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October/November Issue - South Burlington High School

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the rebel WORD<br />

<strong>November</strong> 2011 “Second to None” page 1<br />

New Kids on the Block<br />

By Carly Kemp<br />

Meet your New Rebel Staff!<br />

What is your favorite school lunch? What is the strangest job you have ever had? If you were a dessert, what would you be?<br />

Ms. Hannah Dransfield<br />

English<br />

Mr. Federico Rodríguez<br />

World Language<br />

Ms. Lindsey Hudson<br />

Guidance<br />

Ms. Theresa Mazza-<br />

Anthony<br />

World language<br />

Q: How do you like SBHS so far?<br />

Where did you work before?<br />

A: SB is fantastic so far! All the<br />

people are great and there is a lot of<br />

positive energy. I used to teach English<br />

at Randolph Union <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong>.<br />

Q: I hear that you are working<br />

toward a degree in addition to<br />

teaching. What are you studying in<br />

school?<br />

A: I’m working on a Masters of Fine<br />

Arts in Fiction at Bennington College.<br />

I get to read a lot of classics I never<br />

have before and its pushing me to<br />

write more!<br />

Q: What are your hobbies and<br />

interests?<br />

A: I love skiing, biking, hiking, farming,<br />

reading and writing.<br />

Q: What is the coolest job you have<br />

ever had?<br />

A: I worked as a white water rafting<br />

guide in Wyoming!<br />

Q: If you were a dessert, what<br />

would you be?<br />

A: A dark chocolate cake; I can be<br />

intense but have a sweet side!<br />

Q: Dream vacation?<br />

A: Zion National Park. (Utah)<br />

Q: What is your favorite quote?<br />

A: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do<br />

with your one wild and precious life?”<br />

~Mary Oliver<br />

Q: Where did you work before SB?<br />

A: I taught Spanish at Harwood Union<br />

H.S. for 8 years.<br />

Q: What is your favorite thing<br />

about SBHS?<br />

A: I get to talk in Spanish more than<br />

I am used to because there are more<br />

students and teachers who speak it.<br />

Q: Do you have any pets?<br />

A: I have two cats: Collette and Ally.<br />

Q: Describe yourself in 3 words?<br />

A: Cuban, Cuban and….funny. But<br />

that doesn’t count because Cubans are<br />

funny.<br />

Q: What is the strangest job you’ve<br />

ever had?<br />

A: Delivering fried chicken on a bike<br />

with no gears in NYC.<br />

Q: Do you still like chicken?<br />

A: Yes… it wasn’t the chicken’s fault.<br />

Q: What is your favorite movie?<br />

A: Cinema Paradiso. It is about a<br />

young boy growing up with the movies<br />

in Italy- the last scene will make<br />

you cry.<br />

Q: What is your favorite school<br />

lunch?<br />

A: Chicken patty…and I’m looking<br />

forward to trying pasta bar!<br />

Q: Where did you grow up/ work<br />

before here?<br />

A: I am a Native Vermonter. I went to<br />

Hartford for high school, then to the<br />

University of Delaware for college.<br />

Before SB I worked in guidance at Essex<br />

and Rice.<br />

Q: How do you like it here?<br />

A: I am loving SBHS! I like the sense<br />

of humor that tends to penetrate all<br />

aspects of the school, and everyone has<br />

been unbelievably welcoming. I was really<br />

impressed with the t-shirts and<br />

participation in spirit week too.<br />

Q: What are your hobbies and interests?<br />

A: Snowboarding and entertaining with<br />

friends during the summer.<br />

Q: What is your favorite outfit?<br />

A: My Patriots jersey and jeans!<br />

Q: If you could live in a different<br />

decade, which one would you choose?<br />

