Issue of April 4, 1997: Volume 80, Number Six
Click on a story title to see the text of the story
News
Junior wins science fair
New website for CHS
Seniors wait for word
L'il Abner Play review
Students protest, walk out
U.N.I.T.Y. forum
Opinions
Editorial --Show me the money
Editorial--Fighting policy
Editorial-he said,she said 4/97
Beeper Editorial
Restrooms Editorial
Senior dues
Walkout Editorial
Features
Child abuse, the secret shame
Cheating--how widespread?
Editorial-he said,she said 4/97
April Fools Day
Spamorama Column 4/4/97
Diversions
CD Review--Notorious B.I.G.
En Español(Los Detalles)
Bilingual students (en español)
Punto de vista 4/4/97
Sports
Badminton eyes playoffs
Baseball and softball
Swimmer Nicks athlete of week
Tennis volleys for position
Track team to face FoHi
APRIL FOOLS A HOLIDAY WITH LONG HISTORY, TRADITIONPage 6, April 4, 1997
by Kristal Greenlea
It’s April Fool’s Day, once again. A day of practical jokes and echoing laughter. Amongst all of the fun, though, my question to you is, has anyone ever wondered what the real reason is behind this evidently pointless holiday? Whose idea was it anywway to have a holiday dedicated to pranks? After a little research and some trivial knowledge of the history of France, one is assured to arrive with a solution to why we act so absurdedly, each year, on the first day of April.
The real historical background of April Fool’s Day occurs way back in the sixteenth century. You see, back then, the French used to celebrate the new year from March 25- April 1. Although in 1564, when the new reformed Gregorian calender went into effect, King Charles decided to move the new year to January 1. The infamous joking comes in when some Frenchmen either refused the change or merely forgot about it. These men were ridiculed for staying so attached to the old New Year’s date. As a result they were the first to be the butt of an April Fool’s joke.
BADMINTON UNDEFEATED IN LEAGUE; EYES PLAYOFFPage 11, April 4, 1997
by Karen Brown
“Clear, smash, drop!” That’s what you’ll hear when you attend a badminton match at Colton High. The teamis undefeated in league play (4-0) and has come on with a vengeance in hopes of being league champs.
They started the season with a non-league match against Century High School in Santa Ana. They came through with an 11-8 victory. Pushing on, they have also defeated teams from Etiwanda, Alta Loma, and Riverside Poly, giving them a perfect 4-0 league record.
A “smashing” victory came from a match against Riverside Poly on March the 13th. Seniors Kim Akins and Holli Fasenmyer and juniors Kaycee Ram and Michelle Garcia triumphed in straight wins over Poly’s doubles team. Juniors Adeline Ramirez and Taide Tobias presented the team with amazing victories of 11-0 scores. Seniors Amanda Moore and Karen Brown also showed talent and prevailed with a 15-0, 15-1 victory.
On March 21-22, the varsity team competed in the Colton Smash Tournament. This “smash-filled” weekend consisted of mixed doubles, girls and boys doubles, and girls and boys singles. Freshman Cathy Villanueva prevailed in singles with a consolation win. Ram and Garcia also received the consolation win, with Brown and Moore following in runner-up. These teams made it to the finals with great poise and confidence, and it ended in a great turnout. A huge sense of pride came from this event.
“I’m very proud of this team,” said coach Sandra Guidi. “The whole team has showed discipline as well as their determination to do their best.”
Colton’s next four matches are here, with the season ending with two road matches. League finals are on May 7, with Colton as the host.
SPRINGTIME BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN BASEBALL, SOFTBALL TEAMSPage 11, April 4, 1997
Baseball: by Justin Derrick
With a slow and somewhat painful start, Colton High’s 96-97 baseball season kicked off this year with images of last year, which was a somewhat disappointing first year showing in the CBL.
They began the season with the traditional Chino tourney. There they made an ever-impressive start with a 12-0 win in five innings over Corona-Centennial. They were led by Junior Teddy Sutton and advanced with solid batting by Ricky Sander, David Lambert, and Jermey Vasques, who had 2 hits apiece. They later lost to the host Chino, 10-2. They went on to lose three more but defeated Walnut 14-5 to go 2-3 in the tourney.
In league play the Yellowjackets are currently 0-3, losing hard fought games to A.B. Miller, Fontana, and Rialto, all who are tough CBL contenders. The team faces always tough Eisenhower today and Redlands next week.
Coach Chad Bishop said, “We need to start swinging the bat more and have clutch and timed batting. Pitching has kept us in the games.”
Softball: by Elaina Greenberg
Under a new coaching staff and with a young squad, the softball team has been struggling, but has been able to keep their spirits up. “We have a young team, but we also have players with lots of skill,” said junior Kristi Gallo. “We’re not playing as good as we want to, but we definatly have the potential to do better.”
Colton began its season in the Corona Tournament, in which they failed to place, but played their hearts out in the process. Coach Jodi Parker was dissapointed, but also stated that she has high expectations for the rest of the season.
“We have a chance of doing well in league,” Parker commented.
Colton played its first CBL game against Rialto on March 20. After a hard fought game, in which the lead of the game went back and forth, Colton lost the game in the final inning.
“It was a good game, but we lost in the last inning,” said senior Leticia Miranda. “I feel proud of the way we played. We’ll beat them when they come to our field.” Colton also suffered losses to A.B. Miller on March 25 and to Fontana on March 27. “We’re working hard to get to the place we want to be, but we also know that we have things to work on,” said Miranda.
EDITORIAL; BRING BACK THE BEEPERS!Page 3, April 4, 1997
by Emily Lemay
In the midst of reading Richard II, you hear a high pitched beep coming from your backpack. It’s your pager--alerting you with your latest message.
From various sound effects to a silent vibration, pagers are a “high tech” way of letting a person know that someone needs to contact them.
However, the state lawmakers feel that pagers are a “distraction” to the student carrying it and other students as well.
In violation of the California State Educational Code, a student “may be suspended or recommended for expulsion” for disobeying article N--the posession of a beeper, as defined by Ed. Code 48901.5.
Junior Liz Nicks says, “That rule is so retarded. If people leave the darned things on the vibration mode, they won’t really bother anyone or disrupt class. No matter what the rule states, everyone will continue to carry them on campus.”
Many students carry a pager in case the employers of their part time jobs need to contact them in a pinch. Others carry them in case a parent needs to get in touch with them yet don’t want to hassle with sending a message through the school. Yet there are also those who carry a pager simply for the novelty of carrying a pager or for mere social purposes.
“My parents bought me a pager so they could get a hold of me,” says junior Matt Gomez. “Obviously my friends aren’t going to be paging me much during the school day because they are in school too. I doubt that they could be that much a distraction anyways especially if they are left on the vibrator. The people who craft these arcane laws need to get a clue. We’re not all drug dealers!”
¿Por qué es que los estudiantes del Programa Bilingüe no se envuelven en actividades escolares?
Pagina 10, 4 de Abril 1997
por Diana Sosa
Si alguna vez te has preguntado: ¿Que hare después de escuela? Y en tu mente te a pasado decir, " Voy a tomar parte en alguna actividad después de escuela." Lo fácil es decirlo, pero lo difícil es cumplirlo.
Este es el problema más común, que muchos estudiantes enfrentan. Al querer tomar parte en las actividades de la escuela, se dan cuenta que en si no es tan fácil como parece. Para los estudiantes que apenas están aprendiendo inglés o todavía no logran dominarlo muy bien, se les es muy difícil poder participar en las diferentes actividades que la escuela ofrece. Algunos temen ser rechasados por los demás estudiantes, ya que aveces por no hablar inglés toman ventaja de ellos, para hacerles burla o los hacen de menos. Pero también aveces es por vergüenza ya que aveces los estudiantes no son muy sociales.
