The Falcon Flyer

Volume XIII, Issue X 21401 SE Falcon Way Kent, WA May 21, 2010

Pursuing the American Dream

Kenya

Vietnam

www.thefalconflyer.com
2 Meet the
Contents
The Falcon Flyer

Press News Pg. 4

Co Editors-in-Chief
Cynthiann Heckelsmiller
Christine Rushton
Op-Ed Editor
Alyssa Ryan
A&E Editor

Sports Editor
Mike Lydon
Op-Ed Pg. 7
Holly Pirret
Student Life Editor
Yasmin Abubakar
Business Manager
Kayla Maletich
Webmaster
Spencer Transier
A&E Pg. 12
Copy Editors
Brendan Cescon
Jason Hirschey
Daniel Tadeo
Photographers
Megan Rogers
Melissa Pitchford
Features Pg. 10
Michaela Mandala
Kaitlyn Miklancic
Staff Reporters
Brian Benshoof
Keith Bolender
Kelsey Bolton
Sarah Cubine
Student Life Pg. 15
Matthew Davis
Michala Dymond-Shaw
Kierra Elfalan
Craig Heffner
Jerel Henderson
McKenna Herron
Erin Hunt
Sports Pg. 18
Jacob Langholz
Jordan Middelton
Ryan Snyder
Kiley Throop

Briefs, Briefs, Briefs

Kentlake High School
Phone:253) 373-4900 Kentlake Idol is at 7 pm on Friday, May 21 in the PAC.
Fax: (253) 373-4908
Principal: Diana Pratt
Tickets are 10 dollars. The show will feature not only
Adviser: Susan Best singing acts, but all acts that express talent in the stu-
TheFalconFlyer.com dents. This year it is more a combination of Kentlake
The Falcon Flyer is an open forum,
Idol and Kentlake’s Got Talent.
produced by students in the
journalism class at Kentlake High
School. Its mission is to provide
Congratulations to the Jacob Axelson and Kentlake
a thought-proviking, informative Drama for being nominated in the 2010 5th Avenue
and high-quality publication for the Theatre High School Musical awards. Axelson was
Kentlake community, adhering to
strong journalistic principles. nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ac-
Editorials which appear in the Flyer tor in a Leading Role for Emile in “South Pacific.”
represent the opinion of the named
author or authors, or if no author The production was also nominated for Outstanding Photo by Michaela Mandala
is credited, the opinions of the
Editorial Board. Lighting Design.
The staff welcomes signed letters
to the editor. The Falcon Flyer Since April 20, the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has covered
reserves the right to edit letters, al- a surface area of at least 2,500 square miles. The spill is expected to
though every attempt will be made
to preserve original content. Letters surpass the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, the worst in US history.
should be sent to thefalcon.yer@
gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter
and Facebook. Cover design by Kiley Throop, Michaela Mandala, Christine Rushton, and Daniel Tadeo
 Contents
The Falcon Flyer 3
Wordsearch: Read to succeed!
May:
S I A T S M Y J T K A N Y D H Ask to Prom!
T A M E D E B R O T W G P T O • Draw a chalk outline of
P X K F O C Q B A O A X V Y O yourself outside the per-
son’s house. Then leave
S O L E S N A U R N W R E L D a note with your name
A A P M I K N C E R I F P N W and all of the informa-
O X C S T N S V E S F L D K I tion on it that says, “I’d
H O C H I M I N C I T Y U M N die to go to prom with
you.”
S K F I A V E L R H E R J C K
A C J E H G D G O F E M I N E • Put the invitation in an
L D I W A T E L B A T F V A D ice cube. The message
P P R D H C T I P T S A F I N could say, “Please don’t
I G E Q D A K R Q R R H T R V leave me out in the cold.
Say that you’ll go out
H X U X L J G N Z E X Q O O L with me to prom.”
W B Y S C A H C L U M M X B M
Q V V D M A H A Z N N L V I J • Have someone dressed
up like Moses deliver the
invitation worded like
CHEF HAITI SOLESNA
the 10 commandments-
CROWN HOCHIMINCITY TABLET
-e.g. Thou shalt have no
CULINARY HOODWINKED TAMED
other dates before me,
EQUESTRIAN NAIROBI VARELA
FASTPITCH PRATT WHIPLASH Thou shalt be ready at 7
GRIFFEY RENEGADEX pm on the 5th of June,
etc.

• Will you like to go out

Senior Calendar with me to prom? I al-
• May 26 Senior Recognition assembly - Advisory Schedule ways wanted to go with
• June 05 Senior Ball 9:00pm - 12:00am @ EMP Seattle you, since you’re such a
• June 06 Senior Baccalaureate - Lake Sawyer Christian Church 4:00 pm BIG HUNK.
-This non-denominational event will honor our graduating se
niors and is free and open to everyone. • Put Hershey’s kisses
• June 09 Senior Awards night 7:00 pm
• June 09/10 Senior Finals
in the front doorway of
• June 10 Moving Up Assembly their house. “Now that
• June 11 Graduation Rehearsal - KL Main gym 7:45am I’ve kissed the ground
Senior Brunch - Emerald Downs 11:00am - 1:00 pm you walk on, will you go
• June 12 Graduation - Showare Event Center, Kent 9:00 am to prom with me?”
4 News
The Falcon Flyer
Years at Kentlake come to a close for Pratt
Jason Hirschey
Copy Editor
Principal Diana Pratt recently announced her plans
to resign from her position as the head of the school.
For the past nine years, Pratt has held this job through
the inclusion of the ninth graders in the high school,
the change from a block to a six-period schedule, re-
vised boundary changes, the new building, the culmi-
nating project, and the HSPE.
Pratt originally moved from an assistant principal
position in the Auburn School District to Kentlake’s
principal in 2001 when she was chosen by former Kent
School District Superintendant, Dr. Barbara Grohe.
“I think they’ll remember, me as the first principal
at Kentlake that stayed for any length of time...that I
stayed with it,” said Pratt.
The formal notice was stated on May 3 after careful
consideration. “Once I made the decision, I met with
the administrative team and made the announcement
to them, and then I had key staff in the building that
I met with; my administrative assistant, security, and
those kind[s] of folks. We had a staff meeting where I
made the announcement to the rest of the staff,” said Photo by Michaela Mandala
Pratt.
In her last few weeks as Kentlake’s principal, Pratt is working hard to close up all the loose ends, preparing for a new principal.
The announcement came in part due to Pratt’s recent
medical leave. “I have two surgeries, I just came back principals with the longest tenure being only two years. kids.”
from one and I have another one in the summer that Pratt opened up a new avenue when she stayed for a Even as she ends her career at Kentlake, Pratt still
has a four to six month [recovery],” said Pratt, “and longer period. “I think she’s provided stability to the has high hopes for a future that continues to put her in
with the changes in accountability, AYP being one of building. I think teacher leaders in this building…are the educational environment, and she is looking for-
those, on top of my health issues, the timing is such as strong and as good as teachers because of her giving ward to working at another job in the district. “I’m eli-
that I needed to step down. So it’s not all AYP, it’s a them the autonomy to do that,” said Landis. gible to retire in just under three years, so I’ll probably
myriad of things aggravated by health issues…because The new principal will bring about new ideas to the focus on that, and then my goal is to retire from public
I can’t do what the building needs me to do if I’m re- various procedures in the school. “Anytime you have education and work in higher education,” said Pratt, “I
covering from surgery.” AYP stands for the Adequate a change in leadership, directions change. So some of have yet to make any final decisions. Hopefully, I will
Yearly Progress of each school. the things we’ve been working on, I think, will go for- be able to share what I’ve learned over the years [with
For many, the announcement was a shock. “If there ward the way we’ve been working on them. And I think others].”
were any signs, I was oblivious to them,” said Vice Prin- other things will get blown out of the water. I think After nine years with one principal, the school will
cipal Bruce Rick. “I knew she was not feeling well, but the direction changes and we all need to change with have to adapt to a different style of leadership. Proba-
I thought she’d stay awhile longer,” said math teacher it. But, I don’t know, I like change. As far as I can see, ble replacements are being considered at the moment.
Virginia Milam. Others were more understanding of Kentlake can always get better,” said Landis. “We are currently in the process of receiving applica-
the decision because of recent events. Jana Landis The impact of the new principal varies from per- tions for high school and middle school principals. It
said, “She’s been here awhile and she’s kind of been son to person depending on their level of acceptance is our hope that the new principal will be named prior
thinking about it, so [am I] surprised by it, no. I wish to change. “It scares me a little bit because everybody’s to the end of the school year,” said Superintendant Ed-
it hadn’t happened the time it had, where she made the afraid of change, but I think we’ll all support whoev- ward Lee Vargas.
announcement then went out on medical [leave], be- er comes in,” said Milam. “Anytime you have a boss For Pratt, the impact is more at home. She said,
cause I think a lot of kids thought a lot of weird things and your boss changes, your work environment can “I’m going to miss Kentlake. It’s been a great place.
that aren’t true.” change,” said Landis, “I think for the most part any- I’ve loved being here. I love the parents. I love the
As Pratt steps down, change will happen. For the first body that gets put in a position as principal wants the kids. I love the staff. It’s a great place to work and I
years after opening in 1997, the school saw a series of best thing for the building and the best thing for the want it to continue to be that way.”

Henderson turns in counselor job for favorite hobbies he said.

