October 26, 2010 | Volume 23, Issue 2

Districts Realigned, p. 5

Budget cuts revive familiar Marching Band tunes, p. 4

•Photo by Marielle Gaiser

Every tree is equivalent to 24 reams of paper, while a single ream includes about 500 individual sheets. With an average use of 4,232,846 sheets per year by the district, approximately 353 trees are sacrificed each year for hall posters, locker signs and rubrics. In a hope to not only cut down on paper and printing costs, but to also create a “greener” school environment, a 25% paper reduction has been implemented for the current school year. As the first two months have come and gone, the question still stands: is the district on track to meet its goal? An idea first imagined by the administrative team, which includes the principals, curriculum director, board

secretary and superintendent, a 25% reduction of paper usage was just one of many possible cuts for the following year. Caught in a 10% across-the-board situation, the school board readily agreed to this alternative as a means to save money without cutting positions. As a result, the number of printers around the district decreased drastically, with those removed either being redistributed around the district or stored for later use, though none have been resold to bring in a profit. In the high school alone, the number of printers went from 31 to 15. The middle school now only consists of three printers for all students and staff. With such a large number of printers

being eliminated, it would be assumed that the district is dramatically decreasing its paper usage as well. “I haven’t monitored our paper use this year. I think I may just check it now and then for curiosity, but the main purpose of this reduction was just to reinforce the teachers’ willingness to educate in other ways,” said Principal Eric Nelson. Of the three principals interviewed in regards to the reduction of paper, not one has actually used the available technology to establish how much paper their school has been using so far this year. While their established goal will require the district to eliminate about 2000 reams of paper by the end of the

year, as of now, no particular person seems to be in charge of maintaining a constant collection of data over how much paper is used each week or if this amount is below or above average as compared to last year. While Superintendent Mark Wittmer maintains that their goal is not adjustable, and that a monthly printout will be used eventually to determine individual monitoring, the time when all schools will be updated to this monitoring system has not been determined. Wittmer believes that achieving the 25% reduction will be undoubtedly doable, though no benchmarks have been set into place.

See: Paper, p. 2

Graduate Aaron Smith enters the political sphere,

pp. 6-7

As a result of a new interpretation of an Iowa educational standard, students’ opportu-nity to receive college credit for their work in college-level classes may cease to exist. The standard affecting foreign language cur-riculum here, is Iowa Chapter 12 General Edu-cation Standard 12.5(5). This standard states in section “H” that, “The foreign language pro-gram shall be a four-unit sequence of uninter-rupted study in at least one language…” Four years of two foreign

languages, French and Spanish, is offered

here. The fourth years are worth

college credit. The state will not acknowl-edge the fourth year as part of the four-unit

sequence of uninterrupted study and will

not de-

fine the offerings as complete because within a new interpretation of the standard, college credit courses are seen as an interruption to the four year sequence. “The rule is solely based upon the number of course offerings the district must have in regard to foreign language,” said curriculum director Lowell Ernst, “Only one language is required to offer four consecutive years, but as defined by the state, college credit courses do not count as one of the four consecutive years. In order for a student to take a foreign language as a college credit course, five years would need to be offered. This would eliminate the chance for any current high school students to take a foreign language towards college credit and cause future seventh grade classes to make a large decision.” During March, Ernst learned that the cur-riculum here was not in compliance with the standard’s requirements. This discovery was made while Ernst was shadowing a state site visit, a process where state officials assess all aspects of a school district to make sure schools are reaching and complying with Iowa edu-cat ional standards. The school being evalu-ated had a similar foreign language

curriculum and was cited as out of compliance with the standard. If a school is found to be out

of compliance in any areas, plans must be made to correct the er-

ror before the next school year begins. If a school fails to

change the error, state accreditation may be

revoked, and the school would cease to exist. This standard holds new im-

portance in re-lation to foreign

language curriculum because the school will be

undergoing a state site visit this February.

Upon return, Ernst notified other administrators of the situation

and began work to decide what action would be taken to prepare for the upcom-

ing evaluation. After discussion, administrators felt that the new interpretation did not improve children’s educational opportunities compared to the current curriculum. If the school was to fully comply with the standard, college credit courses would no longer be available for stu-dents who begin foreign language courses in high school. This change would begin affect-ing students next year. The students currently taking college foreign language courses will receive the college credit offered by the course. “We feel that this law takes a valuable op-portunity away from our students. We also do not see it [the current course offerings] as taking away any opportunity from our current students. We do not disadvantage any students by what we are currently doing,” said Ernst. In efforts to retain the current curriculum, Ernst and Superintendent Mark Wittmer have contacted numerous legislators. Senator Paul McKinley listened to their concerns and has begun work to draft new language of the stan-dard. “I am so impressed with the Pella educa-tion system, and if students work hard and [the school ] offers the kind of rigor where you have and you [students] are learning at a college level, you should be able to go to college and that should be treated like college level,” said McKinley. “We are trying to work legislatively that if you have that rigor, if you meet the re-quirements of a college level course then you should get college credit for that [during the fourth year]… The teacher is there. The teacher is paid for, so it is great for students to have that level of rigor. You should receive credit for that [college level work] as well,” he said. The earliest the proposed legislature would be debated is January 2011. A bill would be drafted then be assigned to the education com-mittee. Before reaching the House or Senate, the bill would need the endorsement of the Iowa State Education Association, Iowa School Board Association, School Administrators of Iowa and the Department of Education. If passed, the bill would continue on to the gov-ernor for signing. The earliest this piece of leg-islature would affect students is the beginning of the 2012 school year.

•Jessica Salpor (js.pelladium@gmail.com)

Curriculum caught in legal limboCollege credit for fourth year language courses at stake

“The law is out of touch with reality because [the students] have worked so hard to be able to succeed at a college credit level. Whenever people from DMACC come and look at my curriculum, it is actually harder than what they would do at the college level.”

•College Spanish teacher Gretchen Klein.

District hopes for reduced paper usage, lacks benchmarks

‘Dick’s Chicks’: The last generation, p. 3

College is either an exciting journey with new freedoms, or a foreboding nightmare of term papers looming over students. However, there is something that could make college a cinch. PSEO are the only four letters that high school students need to know. Through the Post Secondary Enrollment Act, students have the opportunity to achieve college credit if they meet the requirements.

Students in grade nine through 12 qualify for these classes by grade point. Students intending to take a PSEO course must notify the school district during the class scheduling process prior to each semester. Once the school district confirms they are eligible, the students are allowed to attend their classes. The classes can be taken online through the college that offers the course or it can be taken in a classroom at a local college. Though required core classes can’t be replaced by PSEO courses.

“This is a great way that students can take college level courses without having to buy books or materials that they would need in college,” said Guidance Councelor Teresa Thompson.

The benefits of these courses are credits that go towards graduation requirements, and earning college credit hours. Students are free to reap the rewards once the course is successfully completed. Since the high school pays the college, students don’t have to pay dime to participate in PSEO classes.

Students would want to take these courses because it gives them the opportunity to pick from a variety of courses not offered at the high school. It’s also a way to prepare for the level of maturity, skill, and knowledge that students will need in college. Many students participate in these classes.

“I thought it [Russian] was a cool course

•Graphic by Marielle Gaiser

Page Editor: Kelsey Van Tasell

Briefly Speaking ...

October 26, 2010

PSEO directs students towards advanced learning capabilities

• Regional Special Olympics Bowling Competition in Des Moines was held Oct. 20. The team consisted of senior Allen Johnson, junior Jeconiah Vue, and freshmen Shane Rempe, Caleb Fynaardt, Tyler Hancock and Aaron Williams as the athletes. Senior Preston Dixon was the Peer Helper for this event.

• Sophomore Jacob Van Essen has been elected TSA president.

• Foods classes have developed a website for Pella Perks under the school website.

• Senior Sarah Masek is sewing the Pella Space Program parachute.

• Publications Adviser Ann Visser has been chosen to receive the Carl Towley Award from the Journalism Education Association.

•Freshmen and varsity volleyball teams became the 2010 conference champions. Varsity has also been undefeated in conference play for the past two seasons, breaking a record.

•Moxie, a women’s empowerment group sponsored by Pella Corp., held their first meeting Oct. 19. Moxie will be holding regular meetings for high school girls to teach them tools of self-confidence.

•Whittney Reinier (wr.pelladium@gmail.com)

“After talking with the administrative board last week, the monitoring process was welcomed with mixed reviews, but I think with the new copy system, people will be held more accountable. Just leaving the printing as it is now will not be nearly as effective in reaching our goal. In the end, I hope we are able to balance it all out and can mix figures to get where we want to be by the end of the year,” said Wittmer.

Even with the controversy surrounding the paper reduction, administrators maintain that the district is going to keep track of the paper usage.

“By reducing paper we are not only helping the district financially, but I think it provides a better, greener standard for our students to show them that we care about what happens outside school walls. I think we will meet our goal by the end of the year, and in doing so, get students more aware to the needs of the environment,” said middle school principal Matt Patton.