Otra razón la cual los estudiantes no toman parte en actividades escolares; es porque aveces en las prácticas que son necesarias para participar en algun deporte de la escuela, piden muchos requisitos. Requisitos que para los estudiantes son dificiles de completar. o también aveces no tienen el suficiente tiempo para quedarse después de escuela, por tener que hacer otras cosas en casa, como nos dice Carlos Gutierrez (grado 10), “Si hay actividades divertidas, lo que pasa es que aveces no hay tiempo para quedarse después de escuela”.
Pero los requisitos y el tiempo no son solo los problemas que se tienen que enfrentar al querer tomar parte de las actividades escolares, si no tambien lo caro que algunas de estas cuestan. Por ejemplo; para tomar parte como porrista de la escuela, piden la cantidad de $800 dolares, cantidad que para algunas familias de los estudiantes que quieren participar se les es imposible tener a la mano. Con este caro requisito, aunque quisieran participar no es una realidad. “Si me gustaría ser porrista, pero sale muy caro, y mi familia no esta en condición de pagar esa cantidad”, nos dice Cendy De La Cruz (grado 10), " ¿ A quién no le gustaría ser parte de las porristas de la escuela?, pero desgraciadamente es imposible con lo caro que sale.
Pero apesar de todos los obstaculos que se nos ponen en el camino, hay una solución al problema; si hay una solución aunque paresca modo de mentira. La solución sería que demostremos que el idioma no es una barrera difícil de venser, si no al contrario que para demostrar que podemos ser alguien debemos dejar la verguenza a un lado, porque la vergüenza no nos va a llevar a nada, buscar un poco de tiempo libre en donde podamos quedarnos después de escuela y poder tomar parte de algún club o deporte. Deberemos tratar de obtener los requisitos necesarios que se necesitan, ya que si uno tiene ganas de completar algo y se da a la tarea de hacerlo, se logra. Vamos a demostrar que también nosotros podemos ser reconocidos como cualquier otro estudiante, tal vez no por el idioma si no por nuestras habilidades, a si darnos a conocer en la escuela y no ser el estudiante típico que no lo toman en cuenta.
CD REVIEW----NOTORIOUS B.I.G.’s Life After Death
Page 9, April 4, 1997
by Matt Gomez
Hey Kids! Here’s a CD that I can guarantee will become Number One on just about all of Billboard’s charts. The CD is the late Notorious B.I.G.’s new album which is prophetically called Life After Death. This album is truly great. Biggie has lyrically evolved from his debut CD Ready to Die. In this new album, he has broken the chains that hung on him since the death of 2Pac Shakur. Biggie emerges as the new face of the Player. He glamourizes the player/pimp lifestyle while bearing his soul and inner feelings. With the help of his producer and best friend Puff Daddy, Biggie puts out one of the best rap albums to come out yet. But ironically like 2Pac before him, it took death for him to find his way into super-stardom.
A double CD set, Life After Death allows Biggie the breathing room to flex both his lyrical and musical muscles. The first disc is a glimpse into the old Biggie Smalls lifestyle. He is a regular street thug that is just out to get his. He doesn’t take crap from anyone and he tells of how if there’s a beef then he can come with the “steel.” Puffy has augmented Biggie’s raps with just about the best background beats I have ever heard. He comes with the hard style straight from New York. With the radio hit “Hypnotize,” he crossed over to the Billboard pop charts. Another catchy song on the first disc is “MoMoney, Mo Problems.” This is a great “dance” rap that just makes you want to groove to it. Biggie also takes us back to the days of old-school B-Boy rap in his “B.I.G. Interlude.” He proves that he is just not your ordinary rapper that has limits on just one style. He shows just how much talent he actually had.
On the second disc Smalls emphasizes the “Player” aspect of his life and shows his inner feelings. It starts out with a great collab-
oration between himself and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Their harmonizing and his rapping makes a great combination. The song will be liked by rap fans and pop fans alike. Biggie also has a song where he tries to settle the rumors of his hatred for the West Coast, in “Going Back to Cali.” He tries to downplay all the rumors and just show that he has “much love” for the West. The second CD is filled with different lyrical cameos, with the likes of such rappers as Lil’ Kim, Too Short, DMC, and also the vocal additions of 112. The second disc ends with his eerily prophetic song “You’re Nobody (Til’ Someone Kills You).”
Life After Death is a great CD that will make true fans of East Coast hip-hop bob their heads, and will at the same time make fans of R&B and pop music rap along with the songs. It is truly sad that the world lost such a great rapper. He shows how much he evolved and how good he is at different styles of rapping. The album will become a classic, and he won’t be able to enjoy it. What a shame.
CHEATING; HOW WIDESPREAD? WHAT IF YOU GET CAUGHT?Page 6, April 4, 1997
by Ana Gonzalez
It happens here, it happens there, it happens everywhere--cheating. It’s a problem that not only affects top of the line schools like Harvard and Princeton, where students go online to get term papers from the Internet,it also happens in a high school, as most of us probably already know.
“Hey, did you do the history homework? Can I see it?” Cheating is not limited to copying from someone during a test. Many of us have from time to time perhaps gotten the answers from someone’s homework. This, too, is considered cheating, and is against school policy. The Cheating Policy is divided into two parts--consequences for a first offense and a second offense.
The policy states that “any attempt to obtain credit for work that is not one’s own will result in” no credit for the assignment, referral to assistant principal’s office, a conference with the administrator, teacher, parent and student, and a note placed in the student’s file.
A second offense results in removal from the class for the semester with grade “F”. It also results in ineligibility to participate in ASB, could not hold any class or club office, nor hold a membership in an honorary club. Also, the student would not be able to be nominated for any honorary awards. Removal as a team captain would occur as well.
Students and teachers alike agree that the policy is tough enough. However, some believe that the policy is not beiing enforced as well as it should be. It [the policy] is harsh,” says sophomore Jenny Aboulsood. “It definitely gets its point across. Some teachers do take it seriously. However, not a lot of teachers enforce it.”
Some teachers do take cheating seriously, though. Math teacher Frank Miller, for example, says he is particularly tough when it comes to testing.
“I try to give each student a different version of the test,” he said. “Also, I give different make-up tests to avoid students getting the answers from their friends.”
As much as the policy is enforced, or not enforced, students should learn that they are “only cheating themselves” if they they do cheat. Policies are strict, but ultimately the only way a student will not cheat is through personal honor. In fact, the majority of students who admit to cheating say that they do feel guilty after cheating.
One student said, “I was caught cheating once in junior high. I think that what hurt me the most was not the trouble I got into, but my personal guilt.” In addition to consequences from the policy and personal guilt, a student may suffer further. When it is time for college or job applications, a student with a letter in their file may undergo some problems. In fact, college admissions people frown upon the idea of admitting a cheater into their school. Employers also believe that hiring a person with a bad reputation is not wise. Hence, instead of consequences in school, these down the road results may be the ones that change a student’s mind about cheating.
“I think cheating is foolish,” says junior Josh Taylor. “It is not fair to those who actually do the work.”
Whether cheating because of pressure to get good grades, or simply to get away with something bad, cheating brings unfavorable consequences. As one student put it, “sometimes it is just easier to do the work.”
Cheating at CHS: A survey
Have you ever cheated?
YES-94% NO-6%Did you cheat because you felt pressured to get good grades?
YES-70% NO-30%If you could cheat without getting caught, would you?
YES-87% NO-13%Editor’s Note: Reporter Ana Gonzalez has never cheated. We know because she told us so.
CHILD ABUSE; THE SECRET SHAMEPage 8, April 4, 1997
by Kimberly Sanders
“ ‘Don’t tell Daddy a thing . . .
Be a good little boy
And you’ll get a new toy
Tell grandma you fell off the swing.’
Because Hell—
Hell is for Children.
And you know that their little eyes
can become such a mess!
Yes, Hell—
Hell is for children.
And you shouldn’t pay for your love
With your bones and your flesh . . .