Jacob Langholz Henderson is valuable to students because of is his positive demeanor and
Staff Reporter concern for their well-being. “Many people I meet who are my age think that most
young adults today are delinquents and criminals,” said Henderson. Henderson
Jack Henderson announced his retirement after being a counselor since the does not adhere to this group. He said, “Working with high school students would
building opened. It was a plan he had been considering, “I had the idea...way back give anyone a very different and positive perspective and I want to thank...stu-
in September or October,” said Henderson. dents for doing that for me for so many years.”
There are many aspects of his position Henderson will miss “Working with high school As a counselor for young adults, Henderson enjoys giving
and some he will enjoy leaving behind. “There are a number advice. One last piece of advice he has for the students is, “if
of things I won’t miss...like cafeteria lunches and fire drills,”
students would give any-
each of us always tries to treat other people, other creatures,
he said, “I will however miss working on a daily basis with one a very different and and our environment as we would like to be treated, we will
young adults.” positive perspective.” succeed in making the world a better place, and we in turn
Despite the love for his job, Henderson plans to do some - Henderson will be happier individuals.”
of the many hobbies he enjoys. Having the opportunity to help students is only one of the
“I’d like to spend more time on some of these [hobbies] benefits he receives from this job. “I believe it has kept me
than a full-time employment allows. I still water-ski, mostly slalom, whenever I younger than my years. It has helped me remain positive about the prospects for
can find flat water; I love backpacking and fly fishing, and I enjoy building things,” the human race,” said Henderson.
 The Falcon Flyer
News 5
National Honor Society to hold charity event
ently with regards to planning their acts and getting sponsors.
Yasmin Abubakar “We just decided on the first day…[that] as long as you get the stuff done everyone
Student Life Editor can do it however they want,” said Hunt. The schools usually have meetings about
every two weeks to make sure that everyone is staying on track.
The National Honor Societies of Kentlake, Kentwood, and Kent-Meridian are To spread out the work load, the Kentake Honor Society has created several dif-
working together to host a charity event benefitting those devastated by natural ferent committees that are each responsible for a different task. There is a spon-
disasters. sor committee which is in charge of finding sponsors for the
Considering the recent Haitian and Chilean earthquakes event. Some of the businesses that have chosen to sponsor
and other natural disasters, Kentlake Honor Society leaders the concert include Starbucks and QFC. A music committee
Holly Pirret, Erin Hunt, and Rachel Clark decided to pursue is responsible for getting together the acts that will be per-
a way to help and support. They came up with a Rhythm for forming at the event. Against the Grain and the Shoes are a
Relief benefit concert. The event will take place on June 2 couple of the bands that will be performing. There is also a
at Kent-Meridian and will feature an array of entertainment, committee in charge of promoting the event which includes
ranging from musical performances and dance routines to making posters and flyers.
stand-up comedy. The concert is scheduled to take place from 7-10pm. Each
The benefit concert was partly as a result of the Kentlake school will be given roughly one hour for their acts to per-
Honor Society’s desire to work with other Kent Honor Societ- form; however, the acts will not be organized according to
ies. “I had the idea of doing a big project with all the Honor school. For example, after a band from Kentlake has per-
Societies of the Kent schools and…the more we thought about formed, a comedian from Kent-Meridian may be on stage
it the more we realized that this is probably the only chance while the band takes down their equipment. The goal is to
this year when we’d would be able to actually capitalize on keep things flowing without having to make the audience
the idea,” said Pirret, the Honor Society President. wait on various acts.
A concert seemed like a perfect way to bring that plan to In addition to the entertainment, a silent auction will also
life. “Everyone likes music so we thought it would be a great be taking place. Before the concert starts and during the in-
way to get people to want to come and to raise a lot of mon- termission, attendees will be able to bid on auction baskets
ey,” said Hunt, the vice-president. Kentwood, Kent-Meridian created by the Honor Societies, and the highest bidders will
and Kentridge were contacted and asked to take part in the be announced at the end. During the benefit, the Honor So-
charity, however, Kentridge did not respond to the invitation ciety leaders will be talking about the events that inspired
and will not be participating. the charity. “We are going to…[talk] about disasters that
Planning and organizing the benefit has proven to be a de- Photo by Michaela Mandala have happened recently so it’s not going to be all music,” said
manding task, especially with three schools working together. Erin Hunt and Kelsey Drotning at NHS meeting. Hunt.
“It’s definitely more complicated because we involved them… All proceeds from the event will go to the American Red
there’s organizing bands, the acts, and getting sponsors and getting a location and Cross Disaster Relief Fund which provides assistance to those who have been af-
selling tickets. It’s very complicated,” said Pirret. Each school is organized differ- fected by natural disasters.

Acceptance to Multicare camp supports dream

path. An experience last year prompted her de-
Michala Dymond-Shaw cision to become a nurse. “My aunt, she got sick
Staff Reporter [and] she had brain surgery… I had to spend
Junior Alex Tedeschi will have the oppor- a lot of time in the hospital. Just watching the
tunity this summer to experience medicine on nurses and [how] they made her better… that
a first-hand basis. Through a program held by just really inspired me to be a nurse,” Tedeschi
MultiCare, she will have a complete four days to said.
explore the career of nursing. Beforehand, she had never considered nurs-
At the camp, Tedeschi will observe certified ing as an option.
nurses and other health professionals in the “I always thought I was going to do something
care center’s Emergency Department, Intensive musical, like [be] a choir teacher or something.
Care Unit, and surgi- Just the idea of being a nurse, I’d never thought
cal care areas. of it before,” Tedes-
“My aunt, she got sick [and] she chi said.
“I’ll basically be
Applying to camp
following around had brain surgery...I had to spend
was a several step
trained nurses, and a lot of time in the hospital. Just
process, which in-
I’ll observe a surgery,
watching the nurses and [how] volved an essay and
which I’m really ex-
letters of recommen-
cited for,” Tedeschi they made her better...that just dation. Choir teacher
said. Tedeschi will really inspired me to be a nurse.” Anna McLeod was
have CPR/ First AID among those who
certification and her - Alex Tedeschi wrote a letter of rec-
own pair of scrubs ommendation.
upon camp comple- “Alex is one of the
tion. hardest working workers that I have at Kent-
According to Tedeschi, the camp acceptance lake. She consistently produces to a high level,
is competitive. This year, 200 applicants were and when she doesn’t know it, she figures it out.
admitted, 100 of which were juniors and se- Alex is the kind of student anyone would die to
niors. “This is going to look really good on col- have in class,” McLeod said.
lege applications,” Tedeschi said, considering The main reason for Tedeschi’s interest is
her acceptance. not the college application support. “I just want
Despite the fact that she received admission to know what I’m getting into, basically. I think
into a competitive nursing program, nursing it’d just give me a better idea of what it’s like to
has not always been Tedeschi’s intended career become a nurse,” Tedeschi said.
6 News
The Falcon Flyer
“The Rise of Renegade X” proves Campbell an author
Erin Hunt
Staff Reporter
Chelsea Campbell, a Kentlake alumnus, managed to
fulfill her childhood dream on May 11 when her first
novel, “The Rise of Renegade X,” was published.
Campbell wrote the entire novel in 28 days. She at-
tributes the speed to the fact that, “the books I write
the fastest—the ones that I just can’t
stop writing until they’re done--
are the ones I like best.” Although,
Campbell clearly regards “The Rise
of Renegade X” as one of her best
novels, publishing the novel was not
easy.
Without perseverance, Campbell
would likely not be where she is to-
day. “It was a long process that took
about a year and a half,” said Camp-
bell.
She went through one agent who
was unenthusiastic and unable to
sell her book to publishers. “I was
so discouraged at that point,” said
Campbell, “[but] I approached a
new, much better agent, who loved
the book and came with lots of good
recommendations.”
Finally, her novel was accepted by
Egmont USA and put onto shelves
May 11. The entire process took
about three years.
According to amazon.com, “The
Rise of Renegade X” tells the story
of sixteen-year-old Damien Locke.
In the novel, he dreams of attending Campbell’s .rst experience seeing “The Rise of Renegade X” at the Village Bookstore.
the local supervillain university and becoming a pro-
fessional evil genius, just like his supervillain mom.
Unfortunately Locke discovers a slight problem; his
father was actually a superhero. Obviously, the two
have a conflict of interest. Newfound superhero dad
insists on Locke coming to visit for six weeks, much to
Locke’s dismay.
The rest of the novel explores the conflict between
these two ways of life – and the way a young man dis-
Photo by Chelsea Campbell
covers himself.
“[When Damien] finds out he’s half superhero, it
all falls apart in an instant. What I want people to get
from the book is life doesn’t always turn out how you
expect it. You might think you have it all figured out,
you might think you know who you are and where
you’re headed, and then... you might be wrong, or
something completely unexpected might happen to
change things, and ultimately, that’s okay. You might
not turn out to be the person you ex-
pected to be, but you might be someone
better,” said Campbell.
Kentlake served as a solid base fpr
Campbell’s writing career. “I can’t re-
member a time when I didn’t want
to write books. I took a lot of English
classes in high school […] and I think
the English classes I took at Kentlake
had a big influence on me--more so
than any English classes I took in col-
lege,” she said.
Although she is successful now she
was criticized when she was young.
“When I got called down to the office
my senior year at Kentlake for a credit
check, the counselor asked me what I
planned to do with my life. I said I want-
ed to be a writer. She kind of dismissed
that […] as if writing wasn’t a real inter-
est and not something you could make
a career out of. If I’d listened to all the
adults that told me writing was ‘just a
hobby,’ I wouldn’t have a book on the
shelves today,” said Campbell.
From that experience Campbell
learned to never “wait for someone
to give you permission, because they
won’t.”

Kentlake energy consumption shows little motion for better conservation

Matt Davis
Staff Reporter
Principals, custodial staff, and other administrators, were sent an email in
March detailing the district’s and Kentlake’s current statistics on energy use. Ac-
cording to the most recent data, the school has reduced its energy expenditure by
.2 percent since this time last year. This value is also compared, in the email, to
the average percentage of reduction for all the KSD secondary schools, which is a
reduction of 7 percent.
As a result, Kentlake is classified as “needs improvement” and will most likely
work to lower its energy use even further, as well as being the school to lower its
energy use the least since last year.
Energy consumption is something that can be easily changed. “The cost of en-
ergy, both electric and natural gas, is increasing, so any energy saved, helps offset
the increased price,” said Utility Account Specialist Lynn Oliphant.
The district is working with the Resource Conservation Team to decrease the
overall energy consumption. In response to reducing this energy use, the emails
were sent to notify schools of their current energy levels and of how they can work
to reduce it. “We intend to issue these reports on a periodic basis to help raise
awareness about energy conservation in Kent School District,” said Oliphant.
The email also showed charts of the school’s natural gas and electricity use.
Based on the graph, electricity and natural gas use has remained constant since fall
of 2007, and only dropped during the summer months in which school is not in
session. This may also be an area for improvement. Data compiled by Lynn Oliphant
A few of the things Kentlake is supposed to do are “keep doors and windows
closed” and “turn off lights in unoccupied areas.” of natural gas used at Kentlake as well as an overall lower amount of total energy
However, compared to the other high schools in the district, Kentlake’s en- use.
ergy consumption is relatively low. The school uses 3,462 kBtu, which stands for a All of the statistics can be found in these district emails, and are supposed to raise
kilo British thermal unit, a unit of energy measure, per student attending, whereas the community’s and administration’s awareness. “We hope that people will keep
Kentridge uses 5,377 kBtu. This lower value is partially attributed to the low level energy conservation in their mind,” said Oliphant.

