fabulous, but more importantly... it’s for PRINCESSES!!!

“”

photo by Jacy MairsDanielle Halprin’s personal scent

art by Anja D

uBois

What’s YOUR perfect scent?

April 15, 2010Page 6 Rogue News

Health reform

Thanks to the efforts of AHS graduate An-neke Nelson, for one day Eric will not be the big-gest Wolff on campus. Anneke Nelson left Ashland High School in 2006 bounded for Stanford Univer-sity. Surrounded by sun and mission-style architec-ture, for Nelson AHS probably seems like a distant memory. Yet, as a senior in the creative writing pro-gram, under the tutelage of world-renowned author Tobias Wolff, Nelson has not forgotten her alma mater. Her relationship with Wolff has given AHS students and staff as well as local community mem-bers a truly unique opportunity. With Wolff as her advisor, Nelson was able to encourage him to be a guest speaker in the Chautauqua Poets and Writers circuit at AHS. On Thursday, April 22, at 7:30 PM, Wolff will be speaking at the Mountain Avenue Theater. Wolff, who is the Ward W. and Priscilla B. Woods Profes-sor of English at Stanford University, is best known for his short stories. His writing has been lauded for its lucid melodic style, and often draws com-parisons with that of Ernest Hemmingway (both of whom have backgrounds in journalism). However, students might be most familiar with his memoir This Boy’s Life that was turned into a major motion picture starring Leonardo DiCapprio and Robert DiNero.

by Lucas Opgenorth

Since its creation under Presi-dent Franklin Delano Roos-evelt, America’s welfare system has been an ever-changing beast. At the end of March, Congress finally passed the most signifi-cant augmentation to the wel-fare state since the creation of Medicare in the 1960s. But, amidst the political fire spitting that has ensued following the signing of the bill, the actual ef-fects of the legislation have been lost in translation. So, being the benevolent publication that we are, the Rogue News is here to shed some light on the major changes that the bill will create. The bill puts unruly health insurance companies in their places by outlawing practices such as dropping patients when they are sick and denying insur-ance to those with pre-existing medical conditions (i.e. heart problems, obesity). Also, depen-dant children are now allowed to remain on their parents’ plans until age 26. Small businesses with fewer than 25 employees are provided

tax credits in order to help them provide care for those employ-ees. Medicaid (tax-dollar funded public healthcare program for the poor) will include people with incomes of up to 133% of the poverty line. The Medicare donut-hole will be 50% closed by 2011 and 100% closed by 2020. The “donut-hole” is a coverage gap within Medicare (government health-care provider for the el-derly) that forces seniors who need between $2,700-$6,154 worth of prescription medica-tion to pay for out of their own pockets. Individuals will be required to purchase health care or face a fine, similar to current car in-surance laws. This is intended to allow insurance companies to lower rates as they gain more customers. The government will provide subsidies to help Americans with incomes of up to four times the poverty line purchase health insurance. Even though 95% of busi-nesses with over 50 employees provide health insurance, the

federal government will begin fining the 5% that don’t. College-bound students can cheer, for the bill also includes a provision that makes college loans easier to attain. Families can now get them directly from the Department of Education rather than via a government subsidized bank. Also, student loan recipients will never be required to make a loan pay-ment greater than 10% of their incomes. All in all, the bill plans on pro-viding coverage to 32 million additional Americans by 2019. Some pieces of the bill will go into effect within the next year and some won’t occur until 2018. Along this road, the gov-ernment plans on funding the programs by introducing new taxes on insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, in-dividuals making over $200,000 per year and other excise taxes. Lastly, to many outcries of dis-pute from the political right, the Congressional Budget Office claims the bill will reduce the federal deficit by $138 billion in ten years and $1.2 trillion in twenty.

