November 11,2007 - Westland Public Library

C2 (WGc) Observer S Eccentric | Sunday, November 11,2007
STUDENT VOICES www.hometownlife.com
Teens also divided about war in Iraq
BY NICOLE MARTINDALE
TEEN JOURNALIST
Every time you turn on the
news, you will most likely see a
story about the ongoing war in
Iraq. For many adults, this is a
common and controversial conversation
topic. But you might
be surprised to find that many
teens think of it in the same
exact way as you.
There are many reasons possible
for the way we feel about
the war: we could have family or
friends in Iraq; we could choose
to feel the way the other people
around us do; we could simply
not like the system that we're living
in, or we could have a different
view altogether;
Regardless of the reason, it is
safe to say that teens have just
as much a variety of views and
things to be said about the topic
as adults do. It is a deep topic,
rooted with many important
questions. Why are we there
Is it really worth it What is it
doing for us in the end
In the society we live in, how
do we really know what's right
from wrong anymore Many students
feel that the war is a waste
of our money and takes many
innocent lives.
"I think the war in Iraq is
ridiculous," said Vu Nguyen-
Tong, a sophomore at Garden
City High School. "It is none of
our business to be in another
country spending our money.
The amount of money we're
spending is unnecessary."
On the other side of the coin,
many other students think that
the war is something that is
needed to rid the country of its
controversies once and for all.
They argue that stopping now
would only further the issues.
"We should stay in Iraq and
keep fighting until we win,"
said Tommy Wisniewski, also a
sophomore at Garden City High.
"If we pull them out, we will just
end up putting them back in. I
think (President)
Bush is doing
what is right for
the country."
As long as nicole
there is still a martindole
war, there is no
doubt teens will
still have an opinion about it.
But regardless of the views and
regardless of why they feel this
way, there is no doubting the
point that teens have a voice that
will be heard.
Nicole Martindale is a student at
Garden City High School.
Quo Vadis legacy lives on despite dark screen
BY TYLER VOSGERCHIAN
TEEN JOURNALIST
One day, while ironically
walking home from a movie, I
stumbled upon the magnificent
derelict that is the Quo Vadis.
The old out of business theater
on Wayne and Warren across
from the mall. I was awe-stricken
by its magnificent beauty, and
its stunning Art Deco facade. I
was inspired to, with the help of
a few cohorts, set upon a crusade
for the truth of this monolith
of a bygone era. To accomplish
this feat I employed the same
old repertoire of research techniques.
Top among them was the
Internet, but good old legwork
helped out as well. I was able to
contact the owner.
The Quo Vadis, designed
by Minoru Yamasakfs firm
Yamasaki and Associate, the
same firm that designed the
World Trade Center, was introduced
to the public in 1966, featuring
the aptly named romantic
comedy The Glass Bottom Boat,
about a glass-boat operator who
dresses up as a mermaid in order
to attract customers.
The theater's success continued
throughout the years, and
as a result the building itself was
treated to various renovations;
in '68, and '70. The final seating
capacity of the three theaters,
and three penthouses was 1,798
people. Not counting the adjacent
Algiers Drive-In Theater,
which itself was demolished in
order to make way for expansions,
and the ever-encroaching
strip mall.
But sadly, like all great legacies,
the Quo Vadis eventually
had to face its twilight, on the
night of Jan. 21,2002, the last
movies seen on the Vadis' silver
screens were
Harry Potter,
AH and Vanilla
Sky. Today
nearly six years
after it closed,
the Quo Vadis'
future still looks
quite bleak, A
renovated Quo
Vadis is just what
the city needs to
tyler
vosgerchian
brighten up its spirits during this
economic downturn.
Tyler Vosgerchian is a student at
Livonia Churchill High School.
A shade of
that's right for you
AU
PAGE CI
This is what someone
attending any football
game might see at half
time. Students in cowboy
hats and blue and orange
marching on well trodden
grass, trying to stay
in step and pay attention
to music at the same time.
Many of these students
have been playing with
each other since middle
school band. But unfortunately,
nothing lasts
forever.
When seniors leave
the school, band director
Diran Kochyan asks
them to say a few parting
words. Almost all of them
repeat the same sentiment,
"I Love Band." No
explanation or speech,
just three simple words
that everyone in the room
seems to understand.
Band is friends that you
can come to with a problem,
or make you smile
simply for the sake of it.
It's a sense of belonging
that no one can take away.
Zach White, a junior at
Garden City, said favorite
thing about band was
band camp, also an often
repeated sentiment. This
one time at band camp
is a pretty well-known
phrase.