Apple accident confuses
Ryan Snyder
Staff Reporter
The night of March 18, 2010 will forever go down
in history as the night that Apple Incorporated lost
a prototype iPhone. The phone, traced back to engi-
neer Gray Powell working at Apple, changed hands
multiple times and $5,000 later into the hands of
Gizmodo, a tech blog website. Apple is a very pri-
vate company and in its history, has not intention-
ally leaked a product, so it would be fair to say this
phone was not leaked on purpose; the phone was
sold shortly after it was found.
The iPhone was accidentally left in a bar by a
24-year-old employee. Apple, in all its 35 years
as a company, has always upheld the tightest se-
curity on its products. Employees have been fired
for leaking news of products to outsiders, and the
company has been known to spread disinformation
about product plans to its own workers. Edward
Eigerman was fired from Apple in 2005 when he
was implicated in an incident in which a co-worker
leaked a preview of some new software to a busi-
ness customer as a favor. In an interview with the
New York Times, Eigerman said Apple routinely
tries to find and fire leakers.
Most companies do not share information be-
fore it is publically released, Apple, on the other
hand, has told employees incorrect information
and then cracked down on employees for releasing
the information; intentionally setting up possible
leakers for failure. Above all, why would Apple just
happen to leave a prototype phone out in the wild?
It is just not something they would do for public-
ity; Apple has a good thing going, keep informa-
tion private and then release it on a grand scale. It
worked for the iPod, it worked for the iPhone, and
it worked for the iPad.
Amid the weeks before it was released to all
corners of the internet, this new phone was in the
hands of a truly random person. This person said
he tried hard to return it to its owner, but who, in
their right mind, would not pass up the chance to
sell it to a tech blog for a nice sum of money. Giz-
modo, the internet blog that bought it, said it did
not know it was stolen property, or a genuine Apple
product for that matter, but upon investigation, i.e.
tearing it open and digging around inside, it real-
ized this was a legitimate product from Apple.
Let us just say that in the end Apple got the phone
back, after writing a nice letter of course. Questions
do arise, however, about Apple suing Gizmodo, or
Apple firing Powell, and every other question about
what Apple is going to do. A computer crime task
force, literally broke into the journalists home, who
wrote about the phone on Gizmodo, and seized
several computers and other equipment. Whatever
happened to free speech? It must have gone out the
window when Apple became the King Kahuna.
This whole situation is perplexing to say the
least. The turn of events seemed illogical because
why would the finder of the phone not try harder
to return it, and why would Steve Jobs let someone
take a prototype to a bar. Let this be a lesson for
Apple and other tech companies too, to not be ir-
responsible with unreleased products, and to keep
employees and fan boys in line.
Oil spill blame only part corporation
Jerel Henderson
Staff Reporter
Black gold, Texas tea, fossil fuel, petroleum, or more
commonly known as oil, is a commodity of great debate
for Americans. It is a natural recourse that many find
fault with, but have no trouble using in their everyday
lives. Historically, oil has always been sought after,
and fought over. It is no different now just as it was
centuries ago. However, as technology has advanced,
so too has the use of oil around the world. This use,
or over-use, depending on how one looks at it has
certainly caused a recent stir off the Gulf Coast.
The trouble first began when the oil rig, Deepwater
Horizon, exploded April 20, and sank two days later.
A wellhead blowout was the cause of the explosion and
death of eleven workers. The rig was stationed about
40-miles off the coast of Louisiana and operated by a
company called Transocean. Meanwhile, Transocean
managed the platform through a lease with world
oil superpower, British Petroleum (BP). The good
news is that BP has taken
responsibility for the toxic
leak, but says the real fault lies
“Oil is a natural
with the Transocean workers resource that
for not recognizing or repairing
the leak sooner. BP estimates
many find fault
that it has spent 500 million with, but have no
already cleaning up the spill as trouble
of May 17.
No matter the company
using in their
or person at fault, the real everyday lives.”
loser in the whole situation
is the Gulf Coast Region.
With an estimated 5,000
barrels of oil a day flooding into the Gulf of Mexico,
the damage will assuredly be disastrous. The Florida
Keys National Marine Sanctuary is the third largest
coral reef in the world. Specialized fish and wildlife
that live in the sanctuary will undoubtedly suffer
catastrophic environmental damage because of the
world’s dependence on oil. Furthermore, the usually
sparkling water off the coast of Louisiana and Florida
has recently turned black because of the effects of the
spill. monetary relief is better than nothing for the afflicted
What’s worse is the clean-up effort is ruining the
ocean just as much as the initial spill. For instance,
The Falcon Flyer
Op-Ed 7
the chemical dispersants that workers are using are
causing a depletion of oxygen levels in the ocean. Also,
controlled fires are being used to burn the oil that
rises to the surface of the water. What’s better than
ruining a habitat with an unfathomable amount of oil?
Probably not further destroying that same habitat by
trying to clean up the original problem. Conversely,
many would argue that trying to clean up the damage
is better than letting it fester. However, it seems that
no matter what is to be done about the spill, colossal
harm has already fallen upon thousands of species
living in the affected area.
Indeed the spill has been the center of attention for
many Americans for the last few weeks. However, one
question consistently asked is: what is the government
doing about it? When the small island nation of Haiti
suffered a cataclysmic earthquake, the U.S. was one
of the first nations offering aid. Why, then, is there
minimal response from the government dealing with
an issue in there own jurisdiction? Albeit the spill is
not on American soil – it is still inherently important
for Southern U.S. industry. To name a
few, tourism, commercial fishing, and
energy are all incredibly important
industries that are sure to suffer a
crippling blow from the spill.
Just as the executive branch was
slow to cope with Hurricane Katrina,
President Obama is dragging his
feet in dealing with the Deepwater
Horizon debacle. The South needs
leadership, assistance, and hope
– three things that the current
president has promised time and
time again. However, people living in
the South have had no recent assurance from Obama
or the government. Furthermore, the spill could not
have come at a worse time because the president just
compromised on possible oil drilling off the east coast
of the U.S.
With so many wrongs, it is awfully hard to find any
right in this dreary situation. In addition to cleaning up,
BP has made available 25 million dollar block grants
for the states of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and
Florida. Even though money cannot buy happiness,
states. BP is doing all that it can in order to lessen the
public relations impact that this horrible event has
caused. Still, what many Americans would rather
have instead of the money is the assurance that these
types of events will never occur in the future.
Photos by the Chicago Tribune
8 Op-Ed
The Falcon Flyer
Recent Arizona legislature encourages racial profiling
Brian Benshoof
Staff Reporter