Hell is for children”
— “Hell is for Children” (Pat Benatar)The lyrics of the popular 80s hit Hell is for Children, sung by rocker Pat Benatar, aptly illustrates the terrible cost that child abuse has for its innocent victims. There is a cost, too, for the adults who perpetrate such crimes. But too often both costs are ignored by a society that wants to believe little Susie when asked, “Where did you get that black eye?” tells grandma, “I fell off the swing.”
There are many different types of child abuse. The most common, and most talked about, are sexual, physical, and mental. There are also many other forms. What are they you ask? Being hungry, homeless, or even being left alone are also cases of child abuse.
Year after year many children suffer from one form or another of these abuses—children anywhere from the age of just days old to the age of consent. Day by day they go around feeling that maybe they had done something wrong to cause these abuses. They blame themselves and hold inside what has happened to them, not knowing that there is someone to turn to.
Years can go by before they even say anything and still in some cases they don’t tell. Sometimes it’s just that they feel that they have no one to turn to or no where to go. Other times it’s just a strange feeling of guilt that still hangs over their heads.
Later on in life they still have this guilty feeling deep down inside, and take it out on people they care about. Sometimes if these people do not get help, and have children of their own, they seem to repeat this cycle of abuse. If they were never taught that this was wrong, they sometimes believe that this is what is supposed to go on behind closed doors. Unfortunately all too often child abuse spans generations and seems to be a madness that is communicable.
But there is help out there for those who need it. There are many hotlines to talk about problems and to try to help those who need it get on the right track—the track that ends the lifelong cycle of child abuse. Boys Town has been around for many years and has helped millions of children and young adults who have suffered many years of anguish over child abuse. They counsel young boys on such problems as sexual, mental, physical, and verbal abuses. They also help with school and friend problems. They are there to help young boys cope and sometimes even get you them of that home and help to put them in a loving, caring enviroment.
If you would like to call about a problem you may have here is the Boys Town number: (800) 448-3000. Another place that offers help is the youth crisis hotline at (800) 843-5200 or (800) 448-4663. They are there twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.
EDITORIAL: SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS’ CONSTANT COMPLAINT IS “SHOW ME
THE MONEY”Page 4, April 4, 1997 (Staff Editorial)
“God money I’ll do anything for you.
God money just tell me what you want me to do.
God money nail me up against the wall.
God money don’t want everything he wants it all.”
--Nine Inch NailsSay goodbye.
This may be the last Pepper Bough issue of the year if we don’t get more money. And why, you ask, should anyone care?
We at the Pepper Bough attempt to bring to light many issues which we think are of importance to our readers. Partly to fulfill our goal of informing, enlightening, provoking discussion, and entertaining, and partly out of sheer enthusiasm for journalism and Colton High School. Despite complaints that we complain too much, this staff editorial will once again address a problem. But this time it’s different, because this time it’s personal.
Frankly, we, the Pepper Bough, are broke. We’ve already had to cut one issue out of this year’s production; and if we don’t come up with some revenue pretty quickly, there won’t even be an end of the year issue.
Not everyone loves the newspaper, worst yet, not everyone reads the newspaper. Yet programs such as these are an important part of school. Extra-curricular activities help foster and develop interest. For us, as ordinary high school students, being on the school newspaper staff has opened up a whole new world where we have been able to explore issues not dealt with in regular classrooms.
This program, like many others at Colton High School, is essential in offering glimpses of the real world. (What could be a better lesson in freedom of expression and politics than a brush with higher authority?) Perhaps our opinion is slighted biased, but school newspapers serve a very important function as a student-run forum. Like other student-run activities, they represent the students and are an extension of their ideas and ideals. It’s a shame that such positive activities do not have adequate funds.
For an institution which is supposed to prepare young people to become productive citizens and potential leaders of this world, it would seem that this would be so important a goal that enough money would be allocated to advancing it.
It’s a harsh fact of life--money is needed to get things done. But how much are we going to require to come up with out of our own pockets? Students currently already do extensive fundraising. Their passion and dedication can be seen by the clubs represented during the carnivals. Their goal: to raise more money. How much burden should we put on students? (Maybe we should ask the Democratic party for fundraising advice.)
It means nothing that politicians (from local to federal) and the media support more money for education. It’s a popular idea, yet for everybody who stiffly and lamely says “More money should go to schools,” we say, sincerely and with passion, that we aren’t going to believe it until you (borrowing the famous words from Jerry Maguire) “SHOW ME THE MONEY!”
Publicizing our financial woes is not meant to pull at the heart-strings, it is meant to pull at the purse strings. We don’t want their sympathy, we want their money. This is not simply a greedy declaration, because money represents the amount the schools care and are willing to invest. In this case it doesn’t seem that’s very much. Of course, we’re not alone in this. Most organizations suffer from this lack of funding. It’s an old tired story and it’ll probably get worse before it gets any better.
Perhaps it’s too idealistic to truly believe that schools can exist as a separate entity from the rest of the world, as a safe haven for learning. Yet that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive toward that goal, to make programs work, or at the very least to keep them afloat. Yet the question remains: how do we provide the necessary funds?
One recent propsal, which will probably be implemented next year, would reqire all students who wish to be involved in any extra-curricular activities to purchase an ASB card. This is a realistic solution to the problem of slacking funds. But somehow it seems to go against the idea of free and equal education to force students to pay to be involved. It makes sense to require the people who use programs to contribute to them, but the fear is that people who cannot afford to pay will be left out. Some workable provosion should be made to assure that doesn’t happen.
So what’s the solution? Who can say? Perhaps there’s no solution. Perhaps the Pepper Bough will go by way of other school programs (or sports, such as Field Hockey) that died on the vine for lack of funding. We are certainly not alone among school organizations in needing a constant influx of funds. It’s just sad that a fine program like scholastic journalism, a program with such a rich tradition here at Colton High throughout the years, must suffer, all for want of a few hundred dollars. But that’s the way of the world. And, in the end, money still makes the world (especially the school world) go ‘round.
EDITORIAL: GET TOUGH FIGHTING POLICY ADDRESSING VIOLENCE, SHOULD BE SUPPORTEDPage 5, April 4, 1997
by Karen Brown
“Do you wanna scrap?” “Hey man, we can throw down!” “If you got a problem, we can settle this!” These petty fighting words and phrases can lead to awful consequences: some of which may not be fair, but are perfectly within reason.
It’s horrible to think that kids can’t seem to swallow their pride and walk away from a fight. For years, kids have been fighting--fighting over stupid things that weren’t even serious and it would continue because they knew there would be no punishment or maybe at the most, they would recieve a one-day suspension, or three days at the most. These teenage “tough guys” caught on to the school’s game and realized that three days supension wasn’t punishment, it was a gift, so not only would they hurt someone or get hurt, they would get to sit home and relax.
What about those of us who work hard and keep our cool in tough situations? It’s not fair that we can’t avoid fights and trouble and those who seem to be in a “fighting frenzy” are not scared of the consequences. Harsh measures had to be taken.
At the beginning of this year, campus officer Ernie Mireles put together a new project that would hopefully put an end to the constant fighting on campus. “If you are caught fighting on or near campus, you will be issued a citation, appear in court, and could face a fine of up to $700,” said Mireles.
This new idea should be a great asset and will hopefully make the kids think about what they’re doing and the consequences that could follow.
“I think this is a good idea,” said senior Laura Delgado. “I mean come on, get real, who would want to jeopardize everything over some petty fight; especially if you’re a senior.”
It’s horrible to think that some students still don’t care about the consequences or the harm it could do. A student who wished to remain anonymous gave her view on this policy.
“Are you kidding, I don’t believe in that. If you got a problem with someone, you don’t punk out like a (expletive), you settle it. As a matter of fact, I got something to settle right now.”
There are some people who are scared about what the students are going to escalating to in five years.