A: The 50s because of the fashion and<br />

civil rights movements.<br />

Q: If you could change jobs for a day,<br />

what would you do?<br />

A: I would be Mariah Carey’s airplane<br />

pilot.<br />

Q: What is your favorite restaurant?<br />

A: The Daily Planet- they have a great<br />

portabella burger!<br />

Q: Three words to describe you?<br />

A: Active, music, and outgoing.<br />

Q: Coffee of Tea?<br />

A: Pumpkin Spice COFFEE.<br />

Q: Where did you teach before<br />

SBHS?<br />

A: I worked at Fredrick H. Tuttle<br />

Middle <strong>School</strong> for ten years and before<br />

that I taught at Colchester.<br />

Q: What do you like about the high<br />

school?<br />

A: I enjoy the team environment of the<br />

world language office. I also love seeing<br />

my old students from the middle<br />

school; they have been welcoming and<br />

friendly!<br />

Q: If you were a Toy Story character,<br />

who would you be?<br />

A: Buzz Lightyear.<br />

Q: If you could live in any country<br />

for a year, all expenses paid, where<br />

would it be?<br />

A: I would live in Peru because of the<br />

culture.<br />

Q: What is your favorite food?<br />

A: Key lime pie!<br />

Q: If they were going to make a<br />

movie about your life, who would<br />

you wanted to play the main character?<br />

A: Brook Shields.<br />

Thank you Ms. Dransfield!<br />

Thank you Mr. Rodríguez!<br />

Thank you Ms. Hudson!<br />

Thank you Ms. Mazza-Anthony!<br />

WHAT’S INSIDE . . .<br />

Opinion:<br />

Is SBHS too politically correct?<br />

<strong>November</strong> Calendar<br />

Guest Contributer: Richard Wise<br />

Donna Spooner Memorial<br />

SB Classic<br />

Man on the Street


Guest Contributors<br />

fall 2011 The Rebel Word Page 2<br />

The Rebel<br />

WORD<br />

“SECOND TO NONE”<br />

The Rebel WORD is<br />

written, edited and designed<br />

by students from<br />

<strong>South</strong> <strong>Burlington</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong>.<br />

SOUTH BURLINGTON<br />

HIGH SCHOOL<br />

550 Dorset St.<br />

<strong>South</strong> <strong>Burlington</strong>, VT 05403<br />

http://sbhs.sf.sbschools.net/<br />

Patrick Burke, Principal<br />

Veronica White, Adviser<br />

Jordan Kazmierczak,<br />

Managing Editor<br />

REBEL WORD STAFF MEMBERS<br />

Jennifer Graham<br />

Jennifer Camm<br />

Vika Bespalov<br />

Amna Mustafic<br />

Carly Kemp<br />

Sean Lunny<br />

Ryan Scagnelli<br />

Jacob Barton<br />

Chloe Brock<br />

Nicholas Garcia<br />

Eric Davidson<br />

EDITORS<br />

Bailey Gokey, Assistant Editor<br />

Samuel Rodgers, Opinion Editor<br />

Connor Devarney, Sports Editor<br />

GUEST CONTRIBUTORS<br />

Richard Wise, SB Faculty<br />

The WORD welcomes<br />

your opinion.<br />

Opinions may be expressed in<br />

letters to the editor addressed<br />

to:<br />

The Editors<br />

(therebelword@gmail.com)<br />

Donna Spooner was a 1972 graduate of <strong>South</strong><br />

<strong>Burlington</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong>. I knew Donna. I,<br />

along with all of her peers, looked upon her as a<br />

person whose generous spirit and caring nature<br />

made the day a little brighter if you had the<br />

good fortune to encounter her.<br />

Her untimely death in the spring of 1973 turned<br />

our community upside down. We knew then,<br />

as we know now, that she was someone whose<br />

memory would inspire others and who was<br />

someone who deserved to be remembered.<br />

For forty years, we have honored Donna’s charismatic<br />

personality, character, and spirit annually at the<br />

<strong>South</strong> <strong>Burlington</strong> Athletic Department Awards banquet.<br />

