0607-1

SquallTHE

September 29, 2006 - Volume XVII - Issue 1 - Dexter High School - 2200 N. Parker Road - Dexter, Mi 48130

Scheduling confl icts:Students with no classes spend up to a week in the cafeteria

page 2

Senior captains: Team captains give their breakdowns for the season

page 10

The fanfare:Students show their support by attending football games

page 14

In order to be an immaculate

member of a fl ock of sheep, one

must above all be a sheep oneself.

New! Check out The Trickle, a sarcastic and comedic collection of ... things page 6- Albert Einstein

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLYBUT WE’RE NOT TELLING YOU WHICH IS WHICH

WHAT’S NEW IN ‘06 - pages 8, 9

22 The SquallFriday, September 29, 2006

news

Fixing schedules: Counselor Kris-tie Doyle works with senior Katie Daratony in her offi ce. More than 400 students did not have complete schedules to start the school year.

photo by Ryan Winchester

Student scheduling confl icts clog up the counseling offi ce Issues with previous master schedule transition into student, teacher schedule problems

There are fewer chairs than people as students mill around the counselors’ of-fi ce waiting for their schedules to be fi xed. With almost 400 student schedules to ad-just, counselors and students have had to spend a lot of time there.

“I worked the whole week before you kids came to school,” coun-selor Gerry Holmes said. “I came in four additional days prior to that, working on the schedules.” All that, and into the second week of school there are still wrinkles to be ironed out.

There have always been a couple of prob-lems come the semester’s start, but this year, the number of students without working schedules is staggering.

Consider, for example, the plight of certain English students. On the fi rst day of school, what teacher Andrew Parker thought was a Mythology class fi led into his room. When he welcomed his new pu-pils, he was met by confused stares. They were there for British Literature.

“I was shocked and a bit upset,” Parker said. “But I knew we could work some-thing out to get stu-dents learning.”

He wasn’t the only one with that pre-dicament. English Teacher Ellen Doss, who taught Brit Lit in the past, ended up with Parker’s former Mythology post.

The two teachers fi gured they’d just

switch, but software and technicalities kept it from being that simple. Instead, each student’s schedule had to be changed

individually.“I was pretty angry,” senior Cathe-

rine Palowski-Ehnis, who was originally placed in Parker’s class, said. “It’s not very easy going into a class a week later, and I was really worried I would have to get my schedule totally rearranged.”

With 400 fellow students feeling the same effects, the question as to why things are so backed up this year has come up more than once.

“We got going late last year,” Holmes said. “We should have got going much sooner . . . (former Interim Principal Jim Bannan) went on his timeline for the mas-ter schedule, and to be quite honest, the master schedule was imperfect to start with.”

Bannan did not respond to multiple e-mail requests for comment.

But despite the year’s numerous dif-fi culties, Holmes has hope for the future. “It’s worse than it’s ever been,” Holmes said. “But it won’t be this way next year, and it won’t be this bad in January.”

Rachel Moirstaff writer

Signed into law April 20, the Michigan Department of Education developed new high school gradu-ation requirements that will affect this year’s eighth graders.

The new requirements, known as the Michigan Merit Curriculum, include many changes and additions to high school graduation require-ments.

The only current graduation re-quirement set by the State is one se-mester of civics or government.

In order to receive a high school diploma, students will need to com-plete four years of math and English, three years each of science and so-cial studies, and one year of physical education and visual, performing, or applied arts.

The new policy will also allow students to alter requirements, such as the physical education or applied arts requirements, in order to meet special college admissions require-ments. The Department of Educa-tion also plans to add a requirement of two years of a foreign language for the class of 2016.

According to a report released by the Department of Education, these changes have been made because, “many subjects and skills once though optional have become essen-tial for all students to enter college or the workplace.”

The State requirement of visual, performing, or applied arts is good news for band director Gerald Wool-folk. “This requirement gives a bal-ance to our curriculum,” Woolfolk said. “Music and fi ne arts are a part of our everyday lives.”

The Department of Education’s report agrees, saying, “High school students who study the arts earn better grades and scores.”

Counselor Gerry Holmes said, “The increased rigor of the gradu-ation requirements for the class of 2011 and beyond is a positive direc-tion overall.” Holmes said colleges are concerned that more and more high school students are taking re-medial courses in college. “Right now,” Holmes said, “American com-panies are having to hire from out-side the USA for many positions because our own workforce doesn’t meet the standards.”

When the new requirements take effect, the number of open hours for students to take elective classes will shrink, and this leads to concern over how much room will be left for students to take elective classes.

Many options are being consid-ered by the staff and administration, including changing the way the day is set up at the high school. “I think that some of this (concern) can be averted by going to an alternative schedule such as a block schedule to increase the number of options for students,” Holmes said. “A block schedule is being seriously consid-ered by our district, but it will take a few years to implement.”

Credits required for graduation to increaseMichigan Merit Curriculum put in place, more years of core subjects will be needed for graduation

Scott Sarver staff writer

Michigan Merit Exam planned to replace MEAPFree version of the ACT, two core curriculum tests to make up the the new test

“There’s no question, this is going

to be a brutal, mind-numbing

test.”

-Kit Moran,principal

The MEAP is being replaced with the ACT and two other tests covering core curriculum under the name of the MME or Michigan Merit Exam. All juniors will take the MME this year because the state legislature and department of education decided it was an improvement over the MEAP.

“With the MEAP, there was no incentive be-sides the $2,500 scholarship for doing well on it,” Principal William “Kit” Moran said. “With the ACT, it’s much more relevant, since it’s looked at by colleges which gives kids more of a reason to take it.”

Dexter is not alone in this change. “The change is going to be made statewide,” Moran said. “Basically, it was too diffi cult to pay. The state had to administer the MEAP, code the MEAP, grade the MEAP, and it all costs money. Now, the state pays the ACT college board, and they handle it.”

For counselor Gerry Holmes, the change hasn’t meant much extra work. “There wasn’t much diffi culty for us switching over to the MME,” Holmes said. “Seventy percent of Dex-ter students already go on to four year college, and 20 percent go to two year programs, and they all take the ACT, so making everyone take

it isn’t a huge change.”Students, however, have varied opinions

about the switch.“I hate all bubbling and timed tests,” junior

Amanda Atkinson said, “but I liked the money bribe (for the MEAP) and knowing it didn’t af-fect your grade. I guess it was good that they were checking up on us, but the MEAP never seemed all that important.”

Junior Joel Snider, however, said that he was pleased with the change.

“The MEAP wasn’t a good test,” Snider said. “I don’t like being forced to take a test when there was no incentive to me besides making some money. I can make money other ways.”

Snider said that the test is better when it is more helpful for college. “The ACT is needed to get into most colleges,” he said, “and we’ll actu-ally be judged on it, so instead of it benefi tting the school, it benefi ts yourself.”

Moran also said that the change will be more benefi cial.

“The question was, ‘Do colleges even look at this?’ ” Moran said, “and the answer was no. I think now it will give students a boost in confi -dence when their scores get sent to colleges and they get letters back.”

Holmes also said the change is good for stu-dents. “It will encourage more students to go to college who hadn’t thought about it,” she said.

“On the fl ip-side, there are still the 10 percent of students who wouldn’t normally take the test, and that’s my only concern.”

And the new test is harder than the MEAP, Moran said. “There’s no question, this is going to be a brutal, mind-numb-ing test,” Moran said. “But it’s all done to give stu-dents a test that colleges actually care about, and students can still get the scholarship.”

Holmes said that even more money may be avail-able with the MME. “I think Governor Gran-holm is still trying to get it passed,” Holmes said, “but students would be able to get more money on the MME. They would be able to obtain $2,500 for doing well on the ACT or the two other tests, and an additional $1,500 after one year of successful college.”

Unlike the PLAN, the ACT is scored out of 36 as opposed to 32, with a national average of 20.8 in 2002. The test has been tentatively scheduled for March 13 with the two additional tests yet to be scheduled. “All of our plans de-pend on if the state passes the proposal. If not, we go to Plan B,” Moran said with a laugh.

could work some-thing out to get stu-dents learning.”

one with that pre-dicament. English Teacher Ellen Doss, who taught Brit Lit in the past, ended up with Parker’s former Mythology post.

fi gured they’d just

“ It’s worse than it’s ever been this year, but it won’t be this

bad next year.”

-Gerry Holmes, counselor

Ryan Aliapouliosstaff writer

Fast Facts

• The cause of the schedul-ing problems is errors in the master schedule.

• Almost 400 students had an open spot in their schedule at the beginning of the year

• Students in Andrew Park-er’s Mythology class and Ellen Doss’ British Literature class all had to be switched.

• School counselors began working on fi xing schedules before school started

Education project accepts donations

news

BRIEFS

The educational project for home-less youth is accepting donations to supply homeless students in Washt-enaw County with school supplies. The group helps 250 to 300 students in the area. School supplies such as backpacks, binders, notebooks, pens and pencils, scientifi c calculators, scissors, crayons and gift cards for stores where such things are sold (Meijer, Target, Offi ceMax) are all needed. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to the Education Proj-ect for Homeless Youth Offi ce, 1819 S. Wagner Road, P.O. Box 1406, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. For more informa-tion, contact Peri Stone-Palmquist by phone at 994-8100, ext. 1518, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Veteran teacher returns

NHS hosts blood drive

A blood drive, sponsored by the National Honor Society, is happen-ing in the band room all day today. NHS hopes to reach their goal of 50 pints of donated blood. Senior Chantel Jennings said she and the other blood drive chairs have been busy organizing the event, includ-ing signing up donors and obtain-ing food donations from local busi-nesses. “One pint can save three people’s lives,” Jennings said. “It’s a really noble thing to do. You get free food.” Donors must be at least 17 years of age. Appointments can be scheduled in the commons dur-ing all three lunches.

Social studies teacher's father is a well known musician

History teacher and men’s cross country coach Jaime Dudash’s fa-ther appeared on multiple national-ly televised programs this summer. Stephan Dudash is a fi ve-string vio-list who has performed with the likes of Olivia Newton-John and Shania Twain. Recently, he appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The View” backing up David Lee Roth. “It’s pretty exciting to have a parent who is recognized at the highest level,” Jaime said. You can check out Stephan and his 2004 Latin and jazz album entitled “Man-go Django” on his website, stephan-dudash.com.

Kirby Fisher has returned to the Mill Creek staff after retiring in 2003. Fisher spent much of the last few years substituting in Ann Arbor. He was one of the district’s longest employed staff members be-fore retirement as an eighth grade math teacher. He was a teacher for 32 years, 28 of which were in Dex-ter, starting back in 1975. “I guess I felt like coming home,” Fisher said. “I don’t teach anymore. I do what I like best now, and that’s being with kids.” Fisher returns to the staff as paraprofessional.