“In the beginning, we used to fight with our hands,” said senior Cecilia Pellecer. “Nowadays, we use weapons and that’s wrong, not to mention scary. Are we going to be using Uzis and bombs to settle our problems?”
Officer Mireles shows great concern in the interest of the students and just wants kids to be able to come to school and get and education and not be afraid of getting jumped or worse. “If anyone has a problem, they can come and talk to me because I’ll always be here,” said Mireles. “Fighting is not the answer.”
PLAY REVIEW: L’IL ABNER WOWS ‘EM AT THE WHITMERPage 9, April 4, 1997
by Liz Nicks
School productions, aren’t they the best? A school production wouldn’t really be a school production without the cardboard settings, women playing the men in the families, and all the freshmen playing their household pets. Despite these limitations, or perhaps because of them,this year’s production of L’il Abner, a musical comedy directed by drama teacher Joey Mercado, managed to rise above the average level of school productions to produce an evening of song, dance, and comedy that was truly entertaining.
The production was a new one for the actors and the audience. The play starred William Mansfield as Abner, Monique LeCompte as Daisy Mae, Jenny Pearce as Mammy Yokum, Angel Rincon as Pappy Yokum, Federico Zamora as Marryin’ Sam, Jody Norman as Earthquake McGoon, and Aaron Sharpe as General Bullmoose.
L’il Abner is based on the movie and the comic strip of the same name. It covers the lives and troubles of a group of hillbillies who live in a town called Dogpatch.The entire play’s plot concerns the townspeople’s being forced out of Dogpatch for the use of atom bomb testing. A funny subplot deals with Daisy Mae wanting to catch and marry Abner at their Sadie Hawkins Day.
Full of dancing and singing, it ended “and they lived happily ever after.” All the dancing was in perfect sync, although on the first night, Friday March 28, the singing was drowned out by the music. There was no way to hear any of the words once band director Luis Gonzalez started up the band. The technical glitch was solved, however, for the subsequent performance. On Saturday the microphones were moved and the volume was turned up to make the singing noticable.Solving this problem made the play much more enjoyable and entertaining as well.
The characters rehearsed for two and a half months, and although they already had a regular script to follow ,they still added a few of their own lines to make the play original and a little funnier. The costumes were fantastic and the parts were well-portrayed to make this play a success. “The cast had a lot of fun and were excited about opening night. They put a lot of hours of work and rehearsing into the play and I knew it would be a success,” said Mercado.
The play was a success and the crowd seemed to love it. Except for Friday’s technical problems, the play went off without a hitch. No one forgot lines and even if they did it was not noticable. The cast did a fine job on this performance and they made the audience laugh-- and if the audience actually laughed at the funny parts and cried at the sad, then it was really a success.
The Pepper Bough gives a great big Bravo! to Director Mercado and all the cast members and behind the scenes personnel.
EDITORIAL: HE SAID, SHE SAID: SHOULD ABORTION PROTESTERS BE ALLOWED TO PICKET SCHOOLS?Page 5, April 4, 1997
He Said, by Daniel Flores
A new group has been going around to high schools and protesting abortion. Known as “Operation Rescue,” this group has been labeled as “freedom fighters for the rights of the unborn.” Now they’re coming to your town and Colton High just might be next on their list.
Many people believe that “Operation Rescue” is a self-righteous group that is just too controversial to be allowed anywhere near our school campus. Their “shock you” approach of displaying the horrors of abortion, such as showing pictures of aborted fetuses, has labeled them as a radical group, too radical for Colton High.
Well, as much as I hate to burst the bubble of all of the people who don’t want real issues like abortion in their schools, “Operation Rescue” has every right to voice their opinion. If my memory serves me correct, a certain group of Colton High students exercised this right on March 14th when they “protested” against closed campus lunches and high academic standards set by the district. Even though they may have been a minority within the entire student body, their right to protest was still protected and respected by the school and administrators. “Operation Rescue” has that very same right and it should be protected and respected by the school and administrators.
Now many people, such as my fellow reporter Lorin, believe that “Operation Rescue” is disgusting and offensive. Unfortunately, the same right that allows her to have that opinion allows “Operation Rescue” to have their opinion. I agree that the issue of abortion is a touchy one but I don’t agree with her that it is too difficult of an issue for high school students. After all, Colton High does have the highest teen pregnancy rate in the county, and San Bernardino County has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the state, and California has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation . . . well, you get the picture.
Many people just might not like “Operation Rescue” because they are too rude or offensive, but we shouldn’t infringe on their right simply because of that. If we did we would have to lock up every person who said something too offensive (this would include yours truly). I would be locked up in a cell somewhere between Howard Stern and Andrew Dice Clay. Fortunately for me, and “Operation Rescue,” we have the right to be offensive and rude. It’s the American way.She said, by Lorin Burleson
Unfortunately, Daniel, this issue is not soley about the legal rights of anti-abortion group Operation Rescue. I, too, believe that due to the First Amendment of the Constitution Operation Rescue could legally be allowed in public schools. But I also believe in something called tact, and Operation Rescue does not seem to know what that is. A protest is supposed to have a purpose with the hope that others will take on the picketers’ same outlook. I don’t believe that this protest will change anyone’s mind about abortion. In fact, I feel that, like myself, most will be sickened. Personally I am disgusted by the visual displays of unborn fetuses.
What makes me sick is that Operation Rescue comes specifically to high schools to target younger students, who, on the whole, are usually more sensitive and unfamiliar with such graphic displays. School districts are on the whole restrictive of what they allow their students to learn about and see (that is one of the reasons we do not have sex ed on campus). And yet, by law, Operation Rescue is allowed to march outside of the school gates and tell us what is right and wrong. How dare this group of “radicals” come to our campus when we aren’t even allowed to learn about how to prevent pregnancies?
I am offended, not necessarily by their purpose, but by the way this group goes about their protests. These people promote things that, for a lot of people, hit way too close to home. If something needs to be advocated to students, this would be last on the list.
The bottom line is this. Daniel, you have a strong point. Legally we must allow these people to gallavant outside our school gates, paying no attention to the feelings and emotions of each of the students on this or any high school campus. It is these people who completely disregard what many people must go through and it is in this that they have no taste in their actions.
I just hope Operation Rescue doesn’t come to our school because they are going to see a lot of enraged people. I realize it is a harsh world out there and there are going to be rude, offensive people that not everyone will agree with, but we shouldn't have to have it intrude upon us.
JUNIOR WINS DISTRICT SCIENCE FAIRPage 2, April 4, 1997
by Tariq Warsi
Junior Heidi Strutz was the winner of the sweepstakes award at the district science fair held at Bloomington Middle School on March 8. The project, “Computerized Eyes and Ears” was far different from that of any normal project.
The project consisted of a computer program, which was produced by Strutz. The program tested a persons response to different visual and audio images or sounds and researched the reaction time for each of the people. The program was made to find out how people react to different images and sounds.
Five secondary school teachers and three elementary teachers served as judges at the fair. All of the participants had to be interviewed first by the secondary judges and then by the elementary judges. With this victory, Strutz has made it past the district fair and will move on to the county fair, to be held at the San Bernardino Orange Show on April 24. The project will be placed in the computer category, and if the project passes this stage then Strutz will then move on to the state science fair.
Two other projects made a mark at the fair for Colton High as well. Freshmen David Vasquez and Jason Durdle tested the effect that elctricity would have on the growth of plants; they also will be going to the county science fair in April. Another project produced by Freshman Tracy Ortloff and Lorissa Vega, earned a second place award at the disrtrict level. Their project consisted of how color filters affected the growth of plants.
“I’m a bit nervous about going to the Orange Show,” said Durdle. “There will be over a thousand projects there.”
YELLOWJACKETS BUZZ ONTO INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY WITH NEW
INTERNET WEB SITEPage 2, April 4, 1997
by Ana Gonzalez
Merging into the fast lane of the information superhighway, Colton High School logged on the Internet with its own website March 10.