Dances with Wolffby Tim Borgerson

Graduation is nearly upon us and plans for next year are being finalized as deposits are being shipped to colleges and flights are being booked. However, for Dash Fraser Moyers, a senior at AHS, plans are still entirely up in the air. Next year, as you take a study break and turn on the TV, don’t be surprised if you see Moyer’s face light up the screen. Only a few weeks ago, Moyers returned from Beijing after wrap-ping the pilot for “What Am I Doing In China?,” a reality show following Moyer’s ten day experience abroad. “The point of the show is basically to highlight the cultural dif-ferences between China and the U.S.” And cultural differences there were. As if the transition from the small town of Ashland to a city with 22 million people wasn’t enough, throw in some crazy driving laws and social norms, and you’ve got yourself a show worth watching. “The lines in the roads are basically recommendations,” Moyers said of the hectic freeways. “But surprisingly, I only saw one crash.” Although Moyers had done some acting in his life, he was still surprised when he got a phone call from the producer of the show, asking him to do a videotaped interview. He met with both the Pro-ducer and the Director and in only a matter of weeks, received the phone call that would change his life: he got the part. “People told me how life changing this would be,” Moyers said of his overall experience, “but no one can prepare you for the op-portunity to be whoever you want to be.” For now, Moyers is on a year contract, playing the waiting game until he hears back from ABC. If ABC likes the show, Dash will go directly back to China to film more episodes. From there, the pos-sibilities are endless. “In a small town, it’s easy to feel contained and like you don’t have a lot of opportunity,” Moyers said, “but in reality, there are so many open doors.”

Dashing toward success

by Anna Hume

photo by Sophie ThurstonMr. Moyers chillin’ like a villain

for dummies

April 15, 2010 Rogue News

For sporty seniors, life goes on

Rain Rain Go Away

Home Sporting Events:

April 15: 12-Boys Varsity Golf1-Girls Varsity Golf

April 17: 12-JV Baseball

2:30-Varsity Baseball12-Boys Varsity

Tennis 3-Girls Varsity

Tennis

April 20: 4:30-Varsity Softball

April 21: 4-Girls Varsity

Tennis

April 27: 4-Girls Varsity

Tennis 4-Girls JV Golf

3:30-Varsity Track

April 28: 4-Girls Varsity

Tennis 3:30-Boys JV Golf

May 4: 4-Girls, Boys

Varsity Tennis

At some point, everything comes to an end. Buzz Aldrin finally reached the moon, Usain Bolt became the fastest man on the planet, and Lewis & Clark made it to the west coast. The journey was undoubtedly great for all of them, but the in-evitable question always arises. What comes next? For Ashland athletes that find themselves graduating this year, the question can be especially concerning. “It was weird to think about, I guess.” says Reed Chasmar, whose sports career spanning el-ementary, middle, and high school, came to a screeching halt once basketball season ended. “There is a short period where you’re sort of lost in a sense.” For many athletes, losing the chance to play the sport they love can occur without warning. One minute, your life revolves around a sport of choice, and the next, you’re never playing competitively again. One could almost compare it to the with-drawal after an addiction. “It really started to hit me hard about a week after we exited the playoffs.” Allison Gida says, who started for the girls basketball team. “Then it really sinks in.” Still, Gida’s one of the lucky few who will go on to play at the collegiate level. Most aren’t as fortunate. Some might think that for the everyday high school athlete, spending time looking back on achievements and memorable victories would be comforting. But in almost all cases, victories fail to bring true satisfaction- losing the routine of practice re-ally leaves them lost in their extracurricular life. How do you completely redefine a lifestyle shaped around sports? It’s harder than it sounds, but is an issue AHS senior-athletes continue to deal with. For Nino Foley, the solution to his post-sport woes was cre-ated in his newfound love of salsa dancing. “Not only does it keep me exercising, but it’s actually pretty fun. I even shaped

my senior project around it,” Foley said. But for many, sports are replaced by activities of another sort- homework. “No lon-ger do I have to stay up until midnight doing homework,” says Noah Sohl, student body president and goalie for the varsity soccer team. “Now I’m home at 4:30, the work’s done at 6:00, and I have the rest of the night to hang out. It can actually be pretty nice.” Eventually, the desire to get back on the court or field falls by the wayside, even if it’s never fully gone. Everything- sports included- has to come to an end. But if the ride to the end-point is good, what more can you really ask for? Besides, even if the memories of victory aren’t always consoling to the soul, the memories of times spent with friends and teammates usually do the job just fine.