•Megan Card(mcpelladium@gmail.com)

Paper (continued from page 1)

SPLAT! Senior Sidney Pezley throws a pie in social studies teacher Jerod Garland’s face during her sociol-ogy class. Garland made a deal with his classes that if each student got over 80% Principal Eric Nelson would get a pie in the face, but if even one student got less, he would get a pie to the face. “This was a cool challenge. It was the first time I got to throw a pie in somebody’s face, and I thought that Mr. Garland was a good sport about everything,” said Pezley. •Photo by Alex De Jong

to supplement my needs for the future,” said junior Shenstone Huang.

Typically PSEO courses are one course per semester.

“Taking college classes in high school can help one see what they are up against in the future, and help them adjust in an appropriate manner. Every experience broadens the mind. This one [Chinese] is no exception, ” said junior Chet Aldrich.

Students currently taking these courses aren’t the only ones that benefit by taking these courses. Graduate Holli Renaud feels the relief as she makes her way through her freshman year in college.

“I’ve felt better prepared and had a better understanding of how to take notes, and how to prepare for tests. Western Civilization was a BIG help for those two,” said Renaud.

Students have been making the most of this opportunity in the past and the present. It is a highly advantageous program that can save students time and money, and construct a strong base for their education in college.

•Jillian Sagers (jillian.sagers@pella.k12.ia.us)

Q & A with PSEO student Chet Aldrich Junior Chet Aldrich is currently enrolled in Chinese I at Central College.

Q:What is rewarding about this experience? A: “It’s nice to get out of the high school and try something different. It’s more challeng-ing for me.”

Q: What negatives are there by taking PSEO classes?A: “It’s inconvenient to get out of classes early so I can make it to my PSEO class.”

Q: Why did you take a language class in PSEO?A: “I wanted to take Chinese because I see myself going into business. You’ll never know when dealing with businesses what language skills will be useful.”

Post-SecondaryEnrollment Option ...If a course for college

credit is not available at the high school, it may

be taken at a local college for college

credit.

•Junior Chet Aldrich

Page Editor: Maddy Scholten

Retirement brings final generation of Dick’s Chicks

October 26, 2010

Friday night lights aren’t just home to football games. They also host the marching band, and within the band, the color guard. For generations the color guard has been a model of consistency, building a tradition of success and creativity. Dick Redman, the director of bands and head of the color guard, has been with the band for 33 years and is retiring at the end of the school year. With his expertise and sense of humor, Redman has made color guard an activity of enjoyment and learning for the young women involved throughout the years. “Mr. Redman has softened over the years, but he is still someone that I wish my grandchildren would have been able to have as a teacher and mentor. Not just for the ex-perience, but for the values he gave to everyone,” said 1988 graduate Dana Brown-Warrick. Though styles and techniques have evolved through-out the years, the impact the color guard has had on the quality of the performances has always been exception-al. People know the Pella band for their sound, but they also know them for the outstanding sights provided by the color guard. It’s been a perfect match for 33 years, thanks to Redman’s dedicated, visionary guidance. “He [Redman] is the type of teacher that is unforgetta-ble not only for his immaculate design and technique on the marching band field and his amazing teaching tactics, but for his personality,” said 2007 graduate Alie Muller. “Color guard changes with the activity. When we start-ed we used a seven-foot pole, then five-foot, now we’re using a six-foot pole. In the beginning, there was very little dance work; now we have a lot of dance. I don’t choreograph it anymore, but I used to,” said Redman. It hasn’t all been about the performance on the field. Redman has also left a significant impression on the hundreds of students who have been involved in the program over the years. “Marching band was one of the best experiences of my life and of my high school years. The discipline I learned

and the fun we had was what drove me to make sure my children had music in their lives,” said Brown-Warrick. “D.R. is almost like a big brother who is fun to joke around with. We have a lot of fun, but he’s not afraid to set us straight when need be,” said senior Tricia Wis-niewski. “In color guard we have a lot of inside jokes. Last year, we camped out on D.R.’s front yard without him know-ing. He was definitely surprised to learn we were out there, but it was funny,” said senior Jordan Bossard. While some might consider working with 30 teenage girls to be a challenge, Redman embraces it, and finds joy from the everyday experiences. “The thing I’ll miss the most is the girls. Their person-alities and attitudes make it fun. I’ve been fortunate to have great young ladies. They are very dedicated and work hard, and they also have a lot of interest in what they’re doing,” said Redman. Many of the girls have mutual feelings for Redman. The many memories made together are irreplaceable. “D.R. and I have always had a special relationship. He always expected cookies from me. Starting back in mid-dle school I tried “sucking up” to him by making a cookie cake saying “Number 1 Band Director” so I could make flags for Tulip Time. After that, it just became normal for me to bring a dozen chocolate chip cookies for him, which he kept in his top file cabinet drawer,” said 2008 graduate Kara Van Tasell. After all this time, it comes down to a few final perfor-mances. Years of hard work and sweat will fade and tran-sition to retirement. Redman, who has given 33 years to the program, will leave a lasting legacy. Color guard will continue, but Dick’s Chicks will cease to exist. “I hope for the color guard to continue performing at a high level. I want them to continue to be successful, and also to have a good time and have fun,” said Redman.

•Maddy Scholten (maddys.pelladium@gmail.com

“Wizard” features large cast, techno tricks With just nine days and counting until their first per-formace, the 94 cast members of the Wizard of Oz are still preparing. With practices beginning in September, mem-bers have been working nearly nonstop to ready them-selves for the Nov. 4, 5 and 6 showings. A large cast list meant a high demand for cast mem-bers. Director Michelle Chaplin opened it up to the high school student body and those younger. Auditions took place the first few days of school. “I wanted to offer this opportunity to children and high school, but I gave all the main parts to the high school students. They are all doing a great job working together,” said Chaplin. Much of what is featured in the play remains the same as it was in the book and movie. A few items have been added to make it more amusing. The crows and trees aid in this. They bring singing into the mix, as does the Ozian Chorus, Munchkins and Poppies. Two choruses are in-cluded, one for the older members and one for the chil-dren. The pit orchestra will provide much of the rhythm.

The harp and bassoon are two of the more unique instru-ments that will be played. The set is also very unique. Cast members and volun-

teers worked for many hours painting and constructing to perfect it. “I think the set is unique because it’s a very large and colorful set. The show takes place in many different set-tings so it was a lot of work, but it’s so fun and colorful,” said sophomore Sarah Davis. Technological use has been boosted in order to bring a more realistic picture to the stage. A “green screen,” run by senior Eric Moore, will be used during many portions of the program. Also known as chroma-keying, green screens are commonly used in movie productions today. They work by making colors transparent so that the screen may be changed to fit different settings. “Basically, Mrs. Chaplin wants parts of the play video-taped to show different backgrounds. For example, Kelly [Anderson], the good witch, is in a field with poppies be-hind her, and it turns into a snow storm. She [Chaplin] saw it done before and thought it would make the play more unique, ” Moore said.

•Haley Sytsma (hs.pelladium@gmail.com)

TRADITION. Director of Bands Dick Redman poses with Dana Brown-Warrick (1988) and her two daughters, Deanna Kephart (2009) and Ashe-ley Kephart (2007), former color guard girls. •Photo submitted

POSE. All smiles, junior Jen Jansen performs in “Malguena.” •Photo by Jacob Martin.

SILLY. Band Director Dick Redman and Kara Van Tasell (2008) enjoy their cookie tradition. •Photo submitted

•Photo by Jacob Martin

PRACTICE. Freshman Tristan Miedema recites lines with senior Jake An-derson. •Photo by Mitch Shepperd

She’s in the Army now. Senior Sarah Ferguson has added an extra activity not as common for a high school student - serving in the military. “Managing everything I do takes a lot of effort and puts quite a bit of stress on me, but I just deal with it and move forward and make the best of all my opportunities because life isn’t ever going to be easy,” said Ferguson. FergusonsaidtheArmyhadthebenefitsandthekindofthingsthatfitbetterintoher life plan. She decided to join in high school partially to get a year of it out of the way and partially to get to know the people in my unit before she went to basic. A recruiter can o c c a s i o n a l l y be seen in the school cafeteria giving out i n f o r m a t i o n about joining the Army, along with the benefits. “It wasn’t one particular person [who r e c r u i t e d me]. I had been talking to the Army representatives since freshman year, but never wanted to join until I talked to them at Tulip Time. It helped somewhat to get the basic information [from the Army representative at the school] out there to me and to set up more than one meeting,” said Ferguson. The Ferguson family has had a long military tradition. Her father Greg was in the Air Force and is a Vietnam veteran; her grandfather was in the Navy and a veteran of World War II. Ferguson began training for the Army in July of 2010. “We get there early in the morning and take classes all day and, occasionally on drill weekend, we take a PT test, and we do the same thing again on Sunday. [My favorite part of the Army is] the people I have met through going to drill and getting to go out with them the Saturday night of drill weekend,” said Ferguson. Ferguson is a part of the reserves as an Internment Resettlement Specialist ... prison guard. She drives herself to Ames monthly for drill, where she works out and is taught basic skills. Next summer, Ferguson will train in Advanced Individual Training (AIT), and from there report to fall training in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. “After college, I plan on going active dutyandbeinganofficer,”saidFerguson. Army test requirements include passing the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and the physical tests.