Dexter is growing and the latest name added to the list of strip mall merchants is now Busch’s, a local grocery favorite. On Sept. 13 the old downtown location was closed and the new location across from Country Market opened the following day.

While a relief for Busch’s fans who have long awaited a larger, more modern store, the fate of the old lo-cation remains a mys-tery.

”I didn’t even know what is was going to be for a while,” senior Justin Fegtly, a Busch’s employee said.

Although the downtown Busch’s often suffered criti-cism concerning its small size and overall appearance, the loca-tion was by no means unpopular.

“I was always digging on the free sam-ples,” senior Dan DeWaele said.

However, the building is slated to be remodeled following Busch’s relocation Busch’s never owned the downtown build-ing, it was leased.

After a Sept. 11 meeting, the Village Council OK’d plans for changing the build-ing into a “town shopping center” with six

separate retail stores totaling to 18,000 square feet, by a 6- 1 vote. For reference, Country Market is 42,000 square feet.

According to Dexter Village President Jim Seta, a new front facade constructed of brick will also be added with more glass windows (38 percent total to be exact, the current building has around 15 percent). Canopies will also be added for the windows.

Construction is scheduled for late Sep-tember or early Oc-tober, but none of the stores had been leased out at the closing date. Rumors of a Stucchi’s have circulated, but the Squall can neither con-fi rm or deny.

Seta also said the new shopping center as well as the new library, set to be constructed next to the Farmer’s Market on Alpine Street, will keep customers and patrons

coming to the downtown area, even with businesses moving to more strip-mall like locations such as Country Market.

And for employees like Fegtly, Busch’s new location is an exciting, but slightly bit-tersweet experience.

“I like the new building,” Fegtly said. “But a part of me will always remain at the old one.”

Asst. principal's absence puzzles many Glynn's departure an enigma, disappointment to a lot of students

This summer Andrea Glynn, former assis-tant principal, unexpectedly left the Dexter High School job for the same position at L’anse Creuse High School in Harrison Township.

Glynn had been a German and social stud-ies teacher for six years in the Dexter district.

She then was promoted to assistant princi-pal full time at the high school, and had served in that capacity for two years.

Her plans changed though when she learned that she would be forced to take the split assis-tant principal position, spending 60 percent of her time at Mill Creek Middle School and 40 percent of her time at Dexter High School.

“She wasn’t wild about it,” Principal Kit Mo-ran said. “I think her real passion is working with high school students.”

Glynn said leaving Dexter High School was diffi cult but something she felt she needed to do.

“I wanted to grow, and this was a better op-portunity for me to do that,” she said.

Glynn said she’s happy at L’anse Creuse but misses Dexter High School students very much.

At L’anse Creuse she said she does more pa-per work than watching the halls.

Many students were surprised and sad-dened when they learned Glynn was not com-ing back to Dexter High School.

”I was really bummed,” senior student school board representative Ali Warr said.

“I really loved that woman. She was so sweet, you could really tell she cared about her students.”

Warr’s mom, Charlene, a substitute secretary at DHS also misses Glynn.

“To me Ms. Glynn was very thoughtful, very kind, and very encouraging to ev-eryone,” Charlene said.

“I was really sad because you could tell she was there for the kids, and she would do whatever it took to see the kids succeed.”

Science teacher and stu-dent council adviser Jes-sica Kreeger said that she wished Glynn hadn’t left, she understands why she made the choice to do so.

”I’m really sad to see her go,” Kreeger said, “but I think it was a positive thing career-wise. It’s sad, but you just have to be happy for her. Students who haven’t met her are going to miss

out on not knowing her.”Senior Kelsey Dubay said she will always

remember Glynn for how she helped mediate between students and last year’s Interim Prin-cipal Jim Bannan.

“She related to what students were going through,” Dubay said.

“She’s also way nicer than Mr. Bannan.”Superintendent Ev-

elynn Shirk said she did not want to comment on why Glynn was forced to change positions or why she left, saying, “If you want to know why Ms. Glynn left, you really need to ask her.”

Glynn, however, re-fused further comment, saying, “I don’t want to get into this whole thing. I want to leave with some dignity.”

But for whatever reason she left, many students and staff say they will miss her.

“She had a wonderful rapport and when the students had problems they could go to her,” science teacher Cheryl Wells said. “I think she will be greatly missed.”

• Former assistant principal Andrea Glynn

Busch’s moves to new locationChange affects community members as well as students

elynn Shirk said she did not want to comment on why Glynn was forced to change positions or why she left, saying, “If you want to know why Ms. Glynn left, you really need to ask her.”

fused further comment, saying, “I don’t want to get into this whole thing. I want to leave with some dignity.”

“ You could tell she was there for the

kids, and she would do whatever it took

to see the kids succeed.”

-Charlene Warr, substitute secretary

stores had been leased out at the closing date. Rumors of a Stucchi’s have circulated, but the Squall can neither con-fi rm or deny.

shopping center as well as the new library, set to be constructed next to the Farmer’s Market on Alpine Street, will keep customers and patrons

“ I like the new building, but a part

of me will always remain at the old

one.”

-Justin Fegtly,senior

The New Old Busch’s

IDEAS FOR THE OLD BUSCH’S

Zap ZoneJa Rule shrine (that one guy who sang “Livin’ it up,” you know)Correctional institute for freshmenWorld’s smallest Sam’s ClubStrip Mall (mall of strip clubs)ATL roller rink

••

•

•

•

•

Lisa Ritchiestaff writer

Rawlin Myersstaff writer

The Road from Old to New:

Looking ahead: The former Busch’s building and sur-rouding area will be made into a strip mall.

33The SquallFriday, September 29, 2006

news

Broad St.

Dex

ter-

Ann

Arbo

r Rd

.

Bake

r Rd.

Central St.

Dover St.

Edison St.

Kensington St.

Inverness St.

Dan Hoey Rd. Ryan Dr.

Grand St.

From the mind of Rawlin Myers


feature

theDreadnaughtDiscovering

Hunter Lyonsstaff writer

Usually junior Phil Huddleston would be known for his work on the soccer fi eld or his performance in the classroom, but in the last few weeks he’s been know for the boy that , well, doesn’t look like a boy. He has been mistaken for a teacher, a parent and even a lumber jack.

His beard, or “The Beard” as it’s commonly re-ferred to, has become the phenomenon of not only the soccer team but the whole school.

“I’d do him,” senior James Nati said. “It adds mas-culinity.”

As hard as it maybe to believe, Huddleston was not always the grizzly looking fellow he is today.

He spent fi ve years of his childhood in Germany while his dad worked for Ford.

“It was different,” Huddleston said. “I liked it, but it was just different.”

Even though it was tough moving back in sixth grade, one thing did give him comfort.

“I met (junior) Ryan (Aliapoulios) when I was liv-ing in Germany,” recalls Huddleston. “He moved here two years after I did.”

Huddleston, whose hobbies include listening to Ben Folds, said that he wanted to help Aliapoulios out when he got here because he knows how hard it can be.

“It’s hard moving anywhere, let alone another country,” he said. But as Huddleston moved here, he found a common interest with many kids from Dexter. Soccer.

He was the only freshmen to make varsity and has been with this

group of guys for two and three years. That has translated into chemistry that some believe is the reason this sea-

son has been so special.“The team is doing well this year,” Huddleston said. “Playing well always

makes it more fun.” But some believe that the winning doesn’t just have to

do with hard work and the dedication that the team put in over the summer.

The team decided that this year they wouldn’t shave until they lost a game, and since it’s recent success, Hud-dleston has grown quite a stache.

“I love it.” senior Andrew Martin said. “Phil is one of the few people in the school that can ac-

tually grow a beard so its nice to see.” And though most like the beard, some are curious

about it. Junior Thomas Endler, for example, has questions

about the beard, “I wanna know what he’s hiding in that beard,” Endler said. “It’s a true mystery.”

According to Huddleston though, “I can’t say what I’m hiding. It will be revealed at a later date.” But since the Dreads crushing loss to Ann Arbor Pio-neer, the beard is now gone, and student have show their disapproval.

“He’s not as sexy,” senior Margot Parin said. “When I see him now, it looks like a part of him is missing.”

And though the beard is now gone, Parin said she will never forget it. “Phil brought sexy back, and now it’s gone,” she said, “but no one will ever forget the month of the beard.”

do with hard work and the dedication that the team put in over the summer.

until they lost a game, and since it’s recent success, Hud-dleston has grown quite a stache.

tually grow a beard so its nice to see.”

about it.

about the beard, “I wanna know what he’s hiding in that

“ He’s not as sexy. When I see him now it looks like a part of

him is missing.”

-Margot Parinsenior

Phil Huddleston, Junior

cookie dough

Mountain Dew

B------ ain’t s--- by Ben Folds

Family Guy

Anything Mary Kate and Ashley

98 Escort

Favorite Ice Cream:

Favorite Drink:

Favorite Song:

Favorite TV Show:

Favorite Movie:

Favorite Car:

By:

Whether its the journey or the destination, students en-joy vacations. On trips during Winter Holiday, Spring Break and Summer Vacation, a lot of students head to Florida or maybe the Upper Peninsula.

But there are students who break the mold of the typical trips and go on alternative va-cations.

Junior Brittany Gilbert is one of these students who made an American adventure in South Dakota at Mount Rushmore, an American Me-morial that depicts the faces of former Presidents Wash-ington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Lincoln.

“I was like, dang, those are big rock faces,” Gilbert said. Indeed they are big at 60 to 70 feet high per head, carved out of the Black Hills from a height of 500 feet.

Although visiting giant granite carvings of long dead

presidents may be fascinating, a tropical experience was nice for Junior Kelsey Lau.

Lau had a tropical experi-ence on the Hawaiian Islands. “I went because the post cards were cool, and it is a part of America you don’t see,” Lau said about her cruise around the islands.

“Hawaii was beautiful. The people were nice and really talkative. I’d want people to go to Hawaii because it is a part of America that is neglected.” Lau said.

For those who don’t have the courage to spend their va-cation on a series of volcanic islands, there is always an en-joyable desert excursion.

Junior Sophie Ritsma en-joyed her desert excursion in Kenya and Egypt.

“There were guys walking around with camels to rent,” Ritsma said. “We rode camels to a village where we blew up balloons for the kids, Africa was an important vacation because it was my fi rst time

out of the U.S. It was cool to see the culture and the ani-mals there.”

“Taking a vacation for stu-dents is important because you get out of the rat race.” Gilbert said.

From an American adven-ture to Mount Rushmore, a tropical experience to Hawaii, and a desert excursion to Af-rica, theses students broke the norm vacations and had enjoy-able times in enlightenly usual places.


feature

The unusual death of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin brings up the question: how many celebri-ties have died in obscure ways? It turns out quite a few. Some have had either horrible luck or just lack of intelligence. Here are the top 10 freak ce-lebrity deaths.