As you stroll down 272nd Street in Covington you marvel at the

Professional
newspapers
sound off about
the immigration
law
Protests to Arizona
immigration law expected
at Florida Marlins game
Chicago Tribune
More immigrants cross into
Arizona as state takes on
Photo by The Miami Herald illegal immigrant fight
Arizona’s Effort to Bolster Local
Immigration Authority Divides
Law Enforcement
Photo by The Chicago Tribune
Photo by The New York Times
Artwork by Keirra Elfalan
wonders of America. A lonely city that began with only a McDon-
alds and Johnnies Food Mart has now expanded beyond anyone
wildest imagination. Costco, Home Depot, Kohls, Applebee’s, and
even a Petco; Covington has progressed immensely, along with
the good ol’ U S of A. A police officer struts towards you and you
give a polite nod. What is this? He is asking you for your immi-
gration papers. You are taken aback, stunned and horrified at
his question. You don’t have the proper paperwork with you. He
shakes his head and places your horrified self into the back of his
cruiser. You have just been classified as in illegal immigrant and
are likely to be deported.
On April 23 Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed Support Our Law
Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (SOLESNA) stating
that it is “a state crime for illegal immigrants to not have an alien
registration document [and allowing police] to question people
about their immigration status if there is reason, other than
race, ethnicity or national origin, to suspect they are illegal im-
migrants.”
What has Uncle Sam, or should I say Aunt Jan, done? SOLE-
SNA is possibly the most racist and profoundly controversial bill
to pass through the Senate. Last time I checked my dictionary
“illegal” is defined as forbidden by law or statute. So if we are not
stomping our foot down on Jose as he crawled under our fence
the first time, then we are just breaking our own laws.
As a par- tial resident
of Arizona I “SOLESNA is have visited
the state doz-
and seen
possibly the most ens of times
first-hand
the amount racist and of illegals
that inhabit profoundly it. Driving
to Home De- controversial bill pot with my
Uncle Jim
to pass through proves a
daunting task with the
amount of the Senate.” question-
able “citizens” that run
up to our car. Cheap labor
is so easy to get any resident is faced with the dilemma of “do
I even need to do this myself?” Politicians have argued that the
Arizona economy could take a further turn for the worse if all the
immigrants are deported or flee to other states.
Why is that a problem? Oh yes because Americans are unwill-
ing to do any task for themselves when it is easier to hire Jose to
spread gravel for $8.00 an hour. Will the world go mad if we have
to wash our own dishes and mow our own lawns? However, the
Arizona law is tough. Companies that knowingly employ illegal
workers will have their business licenses suspended for a first of-
fense and permanently revoked for the second.
President Barack Obama said “the recent efforts in Arizona
which threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness that we
cherish as Americans.” Does that mean the leader of the most
powerful country in the world is going to do something? If the
law in wrong in his eyes he would fix it right? “In fact, I have in-
structed members of my administration to closely monitor the
situation and examine the civil rights and other implications of
this legislation.” The President is not stopping the child running
with scissors, just watching him do it. Although the fact that the
law is still intact is good because it deserves to be, it is unnerving
to know that our President will not step in and do anything.
In the end Arizona is trying to purge themselves of an illness
they acquired too long ago, and one that is to widespread too
manage. Toss Jose back and keep him in Mexico and move on
to the next person strolling down the street, and we can begin to
rid America of non-Americans, a concept that for some reason
too many of us cannot understand. Although this law encourages
racial profiling, it is a step in the right direction. As American’s
we need to practice doing things for ourselves again, even if it
requires some “tough love” on our southern amigo’s.
Miley Cyrus moves far past innocent Disney star
Keirra Elfalan
Staff Reporter
She first caught the eye of viewers when she was
just thirteen years old as she joked and
laughed on television for her role in the
hit series Hannah Montana. She gained
the hearts of many and became arguably
the most famous teenager on the plan-
et. Most teens grew up with her as they
watched her rise to success. Disney’s big-
gest child star found herself becoming a
pop music sensation across nations. Ev-
eryone knew her as the Miley who sang
pop music and balanced friendship and
school while also throwing in a few hu-
morous southern jokes here and there;
as the Miley who would always stay a
child at heart--- they were wrong.
As Cyrus grew older, her shorts grew
shorter and her heels grew higher. She
matured as fast as she went through
boyfriends. As she matured, her music
matured, and so did her videos. Her
newest video, “Can’t Be Tamed” which
was shown for the first time on May 4,
showed a new side of Cyrus that “could
not be tamed.” She expressed her point
which came across as quite obvious as
she portrayed a bird (with more skin
than most) who struggled to break free from a cage. She
strutted around the set in a skimpy outfit that looked
unfinished as she expressed her sexuality comfortably.
The Falcon Flyer
Op-Ed 9
It seems as though Cyrus is looking for much older grown into her success, and apparently out of her
viewers in this video that will most likely not make it’s shorts. She is an excellent role model for her little sis-
way to the Disney channel as most of her videos have ter who dressed up as big sis Miley for Halloween. She
done before. She is beginning to create a new image sported a tight little outfit in an attempt to express
herself, and she did just that as she
supported the new look in “Playboy
magazine.” Older Cyrus seemed to be
proud, she probably bought the “ex-
act” same outfit afterwards, size and
everything.
It is safe to say that Cyrus is grow-
ing beyond Disney Channel, but why
would they still want her? After all she
has put on display for all of the world
to see, most parents will most likely
restrict their children from watching
Hannah Montana. Cyrus has not done
anything to ensure another season
of Hannah Montana, so why should
there be another season? She has hit
the big screens now and her Disney
boyfriends are just not cutting it.
None of this should not be shock-
ing news since in the past she has said
that Britney Spears is her Idol, but
clearly she does not want to be known
as a good little girl anymore. As for
Editorial Cartoon by Kierra Elfalan her fans, maybe they should take ref-
uge in a new star like Demi Lovato or
Selena Gomez, because Cyrus is not
for herself, an image that parents will most likely child coming back. The new sophisticated Miley is exactly
proof from their televisions. where she wants to be, in the restricted section under
Cyrus is the perfect example of someone who has “Adult Entertainment.”

South Park angers with its parodies, although unrightly so

Keith Bolender
Staff Reporter
South Park has, for a long
time, walked the thin line be-
tween humorous and offensive
content. They have poked fun at
several different groups of peo-
ple, and several world religions.
The character, Eric Cartman, in
just about every episode, spews
hate speech, sometimes about
Picture by notcoming.com
minorities, but usually about
the Jewish people. In other epi-
sodes South Park has made fun
of almost every branch of Chris-
tianity, namely Mormons and
Catholics, they have taken jabs
at Scientology as well as show-
ing God as a mix of human, hip-
popotamus, and frog. The point
is, nobody is off limits to South
Park. In a recent episode South
Park depicted the prophet of
the Muslim faith, Muhammad,
in a U-Haul, and in a bear cos-
tume, never actually showing
his face or any part of his body.
Later in the episode, they re-
vealed it was Santa Clause in
the bear suit, not ever showing
the prophet and making a point
about how fearing extremist
groups is harmful.
Since the airing of this epi-
sode, the creators of South
Park, Trey Parker and Matt
Stone, have been receiving hate
mail and death threats, most
notably from the organization
Revolution Muslim. Revolution
Muslim is an Islamic extrem-
ist group that is based in New
York City. That’s right, an Is-
lamic extremist group that cel-
ebrates the anniversary of 9/11,
and praises Osama Bin Laden,
is based where the shadows of
the World Trade Center once
lay. They do this while enjoy-
ing our freedoms because we,
as Americans, value even their
right to the freedom of their
own expression. “We have to
warn Matt and Trey that what
they are doing is stupid and
they will probably wind up
like Theo Van Gogh for airing
this show. This is not a threat,
but a warning of the real-
ity of what will likely happen
to them,” said Abu Talhah al
Amrikee, head of Revolution
Muslim. Theo Van Gogh was a
Dutch film director, producer
and was murdered by Moham-
med Bouyeri, a Dutch-Moroc-
can Muslim, in 2004. Death
threats, no matter the circum-
stances are a serious matter. In
response Stone and Parker said
,”In the 14 years we’ve been do-
ing ‘South Park’ we have never
done a show that we couldn’t
stand behind. We delivered our
version of the show to Comedy
Central and they made a deter-
mination to alter the episode. It
wasn’t some meta-joke on our
part. Comedy Central added
the bleeps. In fact, Kyle’s cus-
tomary final speech was about
intimidation and fear. It didn’t
mention Muhammad at all but
it got bleeped too. We’ll be back
next week with a whole new
show about something com- Stone and Parker should keep
pletely different and we’ll see writing and producing this fan-
what happens to it.” tastic series and should not shy
As a result of these threats, away from further controversy.
Comedy Central has pulled the South Park promotes peace and
episode to further censor its understanding through some-
content. This action gives more times controversial means,
power to extremist groups like and really gets its point across.
Revolution Muslim. It seems I hope South Park keeps play-
many people have missed the ing for a long time, because our
point of South Park, it is an country needs it.
animated satire. This means
it takes something to the ex-
treme to show how ridiculous
and wrong something is. Some-
times this point is lost on the
viewer and this is why South
Park has received some of its
past scrutiny. If people really
believe that this show promotes
violence and intolerance then
maybe they should take a look
at how Stone was brought up:
Matt Stone is ethnically Jewish,
and he is a writer and voice ac-
tor for a show that makes fun of
anti-semites.
If a group like Revolution
Muslim is going to base itself on
American soil where they can
enjoy the freedom of expres-
sion they should not be issuing
death threats to a show that
uses that right to its full extent.
As for Comedy Central, censor-
ing the episode only gives such Picture by notcoming.com
extremist groups more power.
Pursuing the American Dream
Two immegrant students tell their story of how they got here and what it means
Far from home, close to future
Spencer Transier
Webmaster
T
he story of Arach Okullu, or Jackie,
as she is now called, is a fascinating
tale of a family moving to the United
States to have a better, safer, and more en-
riching life.
Okullu’s life in Kenya was far from easy.
Her family had little income, and food was
hard to come by. The Kenyan education
system was a meager as the food, with few-
er subjects and “mostly math,” said Okullu.
But Okullu was lucky to go to school, luckier
than many of the children in her town who
had to stay home to work family farms. Ev-
ery day, she walked to the town’s school, a
single building for kindergarten through
12th grade. At lunch, students went home,
where they cooked and cleaned up their
own meals. Then, students filed back in the
afternoon to finish the day’s studies, return-
ing home in the early evening.
Although small and far from modern com-
pared to Covington, Okullu’s town was more
established than many other Kenyan
towns. Few cars drove on its streets, and
the main mode of transportation was
walking and bicycle riding.
Looking for a better life, Okullu’s fam-
ily began the immigration process in 2001.
Because there are so many families trying to
accomplish the same thing, Okullu had to
wait two and a half years in a refugee camp
before finally coming to the US in 2004. She
was eleven years old.
Though she came for a better life, the
transition to America is not all for the bet-
ter. Besides leaving behind many close
friends, Okullu and her two sisters had to
leave their parents and other, younger sib-
lings behind. One day, Okullu wants to visit
Kenya, though only to be reunited with her
family, not to stay for good.
She is glad for the people she has met
in America, and found making friends to be
a very easy process, and many people have
treated her well.
Okukllu and her sister, Apur “Susan”
Okullu, live with their older sister, who is
35. The eldest sister works as a caregiver at
an Auburn rest home. Her sister’s work as
a caregiver has inspired Okullu to work in
health services. Though she is not certain if
she would like to be a nurse, dentist, or doc-
tor, Okullu wants to help people improve
their lives, just as she has found a way to
improve hers.
Change of place, change of pace
Cynthiann Heckelsmiller
Co-Editor In Chief
W
ith his spiky hair and gargantuan smile, it
is obvious that Phong Truong has a spe-
cial zest for life. An outgoing student, Tru-
ong dreams of being a professional chef. This dream
stems from his early days in his homeland, Vietnam.
The first member of Truong’s family to come to
America was his grandmother. She left her homeland
after the Vietnam-American War for a better life. Af-
ter living in California for about 30 years, she asked
her family to join her in 1999. Truong’s parents began
the long and arduous progress of immigration. After
filing the necessary paperwork, the family waited for
permission from the Vietnamese government to leave
the country. “There are a lot of people waiting for
the call, for permission,” said Truong. The long list
of emigrants meant that the family had to wait nine
years. Finally, in 2008, Truong moved with his family
to the US, finding a home in the Covington area.
Even though he likes it here, Truong has many
fond memories of growing up in Ho Chi Minh City,
the largest city in Vietnam. In the steamy tropical air
and hustle-and-bustle the city is famous for, Truong
enjoyed hanging out with friends and going to school.
Ho Chi Minh City is the most densely populated city
in Vietnam, so everything is packed close together.
This leaves little room for cars, so the main trans-
portation is by foot or bicycle. This brings people to-
gether, as they can get to each other quickly. At night,
the city comes alive. “It’s fun,” said Truong. “At night
everybody goes out to hang out and do stuff. At night
it is beautiful in Ho Chi Minh.”
School life in Vietnam was different than it is here.
For one, Truong recalls fewer standardized tests.
Truong with friends in Ho Chi Minh City, the heart of South Vietnam.
With only one computer in the classroom “In Viet-
nam, you write out [everything] on paper and give it
to the teacher” said Truong. There were also fewer
class subjects. “Here you guys have a lot of tests in
stuff like biology,” said Truong, “but in Vietnam you
do not have a lot.” Also, the schools there did not
provide athletics. The students organized their own
soccer and basketball games, and went swimming to-
gether. “Now I have PE class, and I go there to play,”
said Truong.
Compared to Ho Chi Minh, Covington is life in
the slow lane. “Here is boring,” said Truong. Though
the school day is more involved, afterwards, “You go
home, do your homework or hang out, but you have
to use a car.” Truong misses the proximity of city life.
Here, to have fun “you have to go far away,” said Tru-
ong. “In Vietnam, they live together… You can walk
or ride bicycle[s]. Here you have to ride in [a] car. [It]
is very different.”
Truong carried his dream of being a chef with him
from Vietnam, and hopes to translate it in America.
He fondly remembers the man who inspired him.
“There was this one Chinese guy, and, oh my
God, he [made] me feel hungry.” The chef
offered him sound advice and inspi-
ration. Said Truong, “He said, ‘Yen
can cook, so you can cook too.’” Now
Truong wants to become a profes-
sional chef, though he does not
want to specialize in Vietnamese
cuisine. “Because I stay here,” said
Truong, “when I go to school they
[will] just teach American [cook-
ing].” Someday he plans to open
a restaurant. His signature dish?
“Macaroni and cheese,” said Tru-
ong, with a laugh. “It’s good!”
Photo courtesy of Phong Truong
 12 Arts&Entertainment
The Falcon Flyer