“I’m really proud of myself and everyone else in it. But I will be a lot more supportive and proud of myself when I graduate basic and AIT. The PT tests will be really hard, and so will the physical and mental part of basic and AIT,” said Ferguson. Along with being in the Army, Ferguson is involved in marching band and has a job. Her Army duties can also cause some overlap between high school activities, such as prom, which is a weekend of basic training. “[Balancing] hasn’t been a huge problem yet, but I do have drill on prom weekend,

so I’m not sure what’s going on with that. It’s not that hard; you just have to be smart with what you do in your down time,” said Ferguson. Aside from the overlaps, Ferguson does not regret her decision to enter the Army during high school. “I think [being in the Army is] an amazing opportunity and definitely one ofthe best decisions I have ever made to do with my life. I encourage anyone who has any interest in it to either talk to

me or any of the recruiters who come to the school.Youdefinitelywon’t regret itin the end,” said Ferguson. Being in the Army during high school also offers many benefits for peopledowntheroadtofindacareerpathortoadvance quickly within the Army. “[Iplan]togoactiveandbeanofficerand hopefully go on a deployment tour. [The Army] helps pay for college and get cheaper insurance, make friends and have a better chance of getting a civilian job. [I plan on staying involved] most likely 20 years so I can retire with it,” said Ferguson. An important part of joining the Army is having support of the decision through both one’s family and friends. “[My parents] are surprisingly really supportive, even though my mom was alittlehesitantatfirst,anddoesn’twantto lose her ‘little girl’ since I’m an only child. All of my friends are extremely supportive and encouraging through all of this,” said Ferguson. “I thought it would be a really great experience for me to make me a stronger person. Also, [it gives] something back to my country that has given me so many opportunities and rights. Just go for it. There are quite a few girls in the military, and you can make a lot of friends this way, and even get more respect from people,” said Ferguson.

•TaylorRennich(tr.pelladium@gmail.com)

Page Editor: Jocelyn Van Dyke

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Digital Solutions Inc.809 West 8th St.Pella, IA 50219628-0088

Fareway Stores Inc.2010 Washington St.Pella, IA 50219628-9995

October 26, 2010

Ferguson joins Army, balances school, activities

NEW DRIVER. “[I would race] in a heartbeat! But my dad would probably never let me do it,” said senior Kelsey VerMeer, pictured with her dad Tony and his company’s 410 sprint car. To see more photos and to read Shaun Sokol’s compete story about Kelsey and her dad, visit pelladium.com.

Managing everything I do takes a lot of effort, but I make the best of all my opportunities.

•senior Sarah Ferguson

•Photo submitted•Photo by Marielle Gaiser

As a character says towards the end of the film, “Every creation myth has its devil,” and the creation of Facebook is no exception. The Social Network depicts the not-so-glamorous beginning of the second largest internet giant, and it does so wonderfully. The film is almost 100% dialogue, and with a writer like Aaron Sorkin (creator of “The West Wing”), that is a good thing. The language is simply beautiful. From fights between the main characters to small talk, Sorkin’s words immerse the viewer in a story ultimately about a fight between two geeks over 25 billion dollars. While the language is beautiful, it could easily alienate average movie-goers. The viewer will need to bring their full attention to this movie to appreciate its dialogue. The film features no good roles for women, but the male roles are great. Cofounder and CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland), is depicted as cold, geeky and surprisingly anti-social. This is a fictionalized account of the events, but the real Zuckerberg doesn’t seem to be half as cold or anti-social as he is depicted. However, none of this matters, because Eisenberg is outstanding. He makes a scene of angry computer hacking seem awesome. He excels at making the right

moments awkward, and we never forget that Zuckerberg is the smartest person in the room. It is never made clear if he is a good guy or bad guy, which is interesting. Cofounder Eduardo Saverin, played by Andrew Garcia (soon-to-be the next Peter Parker in the revamp of Spiderman) is the most likable character. Saverin tries really hard not to give up on Zuckerberg, even after he falls to the clutches of Napster creator and crack addict Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake). Saverin is an old-fashioned business man, which creates

a rift between him and the new age Zuckerberg, Garfield does a great job of selling the stepped-on best friend.Armie Hammer plays two characters, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. The “Winklevi” as Zuckerberg says in the film, are suing Zuckerberg for stealing the idea of Facebook from them. Hammer does well, but it is more impressive that he plays two characters well. The Social Network is

less about the founding of Facebook and more about the tale of friends torn apart by greed and power. Its traits seem almost Shakespearean. The movie raises the question; How much are friends worth? The answer is never revealed, leaving the decision up to the viewer.

Page Editor: Tiffany Carter

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Support Pelladium Sponsors!

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Lil’ Wayne has been in and out of prison multiple times, but he still continues to create spectacular music. The album “I Am Not a Human Being” was recorded before his prison term for criminal possession of a firearm, and production was continued by a number of individuals, including Birdman and DJ Infamous. The album was released electronically Sept. 27 and met stunning success, probably due to Lil’ Wayne’s popularity, his widely known jail time and the slick beats the album contains. The songs on the album are varied. Each has its own unique sound, and they all remain fairly catchy. I’m not a huge Lil’ Wayne fan, but I found my head bobbing to the beat of almost every song. It’s safe to say if you’re big on beats, whether it be in the car or at home, definitely pick up “I Am Not a Human Being.” The vocals on the album are the

standard for Lil’ Wayne. His use of explicit language may not be for everyone, but if you don’t mind it, it’ll be easy to enjoy the other lyrics. As with the beats, each song presents lyrics different from one another.

Drake, Jay Sean and a variety of other artists also make their way on to the album, adding immensely to the variety of music presented. Overall, the album isn’t the greatest of the year, but it’s still satisfying. It’s definitely a must-buy for Lil Wayne fans. If you’re not too into his style, I’d consider at least listening to the songs on Youtube to experience them, and perhaps buying one or two off iTunes. Lil’

Wayne may be serving jail time, but he still manages to serve up some enjoyable beats.

•Adam Gromotka(apg.pelladium@gmail.com)

At a glance...

What?A recently released hip hop/rap album

Who?Released by platinum

artist Lil’ Wayne

Listen. “I Am Not a Human Being”

When I first heard that I was assigned to review a hot dog joint, I have to admit I was somewhat skeptical. I have never been a huge hot dog fan, and even when I did eat one, I usually preferred my dog with just ketchup. After making my trip to “The Dog House,” one hot dog completely changed my mind. The restaurant, located at Dutch Oven Pizza’s former location, is very easy to find. My fellow Pelladium member Eric Moore and I were instantly attended to as we walked in the door. We glanced at the wide range of items located on “The Dog House’s” menu. More than just hot dogs graced the white piece of paper. In fact, hamburgers, hot sandwiches and deli products were also available. So, hot dog haters have nothing to worry about as there is something for everyone. The hot dog lovers out there will be delighted by the extensive and original hot dog choices that “The Dog House” sells. The menu offers 15 separate hot dogs, eight of which derived from the chef’s friends, family members and the chef herself coming up with new toppings to put on the hot dogs. Different combinations of peppers, chili, mushrooms, relishes and

more are used to create dogs for everyone to enjoy. I decided to take a personal risk and order a gourmet dog. A Gourmet dogs are covered in onions, peppers and mushrooms and for the price of just $2.79, which seemed like quite a steal. After a polite chat with the chef, we were served pretty quickly. They prepare the hot dogs by slicing them down the center and

grilling the two parts separately. All of this is done right in front of you to maximize taste by getting the food out to the customers quickly. After Eric received his Jalapeño dog, the two of us sat down to eat. We were both amazed by the amount of toppings they loaded onto each. “The Dog House” really wants to make sure you get your money’s worth. Eric and I both scarfed

down our meals quickly. The hot dog’s were cooked perfectly and the ingredients all meshed well together. If you’re driving past 830 Washington Street between 10:30 am. and 8 p.m. don’t be afraid to stop and grab a hot dog. If you want good food for a great price, “The Dog House” is definitely the place to eat.

•Nick Dorman(nd.pelladium@gmail.com)

Visit. The Dog House

At a glance...

What? Pella’s newest hot

dog hot-spot

Where?830 Washington St.

At a glance...