1. Sherwood Anderson (writer), 1941: Of course no students have heard of this man, but back in the day he was a top notch writer. Unfor-tunately for Anderson; he was not able to distin-guish between food and inanimate objects. He swallowed a toothpick at a cocktail party which resulted in peritonitis, a life-threatening infec-tion of the abdomen.

2. Al Capone (mobster), 1947: And how did Capone die? Gunned down? In jail? Oh no, he died of syphilis. Way to have unprotected sex, Ca-pone. Karma’s a bitch.

3. Owen Hart (WWF wrestler), 1999: First, wrestling is completely fake. So there was

his number one mistake. Then Hart decided to lower himself by a cable into the arena. The rope snapped, and he fell 70 feet to his death. Appar-ently he’d been slammed on his head too many times, resulting in a lack of brain cells to realize that his spectacular entry was not a good idea.

4. Isadora Duncan (Actress), 1927: Again someone the student body has never heard of but her death is interesting. She was strangled by her scarf when it got caught in a car wheel. Exactly how long was that scarf?

5. Pope Johann XII, 963: He was beaten to death by the husband of a woman he was having an affair with. Ironic and funny. Laugh. You know you want to.

6. Keith Relf (Musician, The Yardbirds), 1976: Relf took the sex, drugs, rock and roll thing a little too far because I’m going to assume that he was wasted when he decided to play his electric guitar in the bath tub.

7. Karl Wallenda (aerialist), 1978: At 73 he fell from a high wire he was walking across in

between two buildings. Why would you walk on a high wire at 73? Seventy-three year olds can barely walk. He was egging death on.

8. Salvatore “Sonny” Bono (singer), 1998: Although he was a beloved singer and per-former, he was not endowed with skiing skills. Bono crashed into a tree on a run. Usually you try to avoid those. Maybe if you’re falling, you should throw yourself the opposite way of the tree’s loca-tion. Just a thought.

9. Michael Findlay (horror fi lm direc-tor), 1977: In horror movies the characters are killed in the most abnormal ways like a helicop-ter decapitating them. This time it was the direc-tor who was actually decapitated by a helicopter blade. Oh, the irony.

10. James Dean (actor), 1955: Dean’s fl ashy life was cut short when he hit an oncoming car af-ter passing a truck going 100 mph in his Porsche Spyder without a seat belt on. Good actor. But stupid. If only he lived he could’ve acted in those “Buckle up, it’s the law” commercials. If only.

Weaving through the halls with her bag in tow, junior Marcia Grace heads for her next class. But rather than a traditional shoulder backpack, Grace wheels her books in a wheeled backpack.

These bags, which look much like a roll-ing suitcase, are becoming increasingly popu-lar among students with lots of books to lug around.

Grace said she uses the rolling bag as a means for more leisurely transporting her books. “I’m lazy, so it’s a lot easier to just drag everything behind me then to have to pick up a big, heavy bag every time I want to go some-where,” she said.

However, it’s not always peaches and cream rolling down the hall.

“People sometimes kick (the bag) over or stick their foot under the wheels so it fl ips,” she said. “I just try to ignore them because it’s not worth getting worked up over.”

And sometimes the nuisance is self-infl ict-

ed. “I’m really clumsy so sometimes I trip on it or kick it over. I’m not really sure how I kick something that’s behind me, but I do.”

For Grace, the conversion from a traditional style backpack or a shoulder tote bag began at the start of last year. “I fi rst switched to the roll-ing bag last year,” she said. “One of my friends had one, and she kept tell-ing me how much easier it was to get around school, so I started using one.”

Despite Grace’s high praise of these wheeled sacks, not everyone is so complimentary.

“I hate those bags,” senior Nick Field said. “They get in my way and roll over my toes.”

Field even imagines lashing out on the bags.

“Whenever I see one of them I just wanna rip off the wheels and chuck them down the hall.”

Despite Field’s hatred for the rolling bags, it’s proven that an overweight traditional

style backpack can be detrimental to students health. “The younger you are, the more risk an overweight back poses,” Dr. Alan Boyce, a local chiropractor said.

“A high school student who weighs 150 pounds should only carry a bag weighing at most 45 pounds, and if the child is younger then

the ration should decrease.”“Carrying an overweight

bag can cause stress to your spine, hip sockets and ab-dominals,” Boyle said.

“Although a rolling lug-gage style bag is an improve-ment, kids still have to pick up the bag to carry it on the bus or walking down bumpy roads.”

As Grace reaches her des-tined point, she parks her bag next to her, handle raised,

ready and waiting to continue on her journey, liberating herself and others from the tyrant back aching grasps of the traditional backpack.

Weird celebrity deaths of the past10 celebrity deaths hit Hollywood in both freakish and mysterious waysKelsey Shultzentertainment editor

Q: If you had to eat any Pokemon alive, whom would it be?A: Well, I don’t any of them, and I don’t eat what I don’t know.

Q: I have a titanium box in my car, the contents of which you can never know. Does that make you angry?A: No.

Q: How high can you jump?A: (spreads his arms, like he’s caught a fi sh “this big” and says nothing)

Q: What does Marsellus Wallace look like?A: An Alabama death row inmate?

Q: You know what I’ve always wanted to do?A: What?

Q: Moving on, where in the world is Carmen San Diego?A: On a beach chilling with Matt Lau-er.

Q: Can you eat six saltine crackers in one minute?A: That’s not physiologically or hu-manly possible.

Q: Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?A: Charlie.

Q: Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right. Am I stuck in the middle with you?A: I’m not a joker or a smoker or any of the other things along those lines.

Q: Did you ever watch “Fraggle Rock”?A: Oh yeah. I did partake in Jim Hen-son’s underground puppet show on HBO or whatever it was on.

Q: Dragonforce? Yay or nay?A: If it’s related to Dragon Ball Z, then OK.

Q: Finally, the plague. Deadly dis-ease or fatal virus?A: Population reduction strategy.

With social studies teacher Jaime Dudash

&QA

Backpacks with wheels hit the hallsAustin Shapiromanaging editor

Summer trips give students good memoriesStudents find a wild summer adventure in islands, mountains, deserts

Saddle up: Junior Sophie Ritsema prepares to ride a camel while visiting Africa this summer. Ritsema also travelled to Egypt as part of this trip.

“ I went beacuse the post cards were

cool, and it’s a part of America you

don’t see.”

-Kelsey Lau, junior

bag can cause stress to your spine, hip sockets and ab-dominals,” Boyle said.

gage style bag is an improve-ment, kids still have to pick up the bag to carry it on the bus or walking down bumpy roads.”

tined point, she parks her bag next to her, handle raised,

“ They get in my way and roll over

my toes.”

-Nick Field, senior

Heather Sillerstaff writer

By: Scott CambellPhoto courtesy of Sophie Ritsema


entertainment

Four DVD's that you should ownSean Wallace

staff writer

“Heroes” on NBC•

“Jericho” on CBS•

“Ugly Betty” on ABC•

“Studio 60" on NBC •

Take a scoop of drama, borrow some “Lost” fl avoring, add sprinkles of “X-Men”, and you might end up with “Heroes”, the new NBC drama that gives ordinary peo-ple extraordinary powers. Sound familiar? Don’t worry, the “Heroes” gang seem to be more focused on why they can do these things and stopping some unspecifi ed threat than donning tights and battling villains with similar fashion sense.Premiered Monday, Sept. 25 at 9 p.m.

“Jericho” takes the same concept of isolation that characterizes “Lost” and give it a different twist. Instead of being on an island, the show’s cast is stuck in a Kansas town. They’re alone after witnessing multiple H-bombs pepper Ameri-can landscape. Wondering if they’re the only people still alive, they begin to experience the all the expected paranoia and drama.Premiered Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m.

Did you go to see “The Devil Wears Prada”? This comedy takes the movie’s concept and runs. The title character is an unfashionable girl who works at a fashion magazine. Betty apparently gets the job because she’s the only girl her new boss won’t sleep with right away. Being a standard “player,” he has issues accepting her, but eventually she wins him over.Premiered Thursday, Sept. 28 at 8 p.m.

“Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”: It’s a TV show about a TV show. “Studio 60” doesn’t hide the fact that said television show is “Saturday Night Live” under a different name. The show “Studio 60” is getting stale. The studio brings in two miscreant directors to revive it. Brought to you by some of the guys who did “The West Wing,” look for drama and,we can hope,hilarityPremiered Monday, Sept. 18 at 10 p.m.

New Laguna Beach season debuts

In a small beach side town south of Los Angeles sits Laguna Beach, an upscale resi-dential area where, thanks to MTV, there seems to be constant drama between the high school students in the town.

Premiering in 2004, “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County” fol-lowed the lives of teen-agers living in this town. The show was full of back stabbing, drama and plenty of hookups: all the ingredients necessary for a hit reality show.

Since “Lagunaʼs” pre-mier, it has gained a huge following and also set up three new seasons.

Each year the show introduces a new class of seniors as well as keeping track of those

who move on to college. Unlike the FOX series “The O.C.”, “Laguna Beach” doesnʼt have to introduce new characters or create unforeseeable plot twists to stay fresh be-cause the characters make their own stories.

“They have these glamorous lives that make Dexter look lame,” senior Heather Bradshaw said about why she fi nds the west

coast so riveting.Many other Dexter

students also feel like they can relate to some of the characters on the show.

Senior Colin McAweeney, for in-stance, said, “I think Iʼm most like Tray, be-cause I have good style, but people say I look like Cameron from Season 3.”

Many of the commercials aired during the show are directed towards women, so should

men be watching this show? “Itʼs OK as long as girls are present (while watching),” McAweeney said.

After the fi rst season of “Laguna” came Season 2 and then “The Hills”, which fol-lowed the showʼs original star Lauren/L.C. as she entered fashion school in Los Ange-les. The latest season (Season 3) is just a few episodes in and already has rival cliques and cheating between couples.

However, there are some people who dis-like the idea of watching other high school studentʼs lives on TV. “All the kids on the show are too rich and spoiled,” senior Alex Taheri said.

Carl Burhop, also a senior, is annoyed by the show too. “Iʼm the only person that seems to notice itʼs all just a fake, animated show,” he said, “All the plot lines are based off every teen drama ever written.”

There are still many loyal fans though, McAweeney among them. He said, “Laguna isnʼt for everyone, but people watch it to see how the better life lives.”

Josh Ballstaff writer

Rachel Moirstaff writer

students also feel like they can relate to some of the characters on the show.

McAweeney, for in-stance, said, “I think Iʼm most like Tray, be-cause I have good style, but people say I look like Cameron from Season 3.”

“ They have these glamourous lives that make Dexter

look lame. “

Heather Bradshaw ,senior

Laguna Beach facts

The new season is narrated by Tessa.

It has all new characters.