Iron Man 2 delivers

Photo by criticalfilmcondition.com

Kelsey Bolton and loses all shred of sanity persona that

Staff Reporter
Classic comic book characters have been the
latest fascination for movie makers. There have been
sequels to numerous films made about these legendary
superheroes and Iron Man is no exception. From
director Jon Favreau, the man who brought Iron Man
to the screen, comes Iron Man 2. With as much action
as its predecessor, Iron Man 2 fails to disappoint.
The movie begins in Moscow, Russia with Anton
Vanko lying on his death bed watching Tony Stark
(Robert Downey, Jr.) reveal that he is Iron Man. Anton’s
son, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), begins to build his
own arc reactor after watching his father die. The story
line then moves forward six months to the opening
of Stark Expo. Stark has maintained world peace and
refuses to comply with the government’s demands of
relinquishing the Iron Man technology. This crusade
of government harassment is led by Senator Stern
(Garry Shandling). Being the egotistical character he
is, Stark publicly humiliates his competitor Justin
Hammer (Sam Rockwell).
As the plot unravels, it is revealed that Stark is
slowly dying from the palladium in the arc reactor,
the device keeping him alive. All his searches for a
replacement element have been met with failure.
Since he is convinced he is dying, Stark appoints
Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), his former personal
assistant, as the CEO of Stark Industries, hires Natalie
Rushman (Scarlett Johansson) as his new assistant,
until Nick Fury (Samuel L. Pepper has.
Jackson) tells him to pull his Don Cheadle
act together. replaced
Some of the characters Terrence
were modernized for the film. Howard as
The character Ivan Vanko is Lieutenant
a combination of Whiplash C o l o n e l
and Crimson Dynamo. There James Rhodes.
are four different comic book C h e a d l e ’ s
characters named Whiplash which performance was
is confusing. Anton Vanko is Crimson just as amazing if not
Dynamo in the comic books and is a Photo by fancast.com better than Howard’s.
Soviet scientist who had a PhD in physics and Johansson was new to the
created an exoskeleton with electrical whips. This cast and did a wonderful job
is the armor of Crimson Dynamo. Also he attempts to playing Stark’s seductive yet mysterious
kill Iron Man, but fails and out of fear of being deported assistant Natalie.
back to Russia begins working for Tony Stark. Throughout the movie there were comical and witty
In the film Ivan is the son of Anton and is the one lines said by the characters. This added spice to the
who builds an arc reactor with electrical whips on an film due to the script being well written. Along with
exoskeleton frame. Almost everything Ivan is in the the outstanding script there was a fantastic use of CGI.
film is what Anton is in the comic books except for the A beautiful demonstration is the Iron Man and War
Soviet scientist part. That still applies to Anton. Machine suits. Also, the soundtrack for the movie was
The acting throughout the movie was incredible. classic. Numerous AC/DC songs were used during the
Downey played the role of Stark with ease. Although, film which complimented the CGI.
this could be due to his experience portraying As a whole the movie was exceptional. Although
characters who are egotistical, womanizing, and/or it was not as brilliant as the first, but that does not
rich. In the past Downey has been in films such as Less diminish how marvelous it is. There is no film that
than Zero, Soapdish, and Two Girls and a Guy. could upstage the astounding explosions right now.
Paltrow’s portrayal of Pepper was as excellent as in This is the perfect movie to kick off a blockbuster
the first film. She continued the organized and precise summer.
 Arts&Entertainment
Is Apple’s tablet necessary?
Ryan Snyder
Staff Reporter
At a keynote in late January, Apple Incorporated showcased a “magical and
revolutionary product,” and that product was, in fact, the iPad. Many skeptics
viewed the iPad as having no purpose, but that is not what was going through the
minds of over one million people when they bought one. In fact, the iPad is not
without purpose; it has a wide variety of uses, the best use, however, is in the living
room.
The applications have not changed all that much from the transition from iPod
Touch to iPad. Although, voice memos, stocks, weather, clock, and the calculator
apps have been omitted. Most of the apps were spruced up to look a little businessier.
One addition to the list of apps, is the new iBooks app and the iBookstore cleverly
hidden behind the bookshelf once inside the app. The application itself is very easy
to use, the pages behave just like a real books page would. iBooks are affordably
priced with the wide selection of free books.
When compared to the screen on the iPod Touch there is no comparison. The
screen is so much more vivid and crisp, while the Touch’s screen is bright and all
too colorful. Apps meant for the iPod Touch can be played on the iPad but they will
only be the size of the ipods screen. You can increase the size to full screen but the
resolution is bad. Games and apps designed especially for the iPad are high quality
and the resolution is great.
On the home screen, the iPad can house up to six apps in the tray. In addition,
when on the home screen the iPad can be in vertical or horizontal orientation and
adjust accordingly. On the right side of the device is a switch that can lock it in
either orientation, the volume rocker is just below. There is a speaker on the bottom
that is has superior sound quality compared to any of the iPods. In addition, next
to the battery symbol on the screen is a percentage of how much battery is left.
Something not found on the iPod or iPhone.
Both music apps on the iPod and iPad are easy to navigate, but iPod’s app is more
desirable, because the iPad’s is just a slimmed down version of iTunes, without
coverflow; which is unpleasing to say the least. Photos on the iPad was redesigned
to be a lot more user friendly, and with the addition of Faces and Places
from iPhoto on the Mac. Videos on the iPad is
essentially the same, except
The Falcon Flyer
13
now you can view the covers of your movies. YouTube has changed, as you can now
watch videos in vertical orientation and the page looks just like one you would see
on a webpage. Videos can still be watched in horizontal orientation, as it will take
up the entire screen.
The iPad’s wifi is considerably better than the iPod Touch. When loading up the
New York Times’ website, the iPad was done at least four to five seconds before
the iPod. Although, the iPad is no match for a laptop but only lagged a few seconds
behind. All tests were done on the same wifi connection, from about 25 feet away.
I would not recommend the iPad as a replacement for an iPod, or a computer
for that matter. It is strictly in a category of its own. The iPad is perfect for the
living room in the sense that it can be used to shoot off a quick email, check the
sports scores, or even watch a movie on Netflix. The iPad is however not for typing
long papers, even with the iWork apps. The keyboard is awkward, especially with is
lying on a table, when it is on your lap it is not any better. I would suggest getting a
Bluetooth keyboard for hardcore writing purposes.
As a student that is tight on cash already, do not go asking your parents for a loan
just yet. The iPad, well this generation, is aimed at our parents, who do not feel like
squinting. If, however, you can lay down a couple “Benjamin’s,” this device may be
revolutionary for gaming or taking notes in your class, permitted your teacher will
let you, of course.
Essentially the iPad is a giant iPod Touch, but then again it is not. It is a device
many people will not need, but is something to have just because it is awesome. The
iPad, however, does have some good uses and is universal. So, do not listen to what
you have heard about it, go down to the Apple store and try it out. The iPad might
be your next purchase.
Photo by webmonkey.com
 14 Arts&Entertainment
The Falcon Flyer