What? A film based on the

creation of Facebook

Why? Watch the effects of greed and power on

a friendship

Watch. The Social Network

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•Evan Jones(ej.pelladium@gmail.com)

Fish & Sheps • Mitch Shepperd

This month’s situation really gives us a heart attack. While scurrying through the hall, you’re stopped by the blood clot called hallway traffic. It often stems from one locker, and can be as many as eight people thick. Traffic slows to a trickle, making you late to Spanish.

JA: I really hate how it’s nearly impossible to get from one class to another without getting slowed down by annoying traffic jams. There has to be a better way.

AG: And there is! If we make breaks between classes shorter, say around 30 seconds, everyone would have no choice but to get to class.

JA: I don’t think that’s a feasible break period.

AG: Sprinting from the art hallway to the Spanish rooms is more than doable!

JA: How about we just draw lines to keep the annoying underclassmen next to their lockers and out of the middle of the halls?

AG: What about in front of classrooms? There are so many freshmen in front of the study hall room. In fact there are so many that they spill over and block the stairwell vital to floor connection.

JA: I think in the end it all relies on cooperation between students. If we work to keep to the right and not stand in the middle of hallways, we can avoid ridiculous tardies and awkward collisions.

•Adam Gromotka (apg.pelladium@gmail.com) •Jake Anderson (ja.pelladium@gmail.com)

The other day I was lazily sitting in class. It was one of those days where the teacher clearly would rather surf the web than teach, and thus you’re left with 40 minutes to finish a five-minute assignment. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I finished in under four minutes. Anyway, the girl next to me finishes a second later and decides to take to texting. No big deal, right? Wrong. She immediately starts jamming away at her keys. Not just casually pressing the buttons, she’s absolutely wrecking her phone with her jacked thumbs. This is button mashing in the most literal sense. I’m left with an unbearable 35 minutes to hear button abuse in the first degree. So, really, why bother being at school?

Extending School’s Not Cool ... Recently, President Obama had the bright idea to reiterate his love affair with extending the school year. Bush had the wise idea of prematurely declaring “Mission Accomplished,” but Obama may have topped him with this one. It’s almost unbelievable that someone had the audacity to suggest extending the school year. Does our Commander-in-Chief really want to subject me to countless days of cringing at Betty Button Beater’s barbaric texting technique? It’s hard to blame the teachers for wanting to surf the interweb every once in awhile. (Random tidbit: what’s more enjoyable than watching a teacher Google stuff? Google’s autofill let’s you see their previous searches, and man, why did she Google “What do people taste like?” so many times?) I mean, if I had an eBay item ending soon, I’d hand out a second grade level assignment so I could partake in an intense bidding session. That Calvin Klein shirt and pants combo was a darn good deal!

Eddie Murphy or Education? Our dear leader is proposing tacking on a month or so to every school year. That’s one less month of glorious summer and one more month of curriculum to memorize for semester tests. Let’s assume he means adding one calendar month, bringing the total number of added school days to about 20. Twenty days is a long

time. It only took 28 days for zombies to completely take over the earth. What if 20 of those 28 days you had to spend in school, instead of putting your hours spent to use playing “Dead Rising?” It only took me six days to finish the movie “Secretariat” and being subjected to that is better than 20 bonus school days. I don’t mean to beat a dead horse (pun!), but that movie was atrocious. If you want to watch animal abuse for seven hours, you can either opt for “Secretariat” or “Doctor Dolittle.” It’s really pick your poison at that point, and yes, the animals being subjected to Eddie Murphy’s acting is abuse.

Robbing the Time Bank ... By extending the school year, they wouldn’t just be killing 28,800 minutes of fun in the sun. They’d be reaching into our pockets and mugging us like the proverbial, well, mugger. Imagine if those 20 days spent dripping in sweat during school were spent getting your work on? You might still be dripping in sweat - depending on where you work - but you’d be dripping in sweat and making bank. Figure if we had seven hours of school per day for 20 days that would come out to be about 140 hours. Now, if you’re making seven dollars and change per hour at your place of employment, then those 140 hours have a dollar amount on them ... $980 and change to be somewhat exact. Not only are they taking away a potential $980 from work, but they’re taking away your parents’ money in the form of higher taxes. After all, it costs money to keep every school up and running for an extra 20 days every year. So, when you ask your mom for some new Jordans for next school year, don’t expect to have your wish granted because those extra 20 days cost her a pretty penny.

180 Days is Enough! It’s ridiculous anyone would suggest adding 20 days. If 179 or 180 days don’t break the camel’s back, then surely day 200 will. Those extra 20 days of dealing with Betty Button Beater, in addition to the thought that you could be out making nearly a thousand bucks, is sickening.

Page Editor: Michael Ge October 26, 2010

(bmc.pelladium@gmail.com)

On the Wrong Side of the Tracks

High School Hazard • Jillian Sagers

www.pelladium.com

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Don’t add extra days

Page Editor: Madeline Meyer

BACK in the GAMEIntramural funding reinstated

Tri-County Vet650 Hwy T-14Pella, IA 50219628-4040

Recker Dental Care2114 Washington St.Pella, IA 50219628-1604

Silver Lining733 Franklin St.Pella, IA 50219628-3650

MidWestOne Bank700 Main St. Suite 100Pella, IA 50219628-4356

Red Rock ChiropracticCenter, P.C.1400 Fifield Rd.Pella, IA 50219628-9991

Pella Pets Veterinary Clinic411 Oskaloosa St.Pella, IA 50219620-8880

Midtown Tire Company109 E. Oskaloosa St.Pella, IA 50219641-628-1072

TRIUMPH Martial Arts308 S.E. 97th St.Pella, IA 50219(866) 648-8480

TK Concrete1608 Fifield Rd. Pella, IA 50219628-4590

Pella Nail Salon604 Liberty St. Suite 129Pella, IA 50219628-1104

Leighton State Bank900 Washington St.PO Box 6Pella, IA 50219628-1566

Precision Pulley, Inc.300 S.E. 14th St.Pella, IA 50219628-3115

Royal Amsterdam Hotel705 East First St.Pella, IA 50219620-8400

Van Dyk-DuvenFuneral Home615 West First St.Pella, IA 50219628-2540

Sports Page Grill1111 W. 16th St.Pella, IA 50219620-1149

Sports Page Sporting Goods1562 Washington St.Pella, IA 50219628-4999

Stravers True Value/ Radio Shack/ U.S. Cellular818 Main St.Pella, IA 50219628-3330

TD&T Financial Group, P.C., CPA’s606 Franklin St.Pella, IA 50219628-9411

October 26, 2010

Fierce competition, friendly trash talk, sweat and teardrops falling everywhere; intramural sports is a school tradition taken seriously by all participants. The announcement of intramural sports being cut was a disappointing result of budget cuts. However, recent funding grants have been issued to intramural athletics. With new emphasis on physical education programs such as PE4Life, intramural sports are a necessary step in getting students to participate in physical activities outside of their physical education classes. The retirement of former physical education teacher Margene Van Horn, has left the intramural program without administrators. Teachers Doug Cutler and Bryant Hancock were hired to continue the program despite former budget cuts. “I have never done anything like this before, but if you know me, I like to have fun. I hope these competitions will be competitive, but still enjoyable at the same time. It’s a great way for kids to stay out of trouble and gives students something to do. I hope they try to do something new this year, some sport we have never done before,” said Hancock. Intramural sports are intended to be a competitive way to play sports with

other students. Many students who are out of season or not on any sports team can participate in activities such as: archery, basketball, bowling, dodgeball, volleyball, soccer, tennis and table tennis. “I think intramural sports are extremely valuable. It’s something not just for interscholastic athletes, but it offers an alternative to athletes not in any sports. It’s not always easy to get a group of guys to play an organized sport without joining a team,” said Athletic Director Bill Van Horn. Specificdatesfortheintramuralshavenot yet been decided. Expect to see sign up sheets on the gym door during the start of the winter sports seasons. Students are looking forward to participating in intramurals. There is even an ongoing joke about winning the championsip intramural t-shirt. Senior Ryan Lanke is planning on playing intramural basketball. “Being able to compete and work as a team without dealing with commitments andafterschoolpracticesisamajorbenefitof intramurals. It is fun because everyone is friends, it takes out the stresses of the day, and there are no consequences of losing,” said Lanke.•MichaelGe(mg.pelladium@gmail.com)