Season four has already be-gun fi lming.

•

•

•

Women’s BasketballFreshman: 5:30 @

CreeksideJV: 5:30 @ DHS

Varsity: 7:30 @ DHS

Tuesdays and Thursdays

“Groundhog Day”. Director: Harold Ramisa. They have yet to come out with a good DVD of this movie, but it’s so good it doesn’t matter if there are special features or not. Seriously, you should watch this movie at least once a year. This was Bill Murray’s heyday. Bill Mur-ray is now doing movies like “Life Aquatic”, “Lost in Translation” and “Dead Flowers”. The world took a loss in its comedic movie vaults when Bill Murray went to do weird movies that aren’t even that good (except for “Life Aquatic”, but that’s a comedy). If you need a refresher course on classic comedy, buy this DVD as soon as you fi nish reading this.

The Features: None really, except for the insane amount of replay value this movie gives you.

“Sin City” (new version) Directors: Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez,

Quentin Tarantino Wow, if you haven’t already seen this movie, then you’re

probably living in Malaysia. This movie is amazingly entertaining. If you

want to see Hobbit-turned-murdering psycho or Jessica Alba in general, buy

it. If you don’t know, the movie is in black and white, but it has selective color

in each scene. This allows the viewer to fully appreciate the color that he is

allowed to see. This fi lm actually has a story line and can keep your interest

for more than fi ve minutes, unlike some movies. Most new movies try to use

cheap, fast-paced camera angles that force you to be confused as to what’s

going on.

The Features: With the new DVD, you get features like two full-feature

Commentaries, the individual stories uninterrupted, extended edition of the

fi lm and a crap load of behind-the-scenes nonsense. Get it. Bruce Willis says

so.

“Robot Chicken”. Directors: Douglas Goldstein and Seth Green. Oh, Seth Green. How

people have underestimated your ways to make the public laugh. From a not-so-evil

genius to an evil genius, you have grown in to your actor wings and have soared. Sure,

you had a sitcom that didn’t go over so well. Who hasn’t? You had a couple movies that

were only mediocre. So what? If that’s what it takes to make the inner-workings of

“Robot Chicken” work like it does, then so be it. The show’s sketches are so fast-paced

sometimes you will not remember why you were laughing. Your gut will hurt, but you

will never be able to tell why. That’s why, when you buy the DVD after you read this,

you can re-watch every episode. Immerse yourself in the depths of comedy in this

action-fi gure, stop-motion series on cartoon network’s Adult Swim. The best thing

about this DVD is the show itself featuring voices from the folks at “Family Guy” and

Seth Green himself.

“Lost”. Directors: J.J. Abrams, Jeffery Lindelof, Damon Lindelof. It’s gonna set you back a little, but come on. Look, I know some of you don’t like “Lost”. Well, certain people say you do. No, they seriously mean it. Prove them wrong after watching the 24 episodes (or at least the fi rst few episodes in order). Not only are the episodes 41 minutes long on average, but they have one of the big-gest bonus discs for a TV show ever. Not to mention Lost Season Two. They’ve got even more. People are always saying, “Oh, ‘Lost’, yeah. I watched that. I saw a couple episodes, and it didn’t really make any sense. It was weird.” This conversation happened centuries ago. “Oh, a ‘Tale of Two Cities’. Yeah, I read chapter 12 and 22, but it didn’t really make any sense. It was weird.” Try watch-ing the show in order, you may just enjoy it.

Some of the features: Four Commentaries, The Genesis of Lost, Before They Were Lost: personal stories and audition tapes, Welcome to Oahu: The Making of the Pilot, Lost: On Location, On Set with Jimmy Kimmel, Backstage with Driveshaft, 13 deleted scenes, and bloopers from the set.

New shows to look forward to this fall

will be a monthly install-ment to The Squall. The Trickle could be just about anything: a picture, a fun fact or a little story. This issue, put the following puzzle together. Good luck.

will be a

THE TRICKLE

Fall sports


sportsDexter graduates participate in college sports

Hard work, emotion, heart and skill push Dexter graduates Jenny Cowen and Jeff Ziegler, to succeed in college sports.

What used to come easily, playing time and respect, is now something that has to be proven to their new teammates each and every day.

When Cowen and Ziegler headed off to school in the beginning of August, their emotions ran high, anticipat-ing what to expect from their upcoming seasons.

Once settling into their new home, after only a few days of rest, their preseason conditioning began. Both said the conditioning was much harder than in high school sports.

“The conditioning is more serious than in high school,” Cowen said. “You make it as hard as you want it to be.”

Z i e g l e r agrees, add-ing that all the hard work is worth it in the end to run out on the fi eld and be part of such an amazing team.

A l t h o u g h Ziegler and Cowen are still trying to prove t h e m s e l v e s ,

they said they have had great experiences with their college teammates on personal levels.

“They were all very welcoming and made me feel comfortable right from the start,” Cowen said.

She also says playing with most of the team over the summer made her very confi dent going into the whole situation as well.

And Ziegler likes his new teammates too. “The team was a lot of fun,” he said.

All the time they spent together on and off the fi eld made him more comfortable and also gave him a chance to know the players on a more personal basis.

Both said the biggest difference between high school and college sports is the speed at which the game is played.

Having to think faster, be physically quicker, and an-ticipating constantly takes time for new college athletes to get used to.

Cowen said it’s a big struggle and can be what makes or breaks them.

Although this is a completely new level of play, both athletes are working their hardest to stay right up there with the best.

Cowen also said the strength difference is huge be-tween high school and college.

Going from being a senior in high school, and being a very strong player, to a freshman in college with girls who are stronger than he is diffi cult.

The freedom, to fail or to succeed, lies within their own hands.

Although both said that the freedom given to them in college is their favorite thing, this is also what could al-low them to become one of the best or fall below.

Also, they both explained that when you are in col-lege, you are on a team where everyone is good.

You have no room to slack off and not be on top of things all the time.

One mistake could cost a player that starting position he/she have been working for all year.

The coach won’t hesitate to fi ll your position with someone else striving for it who is just as good.

“I will just keep working hard all year,” Cowen said.

Caitlin Henderson staff writer

Mens soccer ranked third in state pollSenior captains James Nati, Robert Kuzon, CJ Burhop, Kriss Petrovskis lead the way

Nothing prepares an athlete more for the 80 minute grind of a soccer game than running up and down sand dunes at Waloon Lake at team camp.

“Team camp is a good way to bond with the new players,” junior Mike Silvasi said.

Dexter is ranked third in the state for Division Two as of Sept. 18.

According to Silvasi, the chemis-try is great this year, mostly because of team camp.

During the summer the varsity team goes to Waloon Lake to prac-tice soccer and get started before the season.

According to coach Scott For-ester, this year’s pre-season was cut back to only a week long.

They lost three seniors due to graduation last year, two of which

were starters. The team was very young last

year, with only three seniors and mostly sophomores and juniors.

According to Forester, the se-niors are step-ping up and the juniors are getting more experience and talent.

After beat-ing cross town rival, Chelsea, and a strong Huron team, the team played against Pioneer, at home, Losing 1-0. Last year Dexter tied the Pioneers in a close game.

The Dexter team went as far as the regional semi fi nals last year.

But most of the team was un-derclassmen and inexperienced last year, according to sophomore Ryan Lemasters.

Senior cap-tain James Nati agrees, “It is easier for our team to score this year and our offense has improved,” he said.

Silvasi add-ed, “We are well rounded and we have a deep bench this year.”

According to Lemasters, the only weakness

they have showed so far are the penalties for over the back and being a little too rough.

Forester said another drawback

is the team only has 16 players who are eligible, when most of their op-ponents have up to 20.

“Our biggest challenge for the season to come is to keep the players healthy.” Forester said.

Silvasi said, “If we beat Pioneer and then get a win against Saline, we would have a good chance to be number one in division two.” Both Saline and Pioneer are in Division One.

After playing at home against Pi-oneer on the 19th, the next game for the team is at Saline.

This year they fi nish off the sea-son with Lincoln on Oct. 12.

But before getting to Lincoln, they have to play Greenhills and Chelsea, both away, within two weeks.

Working together, the team has only lost one game so far and say their future is looking bright.

Lemasters said, “We have great chemistry this year and our team is very dedicated in season and out.”

Brent Musestaff writer

tain James Nati agrees, “It is easier for our team to score this year and our offense has improved,” he said.

ed, “We are well rounded and we have a deep bench this year.”

Lemasters, the only weakness

they have showed

Buy a 2006-2007 yearbook

in room 407

Women’s cross country• Last year’s record- 8-2 (Ranked seventh in Division 2)• Key returning players- Jesse Vick-ers (Sr.), Ellen Riehle (Jr.), •Melany Mioduszewski (Sr.)• Fun fact- New coach Kate Jazwinski ran cross country for the University of Michigan and in 2000 was named U of M women’s varsity athlete of the year.

Women’s swimming• Last year’s record- 13-2 (Fin-ished second at state meet)• Key returning players- Adri-enne Woods (Sr.), Ally Daily (Sr.), Jessie Boren (Jr.)• Fun fact- The team picks a theme to dress up for on the day of every meet.

Men’s golf• Last year’s record- 18-0 (Lost in regionals)• Key returning players- Brent Muse (So.), Don Knight (Jr.), Hunter Lyons (Jr.)• Fun fact- The whole varsity team sings in the team van prior to every match. Junior Don Knight generally leads the song.

• They like to show each other their junk at practice• Ranked third in Division Two• They use the term “sexual deviancy” a lot• James Nati keeps a red paint ball in his boxers on game day for good luck

Source: interviews with team members

Mens Soccer Facts

Women’s tennis• Last year’s record- 6-4 (Lost in re-gionals)• Key returning players- Krystyna Taheri (Jr.), Rosie Lee (Sr.), Lauren Spears (Sr.)• Fun fact- Claude Wilcox is the new varsity coach after 13 years with Wendy Holmes at the helm.

Men’s water polo• Last year’s record- 4-6 without tournaments (Lost in Regionals)• Key Returning Players- Kirk Kumb-ier (Sr.), Karl Kumbier (So.), Robert Spiegel (So.) • Fun fact- To get psyched before the game, team members bring in speak-ers and crank out loud music.

Women’s basketball• Last year’s record- 12-10 (Lost in district fi nal)• Key returning players- Chantel Jennings (Sr.), Heather Bradshaw (Sr.), Adie Heyne (Sr.)• Fun fact- Prior to last year, their fi rst in Class A, the team had won four district titles in a row.

Equestrian• Last year’s record- 2nd, 2nd, 1st (placing in meets)• Key returning players- Becca Koch (Jr.) Kayla Foster (Jr.), Shannon Powers (Jr.)• Fun fact- All of the team’s meets are held at the Wayne County Fair-grounds.