“This page is a great opportunity for students and parents to get informed about what is going on in school,” said MECHA advisor Jerry Almendarez, one of the movers and shakers behind getting the project off the ground. “Instead of having to wait for newsletters in the mail, they can directly get the information on the internet.”
Almendarez and junior Esmeralda Pulido created the page on the net. What began as a page for MECHA, later evolved to a page for AVID. Eventually, they decided to create a page for the entire school.
They began planning during June 1996. After hours in summer school and out of their personal time, Almendarez and Pulido worked on the project almost every day.
In November, they met with the Colton Joint Unified School District School Board and the Superintendent to present the almost-finished project. That is where they were granted permission to put the Colton Page on the internet. The Colton High Page had to coincide with the style of the existing district page.
“It seemed like the School Board liked the idea,” said Pulido.
After working on it for several additional months, the Colton High Page was ready to be transmitted onto the World Wide Web.
The page currently contains the topics in the regular student planner. Such topics include activities, policies, emergencies, ASB cards, cheating policy, competencies, and career majors. Just by plainly clicking on the item name, one can read information about the subject.
Something that is being discussed for the near future is having individual club pages under the school’s homepage. One possibility is having the MECHA students learn HTML language, or the codes that create a page on the internet, and have them develop pages for clubs. Another option is teaching the MECHA students, and then having them teach students from each club. This way club members may build their own page and add their personal touch. After finishing the building, the clubs would have to send it to the district so they could put it on the internet. This is still under discussion.
Having assignments on-line and providing teachers with e-mail accounts are also being discussed for the future. This would enable students to get homework on the internet and e-mail their teachers for questions or problems.
Another aspect to this page is that it is also available in Spanish. Although still under construction, the same data that is now available in English will also be available in Spanish, affording greater access.
“There is such a large number of bilingual people in this area that it would be nice for parents to be able to communicate with the school by reading in Spanish,” said Almendarez. “Instead of talking in English, which for some parents can be intimidating and uncomfortable, parents are now able to get informed in Spanish.”
In an ever-changing technological world, the Colton High School Page is not nearly finished. There will always be something new to add.
“This is just the beginning,” said Pulido. “We are not expecting it to stay the same forever. On the internet everything is constantly changing. Maybe future generations will change the page completely.”
THE PEPPER SHAKER (EDITORIAL COLUMN)SCHOOL IS COMING TO A CLOSE; ARE WE READY FOR IT?
Page 4, April 4, 1997
by Vicky Wray
The sun gently falls behind the mountains as the breeze blows softly against the gray paint of my 1973 Volkswagen bug with a ‘74 engine. All three colors of gray shine brightly in the poetic light of dusk. Beside me in the passenger seat are my folder and my economics book. Thoughts of summer rush through my mind as the warm air touches my skin. Thoughts of picnics and the Fourth of July run across my brain with tired feet, as they have run through my mind so many times before. My craving for freedom is ever stronger.
What does this have to do with anything, you ask? Well, it has to do with the feeling of being locked up in something you wish you weren’t locked up in: your youth. It has to do with the ache in your shoulders from carrying 30 pounds of school books around for four years. It has to do with the fact that some of us are seniors and this is our last chance to be young and stupid, yet we can’t wait to get out of here and bite into the world.
We are as ready as we ever have been to take on reality and fend for ourselves in the ultimate class, Life 101. Even if we find ourselves lost in the crowd and drowning in a sea of people who we aren’t familiar with, we will have the sweet, painful knowledge that we are doing it on our own. It is only April and we are willing to have it end right now.
As I drove I began to think of the road I was on, a road I have driven many times before on my way home from an unusually long day of school. I started to think about how unfamiliar every other road will be in the coming years. The roads will be scary, exciting, fascinating, wonderful, lonely and wicked all rolled into one. Will we survive? Will we be frightened and crawl back into the arms of our mommies? Or will we prove to the world how young and strong we truly are? We don’t know, that’s part of the absolute agony of it all.
In June we will we be screaming that familiar elementary school song which is imprinted on our minds. “No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers’ dirty looks.” Just think, we will not be forced to carry 30 pounds on our backs for six hours, we will not need to scrounge for pencils and a piece of paper. Just think, we are no longer required by law to get up at six o’ clock every morning.
Unless we choose to go on to college. Then we’ll do it again and wish we were back at Colton High School, with all the familiar things we thought we were ready to leave behind.
PUNTO DE VISTA“¿Entendieron?”
Pagina 10, 4 de Abril 1997
por Graciela Goméz
¿Cuántas veces han estado en una clase donde no entienden la materia? En algunas clases el aprender una materia es muy difícil. Hay alumnos que tienen clases dificiles como Química, Algebra I & II, Geometría, etc. y aunque ya es el segundo semestre todavía no han aprendido lo suficiente. Esto depende de varios factores, del maestro, de los libros que están en inglés que son dificiles de entender para un alumno dentro del Programa Bilingüe o quizas por falta de una educación básica.
Se han conocido casos donde algunos alumnos que llegan de otros países no han tenído suficiente estudio por muchas razones. Más que nada por razones económicas. En este país, es obligatorio que los padres manden a sus hijos a la escuela hasta la edad de los 16 años.
Hay maestros que miran que los alumnos no entienden el idioma inglés, no les enseñan lo necesario, quizas piensan que el alumno no tiene el empeño de aprender la materia cuando en realidad, el alumno no entiende la clase que se está presentando.
Existen algunos compañeros que no entienden sus clases y se la pasan preguntando unos a los otros como se hace la tarea. El enseñar no es fácil y aunque los compañeros de estos alumnos quieren enseñarles hacer las tareas, ellos mismos se atrazan en clase y es más fácil hacerlos copiar su trabajo.
Sería de ventaja para todos los alumnos que los maestros tomaran el interés de averiguar cuales de sus alumnos realmente no entienden la materia y buscar la manera de ayudarlos. Este país por lo visto desde la primaria permite que los alumnos pasen de año en año aunque vayan atrazados. El problema continua hasta que el pobre alumno llega a la preparatoria donde los créditos se pierden. En Colton High, si no obtienen los 230 créditos para cuando terminen el último año de su grado 12 y aparte no pasan su exámenes de competencia, ¡ NO SE GRADUAN !REQUISITOS NECESARIOS PARA LA GRADUACION
• Inglés 40 créditos=4 años
• Ciencias 20 créditos=2 años
• Matemáticas 20 créditos=2 años
• Idioma Extranjera o 10 créditos=1 año
Clase de Bellas Artes
• Educación Físcia 20 créditos=2 años
• Historia Mundial 10 créditos=1 año
• Historia de los
Estados Unidos 10 créditos=1 año
• Gobierno 5 créditos=1/2 año
• Ecomomía 5 créditos=1/2 año
• Mecanografía o Curso
de Computadoras 5 créditos=1/2 año
• Cursos Electivos 85 créditos
EXAMENES DE COMPETENCIA :
• Lectura
• Matemáticas
• EscrituraNecesitamos empezar a ver por nuestro bien y por el bien de nuestros compañeros. Es una tristeza ver que varios se desilusionan y dejan de venir a la escuela porque no van bien en sus clases. Si ustedes se encuentran en la situación de que no entienden una materia y no tienen quien les ayude, no se atrazen más, no tengan vergüenza de pedirles a sus maestros o consejeros que les ayuden. Si conocen a alguien quien necesite ayuda, anímenlos a que consigan ayuda y que continuen con sus estudios. Ustedes merecen la educación que se les ofrece y recuerden que será para el bien del futuro de ustedes mismos.
RAP WARS: WHEN MUSIC TURNS TO MURDER
by Matt Gomez
Page 7, April 4, 1997
Tupac Shakur. A man some say showed heart and courage coming up from the ghetto to become one of the most outspoken rappers in history, only to be gunned down in a bloody shooting in Las Vegas.