Hoodwinked by Robin Hood

Jerel Henderson on a tad too strong for my liking. Crowe’s temperament is devoid of emotion. He is
more like a Spartan warrior than a cunning vigilante. It almost seemed like Crowe
Staff Reporter and Scott were attempting to recreate their previous masterpiece, Gladiator,
And So The Legend Begins… Unfortunately these are the last words that appear instead of breaking new ground on an oft-told tale.
on the screen after 140 minutes of feature-length cinema. Robin Hood has ended Crowe and dirt aside, the cast was one of the bright spots in an unusually dark
and a legend has begun. With a film with so many rights, film. Robin’s rag-tag gang of companions is very well represented. Little John (Kevin
a few fatal flaws really bring out the imperfections Durand) is burling oaf that smashes enemies and heaves deer carcasses over
in this newest rendition of a fan-favorite hero. his shoulders. Friar Tuck (Mark Addy) is an alcoholic evangelist that is less
Director Ridley Scott effectively manages a clergyman and more a beekeeper. Other stand-out performances are
to convey a sense of grit and adventure given by Oscar-winner Kate Blanchett as Marion Loxley and Mac Von
in England that pays homage to the Sydow as Sir Walter Loxley. Nevertheless, the good acting cannot
legendary Robin Loxley. Be warned, bail Robin Hood out of the mire that is its script.
however, that you may still be As previously stated, the setting and acting was superb. Also,
hungry for the real movie to begin the cinematography and effects were polished and entertaining.
after Scott’s tale of the famous What really diminishes the whole film is the extreme feeling
archer comes to a conclusion. of “style over substance.” That is, its one fatal flaw is the
Although not entirely difficult script itself. The whole movie seems like a prequel to the
to find a green, wet, and rainy next installment where the real action begins. Instead of
location, the setting of the film concentrating on Robin’s heroic deeds, Scott delves into
is spot-on. The environments the personal life story of his hero. The script is simply not
in the movie truly represent interesting enough for the viewer care. There is not enough
England at the turn of the conflict to justify a two-hour-plus epic.
12th century. There are foggy With a darker, battle-hungry Robin Hood, Scott gives the
beaches, mossy hills, and an audience something different from the legend we all know
unfathomable amount of mud. and love. Crowe and crew focus on the man behind the legend,
So much mud in fact that every when it is the legend that people have loved for years. Worse
character in the film seemed to still, I feel like the title “Robin Hood” was only used because it
have sullied clothing and dirt under is very recognizable. The film could have been just the same by
their fingernails. People did live off the changing the characters names and the title. This fact disappoints
land in those days, but it is strange that me the most because it is merely just a medieval battle-movie with
every character in the film – even the royal colorful characters like Robin Hood, and top-billing actors like Russel
family - is covered with smudges and grime. Photo by guardian.co.uk Crowe.
Regrettably, Scott stays with this theme If you can’t wait to strap on your buckler and saddle up your stead to a
throughout the movie. The young lad with a bow, skirmish I would recommend Ridley Scott’s new Robin Hood. However, Robin
topped with a fathered cap has been replaced by a warrior Hood: Men in Tights, the 1993 film by Mel Brooks is incredibly more hilarious and
clad in chain mail. There is a certain dark, gritty feeling to all scenes. Russell Crowe entertaining. Also, it portrays the legend of Robin of Loxley the way he is meant to
does a marvelous job of bringing the master-archer to life. Unfortunately, he comes be – light-hearted and fun.

Sweet dreams and goodnight, children

Brian Benshoof original plot. By that I mean the character Freddy is was serious when he should have been sarcastic, light-
Staff Reporter present and that is it. Nancy Thompson, the original hearted when he should have been murderful. (No
character from previous Nightmare’s is replaced with fear was placed in my heart from him.) His trademark
Imagine a world where you cannot fall asleep. Fear Nancy Holbrook. All straw hat gave
drives you away from unconsciousness, away from male roles have the impression
that divine rest. The fear of a horrible creature lurking been switched with of a mentally-
throughout your subconscious, ready to strike you the Twilight-wanna- challenged
moment your eyes close. Sadly no fear such as this be’s, resulting in my c o w b o y .
was delivered in the latest remake of “A Nightmare jump when they were After an hour
on Elm Street” which delivered disappointment brutally slaughtered and half I will
and unexcitement to any watcher of the original. (jump for joy that never get back,
“Nightmare” was originally released in 1984 and is). The script was I was certainly
directed by infamous Wes Craven. In the original predictable for a disappointed. In
film, Freddy Krueger is a horrifying middle- horror flick and lacked my books for a
aged man who murdered children on Elm Street. any pizazz. Teenagers horror movie to be
After being released from prison on a paperwork enjoy life, teenagers a success I must
technicality, vengeful parents chased him down into get murdered. jump out of my
the boiler room in which he habited himself. Role Did you save any seat at least 10
model parents set fire to the boiler room where he popcorn because times. The only
was burned alive. Now as a demon, Krueger stalks the “film” is over. time when I left my
Photo by slashfilm.com
teenagers in their dreams, toying with them until Ignoring the plot seat was when my
eventually brutally slaying them with his razor glove (or lack thereof) Freddy Kruger stalks children in A Nightmare on Elm Street. very full bladder
in the most gruesome and inhumane way possible. Krueger (portrayed needed relief as
Skipping through a handful of sequels, present by Jackie Earle Haley) was revamped in a horrendous credits rolled in and I waddled my way out of the theater,
day “Nightmare” is based very loosely upon the way. His burns brought more nausea than fear. Krueger with crossed legs and a disappointed feeling in my heart.

PROM!
Cartoon by Michaela Mandala
Prom will be held on Saturday, June 5 from 9-12 PM in the concert center of the Experience
Music Project. As the night approaches, attendance expectations have skyrocketed, especially
considering the senior class budget. The theme is Out of this World. Tickets go on sale on Mon-
day.
StudentLife
The Falcon Flyer
15
South Pacific
Cressey and cast return triumphant
Holly Pirret
Sports Editor
Towering palm trees and haunting melodies transformed the PAC
from a blank slate into a tropical island wonderland for two weeks in
early May. The recent production of “South Pacific” marked a trium-
phant return for director Pam Cressey and a successful run for the
drama department.
“It was very well executed, and I wasn’t as sick of [the play] as I usu-
ally am at that point...I’m glad the story came through, and that’s due
to the talent of our actors,” said Cressey. Senior Melanie Bibko, who
played Ensign Nellie Forbush, had similar thoughts. “I feel like once
we started performing it went really well,” said Bibko. While Cressey
and the cast seem delighted by the outcome of the show, it was not
quite a financial smash. “So far we have broken even,” said Cressey.
But considering the economy, and the fact that dozens of free tickets
were given away to veterans, Cressey maintains that it was a financial
success.
With the help of a double cast, Cressey created a chameleon show
that mixed and mashed up the talents of new and veteran actors alike.
Depending on the night of attendance, a viewer could see two individu-
al takes on the same play. Senior Allison Combs and junior Mackenzie
Higgins made up one pair of the six double casted leads; they shared
the role of the character Bloody Mary in the production. Although they
played the same character, each displayed different strengths in their
performances. For example, Combs proved to be the superior actress,
but Higgins showed a greater singing talent. Bibko explains the diffi-
culty of being double cast. “It was really fun because I loved who I was
working with, but we didn’t get enough time to rehearse singularly,”
she said. The problems of double casting made it increasingly stressful
as opening night approached. “It was very sketchy in practice because
we’d never gotten through the whole show until the day before our final
dress rehearsal,” said Bibko.

Tired of Paying $150 for a tuxedo?

(We understand)
We have complete packages
starting at $69.99 Photo courtesy of Craig Heffner
Craig Heffner and Melanie Bibko as Emile de Becque and Nellie Forbush.

NO RUSH FEES! While “South Pacific” brought many fresh faces to the stage, one new
star stood out from the rest. When questioned on the origin of talented
senior Greg Smith, Cressey jokingly said, “Who?” Her evasive answer
undoubtedly stems from the fact that Smith does not attend Kentlake.
He is a student at Kentwood. “He’s [Barry] Smith’s son, and I [cast
Greg] as a favor to him,” said Cressey. Although students do not usually
take part in another school’s production, there is precedent for such an
unusual casting decision. In the fall of 2008 the drama programs of
Kentridge and Kent-Meridian joined to put on the musical “Fame.”
Regardless of where he came from, Smith smashed it out of the
.POEBZ'SJEBZ

t
4BUVSEBZ

t
4VOEBZ
 park as Lieutenant Joseph Cable, a role he split with sophomore Zach
Vermillion. Highlights from the production include Smith serenading

&BTU
.BJO
4USFFU
t
"VCVSO
the crowd with “Younger than Springtime” and the outrageous cross-
253.833.2750 dressing of senior Jayson Baughan as Luther Billis in “Honey Bun”.
362476

Now that the spring production has finally come to an end, Cressey
www.rottlesclothing.com can turn her attention to next year’s performances. Currently she is
exploring the idea of doing “Hairspray” as a fall musical, but pulling
off that show successfully will take a lot of help. “Hairspray” explores
the question of racial integration, but in order to do the play Cressey
will need a more diverse cast. “I need black people to come and join
drama!” said Cressey.
 16 StudentLife
The Falcon Flyer