The football team lines up against the Lincoln Railsplitters. The Dread-naughts won 26-2.

Junior Brittney Batell winds upat tennis practice. Batellplays singles.

Junior Celia Kuzon dribbles down the court as point guard. Kuzon scored four points against Pioneer.

Photo by Ryan WinchesterPhoto by Rachel Moir

Photo by Rachel Moir

agrees, add-ing that all the hard work is worth it in the end to run out on the fi eld and be part of such an amazing team.

Ziegler and Cowen are still trying to prove t h e m s e l v e s ,

“ I will just keep working hard all

year.”

- Jenny Cowen, freshman at Hope

College

Eve destroyed paradise for Adam. Julia Rob-erts removed prestige from the phrase, “And the Academy Award goes to . . .” Johnny Cochran ru-ined things for citizens of the free world who enjoy seeing murderers go to jail. And now, fat people are ruining things for me.

I ventured down to the cafeteria on the fi rst full day of school, unaware of the grisly fate that lay ahead of me.

I started off by heading through the general lunch line, careful to avoid eating the hot mess I saw lying atop the scoop full of rice. (I believe it was called, “stir fry”?)

I opted to grab a slice of pizza instead. I paid for my food and headed for the snack bar in order to purchase a beverage and other delectable lil’ treats.

“And what would you like to drink?” said the lunch lady with a forced smile.

“Gimme all yo’ Coke, bish!” I replied, in my usual fashion.

“Is it OK if it’s diet?” she unassumingly asked.

“Hell to the no!” I replied, foaming at the mouth.

Instead, I chose the healthy alternative of Ari-zona Iced Tea, a caffeinated beverage with 210 calories.

The federal government made a genius move by eliminating regular pop from school. A 20 ounce cup of Coke has nearly 350 calories in it! Those extra 140 calories are undoubtedly the difference between morbid obesity and cheerful health.

I accepted my Coke-less fate, ordered two cook-ies, a Rice Krispie Treat, and Pop Tarts (all very healthy foods; kudos on keeping these, whoever made that logical executive decision) and went to eat my lunch.

As the day progressed, I discussed this edible dilemma with lovers and friends.

How is it that we, healthy and relatively skinny people, can be punished for other’s lack of self-control?

We live in a society where we are taught to be

accountable for our own actions. However, by il-legalizing “Super-Sizing” and holding food manu-facturers responsible for the country’s abundance of tub, what message are we really sending?

The federal government struck a deal with soda companies to illegalize the sale of non-diet bever-ages in school.

This deal was made after soda companies ex-pressed their concern over being sued by fat peo-ple.

Yes, there are people worthless enough in our great country to consume mass amounts of calo-ries until they (shockingly) become an amorphous blob and then sue the respective companies that contributed to their morbid obesity.

That’s akin to a heroin addict suing his dealer after an overdose.

Obesity may technically be referred to as a disease by “doc-tors,” but they are hideously wrong.

A disease is not a choice, nor is it the result of ex-cessive Hostess Cup-cake consumption.

Fighting our country’s weight epidemic should not be a matter of national con-

cern. It should be up to individu-als.

It is inappropriate to restrict everyone from the ephemeral pleasures of junk food and pop be-cause of other people’s life decision to eat like a homeless orphan at Old Country Buffet whenever they please.

Our country’s mantra has changed from “The Land of the Free” to “The Land of the Free to Blame Others for our Own Problems.”

The whole of Dexter High School owes the fed-eral government a collective showing of gratitude for their pop-intake decision.

Thank you for removing the looming cloud of doom the threat of obesity has put over my life for the past 17 years. The threat of cancer from diet pop should add an extra spring to my step.

I don’t know about everyone else, but I think our national plan for security is severely fl awed.

Sure, the American executive branch has tightened security in airports and has started to tap our phones and fi gure out what we are look-ing at on the Internet, but in reality I don’t think it would be hard to get around all that.

First of all, this whole “red fl agging” names thing is stupid. The concept of marking names as suspected terrorists just seems very unintel-ligent.

For example, Andrew Martin, which happens to be the name of a senior here, is a red fl agged name.

A 6 foot, 140 pound red head with millions of freckles is stopped trying to get on a plane be-cause his name is fl agged.

I don’t know, but I didn’t really think the Al Queda was really doing so much overseas recruit-ing.

But the government isn’t really that intelli-gent, and it is not so diffi cult to deceive them by looking more American.

So I have a few tips to try to look more Ameri-can or, at the least, less deviant and get yourself through the screening process.

One, remove all facial hair. Saddam, Osama, Fidel, Stalin and Hitler all had facial hair. These

are most likely the fi ve most infamous anti-Americans.

To George W. that means if you have facial hair, you are also a threat to national security.

The concept seems stupid but so is George Bush. So just clean it up a little. You can keep the burns though.

Change your name. I am fairly sure that this is how screeners choose their “random” search victims at the airport.

So with a nice American name, The Department of Homeland Security would never know what hit them.

Chris is a pretty good one, or Paul maybe. Try to stay clear of the Muhammads or Sharooqs.

That is a dead give away. Obviously there is no way that somebody could have those names and not be a terrorist. Right?

If you change your name, then the chances of having to go through that device that blows air on you de-creases by over 75%.

Third. Stay inside for a couple weeks. The lighter your skin, the better.

In fact, you might even want to go Michael

Jackson on yourself, minus the creepy nose and child molesting and stuff.

If you can just get your skin a few shades light-er, that would be great.

The downside is you might have to dye your hair because like I said, the lighter the better, and with the lack of sunlight your hair is bound to darken up a little bit.

Finally, try wearing some pro-America cloth-ing like a red and white tie-dye shirt with a big Eagle in the middle of it, or “God bless America” or some-thing.

Try to have pictures on your shirt representing your patriotism.

That way, if the words are too complicated for President Bush he will still get the idea.

In no way am I support-ing terrorism, I just think that the American govern-ment can think of a more

effi cient way to weed the terrorists out of the crowd.

But if you happen to be a terrorist reading this, I am just kidding. I like you just the way you are.


columns

referred to as a disease by “doc-tors,” but they are hideously wrong.

nor is it the result of ex-cessive Hostess Cup-cake consumption.

country’s weight epidemic should not be a matter of national con-

“ A disease is not a choice, nor is it the result of excessive

Hostess Cupcake consumption.”

Gary Brolsma sucks.You might not know him by name, but I’m sure you’d

recognize him if you saw him waddling down the street. He’s the fellow from the “Numa Numa” video on You-Tube, sitting in his rollie chair, headphones, glasses and chin bouncing in unison along with O-ZONE’s dance-fest “Dragostea din Tei”.

It was my understanding that he was ashamed of himself following the release of his amateur-quality web cam video featuring dance moves that, thankfully, hid the majority of his mass.

But apparently not. Floating around the Internet is a brand new Numa video, now set to a pseudo-remix of the original song. Something is lost in the process, how-ever. This one loses all the charm and novelty of the fi rst. It begins with the telephone ringing. He sits up, getting in his workout for the afternoon at the same time, and answers.

“Alo?” he asks, referencing the original song’s open-ing lyric. On the line is a woman, roughly 28, ecstatic that she is talking to the Numa Numa guy.

“Could you please do another Numa video?” she screams in a banshee-esque fashion.

He pauses for a moment, his sub par acting shining now, and responds, in a vaguely contemplative manner, “Another Numa video. . .”

A thought bubble promptly appears above his head. In it, Brolsman and three friends of his, none of whom look older than 15, dance like idiots. I’ll spare you the details of the other three and a half minutes of bad lip-synch-ing, stupid dance sequences and boring camera angles.

Instead, let’s delve into the thought process behind this video, which ranks just above “Matrix: Re-loaded” on the list of all-time crappy sequels.

Clearly, the only reasoning behind a travesty on this level is that Brolsma is an attention-craving harlot, de-void of any self-confi dence or motivation to do some-thing to contribute to society in any way save for Inter-net movies to satisfy those with low standards for humor and even lower standards for how to use their time.

Now I can understand people making stupid videos with their friends to get “kicks” or “thrills” or whatever

else kids call it these days. But there are rules to be followed. You can’t make a movie,

upload it and hope to attain recogni-tion and popularity on the level of the Star Wars Kid.

The reason the original Numa video was such an Internet hit was

because it was simple. Just a fat dude dancing to Romanian techno. This

newer one is trying too hard to repeat the ap-peal of the fi rst, which was appealing only in that

we could come together as a single people and laugh at him.

That is the point of these viral videos. To laugh at other’s humiliation, pain, personal health choices, em-barrassment, or just the subject in the video getting gen-erally owned. The nine second clip of a woman punching her daughter’s teacher in the face is a personal favorite of mine.

I guess what I’m really getting at is that I would love to punch Gary Brolsma in the face for his petty attempt at another round of mild Internet notoriety.

“ I‘m sure you’d recognize him if

you saw him waddling down

the street.”

TSA's red fl agging of names doesn't impress me

dye shirt with a big Eagle in the middle of it, or “God bless America” or some-thing.

your shirt representing your patriotism.

are too complicated for President Bush he will still get the idea.

ing terrorism, I just think that the American govern-ment can think of a more

“ Andrew Martin, which happens

to be a the name of a senior here, is a red fl agged

name.”

editor-in-chief

opinions editor

The government helps us avoid obesity, thanks

Gary Brolsma Sucks

• Louis AndersonHis brief stint as the uninspiring host of “Family Feud” marked his only notable time in the national limelight

• Fred DurstBlowing up boats is cool and all, but when you head a band called “Limp Bizkit,” you’ve lost the game

• Jack ThompsonThis man doesn’t begin to defi ne the word “toolbox”. His crusade against all things pixelated is purely unfounded and infuriating

• Kevin FederlineNo language heard by human ears has words to properly explain why he’s a form of matter at all

Other Useless People

copy editor

Now I can understand people making stupid videos with their friends to get “kicks” or “thrills” or whatever

else kids call it these days. But there are rules to be followed. You can’t make a movie,

upload it and hope to attain recogni-tion and popularity on the level of the Star Wars Kid.

The reason the original Numa video was such an Internet hit was

because it was simple. Just a fat dude dancing to Romanian techno. This

newer one is trying too hard to repeat the ap-peal of the fi rst, which was appealing only in that

we could come together as a single people and laugh at him.

That is the point of these viral videos. To laugh at other’s humiliation, pain, personal health choices, em-

nor is it the result of ex-cessive Hostess Cup-cake consumption.

Fighting our

cause of other people’s life decision to eat like a homeless orphan at Old Country Buffet whenever they please.

Our country’s mantra has changed from “The Land of the Free” to “The Land of the Free to Blame Others for our Own Problems.”