Every year the band
takes in less students,
gets less funding and is
slowly but surely being
forgotten. Small but
proud, these teens love
what they do and most
of them are more proud
of band then anything
else they accomplish, in
school or out. They attend
band camp at Michigan
State University, play at
the Michigan State Fair,
march in parades, do
exhibition performances
in competitions at the
Novi Fanfare and attend
Band Day at Eastern
Michigan University.
Backing this group of
student musicians is the
help of the Band Boosters.
A group of band parents
.who put everything
together. From band
camp to concerts, fundraisers
to picnics. They
put together a Spaghetti '4
Dinner and raffle fundraiser
every year, including
the one planned for
Feb. 8,2008.
"I love the kids and
listening to what ideas
they have for things that
they want to accomplish,"
said Cara MacPherson,
the president of" the Band
Boosters. "I love to see the
spirit and energy when We
work hard on something
and achieve it. I also love
to see the enthusiasm
in each and every one of
their faces when we are
faced with new challenges
and deadlines, we meet
and exceed them.
"This is one of the most
rewarding selfless jobs I
have ever had the honor
to be a part of. All the
rewards come when I see
the kids SMILE! This is
not only done by myself
but all of the band boosters."
The marching band is a
group of diverse kids with
almost unrivaled talent.
They work hard, play hard
and have a lot of fun.
Melissa Pennington is a student
at Garden City High School.
Choosing the right health care coverage is a big part
s Blue Shmk& CH PiHchifmn -n:x ^..-..
mrk offer Medicare Advantage medical
plans and Part D prescription drug plans designed
to fit your needs and your budget. Choose from a
variety of plans that offer:
• Prescription drugs
• Low premiums
• Comprehensive benefits
• The security of the Blues' more than 68 years
of nonprofit health care experience
The annual election period for Medicare Advantage
is November 15 through December 31. For more
information about a Blues plan, call 1^H-4i§-!4tfi
isers call 1-800-481-8104. Product specialists
are on duty 8 am. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Medicare PIUS
BCN Advantage"
«*.«.>tf^MtiEtt!
finSI Blue Care
& ** 31
Network
of Michigan
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network contract with
the federal government and are nonprofit corporations and independent
licensees of the Blue Cross and Biue Shield Association. A Medicare
Advantage Private Fee-for-Service plan works differently than a Medicare
supplement plan. Your doctor or hospital must agree to accept the plan's
terms and conditions prior to providing healthcare services to you, with
the exception of emergencies. If your doctor or hospital does not agree
to accept our payment terms and conditions, they may not provide
healthcare services to you, except in emergencies. Providers can find
the plan's terms and conditions on our website at bcbsm.com/ma.
i
- ... ,- i ... -
H2319 JShadeBlue 092307
m
CANDIDATES
FROM PAGE CI
they want in a president.
Jordan Holland, 17, thinks
that part of the problem is
how the candidates present
themselves and their views. He
doesn't think that the debate
format is as attractive to teens
as it is to their parents. He said
that the candidates should
come to the teens, to venues
and places that teens know
and use like the Barack Obama
MySpace session in order to
reach them better.
Despite this feeling of disconnect,
experts are expecting
a bigger turnout of young voters
in 2008 than during any
previous election.
Campaigns like Rock the
Vote and Vote or Die maybe
contributing to the increased
turnout. Rock the Vote and
Vote or Die use celebrity promoters
like P. Diddy and Paris
Hilton to encourage the 18-24-
year-olds to vote in elections.
However, the impact they
have on youth voters' turnout
is debatable. "I was self-motivated,"
Jordan said.
"I never was like, 'Oh, I
wanna vote now because P.
Diddy votes,'" said Lyndsay,
adding that the campaigns did
helped her think about voting,
and she now plans to.
Why then are only half of all
young people able to vote actually
voting It could be because
they don't think their vote
matters. Lonnie Lawrence,
18, said that almost no one in
his extended family votes, and
that he doesn't think his vote
counts.
It could also be because of
how the candidates are presenting
themselves, with the
debates that Colleen O'Brien,
17, only watches when "nothing
else is on."
Or, maybe, it's the issues
the candidates are tackling.
Holland wants the media to
stop focusing on the big, obvious
issues like the war and
focus on smaller, less obvious
things that are just as important
in the long run.
In any case, the 2008 presidential
election may yield the
biggest turnout in youth voting
yet, and with that turnout
could cause the beginning of a
change in the White House and
the government as a whole as
the nation knows it.
Fawna Cicotte is a student at Wayne
Memorial High School.