Notorious B.I.G. Another outspoken rapper from the East Coast who was caught up in the East\West wars between his New York-based record label, Bad Boy Entertainment, and the Los Angeles-based label Death Row, which housed such “gangster” rappers such as Snoop Doggy Dogg and the late Shakur. “Biggie Smalls,” as he was also known, was also gunned down, but in Los Angeles after a magazine party celebrating the release of his new double CD “Life After Death,” and to celebrate his new single “Hypnotise.”
These two major players in the world of rap helped fuel the media’s obsession with the so-called “rap wars” with their “dissings” of each coast and of each other’s labels. Shakur blamed his 1994 shooting outside a New York recording studio on Biggie and Puff Daddy, the CEO of Bad Boy Entertainment, although both claimed no involvement. They each had their own way of saying what they felt to each other in their songs. 2Pac’s infamous song, “Hit em’ Up” talked about sexual relations that he allegedly had with Biggie’s wife Faith Evans and just how he hated Bad Boy Entertainment.
It was these hard hitting and hateful lyrics that helped the media make the issue bigger than it really was. Or was it? Two rappers, two different coasts, one rap war. Is that enough for two murders?
Shakur, just hours before his shooting death, was involved in a beating of an alleged “Crip” gang member in the lobby of a Las Vegas hotel. Could his murder have been connected to this incident? A drive-by on the busy Vegas strip should have easily been seen and surely there would have been some witnesses. So why did no one come out and say they had seen something? Even “Suge” Knight, the head of Death Row Records, who had been driving the car when Shakur was murdered, also saw “nothing.” In an MTV interview, Knight claimed that even if he had seen something he would not have reported it. This has led some to the conclusion that Death Row does not want to handle Shakur’s death like any other murder that the police should investigate--they want to handle the murder and the murderer(s) in their own style. And down goes Biggie Smalls.
Much speculation has surrounded the murder of Notorious B.I.G. Some insiders say that he owed a drug dealer in L.A. money and his time to pay had ran out. Others say that “Suge’s” ties with the Los Angeles-based “Bloods” gang helped in the assassination of Biggie, as a sort of gang-style payback.
Speculations have also been made about Shakur’s murder. The most common one is that Bad Boy Entertainment had him taken out. Maybe Shakur’s lyrical slayings of the Bad Boy camp were just going too far. Perhaps we will never know.
Both Smalls and Shakur had high hopes for the future before they were senselessly gunned down. Biggie had hopes for a home in the country with his two children. “Sometimes, as of late, I’ve been talkin’ about quittin’,” he recently said. “I really want to stop. If I was financially stable I would. I want to relocate. Somewhere in the South. Somewhere where life is a bit slower. I just wanna be in a calm area. I just wanna be able to relax.”
Unfortunately this poetic rapper was never able to live out his dream. The Notorious B.I.G. and the ‘THUG LIFE’ posterboy 2Pac Shakur were both gunned down in senseless violence. Two lives lost, and people may never know why.
EDITORIAL; RESTROOMS FACELIFT ONLY TEMPORARY, IT SEEMSPage 3, April 4, 1997
by Kim Sanders
How many times have you entered a restroom and asked yourself, “Where’s the toilet paper?” or, “Why don’t we have any soap or paper towels?”
These questions are on the minds of students daily who must relieve themselves in some of the worst conditions possible. I recently walked into the girls restroom at the end of the 200 wing and was completely appalled at the conditions I found there. Newly painted stalls were filled with graffiti. The toilet paper, which is minimal in the first place, was strewn about the floor. The most appalling scene of them all were the used maxi-pads under the toilet when small trash cans were visibly placed in the stalls.
I had planned all along to write this article on how disgusting our restrooms actually were. I went around to all the restrooms to compile information about them. I was pleased to find that the stalls were painted, floors picked up and mopped, toilet paper stocked, and best of all, the toilets were cleaned. Everything looked great.
For almost an entire week and a half conditions in the restrooms were surprisingly well. I’m sorry to say that they didn’t stay that way for long. Within a week everything was back to “normal.” Not only are some restrooms just dirty, but some people are unable to enter any guys or girls restroom due to the horrific stench of urine, defecation, and even sometimes marijuana.
When will it all end? Why can’t we as students try to keep the restrooms clean? I’m not saying that we paint the stalls, or mop the floors. All I am saying is that we don’t tag on the walls and that we clean up after ourselves. I personally would not live to see tomorrow if I kept my bathroom at home the way I see the restrooms at school. I think I can safely assume that neither would anybody else.
PAYING YOUR DUES: THE PRICE OF BEING A SENIORPage 6, April 4, 1997
by Jenny Harris
Attention Seniors! After years of buying yearbooks, A.S.B. cards, pictures, and all those other school expenses, we’ve finally reached the peak of our financial difficulties, our last debt to be paid to Colton High School: Senior Dues.
Much confusion has been brought about since the first announcing of the dues, so let’s clear some of that up. The cost is $35, and that includes the following: one cap, one gown, the diploma cover, and one crimson and gold tassel. You should have been fittted for your cap and gown in your Government or Economics class, and if you haven’t please let that teacher know. This price does not, I repeat, does not include the cost of the senior brunch; you will be able to pay for that at a later time if you decide you want to go. In the past, senior dues did include the cost of the brunch, but too many complaints have been brought up about that. Some didn’t want to go and some thought they would go, and then wanted their money back after they didn’t go, so they just took it out of the cost .
You can pay your dues (cash only) to Ed Monroe (room 602) or Holli Wiesmann, (room 216), before or after school. The absolute last deadline is in the end of April so try to pay before then. If you are having financial difficulties and don’t think you can pay, just tell your P.O.D. or Economics teacher. With the proper permission, requisitions, and proof of difficulty, he or she can hook you up with a deal or pay what you can’t pay, so don’t fret.
So if you are planning on graduating this year, and walking with your class come graduation day, then you must pay these dues. Don’t just blow it off and say, “Oh, I’ll pay tomorrow!” As soon as you get the money, PAY THEM! Don’t be without cap and gown on your own graduation day--they truly are necessary items of the whole ritual. Oh, and you get to keep them!
SENIORS SWEAT OUT WAITING FOR WORD FROM COLLEGESPage 6, April 4, 1997
by Renee Dominguez
The postman will have to worry about more than just dogs chasing them this time of year. They will also have to worry about the many high school seniors who are anxiously awaiting to hear from colleges.
Going to the mail box has become a daily ritual for some. “It’s nerve racking going to the mail box everyday, “ said senor Nick Vasquez. The thickness or thinness of the envelope is cause for much speculation. “Since it was thin,(the letter from University if San Diego) I thought two things: either I was in or I was missing information,” said Vasquez.
Senior Dawn Burks knows all too well the thrill of acceptance as well as the disappointment of rejection. “I was solemn and filled with disbelief. After I got over the rejection, I looked towards the positive, which is the colleges that I have already been accepted to,” said Burks. It may seem that the once the person has been notified of their acceptance the stress would longer exist, yet there is more to come.
“After my acceptance to Ithica college (in New York) all I could think about was my financial aid packet,” said Burks. “There is nothing you can do to prepare for the long process of waiting for a response. After the process is all over the outcome can be very rewarding. Getting into the college of your choice validates that the person was the best that they could be in their high school career.”Back to top
FEATURE COLUMN, “SPAMORAMA” by Daniel FloresOF CLEAN BATHROOMS AND DIRTY BOOKS
Page 8, April 4, 1997
Welcome to Colton High, the happiest place on earth. At least it was for three whole days. I knew something was mighty fishy when I walked over to the bathroom and saw something that I had never seen before: an open door. I then proceeded to walk in and saw something even more frightening--toilet paper! It was then that I sensed a disturbance in The Force.