The immediate aftermath of a hard hit to the head may consist of a coach showing an injured player a random amount of fingers. If the player can tellhowmanyfingersarebeingheldup,theyare instantly thrust back into the action. Recent medical research is changing the nonchalant reactions to such a serious injury. The primary reason why physicians are worried are because of the long lasting effects concussions can have on the brain. Concussions are widely believed to be caused by the head hitting hard surfaces, and the brain becoming bruised by the impact. In actuality, it is not the impact that causes the concussion, it is the violent shaking after the impact that can lead to memory loss and increase risk of dementia. A July 27 New York Times article stated how the National Football League is taking a much stronger stance on concussions, including a poster plastered in every locker team locker room outlining the risks involved. “Concussions and conditions resulting from repeated brain injury can change your life and your family’s life forever,”states the NFL poster. Athletic coaches and trainers are taking noteofthemedicalfindingsandtakingamuch different route with the treatment of a concussion. A strong collision in a football game that would have sidelined the player for three to four days is now keeping a player out for two or more weeks. The effects are also taking place in cross country. Junior Tiffany Carter has been held out of practices and meets after experiencing two concussions in as

many weeks in September. She is one of many cross country runners who has been bothered by injury this year. “I had to end up missing the majority of the season, which was really disappointing. The concussions have affected me a lot in school, and every day activities have become difficult dueto memory loss. The aftermath of the headaches and going to many loud events that I used to enjoy have become less enjoyable,” said Carter. Of the record 92 athletes who went out for the sport, 20 have missed extended time with injury. Seven athletes, including Carter, are no longer allowed to practice until healthy. “We had to tell a few kids not to practice for awhile. We’ve never had to do that before, but if any of the kids show that they will be able to run at some point in the season, we’ll let them back on,” said cross country coach Doug Cutler. Cutler describes the amount of injuries this season as “pretty normal” for the average cross country season. The football injury numbers are not nearly as extensive. Only four players have missed a game because of injury, and only one, Sophomore Houston Naaktgeboren, was sidelined for the entire season. “It wasn’t so much painful as it was disappointing to hear that I was going to miss the entire football season again,” said Naaktgeboren. Strength coach Zack Fears has been helping football players stay healthy. “We urge all of our athletes to stretch, eat healthy and lift to stay in shape and prevent injury.” said Fears•NickDorman(nd.pelladium@gmail.com)

Cross Country. Junior Alex RopesQ: Who is the person that hasinfluencedyouthe most in your athletic career?A: “... my cousin, because my long term high school goal is to beat him in a race. It has proven to be a good motivator so far.”

Volleyball. Senior Alexa AzingerQ: Why do you participate in volleyball?Isthereaspecificreason you put so much time and effort into volleyball?A: “I love to compete, and I have to work together as a team for something. You’re being active, but making new friends, having fun and winning. You go through awesome wins or hard losses together,and come out with lifelong friends.”

Fears’ Top 5 Ways to Avoid Injury

1. Warm-up.Stretch, jog, do anything to prevent the muscles

from tightening up.

2. Eat healthy. Do not ingest too many trans-fats, and be sure to get adequate amount of carbohydrates and proteins before

an athletic competition.

3. Add weightlifting and cross-training activities to your workout.

Doing this can help keep muscles strong and cross-training can help other muscles take some of the stress away from the more heavier used ones. This can

lower the risk of stress fractures.

4. Don’t go your max amount every time. Never go six weeks straight working out at the highest intensity.

Always include an “unload” week in there somewhere.

5. Refuel and stretch after work-out. Stretching after workouts is more important than stretching before.

Make sure to drink plenty of liquids after a work out to replenish energy.

Student-athletes cope with injury

Jock Talk• Jock Talk

SCORE! SeniorQuarterbackTeagKlynrushesintotheendzone,withteammateJakeWassenaarclosebehindattheFairfieldhomegameOct.15,whichtheDutchwon20-0.“TheFairfieldgamereallyreflectedourseasonbecauseitwasaahardfoughtwinandweshut out a very good team. The best part of football is the team unity, and how much fun we have, and winning; that’s fun, too,” saidKlyn.AttheOct.20printingdeadline,theteamwasundefeatedat8-0.•PhotobyMarielleGaiser

Page Editors: Megan Card, Jessica SalporOctober 26, 2010

Aaron Smith, a 2008 Pella High graduate and current Lu-ther College student, received two internships with Senator Charles Grassley in Washington D.C. One was a six week program completed during the summer and he is now in-terning for his fall semester which goes from September through mid December. Smith acknowledged how lucky he is to receive such an amazing opportunity. “I knew that I wanted to intern in Washington, D.C., and applied through the online form on Grassley’s website. The intern coordinator for Grassley, Josie Rundlett, selects can-didates from those applications and then does phone in-terviews with a final round of candidates. I was fortunate enough to pass the phone interview process and receive the internship in D.C.,” said Smith. Smith is looking to gain a lot from this internship experi-ence. “I am doing the internship because I wanted to get a bet-ter idea of what I wanted to do career-wise after college. I knew I wanted to go to law school, but I also knew that I didn’t want to do much with the courtroom-type. I’m also doing the internship in D.C. because this is the only place where these policies are made; there are some state-level is-sues, but we deal with the overarching federal policies. If I had an internship with a corporation, which I’m looking for next summer, I would get to see the other side of the equa-tion, where they are either reacting to or trying to be proac-tive with regard to a certain bill or proposal,” said Smith. Grassley’s office hires eight interns per semester and summer session. Five work in his personal offices and the remaining three, which Smith is a part of, work with the Fi-nance Committee staff in three departments: Tax and Trade (where Smith works), Health and Oversight and Investiga-tions. “The committee has jurisdiction over tax and trade poli-cies, nominees for federal agencies and oversees the im-plementation of programs such as TARP. I assist the staff with various duties, such as doing research on tax issues,

drafting floor speeches for Senator Grassley, preparing for meetings with constituents and lobbyists. I also help out in preparing for Committee hearings, getting hearing booklets together for the Senator and staff and I get to sit behind the senators during the hearing,” said Smith. Smith also receives floor privileges, so when a bill with tax-related provisions comes to the floor for debate, he has to be on the floor in the Republican Cloakroom to answer any questions that members may have or refer the to infor-mation he has on hand. By seeing the political and legislative processes, Smith is gaining firsthand knowledge about political systems. “When I get back to school, I will better understand what it takes for a policy to become law, rather than an idea. This experience has allowed me to use the knowledge I already had about our political system in a practical manner so that I understand why a certain bill may be a plausible solution it is not seeing the light of day for various political reasons,” said Smith. A typical day for Smith is rigorous. He starts his day off with a 40 minute commute to the Dirksen Senate Office building. He retrieves mail from the Finance Committee front office and distributes it around the office. He then watches the floor proceedings and the votes, except on Mondays and Fridays, because they are not voting days. Depending on what bill is on the floor and whether or not it is tax-related, he may go down to the floor and watch speeches and debate. “Last week, Senator Grassley gave three floor speeches that I helped write; they usually last around 20 minutes,” said Smith. Also if he’s not on the floor, Smith and his fellow interns are usually preparing for a morning meeting. Afternoons are filled with more possibilities for floor speeches and meetings. Many afternoons they have a tax counsel from a large company, like Chevron, P&G or Coca-Cola who visit them with a lobbyist from a D.C. firm. Those conversations usually relate to specific provisions in the tax code that are

either affected by a bill or a treasury proposal. With all of the political experience Smith is gaining, he plans to shy away from political offices in the fu-ture. “I am looking at maybe coming back to the Finance Commit-tee in the future. I will go to law school after I graduate from Luther. After I get my J.D., I would probably need to work in the pri-vate sector for a few years before I would be able to get a job with the Finance Committee. For the foreseeable future I’m not looking to run for public of-fice. It’s a little more stressful and hectic than I thought, but I think that with a job on the Finance Committee, or any committee, you can influence policy just as much, if not more so, than you can as a mem-ber,” said Smith.

•Kelsey Van Tasell (kv.pelladium@gmail.

com)

Smith steps into political arena as a Grassley intern

With the November elections fast approaching, the noto-rious political campaign signs have once again made their big debut. Attempting to persuade voters, they can be seen clustered on front yards in groups of twos or threes, or even more, making indicative little lawn ornaments. Located within only 15 miles of one another, Pella and Knoxville are two towns that showcase vastly different po-litical campaign signs. Both are located in Marion County, these towns hold contrasting beliefs that aid in the forma-tion of their distinct political views. “Marion County is conservative, but I think Knoxville is a little more liberal. Knoxville doesn’t have a common thread,” said Brad Crossett, father of Knoxville senior Al-lison Crossett. When comparing political statistics, an average of Knox-ville’s townships shows that in the 2008 general elections, 56.91% of voters cast their ballot for Barack Obama and Joe Biden while 40.74% sought to elect John McCain and Sarah Palin. Conversely, 33.22% of Pella voters wanted to elect Obama and Biden, whereas 65.17% favored McCain and Palin. Taking an analytical look at these statistics, the factors that may make a city liberal or conservative stem from a variety of sources. “Education, church affiliation, influence in Pella of Cen-tral College, more wealth, and a white collar working force in Pella vs. blue collar in Knoxville [are all contributing fac-tors],” said Patrice Langenfeld, mother of Pella sophomore Daniel Langenfeld.Central College Political Science professor, Keith Yanner, agrees. “If you look at incomes, people in Pella tend to be more affluent than people in Knoxville on per-capita basis. In fact, the last time I checked per-capita incomes in Pella

were about $10,000 higher than in Knoxville. Another fac-tor that probably plays out in voting is religion. I would as-sume there are considerably more conservative evangelical Christians in Pella than in Knoxville...If that is true, then people in Pella would tend to vote more Republican than Democrat because of their social conservative commit-ments. All things equal, people who are less affluent and less intensely religious are more likely to vote Democrat-that would be Knoxville,” said Yanner. Education is yet another factor that can influence the way people vote. “Based upon 2000 Census data, while 83% of Knoxville residents fit into the category of high school graduate or higher, only 12.7% fit into the category of bachelor’s degree or higher. For Pella residents, 81.6% fit into the category of high school graduate or higher, but 31.4% fit into the category of bachelor’s degree or higher. The bottom line is that Pella residents report higher levels of education than Knoxville residents, which could lead Pella residents to be more likely to register as Republicans and thus vote Re-publican in elections,” said Dr. Andrew Green, Assistant Professor and Chair of Political Science at Central College. There is glitch here, however. “Even though Pella residents report a greater number of advanced and professional degrees, a sizable number of those residents are profes-sors at Central and are quite liberal politically, which would be counter to the norm,” said Green.

