Issue 5 - North Canton City Schools - sparcc

Civics Club comes back
BY JON DIERINGER Staff Writer
While the majority of Hoover High
School’s students are too young to vote,
Civics Club, started last year,
nonetheless gives students an
opportunity to become politically
involved with both the school and
community.
With the second year’s inaugural meeting
occurring on Nov. 25, the club got
off to a late start, but promises to have a
great year.
“I’m really looking forward to [the
year],” said advisor Mr. Glen Cummings.
“Last year went well.”
According to Cummings, the late start
was in part due to his commitment as Defensive
Coordinator of the Viking football
team, which left him unable to meet
after school.
Senior Wallis Welsh says that students
were also busy as well.
“The beginning of the year was so
busy that no one had a chance to get it
6 ! The Viking Views ! 12.19.03
organized,” she said, “but now we’re on
solid ground.”
Now that the club’s year has begun,
several changes have taken place.
Most significantly, Civics Club has
done away with traditional office positions,
opting instead to have a board
make decisions for the group.
“More students can have a say now,”
said senior Becky Smith, who encouraged
the formation of the board.
According to Cummings, many students
had approached him about different
ideas, such as a Business Club
(which already exists) and Amnesty International.
These ideas might become
part of Civics Club, with the possibility
of each interest being represented by
board members.
Another change is the planned
speaker series, an idea still in an early
stage. Last year, the Civics Club was visited
by a speaker from the Green party,
which Cummings said had a “very good”
turnout. This year, the club hopes to
have more speakers, who may speak in
the evening, an event which will be open
to the public.
“We’re not sure who [will speak],” said
Smith, “but we have some ideas.”
Cummings says these plans depend
on whether or not the club will be able to
have the school available in the evenings.
Finally, the club is looking into what
direction it will take this year.
Last year, according to Cummings, the
club was mostly service-oriented, organizing
a successful blanket drive. This
year may be different.
“I don’t think [members] want it to be
a service organization,” said Cummings,
although he adds that service is still a
possibility. Other prospective activities
include movie nights and formal debates.
Welsh sees the club in having the potential
to affect change.
“I think a lot of students really want
somewhere where they can voice their
opinions, because Hoover doesn’t really
have a strong program where they can
do that,” she said.
Smith also sees an informative potential.
“This year, the goal…is to expose and
educate students to civics,” she said.
With a second meeting held Dec. 9,
the club’s activities look to be well under
way, and the group is ready for a good
year.
“Last year was a success, and this
year we’re expecting the same,” Welsh
said. !V
I/L visits jailhouse
BY TYLER ALLCHIN Staff Writer
The daily, monotonous grind of high
school is seldom broken up by educational
activities that take students out of
the classroom and give them learning experiences
first hand. These types of
events, also know as field trips, give students
the opportunity to expand their
horizons and increase their overall scope
of knowledge.
Mr. Collier’s Introduction to Law
classes traveled to the Stark County Jail
Dec. 10. This trip was meant to give students
a look into what happens once the
trial process has concluded and defendants
are found guilty.
The jail, which houses nearly 400 inmates
and has 12 guards always on duty,
serves two purposes. First, to allow those
serving sentences under two years to do
their time, and secondly to house convicted
felons before they are sent to state
penitentiaries.
Senior Devon Chambers, who had
never visited the jail prior to the field trip,
said that the out of classroom trip added
to his law-related knowledge.
“It’s important to see what goes on
inside the jail,” Chambers said. “To see
what occurs after the trial process.”
According to Collier, who has been
taking the class to the jail for the past
five years and says that the trip serves
several meaningful purposes.
“They [the students] get to see what
we study on the criminal justice system.
They get to experience it first hand; it’s a
good reality,” Collier said. “If they are
interested in law enforcement for a career
the trip is a good experience for
them.”
"See PRISON, p. 7