I then went to class and took my seat. Suddenly, my teacher stood up, walked in front of the class and began to do something he had rarely done before--teach. Just then an announcement came on over the intercom.“If any student needs help with college information, or if they just want a friend to talk to, please feel free to drop by the counselor’s office. Hey, we’re here for you.”
It was all so weird it was like an episode of the “X-Files.” All that was missing were some pyromaniac aliens, a couple of possessed computer hackers, and a picture of David Duchovny naked. No, it wasn’t TV--it was the wonderful WASC review.
You know, that three day period when the school slaps on a new coat of paint, cleans up the bathrooms, and locks up all of the little delinquents into some underground basement. Then the administrators and students all hold hands and sing “We Are the World” just before we all plant a tree and save the children. Of course, as we all know, once the WASC people leave, we’re back to the seagull-infested, graffiti-covered, funny smelling school we’ve all come to know and love.
On a different note, it seems that your very own Pepper Bough has managed to get itself into trouble once again.
That’s right, we’ve really stepped in it this time. It appears that certain individuals (who shall remain nameless, since we’re not supposed to criticize people) didn’t appreciate a recent opinion piece that we published about a parent from Bloomington High. The parent, referred to in the editorial as “Mr. Ignorant,” did not approve of the book “Of Mice and Men.” He believed that it contained too many cuss words. He wanted the book banned from the school district’s curriculum.
As most people know, “Of Mice and Men” is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that is an American classic. Yes, it contains some cuss words.
But what’s the big deal about cuss words? A few cuss words do not take away the real meaning behind the book. I don’t know if you’ve ever taken a stroll through Colton High, but the cuss words in “Of Mice and Men” make George look like Mother Teresa compared to what you’ll hear at lunch on a typical day in our quad. I’ve heard freshmen girls say things that made me cringe. If you doubt Colton students are creative, then you’ve never heard a student tell a teacher where to go and where to stick their pencil when they get there, using nothing but four-letter words.
And as for those persons who think that the Pepper Bough was wrong for voicing its opinions so passionately about this issue--I as a responsible and mature reporter would simply like to say “You smell!” But I won’t. That wouldn’t be professional.Back to top
SPEECH TEAM ADVANCES TO STATE COMPETITIONPage 2, April 4, 1997
by Ana Gonzalez
The Colton High School Speech Team has placed second in the overall league sweepstakes for 1996-97 as well as qualified for the State Speech Championships.
It was the participation at the Citrus Belt Speech Championships on March 8 at Redlands High and March 9 at San Gorgonio High School that qualified these students to go to State. The students competed with schools throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
“This was one of our best performances at league championships ever,” said advisor Bob De Groff. “I was pleased to see how the younger students advanced to semifinals, too.”
The championships will be held at Long Beach State University on May 3. Students who will participate include: senior Jeni Gaskins for Original Prose/Poetry, junior Linnette Lee for U.S. Extemp, and senior Melissa Lowe for Student Congress. Also, junior Josh Taylor for Foreign Extemp, junior Sarah Tootill for Dramatic Interp, and senior Ryan Treff for Student Congress.
Because the State Speech Championships are scheduled on the same day as Prom, some students had to choose between participating in this prestigious event or go to Prom.
“I’ve already gone to Prom for another school,” said Gaskins, who chose to go to the championships rather than Prom. “I think it is better for my academics if I go to State.”
Although other students did not qualify to go to State, many placed in the top ten of their category and were semifinalists.
“I am very happy about how our school did at the Citrus Belt competition,” said Lee. “I am sure we will do well in State.”
STUDENTS WALK OUT TO PROTEST CLOSED CAMPUS
Front page, April 4, 1996by Emily Lemay
What began as an angry group of students walking out of class to protest closed campus ended with a whimper as none of the protest leaders showed up at the School Board meeting as promised to air their grievances.
The demonstration was intended for seniors and underclassmen to vent their frustrations about policies that they felt were too rigid, such as the closed campus policy.
“It doesn’t matter if you aren’t a senior,” screamed senior Tonya Console at the crowd of protesters. “What will happen when you are? Uniforms? The people who want this the most are the ones who aren’t gonna run around campus. We just want to be heard.”
Part of this frustration may have stemmed from the fact that early this year, some seniors wrote letters, collected signatures and sent them to the school district in attempts to make a change in the new closed campus policy.
“All we got was a snide letter back,” said Console. “What’s worse, each of us got the same exact letter!”
For the most part, the walk-out was a passive demonstration, although at the beginning a great deal of students did start running from the security guards towards the student parking lot and attempted to jump the gate.
School officials made several attempts at getting the students to go back to class but to no avail.
“You don’t listen to us, why should we listen to you?” asked senior Melissa Alvarez.
The students demanded that the Superintendent come down and address the protesters and refused to leave until he did.
“It’s time for the Superintendent to meet his students,” said senior Marc Avant.
After contacting and asking District Superintendent Dr. Herbert Fischer to come down and meet with the sudents, Principal Terry Adame asked that the mob select five student spokespeople to meet with him in her office.
At 10:00, seniors Derek Kretzmeier, Tonya Console, Kristine Weber, Jerome Mitchell, Kathy Hill, and Candis Ayala left the group to meet with the Superintendent and voice their opinions, but not without instructing the crowd to “stay until we get back,” as Console put it.
While the student leaders met with school officials, the remaining protesters began to get restless. Troy Knudsvig, science teacher and wrestling coach, began discouraging the students’ efforts, telling them that they were going about the issue in the wrong manner. “You’re just adding fuel to the fire,” Knudsvig told the crowd. He also added emphasis to the fact that the students would most likely accomplish more if they went back to class and brought their parents to the next district board meeting.
The students finally agreed to go back to class when the leaders returned.
When they did, Console explained the terms of the agreement. The Superintendent said that students could possibly take a survey to see whether or not they would mind getting rid of Channel One to use that extra time toward a lunchtime extension. Off campus lunch, however, was out of the question. The district was going to stand their ground and make no attempts to change the policy.
The group finally agreed to distribute a new batch of flyers encouraging students to take their parents to the next board meeting to further protest. Then, they went back to class. But on Thursday, March 20, the school board waited in vain to hear from students involved with the protest, as none of them showed up.
However, the protest has resulted in some changes. Already there is a new lunch cart offering vegetarian fare, as well as an express line in the cafeteria for seniors and ASB cardholders.
As for closed campus, the controversial policy is still in effect.
SWIMMERS TAKE TO THE WATER; NICKS ATHLETE OF THE WEEKPage 12, April 4, 1997
by Brian Espinoza
The Sun newspaper has honored junior Liz Nicks with an “Athlete of the Week” award. Nicks has been swimming for the varsity team for three years now. “Swimming for the high school is a lot of fun, and although Vickers may work us hard some times, it is rewarding in the end,” said Nicks.
The team will more than likely plan on practicing over spring break and they start back up on Tuesday, April 15, when they swim at and against Fontana. This year’s season of swimming began without coach Eileen Potterton, out with an injury. New coach Darcy Vickers has already led the girls team to their first victory in three years against Eisenhower at home on March 27, led by freshman Beth Mleczko and Nicks. This year the team has grown with enough new swimmers to staff a J.V. team to complement the varsity.
The boys team is doing well in the scoring area, as always, but could use more swimmers. With only five swimmers, (six if quarter grades are improved) they are still managing to walk away with first places at every meet. The squad is led by seniors Ohm Kongtang, Doug Boon and Felipe Rodriguez, as well as juniors John Silva and Matt Gomez. The only new swimmer on the guys team this year is freshmen Daniel Guerrero.
TENNIS TEAM VOLLEYS FOR POSITION IN TOUGH CITRUS BELT LEAGUEPage 11, April 4, 1997
by Matt Penna
Can lightning strike twice for the tennis team? After last year’s third place finish in the San Andreas League, the tennis team is expected to take second place this year in the Citrus Belt League.