•Jocelyn Van Dyke (jvd.pelladium@gmail.com)

Two Cities; Two Parties

Elections bring division between Knoxville, Pella

• Graphic by Micah Zeimetz (mz.pelladium@gmail.com)

Campaign Strategies•Mitch Shepperd (ms.pelladium@gmail.com)•About: Current

governor of Iowa, 19% behind Branstad in polls as of 9/22•Party: Democrat•Primary Goal: Increase alternative energy production in Iowa•During term: raised minimum wage and teacher pay during his term as governor, as well as created thousands of jobs with I-JOBS program

•About: Governor of Iowa from 1983 to 1999, was

governor of Iowa longer than any other governor

•Party: Republican•Primary Goal: increase

exports from Iowa to other countries

•During term: raised incomes and lowered

the unemployment rate during his term

as governor•Opposes: abortion and stem

cell research and same-sex marriage

Governor Chet Culver (running mate) Patty Judge:

GovernorFormer Governor Terry Branstad

(running mate) Kim Reynolds:

Vs.

Senate

vs.

vs.

Congressman Leonard Boswell

Senator Charles Grassley

State Senator Brad Zaun

Attorney Roxanne Conlin

At the heart of America’s representative democracy exists a very peculiar, potent authority: the voice of the common man. Regardless of the amount of political cunning the system is prone to, every American citizen retains his right to vote, to shape his own government. However ideal, this is not quite the case; psychological factors much more elaborate than mere personal opinion drive the choices of voters. It is important for adolescents to recognize the swaying factors that will influence their political views as they come of voting age, especially seniors, who may already be old enough to participate in the Nov. 2 state elections.

Religious InfluenceBy standardizing values amongst their followers, religious

groups have been shown to provide great influence in voting trends, especially when candidates’ take positions in controversial issues. In a study conducted at Mckendree University, voting statistics from the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections were analyzed, taking into consideration the religious preference of voters and the platform of the candidate they voted for.

According to studies done by John Gross, the political values of parents seem to rub off on future voters. The National Civic and Political Engagement of Young People Survey conducted in 2006 showed that if a young adult has a primary parent or guardian that responded as being ‘very interested’ in politics and public affairs, then they have just under an 84% chance of ‘definitely voting’ in an upcoming election.

During campaign season, wholly truthful and impartial sources of information on a candidate are great rarities. Campaign advertisements, websites and even media outlets are often subtly laced with details aimed at the promotion or demotion of a party. In a study conducted at Ohio State University, the University of California, Texas Tech and Indiana University, political science professors determined that though interpersonal discussion influences voting behavior most, the clandestine bias of media still provides a recognizable pressure, especially on “less interested voters.”

Parental Influence

Media Influence

•Nathan Kooker(nk.pelladium@gmail.com)

•About: has been a mem-ber of the House of Repre-sentatives since 1996•Party: Democrat•Supported: recovery legislation that put Iowans back to work, invests in Iowa’s indus-tries and infrastructure and provides assistance to out-of-work Iowans.

•About: went from mayor of Urbandale to

State Senator •Party: Republican

•Supports: streamlined government and fis-

cal responsibility and reduce bureaucracy

•About: has been a United States senator since 1981•Party: Republican•Supported: fund-ing border control, the Violence Against Women Act, affordable higher education

•About: was the United States attorney in Iowa, has

owned and managed her own law practice for 25 years

•Party: Democrat•Supported: “Made in America” items, a

decreased dependency on foreign oil

It is important for students to form opinions and express them. As a social studies teacher it is important for me to encourage this process. One crucial part of this process is the use of accurate information to create that opinion. In the last Pelladium an editorial piece contained certain inaccuracies that could misinform readers. In the column, “Court Oversteps Bounds “ the editor accused the members of the Iowa Supreme Court of advancing their own agenda by amending the Constitution. The courts, of course, don’t have this power which makes it impossible for any judge to amend the Constitution. The court in this case can only interpret the law. In this case every justice (not just the 3 mentioned in the article) came to the same conclusion on their interpretation of the law. What’s interesting is that the justices actually address

this very issue in the written explanation of their decision by explaining the role of the court system. They go further to explain how their function is to rise above politics to uphold the law and civil rights of all people, not just the majority. The executive and legislative branches were designed to be political and grant the will of the people. The judicial branch conversely is to be apolitical, so it can make the sometimes unpopular rulings without outside influence or pressure. In the case of Varnum v. Brien the justices explain how they are adhering to the Constitution by basing their decision on

law not politics. In this case it would seem as if the editor is the one trying to “amend” the Constitution by putting political pressure on the justices to judge according to politics instead of the law.

Social Studies teacher Dak Rasmussen

Jon Stewart is a famous comedian and actor who has a show on Comedy Central called “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” Stewart’s Sept. 9 show called for Americans all over the country to come together and join his “Rally to Restore Sanity. The march has also been called the “Million Moderate March.” The rally is going to be held Oct. 30 at the National Mall in Washington D.C. and according to their Facebook event page 132,000 people plan to attend the rally. The rally is a gathering for people too busy to attend regular political rallies, and it’s meant for anybody. The participants’ political view is not important. Stewart simply wants to give the 80% of the country who usually have things to do, a chance to rally but be sane about it by not showing rage and reacting disrespectfully to others. The message the rally intends is that it is perfectly acceptable to disagree with any political figure, but do it in a non-obnoxious manor when sharing views. Stewart has brought up important topics because of the rally. It is leading Americans to think about how they react to others, their opinions, political campaigns and policies. Even President Barack Obama is in support of Stewart’s rally. “I was amused. Jon Stewart is going to host a rally called something like ‘Americans in favor of a Return to Sanity’ or something like that. 70% of folks are just like you. They go about their business, they work hard every day, they are looking after their families. They don’t go around calling people names, they don’t make stuff up, they may not be following every single issue because they just don’t have time, but they are expecting some common sense and some courtesy,” said Obama during a speech in Virginia. Though many think the funny man’s rally is meant to be a joke, Stewart assures viewers that he is serious, and that he does want this rally to happen.

•Kelsey Van Tasell (kv.pelladium@gmail.com)

Page Editor: Benji McElroy

Editorial Cartoon

Eric Moore (em.pelladium@gmail.com)

Staff Editorial

Stewart rallies sanity

Political awareness crucial

October 26, 2010

Executive Editors: Megan Card, Nathan Kooker, Eric Moore, Kelsey Van TasellPage Editors/Reporters: Tiffany Carter, Michael Ge, Benji McElroy, Madeline Meyer, Taylor Rennich, Jessica Salpor, Maddy Scholten, Jocelyn Van DykeVisuals: Marielle Gaiser, Eric Moore, Jillian Sagers, Mitch Shepperd, Micah ZeimetzReporters: Nick Dorman, Mark Dykstra, Adam Gromotka, Evan Jones, Sarah Muller, Shaun Sokol, Haley Sytsma, Whittney ReinierAdviser: Ann Visser

The Pelladium is a monthly tabloid produced by the high school journalism department to serve as an informative, educational and entertaining communications media and to provide an open forum to students and readers. •Letters to the Editors are welcome and encouraged. These letters must be signed and should, in no way, be libelous, irresponsible or obscene. Letters must have verified facts and should deal with issues. The Pelladium reserves the right to edit grammatical errors, libelous content or length due to the space limitations. Letters may be brought to Room 201 or sent to Pella Community High School, Box 486, Pella, IA 50219. •The Pelladium will strive to deliver information in a fair and truthful manner. The Pelladium will function in accord with all applicable laws, both in regard to the rights and restrictions of journalism. •The views expressed in this publication are those of the individual writer and not necessarily those of the Pella Community High School Administration or the Pella Community Schools Board of Education. The Pelladium will make retractions in the event of errors made in the content of printed stories. Retractions will be printed in the issue immediately following the issue containing the errors. •The Pelladium is a member of the Iowa High School Press Association.