Welch snags Mr. Kentlake crown “Wilson!” Powell stole the category with his grubby “Castaway” costume, from the
Christine Rushton movie starring Tom Hanks.
Co Editor-in-Chief The second event was lip synching, well mocked by the two hostesses between
acts. DaSilva, with his Lady Gaga hair, skin tight clothes, and gaudy backup danc-
Darkness shrouds the room; silence falls over the audience; then the lights burst ers, definitely wooed the ladies in the crowd, but it was Welch that owned the real
on as nine supposed men are unveiled in all of their fashionable glory to the pop talent for the musical performance. Michael Jackson himself would have applaud-
beat of “Just Dance.” With a group opener choreographed by gymnastic coach and ed this version of “Billie Jean” because Welch not only had the outfit with one white
Spanish teacher Marla Boyd, the contestants of the 2010 Mr. Kentlake competition glove, he had the moon walking, hat popping, Jackson nuances to complete the
on Wednesday May 12, showed promising talent and surprising muscle control. absolutely incredible feat. Simmons articulated his impressed opinion in his com-
However, in the end it was senior Taylor Welch that ments. “Dance like that, throw your hat like that, and
stepped up to be crowned the next Mr. Kentlake. Billie Jean will be your lover,” said Simmons. This act
The contestants were introduced through personal won him the title of Mr. Moves.
videos and were seniors Colton Jensen, Jener DaSilva, The talent portion was shocking for most in the
Taylor Welch, Keith Bolender, Warren Powell, Sean audience and should have held more discretion for
Rockey, and juniors Nick Lee, Ed Sherman, and Joel a family event. “Your underwear was showing,” a
Firman. Throughout the program, they were chal- comment by one of the judges, was a gross under-
lenged to captivate the audience and judges using their statement. Firman’s act allowed him and two backup
talents, creative looks, and intoxicating charm. Some dancers to pelvic thrust their way across the stage
made themselves impossible not to love, while others in nothing but gymnast’s leotards, leading many
floundered. In the end, Welch won Mr. Moves and Mr. audience members to disgust and specifically many
Kentlake, Bolender won Mr. Congeniality, Powell won parents to disappointed opinions. The same opin-
Mr. Beachwear, Lee won the lip synching contest, Jen- ions flowed through again when Sherman attempted
sen won the talent contest, and Firman won the formal comedy, only to fail and instead unnecessarily insult
wear contest. multiple people in the show. However, the other acts,
After being crowned Mr. Kentlake, Welch said he including Bolender’s heavenly vocals singing the
was “shocked” at the win. “I thought rehearsals went Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah” and Turner’s im-
terrible, we were panicking about it, but it turned out promptu interpretative dance to the Kentlake Fight
pretty smooth,” said Welch. Now, according to Welch, Song, were enough to overcome the unacceptable.
the only duty he has for earning his award is to dance Jensen finished first in this event with his black light
at Prom. Welch also commended his wingman, senior break dancing that showed modern talent with moves
Jayson Baughan. “Whatever award I got is as much and effects to thrill the crowd.
Jayson’s as it is mine,” said Welch. The final event, formal wear, the contestants were
Kasey Dauenhauer and Nikole Weber were effortless Photo by Kaitlyn Miklancic
challenged to “get the girl.” They each brought a girl
hostesses, and provided complimentary background to Taylor Welch after being crowned Mr. Kentlake. up on stage and charmed them into giving them a
the show along with the panel of judges. The judges, slight chance. Welch again showed winning qualities
including Boyd, social studies teachers Greg Kaas and Theresa Turner, and sci- when he surprised senior Crystal Hedding by calling her on stage to ask her to
ence teacher Scott Simmons, gave an endless string of critiques ranging from hilari- Prom. Every girl in the room was suddenly overcome with the need to tear up and
ous, the combined comedic effort of Kaas and Simmons, to the slightly suggestive sigh in an effort to relieve the uncontrollable sensation of happiness they felt.
and borderline inappropriate comments from Turner. Boyd was the calmest of the Overall, the show was a hit. “This was by far the best group,” said Kaas, and as
bunch, only giving advice or comments a few times during the event. for the audience, they were in a nearly continuous roar of laughter. Although there
Beachwear, the first category, yielded strange interpretations. One contestant were a few minor glitches and some sketchy acts, the show demonstrated true talent
had on a Hooters’ uniform that may have brought question to where it came from. and an effort to provide a comedic interpretation of the traditional beauty pageants.
However, the winning outfit was worn by Powell. Running out on stage screaming, For those who enjoy men shaking their butts on stage, look forward to next year.

ASL students perform musical show with a twist off stage, short video clips were played to entertain the audience. These were just
Matt Davis silly videos that created a light, humorous atmosphere, which mirrored the plea-
Staff Reporter surable performance, and they were all brief enough so as to not detract from the
actual performers and all of the hard work they put into the evening.
The ASL Music Project was a great break from the ordinary, and provided a
Throughout the year, the music department holds concerts to show off the musi- unique way of hearing and seeing a concert that few get the chance to experience,
cians’ skills to the student body, but what they lack, is motion. ASL, however, has including the performers. “The music project has been a way for me to express
its own music performance that incorporates motion constantly. It is called the ASL through sign language and interact more within our community. I have never per-
Music Project. The concert is all fun, but also is for a higher purpose. “The purpose formed anything on stage before, but it gave me a chance to do so,” said Willden.
of the Music Project Concert is for the deaf community to watch what we can do.
Every year we have deaf people come to the performance, and it is really awesome,”
said senior Haleigh Willden, a second year member of ASL.
This concert held on May 14 and 15 featured 91 Kentlake students as well as
some students from Kentridge and Kent Meridian High School. They performed
numerous popular songs such as “I Gotta Feelin’” by the Black Eyed Peas and Mi-
chael Jackson’s “Thriller.” In fact, the sign language became an intricate dance that
entertained the audience more than the music choice itself and brought life to the
performers on stage, which is something rarely seen at any other high school music
performance. The students even performed the actual dance from “Thriller,” which
was received by tremendous amounts of applause and cheers.
The liveliest performer of all, however, was not even a student. It was Kathy Un-
derhill, the ASL teacher. Her active role has inspired students to strive higher and
brings entertainment to the program. “ASL is my favorite class because the students
in the class are really fun, and Mrs. Underhill is so energetic,” said Willden. This fun
transferred easily to the audience during the concert and also in between songs. Photo by Kaitlyn Miklancic
During the waiting period between songs, while performers quickly ran on and Second year students performing at the ASL Music Project.

Fox perfects unique talent of audio engineering
Daniel Tadeo
Copy Editor
It is not every day that one can meet a person tal-
ented enough to simultaneously play a guitar and ride
a bicycle, a feat achievable only by those who simply
breathe excellence. Then again, sophomore Kelvin Fox
is not one of these people. Instead, Fox is a master of
another talent and is quite possibly the best Falcon at
what he does: audio engineering. come any inspiring artists that wish to record them-
Fox’s unique talents extend farther than his incred-
ible ability to play multiple instruments. Besides rock-
ing the guitar or bass, plucking out tunes on violin, or
furthering his piano skills, Fox takes a keen interest
in recording music. Unlike those who have miserably
failed to record themselves, his finished product goes
far beyond the mediocrity of school projects. In fact,
his craft honestly sounds like something straight off of
store shelves.
“Well, I’ll say I’m pretty good,” said Fox, when asked
about how he would rate his skill level. “I’ve been re-
cording for almost two years.” Fox is not alone in his
passion, alongside him are sophomores Ryan Snyder
StudentLife
The Falcon Flyer
17
and Brendan Cescon.
Together, the inseparable trio created their own
recording studio packed with equipment worth thou-
sands of dollars. “I use professional equipment that
you’ll find in a professional studio,” said Fox. Such
equipment includes high-end recording software (Pro
Tools) installed on a computer strictly dedicated to re-
cording music, as well as superlative microphones and
cables.
Besides recording their own music, the three wel-
selves, for a small fee of $20 a song of course. “Getting
to see all the different types of people and styles of mu-
sic [is the best part,]” Fox said. “I get to see what kind
of music other people like.”
No style is too daunting. In the two years Fox spent
honing his talent, he has tackled a sundry of genres.
From the acoustic rock of senior Andrew Stergion, to
“grunge,” a subgenre of alternative rock started during
the mid-80s in Seattle which is the style of his ex-gui-
tar teacher Dace Anderson. “It’s relieving [when I’m
finally done editing and recording,]” Fox said. “You’ve
been sitting in a room for several hours and you finally Photo by Ryan Snyder
get to leave.” Kelvin Fox working on his music with Pro Tools.

Culinary arts students prepare for cooking careers

Megan Rogers
Photographer
Not many people think about what goes into food as they are stuffing their faces
with delectable treats. A lot of hard work is put into making food taste good. The
Kentlake Culinary Arts class knows this from experience. Delicious food cannot
just be whipped together in a matter of minutes; it takes time.
Students in the Culinary Arts class spend over two hours a day preparing
and learning about food. Cecilia Stec advises the students, teaching them how
to cut, chop, and slice perfectly. “In Culinary Arts students are learning how to
take cooking to another level,” said Stec. “Its emphasis is professional cooking but
students might apply for culinary school later on in their life or just want to be
better cooks.” The students learn different cooking methods, flavor mixing, and
an overall knowledge on food products.
The class also provides a catering service. “To try to strive for that more profes-
sional level we will take some catering jobs,” said Stec. They prepare trays of meat
and cheese, vegetable, and pastries. The students also get to work with profes-
sional tools which prepare them for cooking in the real world.
The students who are interested in a cooking career path are given an oppor-
tunity to expand their skills and widen their knowledge. “It has taught me a lot
of different skills that will help me because I plan on going into a culinary school.
I’ve learned a lot of different skills to help me with that,” said senior Zach Coltes
who is in his first year as a culinary student. Students get the professional feel of
providing for clients which is a big help for getting out in the real world. With a
block class, a lot of time and effort is put into making the most out of the resources
they have. “They are sometimes, going to be doing off campus work which is part
of their leadership or like the coffee, we run the coffee stand and we consider that
extra work,” said Stec.
Culinary Arts is mostly open for those who are interested in cooking. Taking
creative cooking class is recommended but not required if students have basic
knowledge. “I want [the students] to come in with understanding measurements
and knowing how to follow a recipe,” said Stec. “It helps if they understand basic
vocabulary words like what a misenplace is and how to cream a mixture or how to
whip something up.”
Along with the educational benefits of taking a culinary class, there are other
perks to working with food. “Definitely eating the food. Cooking it and eating it is
really fun,” said Coltes. With the knowledge gained from this class, students will
no longer have to bug mom for a bite to eat.

Pfeiffer on her way to becoming an accomplished equestrian

Photo courtesy of Chelsea Pfeiffer
Chelsea Pfeiffer with her sorrel quarter horse, Cody.
Kayla Maletich
Business Manager
Few girls will go through their adolescent years with-
out asking the age old question, ‘Can I get a horse?’
Whether or not this dream becomes a reality, horses
are an enchanting part of childhood for every little
girl.
However, for freshman Chelsea Pfeiffer horses are a
part of her everyday life, as she is a talented equestrian
who has grown up around horses. “I have been riding
horses my entire life,” said Pfeiffer. “My parents rode
as well, so they got me into it.”
Pfeifer is a member of the King County 4-H and
the Washington High School Equestrian Team. May
12-16, Pfeiffer and her drill team participated in the
state finals held in Wenatchee, where they placed fifth
out of 13 teams.
Pfeiffer owns a dapple grey quarter horse named Bo,
and is currently leasing a sorrel quarter horse named
Cody. She rides them at D Bar S Ranch in Enumclaw.
“I love riding horses because it gives a person an op-
portunity to be in sync, and form bonds, with these
massive animals that could easily overpower you at
any moment,” said Pfeiffer. “To be able to understand
their thoughts and emotions without directly speaking
is indescribable.”
On the other hand, Pfeiffer added that horseback
riding can be exceedingly difficult. “The most chal-
lenging part would be teaching the horse new riding
styles and/or techniques. Teaching a horse a com-
pletely new skill using only your reins, legs, and no vo-
cal communication at all is beyond difficult. It takes a
lot of work.”
Pfeifer practices twice a week for her High School
Equestrian Team, one being a drill practice, where
they focus on “keeping an even distance between your
horse and the other horses in the routine, and practic-
ing the drill itself to get it engraved into you and your
horse’s mind.” The second practice focuses on gaming,
where they “work on how we execute our turns and
race against our friends for fun.”
When asked if she were interested in pursuing a
career with horses, Pfeiffer was adamant. “I am very
interested in pursuing an equestrian career,” said Pfei-
ffer. “My ideal career would be a horse trainer or an
equine chiropractor. I love being around horses and I
love seeing the joy other people get out of them.”
18 Sports
The Falcon Flyer

Lady Falcons slam out stellar season

Photo by Michaela Mandala

Freshman Libby Riehl prepares to hit during the Lady Falcons game on May 14 against Rogers.