Now the team has a first year coach, James Verhoeven, and some new and old faces on the team. “The tennis team has learned a lot,” said Verhoeven. “Our record is not quite what we wanted it to be, but we plan to make a strong run in league this year. ”
The team is once again led by the number one player, junior Mike Hughes, with a 11-4 record this season. Filling the other two varsity singles spots are senior Ryan Urban and sophomore Seth Anapolsky. The doubles teams for varsity are junior Erik Luna and sophomore Anthony Coronado, sophomores Joe Ramos and Matt Penna, Brian Kim and Joe Manlolo, Tom Allen and Kris Collins. In their first year on the team (and one of the best doubles teams) are seniors Andy Hunt and David Evans. “It’s surprising that in our first season we were able to work our way up to the number one doubles team,” said Hunt.
This year also has a brand new junior varsity squad with senior Kevin Razon, junior Glen Kim and freshmen Josh Bunnell, and Kris and Shawn Augsburger. “It’s all about having fun and playing hard,” said Brian Kim. “If we win that makes it all worth it.”
Pre-season so far has been a little rough with a 1-3 record, but the team has been playing strong and has just got some bad breaks. The team is still just exploring its possibilities for the varsity squad to put only the best players together. They expect to improve as time goes on to work together as a team. The season will begin on April 15.
TRACK TEAM TO FACE FONTANA AFTER SPRING BREAKPage 12, April 4, 1997
by Andy Hunt
Track faces off against Fontana on April 17, looking to improve upon this year’s record.
The season began on Thursday March 6 against perennial rival San Berdardino. For both teams it was a close match to the final event. The boys came out up top with score of 63-62. Unfortunately the girls were defeated in the heat of the day. Highlights of the boys match-up included great throws by Senior Kilaboy Kiliona in the shot put and the discus. Junior distance specialist Adrian Hamilton ran well, capturing three third place titles in the 800, 400, and 200. Also doing well for Colton in the distance running events were Senior David Aguire and Junior Keith Gatlin. Freshmen Amanda Gomez, Sophomore Maryanna Vasquez, and Senior Jessica Romo stood out during the girls meet.
“It was a good first meet,” Coach Wayne Weeks commented.
On Thursday, March 13, Colton faced San Gorgonio, going down to defeat 74-53. Top finishers included Hamilton, Trevino, Gatlin, Butner, and Kiliona. “We have a pretty good team this year but we also have tough opponents,” Aguire said. “It will be an interesting year.”
Colton’s last scheduled game against rivals from Bloomington High School was cancelled. “The Bloomington meet is always cancelled,” said Aguire, and he sarcastically added that they “are scared.”
U.N.I.T.Y. FORUM TO BRING TOGETHER DIVERSE CAMPUS GROUPSPage 8, April 4, 1997
by Lorin Burleson
Have you ever wanted to openly discuss stereotypes, or, even better, come to an understanding of different types of people? Colton High school is offering just such an opportunity in a unique attempt to achieve human unity. This forum, called U.N.I.T.Y., (Uniting diverse people with New Ideas to introduce a forum of Togetherness for today’s Youth) will be held April 16 in order to promote togetherness and peace on this school’s campus.
The idea was introduced to Peer Assistance at a conference in late January in which Montclair High School presented their forum, originated by the Montclair Peer Helpers. The program was recognized as highly successful with Montclair High’s students and faculty and many of Colton High’s Peer Assistants took to it immediately.
The forum stems from the concern that there is a problem regarding human dignity, both on campus and in general. The goal of the mini-conference is to invite fifteen Colton High school students from all different backgrounds, social groups, and ethnic diveresities, and create an environment in which stereotypes can be discussed in a safe, contolled manner. The students will be chosen as part of a collaboration between Peer Assistance and Colton High administrators.
At the forum, the fifteen Peer Assistants that are involved, the students, and selected faculty that have been invited to participate will take part in several activities. The most important of these activities will take place in the “small group” portion of the forum. It is in these groups of approximately 8-10 people that the core of U.N.T.I.T.Y.’s purpose happens. This small group breakout has its guests speak confidentially about the established issues. Both guests and Peers are allowed to speak freely about their opinions and views with the hope that each will take away from the forum some insight from the expressions made by individuals in the group.
The Peer Assistants involved in the forum are trained in communication skills and teen issues which will enable them to facilitate the discussion to initiate understanding among the members of the conference in the areas related to prejudice and stereotyping. Peer Assistant advisor Carol Miller is optimistic about the forum and hopes that it will be a success. Said Miller, “We’re looking forward to a fun, exciting, informative mini-conference.”
If this forum works well, U.N.I.T.Y. should continue into the form of ongoing conferences in which guests of the first conference will be allowed to invite a student of their choice. The desire is to have as many as possible involved in the program discuss their opinions in a constructive manner in order to influence the Colton High student body.
The atmosphere for the forum should be a positive one and individual goals will be set by each of the members of the small groups. As this is the first attempt at such a conference at this school, it should be a unique and successful opportunity for all involved.
EDITORIAL; WALKOUT JUST A PATHETIC EXCUSE TO DITCH CLASSPage 3, April 4, 1997
by Jeff Patrick, Guest Columnist
The debate continues.
After the initial wave of protest in early September, seniors and underclassmen at Colton High School have once again risen in opposition to various school policies. Particularly, the present lunch confinement and increased graduation requirements have prompted unease and discomfort. It seems that the walk-out of March 14 personifies the dismay of many of the students at this school.
I share this dismay; I do not however, share this personification. Something is drastically wrong when a group of students need to express their views through a highly unorganized and unsophisticated walk-out. There is a problem with the lack of responsibility in such an action.
I happen to share many of the concerns voiced by the rude mob of the 14th. With the exception of graduation requirement complaints, I see their dissatisfaction. Their actions, though, I question. I cannot comprehend why such an issue is just now being raised. We all found out over four years ago that we would have stricter requirements for graduation. We found out in August that we would not be allowed off campus for lunch. That was then, this is now.
I wonder exactly what the effectiveness of the recent walk-out will be. In the midst of probable suspensions and other reprimands I question whether the “representatives of the cause” will ever see the fruits of their labor. If, by chance they do, it would be hard to say that they will be seen this year. The soonest any change would be experienced is next year, and I know that no participating senior cares about the welfare of classes to come. Why, then, was this action taken now? If the conditions on campus are so intolerable, why did it take seven months for such an action to occur?
There is an obvious lack of responsibility and reasoning involved with this event. My point is simple: what kind of impact can a yelling group of teenagers have on a system that already disapproves of their actions? The intentions of these individuals may have been good, but they were misguided. They exhibited their blatant disregard for respect when they began chanting insults at non-participating bodies. I’m not saying that protest is not warranted. Students at this school should have a voice in various decisions at the school and district level; but change through walk-out only works on Beverly Hills 90210, and it only works when done at the right time. Protest should take the form of attendance at school board meetings. Protest should involve a large scale, serious, formal letter writing campaign. Protest should be timely, respectful, and with a cause.
Protest, unfortunately, does not bring about the real change. The situation at our school will only improve when student morale improves. My four years at this school have been plagued with a lack of caring and participation. Pep assemblies lack pep. Sports teams lack fans. Teachers lack the respect of their students. The fault for our problems does not lie at the district level. It sits in each one of us. There is something to be said for school spirit. Either you have it or you don’t. If you do, more power to you. If you do not, sit down and be quiet. Don’t blame the administration for the problems of our class, blame yourselves. Because too many of us have been too lazy to give a damn in the last four years, we are where we are today, upset and unsatisfied.
Stop griping. Stop complaining. Stop speaking for me. I may share your views, but I do not share your attitude. It takes a daring individual to walk out of class. It takes a different person, a lower person, to shout insults at those who do not. Leave me out of your little charades and I will leave this letter out of your life. Stop crying, get out of your chair, and start being a part of the solution, not the problem!