The whole of Dexter High School owes the fed-eral government a collective showing of gratitude

Thank you for removing the looming cloud of doom the threat of obesity has put over my life for

TSA's red fl agging of

government government helps us avoid helps us avoid

thanksthanks


editorial

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:Robert KuzonMANAGING EDITOR:Austin Shapiro

EDITORSFEATURES: Katie Fricke ENTERTAINMENT: Kelsey SchultzNEWS: Sydney RossOPINIONS: Frank DufekPHOTO: Maria BrundageSPORTS: Celia KuzonDESIGN: Kim WiesnerCOPY: Scott Campbell

MANAGERSADVERTISMENT: Katie Johnson

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SquallTHE

Q:What do you think of the stricter enforcement of the iPod and cell phone during

passing time and lunch?

“They shouldn’t care about cellphones or iPods in the halls at all. They should allow it sometimes in class if it’s not disrupting any-one.”-Stan Baldus- ‘09

“I think it’s a good rule because they are a distrac-tion, and students often have a diffi cult time realiz-ing when the bell rings and that class has started.”-Andrew Parker-English teacher

“I don’t think they should ban them in the halls because it’s not bothering anyone.”-Meridith Braicault- ‘08

“I think it’s overkill.”-Matt Logan- ‘10

DREADSin the hall

“It’s a ridiculous rule in the halls because passing time is your time. I’ve already gotten in trouble for it.”-Heather Bradshaw- ‘07

Teachers and administrators have begun enforcing rules ban-ning iPods and cellphones in school during lunch and passing time.

They also have begun to crack down on the tardy rule. While well intentioned, The Squall thinks the new rules are pointless and coun-terproductive.

What good is it to not allow iP-ods in the hallway? When stu-dents listen to their iPod, they just walk quietly to class.

Another person, without an iPod, who is walking and talking loudly may instead be trying to talk to all of their friends at once or clogging the hallway. Why administrators and teachers would rather have choice two is baffl ing.

Although the no iPod rule says students are not allowed to have iPods during class, some teachers allow them after tests or while a student or working. This is a rea-sonable accommodation as some people work better with music and are able to stay better focused on assignments.

The fact that we can’t text anyone during passing time is pointless as well. How can someone cheat on a test if they are in the hall or in the lunch room?

And the logic of the new tardy policy needs some work too. This year a student receives a detention after their third tardy, a Saturday school after their sixth and an out

of school suspension after their ninth, which is much more strict than last year.

Detentions are bad enough, but Saturday schools are dreadful to have to wake up and endure. Who wants to spend a Saturday morn-ing in school or have to explain to their parents that they’re sus-pended for being tardy a couple of times? Parents probably won’t believe their students because this is such an absurd rule.

On the other hand, teachers and administrators think students will be less distracted from school if they are not allowed to take out their cellphones or iPods during passing time and lunch. And iPods can become a distraction to those others who are still working.

And we know the tardy rule is meant to get more students to class on time. And administrators know we are more scared of a Sat-urday school or an out of school suspension than a couple of hours chilling in a room with a parapro.

The question let unanswered is, “How is an iPod in the halls affect-ing learning?” Students with an iPod aren’t bothering anyone. So why should we have these rules?

The point is that the new or new-ly emphasized rules are pointless and counterproductive.

Administrators and teachers should do us all a favor and revert to the way the policies were last year.

THE ALL SQUALL CALL New school policies are pointless


photostory

Photo by Ryan Winchester

Football fans show their

supportCharlie Petitstaff writer

Showing some skin: Seniors Rob Kuzon, Matt Brand and James Nati take to painting themselves to support the team. There are three home football games left this season, including homecoming on Oct. 20.


“It was fun to watch. It’s good

to see the football team doing well.”

-Breanne Svhira



Center stage: Junior Nathan Magyar performs for the crowd at halftime.

“I just like performing in front of a crowd,” he said. “It’s fun being

part of the band, but it’s fun being featured also.”

uring the week Al Ritt fi eld looks like a lonely, aban-doned place. On Friday nights it is fi lled with Dexter students screaming their heads off supporting their team.

And even though the football team hasn’t had great success recently, that hasn’t stifl ed any fan support.

“We’re into the games,” freshman Dan Flowers said. “The whole (student) section is up with the team cheering them on, no matter if they are winning or losing (the game).”

And for junior Mikey Adams, the team’s most dedicated fans are “defi nitely the students because we get crazy and go wild in the stands.”

Any other time of the year Dexter High School students would be scattered across the area, but during football season many students join together to support their football team.

“They are crazier, with the paint on their bodies and their loud cheering,” senior Monica Sachdev said, comparing

Dexter fans to other school’s fans. Traditionally, cheerleaders help get the

crowd involved in the game. But Dexter fans are known for not needing any of their cheerleader’s help in order to get involved in the game according to junior Marshall McNabb. “Nobody pays attention to the cheerleaders (at the game), (extreme Dex-ter fan, 2004 graduate) Rob Beachamp gets the fans pumped.”

Students feed off each other in order to keep the noise and the fun going through-out the entire game, and referee’s calls are constantly ridiculed by students in an at-tempt to give the team that extra edge.

“It’s fun to do all the chants,” freshman Cole Burgess said, “because most people in the stands play a sport, and know that fans pump the team up.”

Dexter football is a tradition in the com-munity and every fan who shows up is ap-preciated by the team.

Junior Mike Swager said, “Anybody who can come (to the games) and cheer the team on ( is urged to come) because it helps so much.”

the stands play a sport, and know that fans pump the team up.”

munity and every fan who shows up is ap-preciated by the team.

who can come (to the games) and cheer the team on ( is urged to come) because it helps so much.”

Average seating capacity at Al Ritt Field:

1,900 4,000 3

Average crowd size at home games this year:

Number of home games left this year:

D

Crowded enthusiasm: Students stand to watch the Lincoln game on Sept. 9. “It was sweet,” junior Katie Young said. “We were close to moving into the parent section because the student section was so big.”

Gallons of paint needed to paint the lines on the fi eld:

8

Since the closing of Tuscan House, Dexter din-ers have been kept in suspense as to what the next establishment will bring. Will it be Italian? Will it give me food poisoning? These crucial inquiries have all been answered with the recent opening of the American bistro themed Terry Bs.

Upon entering, diners find the open layout and a generally pleasant, rustic atmosphere. No cramped corners, loud music or triple digit temperatures. Also, mint toothpicks are available, a key trait to an excellent dining facility.

The staff was courteous, meeting thank yous and bad jokes with “you’re welcomes” and fake laughs. Several students from DHS work at Terry Bs, so there is always the opportunity for a quick conver-sation concerning the perils of high school and the new Pharrell album.

After being seated and perusing the menu, I de-cided on the watermelon glazed ribs, which were a little steep for the average broke high school student at $18. Most of the other items, while extremely ap-petizing, were also of a similar price. As I waited for my food, I discovered the other detail of the restau-rant that caught my attention, the tables.

Normally this wouldn’t be a big issue, but for the average human with average sized arms, the tables are far too small. There is a very small lane to work with when you eat, and if your wrists/hands leave this lane, your scalding hot dish will end up getting knocked off the table and possibly onto the feet of a passing waitress or fellow diner. And nobody wants that.

The food arrived shortly (21 minutes later to be precise; not too bad for 6:30 on a Friday night), and amazing it was. The ribs came with some side dishes, nothing special, just some beans, vegetables and bread.

The ribs were very enjoyable, with just the right amount of sauce and a robust flavor that lingered in my mouth for quite some time.

However, the rest of the meal was merely ac-ceptable. The bread didn’t even rank close to Olive Garden breadsticks. And, of course, the meal ended with a classy mint toothpick.

Overall, the experience was very enjoyable. Ter-ry Bs would make a great casual date/homecoming destination, saving you a trip to Olive Garden or Chuck E. Cheese for that big date.

So if you’re looking for some great local dining and can overlook the high prices and small tables, there’s only one name you need to know. And that is Terry Bs.


reviews

If there’s one thing “Napoleon Dynamite” taught us, it’s that independent films can be bizarre. Such is the case with “Little Miss Sunshine.”

“Little Miss Sunshine” is a tale of adventure, re-lationships and coming of age. It stars Steven Carell, Greg Kinnear, Alan Arkin, Paul Dano, Toni Collette and Abigail Breslin.

It begins with Sheryl picking up her gay brother Frank (Carell) from a mental hospital, after he tries to kill himself after losing his boyfriend and job to his biggest rival. Frank’s taken home to meet the rest of the family.

The family includes father Richard (Kinnear) who hope for success by promoting his self-help method, the Nine Steps. Son Dwayne (Dano) has sworn an oath of silence until he gets into the Air Force and communicates by writing on a notepad.

Grandpa (Arkin) is the heroin addict who coach-es young daughter Olive (Breslin) on how to win a child beauty-pageant, Little Miss Sunshine.

The family must all pile into a yellow VW bus to drive Olive across the country in order to compete in Little Miss Sunshine. The family must battle with strained relationships, tragic loss and physical ob-stacles in their trek and when they arrive at their ultimate destination.

The plot is depressing, disturbing and amusing. It’s filled with memorable moments, such as Grand-pa’s simple yet profane philosophy on how to live life, Olive’s dance routine for the pageant, strange encounters with state troopers and pageant work-ers and the unsettling Little Miss Sunshine pageant itself. The family’s stubbornness to proceed in the face of adversity ultimately leads to an optimistic ending for the characters.

Carell delivers a professional performance that differs from his more outgoing roles like in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Anchorman.” His portrayal of the complex and depressed Frank exhibits his skill as an actor.

Colette gives a convincing performance as the stressed-out wife Sheryl, and Arkin is hilarious as the lecherous and profanity-spewing Grandpa.

Kinnear fits as the jerk father whose philosophy on winners and losers, and how you’re either one or the other, drives the rest of his family to the edge. Dano excels as the apathetic son Dwayne who has little tolerance for the oddities of his family mem-bers. Breslin does an A+ job, giving an emotional and convincing presentation of Olive’s fears, inse-curities and inner strength.

“Little Miss Sunshine” is an entertaining experi-ence that portrays characters who anyone can iden-tify with as they work through their problems and make it to the end.

‘Gravity Won’t Get You High’

The best way to describe this band would be to imagine candy being shot out of amplifiers into a crowd full of people dancing, much like the lead singer onstage.

For those who require something a little more specific, The Grates are a poppy, indie-garage rock trio from Australia who combine the female lead vocal styling of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs with the bass-less garage sound of The White Stripes, along with the occasional keyboard or horn section for a sur-prisingly excellent style all their own.

The Grates are Patrice Hodgson (lead vocals) John Patterson (guitar) and Alana Skyring (drums). They all have artistic talent, so they make all their shirts, posters and all album artwork.

Their global debut album, “Gravity Won’t Get You High,” comes off as 40 minutes of pure fun with very few dry spots. The album starts out a little rough with “Won’t Survive,” slow, short and unin-teresting track. But, it kicks up from there, all the way until the end, concluding with a modest ballad of sorts, “I am Siam.”