Erin Hunt
Staff Reporter
Attempting to hit a small ball with a bat has long
been known as an American pastime. The Lady Fal-
cons are managing to carry on this tradition with obvi-
ous success. Fastpitch is entering the post season with
high expectations and the talent to back them up.
Both ability and chemistry are attributes of the 2010
fastpitch team, who have already been named co-
champions of North SPSL. According to senior captain
Nikole Weber, “Our ability to work as a team and keep
our energy high [is one of our best attributes], even
when we are behind, we fight the rest of the game.”
This trait has been apparent in the season thus far,
since the team has a winning record of 19-1. One loss
to Tahoma did ruin their perfect record, however, the
Lady Falcons beat the Bears the second time around.
Weber also points out that the team has an extremely
strong offense this year. Another contributing factor
is the bond between teammates. Sophomore Alexis
Engman said, “We all have great chemistry. We’re a
Falcon family. We don’t let down or point fingers we
just drop it and keep going.” Junior Brittany Styger ex-
plains that the family feeling amongst the team is the
main difference between last year, when the team did
not make it past districts, and this season. Styger said,
“I think we’re more successful because we have better
team chemistry.”
The SPSL championships were on May 13 and 14
with district championships the next weekend, and
state following that. Things are looking good for the
Lady Falcons following wins against Rogers and Puy-
allup in the SPSL Tournament, but the team still has
a way to go until the finals. Junior Erin Crowley said,
“Our biggest competition is Walla Walla, who is ranked
number one.” The main focus for improvement before
the tournament is on batting. Crowley said one goal
is, “Being able to hit one through nine.” This fastpitch
lingo translates to all nine batters doing their part in
the offense.
Ambitious goals are set in place for the conclusion
of the fastpitch season. Crowley said, “We really want
to get a banner.” Kaas elaborated on the idea, he said,
“We want to win the SPSL and then win the district
championships and then win the state champion-
ships.”

Step 1:
When beginning each
pitch, I present the ball,
How to pitch like a pro:
then rock back and
pause. Then, I throw my
Step 2:
When creating my arm
Tips from Nikole Weber
arms down and forward,
circle, as my ball hand
like sliding down an el-
moves down toward my Step 3:
ephant trunk. As I circle
hip, my glove hand pulls The ball is released
my arm it’s crucial to
down toward the op- near the front of my hip
open up the hips and
posite hip. The oppos- and my wrist snaps quick
stride forward so that my
ing force gives the pitch and hard to create spin.
arms and legs make a
more power, and helps My back leg pulls for-
‘k’ shape. Full extension
me to determine my re- ward and up, putting all
gives the pitch more
lease point. I also begin my weight on my front
power and speed, and
transferring my weight leg and creating a ‘fig-
opening up my hips
on to my front foot ure four’ with my legs.
gives the pitch a
as my back foot
straight path near
drags behind me
the body.
to avoid an illegal
crow hop.

Photos by Michaela Mandala

 The Falcon Flyer
Sports
19
Emerging track talent charges ahead
Nap-gate 2010
Jason Hirschey
Sports Opinion Writer

Some professions (security guards, customer service representa-

tives, computer programmer at Initech, etc.) permit sleeping while on
the job. A professional baseball player making $2.3 million is not one
of those jobs. Allow me to paint the picture of the Seattle Mariners.
It is only the second month of the season and already things are fall-
ing apart. This playoff hopeful is struggling to win a single game and
management controversy looms. On top of all this, the actions of the
star player, Ken Griffey Jr., add unwanted drama to the situation.
During an unspecified game in early May, Griffey was accused of
sleeping. The incident all came about when a pinch hit opportunity
was passed up by Mariners’ manager, Don Wakamatsu, on a May 8
loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Reportedly, Griffey went
to the clubhouse to get a jacket in the fifth inning, and did not come
back. Two young, unnamed players claim they went back to checkup
on Griffey only to find him napping in his chair.
Wakamatsu and Griffey both refute the claim. They state that
Griffey was on the bench and awake, but Wakamatsu simply chose
not to use him. However, when asked if Griffey was ever asleep during
the game, Wakamatsu said, “I don’t know about that.” Griffey claims
there is inaccuracy in the reports and that he was “available [to play]
at anytime.” Then the whole array of name-calling and finger-point-
ing started.
The Mariners were already cracking apart before this happened.
Photo by Michaela Mandala Now the team is collapsing. This has become a national debate even
Sophomore Madelayne Varela gets ready for the state competition by working on her starts. earning the spotlight of The Bob Rivers Show on 102.5 KZOK. Many
callers demanded Griffey’s immediate retirement while others de-
Varela also competes in the summer for fended him. Public outcry is splitting the Mariners’ fan base apart.
McKenna Herron the Flying AJs in Tacoma. “I’m pretty much The real question is not, ‘did it happen?’ but rather ‘why is this hap-
Staff Reporter doing it all the time,” she said. “The reason pening?’
I continue with track is because of the de- There is no reason the Mariners should have this ugly attention.
The Falcons have been soaring high in track pendent part,” said Varela, “It’s one of those They should be too busy dealing with their inability to win to have to
and field with the help of sophomore Mad- things you can do individually; you don’t worry about this. First of all, who are these players who saw Griffey
elayne Varela. She is an extremely talented have to lean or rely on anyone. Like if you sleeping? The reason no media is allowed in the clubhouse during is
athlete and has successfully demonstrated compare it to any other sport such as vol- the game is because the team does not want incidents like this to leak
this title during this season with her current leyball or basketball, you have to depend on out. Imagine the clubhouse is like Las Vegas, what happens there,
and continuous wins. your teammates to carry you through. This is stays there. If these two players want to claim something this dramat-
Varela participates in the 100 meter, 200 different–it’s all on you.” ic, put a nametag on it; let yourself be known so this can be solved.
meter, 400 meter, and multiple relays. She With all the success her high school ca- This whole situation should have never been a problem. However,
claims that the reer in track has brought her after two years, nothing can erase the incident and Wakamatsu’s leadership will be
reason for her Varela sees an ex- tested. When Mike Sweeney called a players-only meeting on May
recent recogni- “It’s one of those things you can cellent future for 11, he could have saved a playoff run. Recovering from this will test
tion in the sport herself. “I really the chemistry of the Mariners and loyalty of their fans. With no clear
has been due to do individually; you don’t have want to do it in solution, everyone is to blame; Griffey, Wakamatsu, the two nameless
her placement. to lean or rely on anyone. Like college, probably players, and probably more. The bottom line is: problems, in sports,
“I’ve been doing [in the] Califor- are only problematic when no one confesses.
really well in the if you compare it to any other nia area. After-
400 and I keep sport such as volleyball or bas- wards I think it’d
winning. I’d say be really cool to
I’m probably top ketball, you have to depend on do it in the Olym-
three in state your teammates to carry you pics, so I’m going
right now,” said to keep working
Varela, who ac- through. This is different–it’s hard,” said Va-
knowledges this all on you.” rela, “I plan on
as a major ac- increasing my
complishment. -Madelayne Varela speed just by go-
She started ing harder and
track like many trying to get my
other students do: sixth grade curiosity. Va- times down. I’m doing really well so far but I
rela said, “In elementary school everyone can always improve.”
said I was fast so I decided to go out for track. Varela notes that her achievement is not at-
I was getting better and being told I had a fu- tained overnight and requires plenty of effort.
ture in track so I stuck with it.” Many coaches “It takes a lot of dedication, and sometimes I
encouraged her to take it seriously due to her complain but I keep pushing through,” said
speed. Even friends such as Megan Rogers Varela, “It takes discipline. It’s really not as
have played a roll in her success. “Megan… easy as it seems.” She intends to further her
she’s like my manager. She’s always there,” accomplishments by going strong and work-
said Varela. ing as hard as she can.
Advertisements
A sure
22218 SE 272nd PL
Maple Valley, WA 98038

r e a x Monday-Friday: 9-6

T Bo
Saturday: 10-6
Sunday: 11-5

Get designer clothing for a fraction

Consignment Boutique
of the price! Bring in your new or
gently used clothing for cash!
Jeff Middleton

10% off
Prom
Dresses! Exhibition Automotive CARSTAR
606 Washington Avenue North
1.800.CARSTAR
Phone Number: (425)-433-8537 Kent, WA 98032
E-Mail: atreasureboxconsignment@gmail.com 253.854.3850 PH 253.859.0531 FAX CARSTAR.com

Beyond The Garden Gate Beyond The Garden Gate

floral & interiors floral & interiors
Shannon Carpenter
Owner & Designer $5 OFF
a Corsage or Boutonniere
(253) 850-6000 when you present this coupon
417 S. Central Avenue Expires June 8, 2010. Excludes holidays.
Kent, WA. 98032
www.BeyondTheGardenGate-Kent.com
(253) 850-6000

Stay up and Lake Sawyer Grocery

finish your 29036 216th SE Black Diamond
homework! 253-631-0417

Buy One Get

One Free
Energy Drinks!
Only one coupon valid per person. Coupons valid until
june 8, 2010 at Lake Sawyer Grocery Store only.