Pelladium Staff

Article promotes inaccuracies

Alternative News

Staff Editorial Letter to the Editor

In modern times, it is not always easy to be culturally aware. Though information is more accessible than ever before through television, Internet and smart phones, it often seems much of the American public is less informed and even apathetic when it comes to current events and politics. Though our generation may not be aware of it, we’re living through some of the most interesting times in history. Students currently in high school have already seen some of what will likely be considered incredibly pivotal moments in the future. 9/11, Katrina, the recession, our first black president and a whole mess of issues and natural disasters overseas, have occurred in just the past decade. Hopefully, most teens are aware of all these major happenings, but when it comes to more recent problems, many are left speechless when inquired of their opinion on the topic. As a staff, we feel that some level of political comprehension and appreciation should be expressed by every student. Whether it’s voting for a local mayor, or following the campaign of a potential presidential candidate, political awareness is vital to the function of society. It is impossible for everyone to be content with the way the world is all the time. Everyone wants to change things, but sometimes they don’t feel it’s worth it to try. Getting involved and gaining a basic knowledge of how one’s beliefs compare to laws and policies currently in place can increase unity within communities, families or even through online groups. One vote can make a difference, and no change ever occurred by a lack of activity. The decisions we make, the officials we elect and the knowledge we attain will affect how the future of the world plays out, as well as how our generation is viewed. It is up to us to decide whether this future analysis is positive or not.

(The Pelladium staff voted 21-0 in favor of this editorial.)

•Illustration by Jillian Sagers

Page Editor: Eric Moore

Reading Is DangerousNathan Kooker (nk.pelladium@gmail.com)

Brink of SagacityEric Moore (em.pelladium@gmail.com)

October 26, 2010

REACTION ACTION

The year was 1995, and promising to revolutionize man’s understanding of genetic progression, researchers of the nation’s leading intellectual institutes embarked in an experiment certain to breach the parameters of scientific moral. In hope of breeding the world’s first intermediate species, dozens of female volunteers were impregnated with baboon gametes. Resulting was the healthy delivery of 173 infant hybrids, each person by form, but primate by function. Marked and immunized, the new race, scientifically titled humaboon, was released into the wild. This year, a decade and a half after their conception, the population has migrated to the sanctuary of this very high school. Without further ado, the class of 2014. Unsure of how to cope with the introduction of exotic species such as these, I took it upon myself to become educated. Hours of late-night Animal Planet engrained in me a simple naturalist philosophy: observe but don’t intervene. Such have I done for the past eight weeks as the humaboons and I have attempted to coexist in a common habitat. From safe distance, I have documented several aspects of their nature. Below, my journal.

I am not the only observer who has drawn these conclusions. Across the board, other members of our academic environment have noted that this group is simply more immature than the humble freshmen of yesteryear. Save the few specimens who, over the last two months, have made much-appreciated, earnest efforts to assimilate into the high school environment, the humaboons have earned a stereotype for marked apishness. In light of this scientific evaluation I’ll admit, living with primates is painful and provoking, but who am I to judge? I once was that age. I once held the same values and succumbed to the same temptations of juvenility. Whether or not these were to the same degree as I see in the humaboons, I cannot determine, for I myself underwent an evolution. It is only in my enlightened state of seniority that I am able to make these observations in the first place. All I can do is take a calming breath and hope that Charles Darwin had it all right – that monkeys will eventually become men, and that puerile teenagers will in short time mature into efficient, respectful and perceptive adolescents.

With the first quarter of the school year now finished and the second quarter just begin-ning, students shared their suggestions on ways to better the school.

“I think we could improve the library rules. It would be nice to have a little more freedom. As long as people are actually doing school work, they should be able to go to the library.”

-Sophomore Haley Miller

“I feel like we were barely taught how to use Google Apps, and I’m used to Moodle. I would like it more if we went back to Moodle since I’m used to it, or maybe not have everything be online all the time.”

-Senior A.B. Coleman

“In the handbook it says we’re allowed to talk for the last 15 minutes in study hall, but nor-mally, that only happens some days. I think it should be every day, because that’s what the rules say.”

-Freshman Samantha Blatt

•Tiffany Carter (tc.pelladium@gmail.com)

What’s on your mind? Facebook asks us this question frequently, and, much to Mark Zuckerberg’s liking, we reply. But do we stop there? Are you crazy? You’ve got 32 little red flashing “noti-fications” to tend to, not to mention a giant album of pictures to comment on. Little commitments like these have been distracting most of the American public for at least two years now. Heck, The King Cause of Procrastination, as I’ve deemed it, is the reason I’m starting this column at one in the morning. But what is this little site really doing to us as people and the way we live? Started in 2004, the social networking giant Facebook has become so popular that roughly one in 14 people in the world posses an account, each one of them believing the promise of being “more connected” is being fulfilled. However, human behavior seems to be illustrating that, yes, we are more con-nected than ever before, but this link is to our computer screens, not to people. In fact, it appears we are more con-vinced of the illusion that we are closer to people simply because we can “talk” to them in such a wide multitude of ways. However, with more time dedi-cated to online networks and texting, there has to be some tangible time lost in the ancient practice of (hold your breath) actual conversation. Isn’t it just easier to send a little mes-sage through cyberspace and not actu-ally see the person? It may even be eas-ier to act a little more bold than usual. After all, they won’t have to actually see them. That is, not until they awkwardly run into them at Wal-Mart a few days later. Certainly, this ability hasn’t heav-ily affected people who’ve lived most of their lives without it, but will younger

generations turn out to be socially chal-lenged? I was talking to my 12-year-old neigh-bor (in person), and he said something about hanging out with his friend who lived in his same neighborhood. The boy was to meet his friend at his house around 4:00, which had already been established with the friend. But just in case, to avoid any awkward moments, the boy sent out a second message wait-ing for confirmation, but hadn’t gotten anything back. Thus, he didn’t visit his friend. This kid, who has had the “luxury” of technology for the better part of his more social years, decided not to see his friend because he was afraid to ring the doorbell. Why? Is it simply the com-pulsive and irrational fear of having to talk to someone he doesn’t know if his friend doesn’t answer? I doubt the doorbell would be any kind of hurdle for him to overcome if he didn’t have an account. Some will say the impact of the new technology is not very great, but I be-lieve my example proves otherwise. Whether everyone likes it or not, the way we do things, and our definition of what is culturally acceptable or taboo, is changing. You can’t not have an ac-count, that makes you socially unin-formed, a recluse. Then again, having one proves to be a huge distraction, possibly the easiest way to waste time in existence. On a more disturbing personal level, it seems people are able to be friends without even meeting. This odd con-cept was deemed impossible by skep-tics of the past (pre-Backstreet Boy era) but now it’s easier than ever. I receive “friend” invites weekly from people in nearby towns, who I’ve never met in real life. Many don’t even share any “mutual” friends with me. So, why add me? I thought the point of this fancy blue site was to stay connected, not build a connection. This practice to me indicates a step backward in the pro-gression of humanity, and may be one of many to come. What’s on our minds, Facebook? Seemingly, you, and not much else.

LIFE DIGITALIZED

“I feel like the studyhall room should be a place where people can talk instead of having to be completely silent, because most of the time I need to talk about things that are related to school. Then, the library could be the place with more silent, individual work.”

-Junior Grant Barrick

As a character says towards the end of the film, “Every creation myth has its devil,” and the creation of Facebook is no exception. The Social Network depicts the not-so-glamorous beginning of the second largest internet giant, and it does so wonderfully. The film is almost 100% dialogue, and with a writer like Aaron Sorkin (creator of “The West Wing”), that is a good thing. The language is simply beautiful. From fights between the main characters to small talk, Sorkin’s words immerse the viewer in a story ultimately about a fight between two geeks over 25 billion dollars. While the language is beautiful, it could easily alienate average movie-goers. The viewer will need to bring their full attention to this movie to appreciate its dialogue. The film features no good roles for women, but the male roles are great. Cofounder and CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland), is depicted as cold, geeky and surprisingly anti-social. This is a fictionalized account of the events, but the real Zuckerberg doesn’t seem to be half as cold or anti-social as he is depicted. However, none of this matters, because Eisenberg is outstanding. He makes a scene of angry computer hacking seem awesome. He excels at making the right

moments awkward, and we never forget that Zuckerberg is the smartest person in the room. It is never made clear if he is a good guy or bad guy, which is interesting. Cofounder Eduardo Saverin, played by Andrew Garcia (soon-to-be the next Peter Parker in the revamp of Spiderman) is the most likable character. Saverin tries really hard not to give up on Zuckerberg, even after he falls to the clutches of Napster creator and crack addict Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake). Saverin is an old-fashioned business man, which creates

a rift between him and the new age Zuckerberg, Garfield does a great job of selling the stepped-on best friend.Armie Hammer plays two characters, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. The “Winklevi” as Zuckerberg says in the film, are suing Zuckerberg for stealing the idea of Facebook from them. Hammer does well, but it is more impressive that he plays two characters well. The Social Network is

less about the founding of Facebook and more about the tale of friends torn apart by greed and power. Its traits seem almost Shakespearean. The movie raises the question; How much are friends worth? The answer is never revealed, leaving the decision up to the viewer.