A few tracks in comes “19 20 20,” a horn-infused two minute long track, so catchy you’ll wish it lasted much longer. This was the first single off the album and definitely one of the highlights of the album.

Even their slow tracks, such as “Rock Boys” come off as something special. When such a high-energy band sits down for a stronger piece and doesn’t become stale or boring, their song writing talents shine through.

The real shining jewel is in the middle of the al-bum, “Science Is Golden.” This is a perfect blend of Hodgson’s vocal talent, as well as some very catchy riffs from Patterson, combining for almost three minutes of pure bliss.

As the album winds down, you’ll find “Sukkaf-ish,” a slower, genre defying track, complete with a banjo and fiddle that somehow fits perfectly with distorted guitar and a slow beat.

They are currently touring in Europe and Aus-tralia, and were in America earlier in the month for a few dates. They have been promoting the album for the past few months, and plan on continuing to do so for awhile, but no plans for more dates in America have been announced.

This album is one of the best of the year. You need to add this album to your collection, end of story. It’s available on iTunes for your legal music downloading pleasure, and if you aren’t sold on the entire album, at least give “Science Is Golden” a lis-ten. You’ll really enjoy it.

Ryan Winchesterstaff writer

Luke Altomarecartoonist

‘Little Miss Sunshine’

‘Nectar in a Sieve’Maria Brundage

photo editor

“What will there be for you, my youngest, my baby?” her mother asks, holding her face in her hands. Married at 12 to a poor tenant farmer, Ruki-mani creates a family against a backdrop of changing rural India in the novel “Nectar in a Sieve”. Author Kamala Markandaya writes her heart-wrenching story with striking prose.

For nearly 10 years, Rukimani and her husband live in their mud hut, enjoying a modicum of pros-perity and many children. Anecdotes, such as an en-counter with a cobra, bring the farm setting to life.

However, change comes to Rukimani’s small vil-lage in the form of a large tannery. It brings many outsiders to the village and affects the villagers for the worse because of inflation. Rukimani finds her family fighting starvation while their supplies and money dwindle.

Eventually, the idyllic family peace breaks. Her eldest sons leave the farm to work for the tannery, despite Rukimani’s misgivings. When they are re-placed after failed bargaining with the owners, they leave again for the Ceylon tea plantations.

Her daughter Ira, after her husband leaves, be-comes a prostitute to keep her family alive. It is seemingly in vain, as her youngest brother dies of starvation.

It is a depressing tale, and even the happy parts come despite incredible hardship and heaviness. But despite this, it is a tale of incredible hope and perse-verance.

No matter what she is faced with, Rukimani re-fuses to give up her hope, clinging to her noble values even as everyone around her compromises them.

The quote from a Coleridge poem from which the book’s title comes succinctly sums it up: “Work without hope draws nectar in a sieve, and without hope an object cannot live.” Rukimani consistently “draws nectar” from the few happy moments her life can provide, and it sustains her for the novel. With-out hope, the nectar would run through the holes in the sieve, lost forever.

Markandaya’s writing shows vivid detail for all the senses, even for the simplest facets of rural life. When Rukimani pounds red chile peppers, one can hear the sound of the mortar hitting the pestle, smell the acrid red powder and feel her eyes stinging.

The prose itself is simple and taut, helping to convey the stark realities of starvation, poverty and utter desperation, but also the joys that Rukimani finds through her hope.

“Nectar in a Sieve” is a striking story of hope that will leave your heart aching. You will feel like crying, but you will also feel the ridiculous urge to smile for Rukimani and her stubborn hope.

‘Terry Bs’Rawlin Myers

staff writer

Grade: A

Grade: A

Grade: A

Grade: B+

By: Rawlin Myers

Finding Carl

In order for parents and students to keep up with grades and attendance, Dexter Schools has switched to PowerSchool and PowerGrade made by Apple to help students and parents keep track of their work in school.

Richard Weaver, director of technology for the district, says he knew PowerSchool would be a good choice for Dexter. “Most likely, all schools are going to change to PowerSchool soon enough,” he said. “Already there are 7000 plus schools that use it and all schools in North Dakota have already become accustom to it.”

The program itself is fairly new, but Dexter Schools are not the fi rst to try it out. “We we’re trying a new system for this year’s grading and PowerSchool seemed like the right choice,” Weav-er said. “We’ve started using it, and it has been great.”

PowerSchool is a web-based program that shows students grades, attendance and even notes that their teachers write about them.

“PowerSchool has public and private notes,” Weaver said. “The public notes are for everyone to see, but the private ones are for you, your parents and your teachers only to see.”

That means that this year parents, students and teachers will be able to communicate using a program that shows everything from grades to attendance for the year.

“People seem to like it and there hasn’t been many complaints,” Weaver said. “If we fi nd some-thing that people don’t like, we work on it and fi x it to make them happy,”

Some students have mixed feelings about Pow-erSchool though. “I think that it kind of sucks,” senior Kerry Brower said. “Having my parents

knowing when I’m late and everything about my homework and grades is annoying, but I guess its better than having them e-mail to each other all year.”

Junior Don Knight agrees with Brower. “I don’t want my parents to see everything because they’ll probably end up getting mad at me,” Knight said. “I really don’t want them seeing my tardies because I’m tardy a lot, and they always get mad for that.”

But teachers seem to like the program. “I like it,” English teacher Ellen Doss said. “I’m not ex-actly sure how it all works right now, but I’m look-ing forward to working with it more and learning more about it.

Eventually once students and parents under-stand how to use it, then it will be less stressful for us as teachers.”

American studies teacher Zach Lindke said he is willing to learn about PowerSchool and thinks that it will work well. “Right now, it’s confusing and no one really knows how to use it, including students and parents,” Lindke said. “But once we learn everything then I think it will be good. It’s way better than the old grading system, and I like this more because students won’t try to lie about assignments and parents won’t be in the dark like they could’ve been before.”

Students who are worried about their atten-dance or grades are going to have a hard time lying this year, though, and that bothers Knight and Brower. “It kind of sucks because I think more kids will be grounded more often because of grades and now they can’t lie,” Brower said.

Knight agrees. He said, “My parents are go-ing to like PowerSchool probably more than most parents because they can check up on me and make sure that I’m not lying about my grades and my attendance. It kind of sucks.”


the spread

William Moran Kristie Doyle Nate Shaw

Has taught for nearly 30 years

Favorite music is Jimmy Buffett

Degrees from CMU and EMU

•

•

•

Least favorite class is Lit. & Comp

Favorite teacher is science teacher Beau Kimmey

•

•

Enjoys rap music

Favorite book is “The Notebook”

Graduated from EMU

•

•

•

Game On:New assistant principal Molly Sharrar wears a football players jersey in support of their game against Bedford. “Getting to see the high school students again after a few years has been wonder-ful,” Sharrar said.

New grading, attendance system integrated for DHSPowerSchool allows parents and students to view grades and attendance records from any computer

Sydney Rossnews editor

1980’S• Students received a pink slip that got sent to the offi ce for each tardy.• After three pink slips, the offi ce would give the student a detention.• Each quarter, students were allowed nine pink slips before they received an out of school suspension.• The class in which the student received the tardy did not matter. A student could get up to six tardies in one day (one per class). Each tardy would count toward a student’s allotment of nine per quarter.

• The only penalty was one detention for every three tardies. • Tardies did not count against a student’s class credit or number of allowed absences.

• PowerSchool is a web-based program that allows parents and students to view grades, attendance records and even notes the teacher has written about the student• Over 7000 schools already use powerschool

Evolution of the tardy policy ...

Information provided by Richard Weaver

Game On:New assistant principal Molly Sharrar wears a football players jersey in support of their game against Bedford. “Getting to see the high school students again after a few years has been wonder-ful,” Sharrar said.

PowerSchool allows parents and students to view grades

1980’S1980’Sday (one per class). Each tardy would count toward a student’s allotment of 1970’s

Some new folks around the school ...


the spread

Tim Authier Ashley Soares Sarah Shenck

Likes The Fray and Kanye West

Favorite teacher is health teacher Shirley Bitters

•

•

Degrees from MSU and CMU

Favorite music is Elliot Smith

Enjoys watching “Six Feet Under”

•

•

•

Moved from Garden City

Likes Dexter. “It’s a quiet little town,” she said

•

•

Saying it was a good time to make the move both for her and her fam-ily, former Mill Creek science teacher Molly Sharrar has take the job as part time assistant principal at the high school.

Sharrar says she always saw her-self as a teacher long before she became one. “I always wanted to be a teacher,” she said. “But I also thought about going to med-school (pediatrics) when people tried to talk me out of teaching because there were so few jobs. I decided in my third year of college I really wanted to be a teacher and stayed with it. I’m glad I did. It has been a very rewarding career for me.”

Sharrar said the lesson is that following your dreams does result in good things and money really has noth-ing to do with it.

Sharrar graduated from Eastern Michigan and got her masters degree, then received a second masters from Walden University.

Sharrar said she was a hard worker, even when she was a child. She describes herself as “smart but quiet” as a child, and she said she was “involved in NHS, German Club and vol-leyball,” at Dexter High School when she gradu-ated in 1985.

Sharrar said she wants to contribute to the high school in many ways: “I am not out to change things,” she said, “but will assist with changes that

the staff, students and administration agree upon,”she said.

She is not planning to change many things which she considers the same style as the previous assistant principal Andrea Glynn. However, she said “every administrator is dif-ferent and has their own style, but I hope to be a positive resource with whom people feel comfortable and can approach.”

Sharrar said she enjoys many things about her job as assistant principal. “Getting to work with so many great staff members and stu-dents. Getting to see the high school students again after a few years has been wonderful,” she said. “I also like to get into classrooms and see the creative things our teachers do on a daily basis.”

But she says she also misses many things from her old job as a science teacher includ-ing the day-to-day interactions with the stu-dents.

While Sharrar works many hours as an as-sistant principal, one of the interesting fea-tures of the job she said is “working the teach-ers that taught me.”

She has also spent time modeling wedding dresses and teaching jazzercise.

Many students seem to think that Sharrar will be an important contribution to the school. Senior Matt Sanchez said, “She acts like she knows her way around and that she has been here for many years even though it is still her fi rst month here. It’s like she knows exactly what she has to do to be a good principal.”

Senior James Nati said Sharrar seems like a student-oriented principal who will get along well with everyone. He said, “She seems nice in many areas.”

Sharrar agrees that her relationships with students is important. She said, “It’s very im-portant for principals to have a positive rap-port with students and let them know we care about them as people, even though we may have to issue consequences due to the nature of our jobs. I hope we have more positives than negatives.”