by Nathan Harris

The phrase “April showers bring May flowers” may be music to the ears of gardeners.For athletes, the April rain spells disaster. For the past few weeks, tennis, baseball, soft-ball and track athletes have faced delays, cancellations and frustration for the players and coaches involved. When rain and cold arrive in the winter, athletes are able to escape to the warm confines of the gym; however, when your athletic arena is the golf course or the tennis court, there is no place to hide. Some spring sports such as track are able to contiue on, while others such as baseball and softball can handle a little rain. But for the AHS tennis team, the rain makes playing virtually impossible. “Rain floods the courts, ruins the lines, makes play unbearable and practice impossible,” Chloe Deckwar, a senior tennis player, said. For tennis players, traction is everything. They have to be able to make precise cuts in order to react to the ball, an incredibly difficult task on a wet playing surface. If the court has puddles, you can basically say goodbye to tennis for that day. The same rings true for golf players when puddles form on the course. Each year the baseball team is faced with the task of overcoming rain which will only cause cancellation of practices and games if large puddles form. That doesn’t mean prac-tices aren’t miserable, “It basically has to be an African typhoon for the coaches to cancel practice,” Billy Hansen, a sophomore third baseman said, “Nothing ruins a day more than having to practice for three hours when it’s pouring rain.” If you think baseball players have it tough, think about the track athletes who have little clothing to hide under when Mother Nature rears its ugly head. “Running in a light sprinkle is actually very pleasant, but running while you’re soaking wet is definitely no fun,” Dana Greenblatt, a sophomore distance runner said. While no athlete enjoys the rain and cold weather, it is something that they must deal with each spring. If you really can’t handle it…well you shouldn’t be living in the Pacific Northwest.

by Mason Costantino

Page 7

When asked about the most wild and crazy excuses for absences at AHS, attendance secretary Callie Mercer thought for a moment and then said that, in all her years working at the high school, she hasn’t had very many. In fact, the most common reason for an ex-cused absence is, Mercer said, “most parents say that their child has an appointment, which could mean a lot of different things.” Callie believes that 98% of Ashland High students are honest and don’t skip class because their education is important to them and they want to go to a good college. “People that

call themselves in and forge their excused absences are being irresponsible and are not fulfilling their job as a student of coming to class” senior Alison Gida said. However, there is a small group of kids that will forge their own excused absences. Mercer explained that students have called themselves in, pretending to be their parent, some even trying to disguise their voices, as well as forging their parent’s sig-nature on notes. Although she doesn’t have the time or energy to catch every offender, Mercer has caught some, in ways that makes students quake in their boots. When Mer-cer has recognized a students voice on the

phone, she has called them by name when ending the conversation saying “Goodbye Molly or Goodbye Sam.” Mercer has also spotted students on campus after they had excused themselves, sometimes approaching them and calling them out on their forgery. When a student is caught in the act, they face two periods of detention and a call to their parents. “Most parents say that they appreciate getting the call and knowing that their kid forged their absence because that kind of behavior can lead to other things” Mercer said. If a student was caught and repeated their mistake another time, criminal consequences could ensue because the stu-

dent has committed an act of forgery. In the springtime, Callie faces a group of seniors who have turned 18 and are able to excuse themselves from class. “Most 18 year old students don’t abuse the privilege of being able to excuse themselves, but some have in the past. This is why the school made a policy that an 18 year old student can only excuse themselves a maximum of four times in a nine week period.” Callie explained that she understands that students excuse themselves from class so that they won’t have to face the consequences of a bad test grade or a zero in the grade book for an incomplete assignment but she also knows that “most teachers on campus will work with students who have problems preparing for tests or completing assignments. They will allow them to make up tests, or turn in late work with minimal repercussions as long as they are honest.”

by Kara Wells

“Sign Language” -Nick Shulters

“A World Music class to teach both music and world cultures” -Lara Heine

“Stop cutting art classes!” -Anja DuBois

With the new school year approaching and new classes emerg-ing at AHS, students have offerred their opinions as to which classes are most interesting and beneficial to your future. They are merely suggestions and are not necessarily for you, but take their advice to heart- they’ve lived through these classes.

Photos by Zoe Newland

Pictured from left to right, Ni-cole Shulters, Sarah Cotton, Lara Heine, Anja DuBois

“I want to see Mark teach-ing History of Rock & Roll” -Sarah Cotton