Page Editor: Tiffany Carter

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Lil’ Wayne has been in and out of prison multiple times, but he still continues to create spectacular music. The album “I Am Not a Human Being” was recorded before his prison term for criminal possession of a firearm, and production was continued by a number of individuals, including Birdman and DJ Infamous. The album was released electronically Sept. 27 and met stunning success, probably due to Lil’ Wayne’s popularity, his widely known jail time and the slick beats the album contains. The songs on the album are varied. Each has its own unique sound, and they all remain fairly catchy. I’m not a huge Lil’ Wayne fan, but I found my head bobbing to the beat of almost every song. It’s safe to say if you’re big on beats, whether it be in the car or at home, definitely pick up “I Am Not a Human Being.” The vocals on the album are the

standard for Lil’ Wayne. His use of explicit language may not be for everyone, but if you don’t mind it, it’ll be easy to enjoy the other lyrics. As with the beats, each song presents lyrics different from one another.

Drake, Jay Sean and a variety of other artists also make their way on to the album, adding immensely to the variety of music presented. Overall, the album isn’t the greatest of the year, but it’s still satisfying. It’s definitely a must-buy for Lil Wayne fans. If you’re not too into his style, I’d consider at least listening to the songs on Youtube to experience them, and perhaps buying one or two off iTunes. Lil’

Wayne may be serving jail time, but he still manages to serve up some enjoyable beats.

•Adam Gromotka(apg.pelladium@gmail.com)

At a glance...

What?A recently released hip hop/rap album

Who?Released by platinum

artist Lil’ Wayne

Listen. “I Am Not a Human Being”

When I first heard that I was assigned to review a hot dog joint, I have to admit I was somewhat skeptical. I have never been a huge hot dog fan, and even when I did eat one, I usually preferred my dog with just ketchup. After making my trip to “The Dog House,” one hot dog completely changed my mind. The restaurant, located at Dutch Oven Pizza’s former location, is very easy to find. My fellow Pelladium member Eric Moore and I were instantly attended to as we walked in the door. We glanced at the wide range of items located on “The Dog House’s” menu. More than just hot dogs graced the white piece of paper. In fact, hamburgers, hot sandwiches and deli products were also available. So, hot dog haters have nothing to worry about as there is something for everyone. The hot dog lovers out there will be delighted by the extensive and original hot dog choices that “The Dog House” sells. The menu offers 15 separate hot dogs, eight of which derived from the chef’s friends, family members and the chef herself coming up with new toppings to put on the hot dogs. Different combinations of peppers, chili, mushrooms, relishes and

more are used to create dogs for everyone to enjoy. I decided to take a personal risk and order a gourmet dog. A Gourmet dogs are covered in onions, peppers and mushrooms and for the price of just $2.79, which seemed like quite a steal. After a polite chat with the chef, we were served pretty quickly. They prepare the hot dogs by slicing them down the center and

grilling the two parts separately. All of this is done right in front of you to maximize taste by getting the food out to the customers quickly. After Eric received his Jalapeño dog, the two of us sat down to eat. We were both amazed by the amount of toppings they loaded onto each. “The Dog House” really wants to make sure you get your money’s worth. Eric and I both scarfed

down our meals quickly. The hot dog’s were cooked perfectly and the ingredients all meshed well together. If you’re driving past 830 Washington Street between 10:30 am. and 8 p.m. don’t be afraid to stop and grab a hot dog. If you want good food for a great price, “The Dog House” is definitely the place to eat.

•Nick Dorman(nd.pelladium@gmail.com)

Visit. The Dog House

At a glance...

What? Pella’s newest hot

dog hot-spot

Where?830 Washington St.

At a glance...

What? A film based on the

creation of Facebook

Why? Watch the effects of greed and power on

a friendship

Watch. The Social Network

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•Evan Jones(ej.pelladium@gmail.com)

Fish & Sheps • Mitch Shepperd

This month’s situation really gives us a heart attack. While scurrying through the hall, you’re stopped by the blood clot called hallway traffic. It often stems from one locker, and can be as many as eight people thick. Traffic slows to a trickle, making you late to Spanish.

JA: I really hate how it’s nearly impossible to get from one class to another without getting slowed down by annoying traffic jams. There has to be a better way.

AG: And there is! If we make breaks between classes shorter, say around 30 seconds, everyone would have no choice but to get to class.

JA: I don’t think that’s a feasible break period.

AG: Sprinting from the art hallway to the Spanish rooms is more than doable!

JA: How about we just draw lines to keep the annoying underclassmen next to their lockers and out of the middle of the halls?

AG: What about in front of classrooms? There are so many freshmen in front of the study hall room. In fact there are so many that they spill over and block the stairwell vital to floor connection.

JA: I think in the end it all relies on cooperation between students. If we work to keep to the right and not stand in the middle of hallways, we can avoid ridiculous tardies and awkward collisions.

•Adam Gromotka (apg.pelladium@gmail.com) •Jake Anderson (ja.pelladium@gmail.com)

The other day I was lazily sitting in class. It was one of those days where the teacher clearly would rather surf the web than teach, and thus you’re left with 40 minutes to finish a five-minute assignment. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I finished in under four minutes. Anyway, the girl next to me finishes a second later and decides to take to texting. No big deal, right? Wrong. She immediately starts jamming away at her keys. Not just casually pressing the buttons, she’s absolutely wrecking her phone with her jacked thumbs. This is button mashing in the most literal sense. I’m left with an unbearable 35 minutes to hear button abuse in the first degree. So, really, why bother being at school?

Extending School’s Not Cool ... Recently, President Obama had the bright idea to reiterate his love affair with extending the school year. Bush had the wise idea of prematurely declaring “Mission Accomplished,” but Obama may have topped him with this one. It’s almost unbelievable that someone had the audacity to suggest extending the school year. Does our Commander-in-Chief really want to subject me to countless days of cringing at Betty Button Beater’s barbaric texting technique? It’s hard to blame the teachers for wanting to surf the interweb every once in awhile. (Random tidbit: what’s more enjoyable than watching a teacher Google stuff? Google’s autofill let’s you see their previous searches, and man, why did she Google “What do people taste like?” so many times?) I mean, if I had an eBay item ending soon, I’d hand out a second grade level assignment so I could partake in an intense bidding session. That Calvin Klein shirt and pants combo was a darn good deal!

Eddie Murphy or Education? Our dear leader is proposing tacking on a month or so to every school year. That’s one less month of glorious summer and one more month of curriculum to memorize for semester tests. Let’s assume he means adding one calendar month, bringing the total number of added school days to about 20. Twenty days is a long

time. It only took 28 days for zombies to completely take over the earth. What if 20 of those 28 days you had to spend in school, instead of putting your hours spent to use playing “Dead Rising?” It only took me six days to finish the movie “Secretariat” and being subjected to that is better than 20 bonus school days. I don’t mean to beat a dead horse (pun!), but that movie was atrocious. If you want to watch animal abuse for seven hours, you can either opt for “Secretariat” or “Doctor Dolittle.” It’s really pick your poison at that point, and yes, the animals being subjected to Eddie Murphy’s acting is abuse.

Robbing the Time Bank ... By extending the school year, they wouldn’t just be killing 28,800 minutes of fun in the sun. They’d be reaching into our pockets and mugging us like the proverbial, well, mugger. Imagine if those 20 days spent dripping in sweat during school were spent getting your work on? You might still be dripping in sweat - depending on where you work - but you’d be dripping in sweat and making bank. Figure if we had seven hours of school per day for 20 days that would come out to be about 140 hours. Now, if you’re making seven dollars and change per hour at your place of employment, then those 140 hours have a dollar amount on them ... $980 and change to be somewhat exact. Not only are they taking away a potential $980 from work, but they’re taking away your parents’ money in the form of higher taxes. After all, it costs money to keep every school up and running for an extra 20 days every year. So, when you ask your mom for some new Jordans for next school year, don’t expect to have your wish granted because those extra 20 days cost her a pretty penny.

180 Days is Enough! It’s ridiculous anyone would suggest adding 20 days. If 179 or 180 days don’t break the camel’s back, then surely day 200 will. Those extra 20 days of dealing with Betty Button Beater, in addition to the thought that you could be out making nearly a thousand bucks, is sickening.

Page Editor: Michael Ge October 26, 2010

(bmc.pelladium@gmail.com)

On the Wrong Side of the Tracks

High School Hazard • Jillian Sagers

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