Conor Dainingstaff writer

Lisa Travis Q: What classes do you teach? A: Academic support. I teach kids skills they need in order to succeed. Q: What were your previous jobs? A: I worked for DHS a while ago, then I took off time to be with my kids, and now I’m back. Q: Where did you go to college? A: Bachelor’s degree from University of Dayton; Masters from University of Louisville; working on specialist degree from EMU. Q: What’s your favorite movie? A: “National Treasure”

Karen Walls Q: What classes do you teach? A: I am a teacher consultant which is a type of special education teacher.Q: What were your previous jobs? A: I’ve taught for 10 years at elementary school and alternative high schools in Kentucky. Q: Where did you go to college? A: Florida State University. Q: What’s your favorite movie? A: “Radio”

Matthew Close Q: What classes do you teach? A: French II and III, not Drama. Q: What were your previous jobs? A: Taught French at Greenhills High School. Q: Where did you go to college? A: I majored in French and anthropology at Uni-versity of Michigan. Q: What’s your favorite movie? A: “I Heart Huckabees” and “Shawshank Redemp-tion”

Misty Noble Q: What classes do you teach? A: Women’s Choir, Concert Choir and Jazz Choir. Q: What were your previous jobs? A: Taught choir at South Redford HS for nine years and at Vandalia HS in Ohio for one year. Q: Where did you go to college? A: Got my undergrad from University of Miami (Ohio) and my Masters at University of Michigan. Q: What’s your favorite movie? A: “Waiting for Guffman”

Tracy Stahl Q: What classes do you teach? A: Sociology, Psychology and World History I Q: What were your previous jobs? A: I taught for fi ve years at Wayne Memorial High School. Q: Where did you go to college? A: Bachelors at Western Michigan, masters at U of M.Q: What’s your favorite movie? A: “Something’s Gotta Give”

Scott Cromptonstaff writer

New staff show side rarely seenSharrar becomes

assistant principal for Mill Creek, DHS

1990’s 2000’s• Three tardies resulted in a detention and a phone call to the student’s parents.• Three tardies counted as one unexcused absence.• 12 unexcused absences in a class gave a student an E for that semester of class, so a student could fail a class with 36 tardies.

• Three tardies result in one detention.• Two detentions result in a Saturday school.• Two Saturday schools give a student a suspension anywhere from one to 10 days depending on the student’s tardy record.

All photos by Ryan Winchester and Sean Wallace

Saying it was a good time to make the move both for her and her fam-ily, former Mill Creek science teacher Molly Sharrar has take the job as part time assistant principal at the high school.

Sharrar says she always saw her-self as a teacher long before she became one. “I always wanted to be a teacher,” she said. “But I also thought about going to med-school (pediatrics) when people tried to talk me out of teaching because there were so few jobs. I decided in my third year of college I really wanted to be a teacher and stayed with it. I’m glad I did. It has been a very rewarding career for me.”

Sharrar said the lesson is that following your dreams does result in good things and money really has noth-ing to do with it.

Sharrar graduated from Eastern Michigan and got her masters degree, then received a second masters from Walden University.

Sharrar said she was a hard worker, even when she was a child. She describes herself as “smart but quiet” as a child, and she said she was “involved in NHS, German Club and vol-leyball,” at Dexter High School when she gradu-ated in 1985.

Sharrar said she wants to contribute to the high school in many ways: “I am not out to change things,” she said, “but will assist with changes that

Conor Dainingstaff writer

Sharrar becomes assistant principal for Mill Creek, DHS

1990’s1990’s

Expectations are high for the men’s cross country team, as they aim for their fi fth straight state championship title. But can they hold up to the pressure?

Senior Dan Jackson is more than sure of it. “I’m not worried about our competition at all,” he said. “We’ve beat them before, and we’ll beat them again.”

But for some members of the team, the pressure is sometimes overwhelming. So they are working harder than ever to live up to the hype, including attending a running camp in Montana.

“Camp was a lot of hard work,” Ryan Neely said. “We had to battle the elements every day, but the end results were faster times and a bonded team.” Looking to make strong performances this year are sophomore Jason Bishop, junior Bobby April and seniors Ryan

Neely and Dan Jackson. In fact, Bishop is ranked as the #1 sophomore in the state.

Head coach Jaime Dudash, who himself was an All-American runner, said, “The key to our success is consistency in the off season. Dexter runners put in the summer miles, and that’s what counts come fall. “This is the early stages of our season, so we start off with strength train-ing. We do lots of hills and long intervals to build a good foundation for our runners to build on. As our season progresses, we will start to taper.

“Higher intensity and less volume, to be sure that we are well rested for states on Nov. 4.”

Dudash also said he tries to focus the team on their own goals wants to take focus off

what rival teams such as Pinckney are do-ing.

“We don’t tend to worry too much about the stats of other teams,” he said. “We have

our own goals to focus on. The only thing we need to concentrate on this early is getting into shape.”

And for senior Andrew Martin, this focus will pay off in one goal: a fi fth straight state champion-ship. “We own states,” Martin said. “There’s no way we won’t come back without the state title.”

Dudash won’t go as far to say that, but he does say his team has few equals.

“Our runners have a unique atti-tude and an effort unmatched by any other school in Michigan.” he said.

“That’s what makes Dexter cross coun-try stand. We have the desire to win, and we set out to do it.”


sports

Dexter football program on the riseHundreds of sprints, hundreds of reps and hours at practice. Ac-

cording to the captains, these are the elements that make this season’s varsity football team something to boast about.

And many of the captains have great expectations for this season. “Making playoffs, and that’s what’s happening,” senior co-captain Brian Hubbard said. Along with making playoffs the other captains said they hope to make history. Last year was the fi rst time in 16 years that Dexter football had a winning season.

“We expect another winning season,” senior captain Colin McAwee-ney said. “We are beginning a tradition.”

The tradition they expect to create is to have a winning season. “Having a winning season is a realistic goal,” senior co-captain John-ny Benjamin said. “We can do it with out teams hard work and effort. You can expect more wins to keep the season rollin’.”

“We have better team unity and a solid defense,” Hubbard said. So while many students said they saw last year as the golden year, a mere lucky fl uke, the captains and Coach Tom Barbieri said last year wasn’t a fl uke but a coming of a tradition. In fact, Barbieri said this year’s team has benefi ted from last year’s. “This team learned from last year and now know how to do things better,” he said.

But what is it that makes this year’s varsity team click so well? Is it the coaching? The deep bench? Or their overall strength?

Barbieri said the team’s strongest weapon is simply being a team. “We play as a team,” he said. “We are pretty balanced offensively. We

can run and throw. We have a good kicker and our defense works as a unit.”

The kicking duties are shared between seniors Kriss Petrovskis and Alex Taheri. Taheri handles the kick offs, extra points and small-er yardage fi eld goals, while Petrovskis takes on the challenge of the long distance fi eld goals. Last year, Petrovskis made a school record 43 yard fi eld goal.

Senior captain and quarterback Johnny Ben-jamin agrees saying, “My offensive line is our weapon, and our defense is strong.”

Many of the players also said one noticeable change from last year is the team chemistry. “We have great team chemistry,” Benjamin said. “We’re just tight. We always back each other up and have a ton of fun.”

McAweeny agrees. “Our team chemistry is excellent,” he said. “It is better then I have seen in years.”

Hubbard says the same thing. “Our team chemistry is one of our greatest strengths. We stick together,” he said.

Having team dinners is one of the ways the team bonds and builds their chemistry. “Just all being in the locker room together gives us unity,” Benjamin said. “And having many of my teammates sing in the locker room really gets us pumped.”

According to many players, another factor that plays into the team’s success is the coaching staff. “The coaches get the job done and make

it fun at the same time,” Hubbard said. This seems to be the consensus for all the team captains. “We have

great coaching,” Benjamin said. “I have learned a lot from the coach-es. They take a lot of time and study fi lms all day to help us learn form

our mistakes.” McAweeney again agrees. “The coaches put in

a lot of effort,” he said.One of the things the captains say they en-

joy most is knowing they have the strength and wisdom to win a football game. “It feels great to know all the hard work on the off season has paid off,” Benjamin said. “We have something to prove now. Other teams have to respect us now.”

Respect is another rewarding feeling that this team fi nally has achieved. “Dexter football has also been the underdogs and an easy win for most teams,” Hubbard said.

This year’s team quote is, “We have something to believe in … team.” Benjamin takes this motto even further, “I wouldn’t call it a team. I’d call it

a family,” he said. With two games under their belt, the football captains hopes

to end with a strong. “We are only one third of the season through and we have two thirds left to fi nish off strong,” coach Barbieri said.

For his part, Benjamin said, “The best part about winning, is win-ning as a team.”

Krystyna Taheristaff writer

Mens cross country running for the goldRacing ahead: Senior Danny Jackson helps lead the Dreads to win the Holly Invitational on September 16, 2006.

photo courtesy of Danny Jackson

• Andrew Martin

Team has high hopes for 5th straight state title, currently ranked second in the midwestJake LaRosastaff writer

Fall Sports Captains On Their ‘06 Season

Mike Cripe- Mens golfQ: How will this season com-pare to last?A: It will be better because we have better team chemistry.Q: What are your crucial matches?A: Saline. They’re really good.Q: What is your rank?A: 8th in the state.

Johno Wilson- Mens water poloQ: How will this season compare to last?A: We’re a much better team this year.Q: What are your crucial games?A: Okemos and Seaholm, because if we beat them, we can go to states.Q: What is your record?A :4-2

Ally Daily- Womens swim and diveQ: How will this season compare to last?A: We’re going to win states and we’re more like a family this year.Q: What are your crucial meets?A: Milan, but we already won it.Q: What is your record?A: 4-0

Kelsey Johnson- Womens basketballQ: How will this season compare to last?A: We have a lot of new people, but we’re coming together well.Q: What are your crucial games?A: Chelsea, always, and all of our SEC games.Q: What is your record?A: 3-3

Rosie Lee- Womens tennisQ: How will this season compare to last?A: We have a lot of fresh-man.Q: What are your crucial matches?A: Chelsea and Greenhills.Q: What is your record?A: 2-6

Amanda Delhi- Womens cross countryQ: How will this season compare to last?A: We’re better this year.Q: What are your crucial meets?A: All the jamborees and SEC.Q: What is your record?A: 2-0

a lot of effort,” he said.

joy most is knowing they have the strength and wisdom to win a football game. “It feels great to know all the hard work on the off season has paid off,” Benjamin said. “We have something to prove now. Other teams have to respect us now.”

team fi nally has achieved. “Dexter football has also been the underdogs and an easy win for most teams,” Hubbard said.

to believe in … team.” Benjamin takes this motto even further, “I wouldn’t call it a team. I’d call it

“ I wouldn’t call it a team. I’d call it a

family.”

-Johnny Benjamin, senior captain and

quarterback

(All records/ranks as of 9/20/06)

Documents

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