Informally, this garden was created. Over the<br />

years, it has been lovingly tended by Marilyn Leggett,<br />

who is with us today, as well as by the many students<br />

and volunteers who, like Donna, believed in the importance<br />

of showing that they care.<br />

On <strong>November</strong> 30th, 2010, the Key Club requested the<br />

board’s approval to officially name the courtyard The<br />

Donna Spooner Memorial Courtyard. The motion<br />

passed unanimously.<br />

It is my honor to officially commemorate the Donna<br />

Spooner Memorial Garden. I am also honored that<br />

Donna’s mother can be with us today to share this<br />

special moment.<br />

As we gather today to honor Donna Spooner and<br />

officially dedicate the Donna Spooner Memorial<br />

Garden, it is difficult so many years later, to think of<br />

finding peace or gratitude for such a tragic and untimely<br />

death. We can, however, put that sorrow aside<br />

while we spend a few moments remembering and<br />

being grateful for a remarkable young woman whose<br />

short life left such an impact on so many.<br />

While the existence of this courtyard will never erase<br />

the sorrow of Donna’s family and friends at losing<br />

her far too soon, it is our hope that those who find<br />

their way here will find a peaceful moment, and the<br />

presence of Donna’s caring and loving spirit. As we<br />

memorialize Donna’s outstanding character, spirit,<br />

positive attitude, genuine friendliness and sincere<br />

concern for others, we will be reminded of the characteristics<br />

to which we should all aspire. We thank<br />

each of you for joining us for this special occasion,<br />

and for helping us to honor the memory of Donna<br />

Spooner.<br />

COURTESY OF RICHARD WISE<br />

thanksgiving -<br />

the holiday season has begun!<br />

All opinions expressed in this<br />

publication are those of the<br />

individual writer and neither<br />

of the WORD staff nor of the<br />

administration of<br />

<strong>South</strong> <strong>Burlington</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong>.<br />

The Rebel Word is also online.<br />

http://sbhs.sf.sbschools.net/<br />

SHARE THE WORD<br />

OR<br />

PLEASE RECYCLE


Calendar<br />

fall 2011 The Rebel Word Page 3<br />

By: Chloe Brock<br />

Getting the word out<br />

Come one come ALL to this inaugural<br />

year of the Journalism Club. With<br />

about 10 students right now the Journalism<br />

Club meets every other Tuesday at<br />

3:30 pm in lab 141. Come join if you<br />

are technologically savvy or not, if you<br />

are interested in reporting and learning<br />

more about journalism, and if you know<br />

or want to learn more about Adobe Master<br />

Collection including Photo Shop and<br />

In-Design.<br />

So some of you may be asking, “Well,<br />

what do you do in Journalism Club?”<br />

The simple answer is this, you have fun,<br />

you brainstorm, you get to meet new<br />

people, you get to learn about new computer<br />

software, and you get to help design<br />

the layout of the school newspaper,<br />

The Rebel Word. So tell all your friends<br />

and come help and see what goes on behind<br />

the scenes of The Rebel Word!<br />

The meetings are designed to fit YOUR<br />

schedule. The meetings are usually<br />

about 45-50 minutes, but you may leave<br />

at any time. See Ms. White, Advisor,<br />

with questions.<br />

By: Chloe Brock<br />

Interested in traditional and digital art, graphic design, or<br />

writing? Consider joining or submitting to <strong>South</strong> <strong>Burlington</strong>’s<br />

new arts and literary magazine, a quarterly addition to<br />

the Rebel Word. Editorial and layout meetings take place<br />

every Tuesday morning at 8 AM, and all are welcome to attend!<br />

A link for submitting photos, drawings, electronic art,<br />

THE REBELLION<br />

Come Check Out SBHS’s New Literary Magazine<br />

and writing will be up on the school website shortly. Keep an<br />

ear out for all the details; they’ll be in the announcements in<br />

the coming weeks. The first edition of the magazine will be<br />

published before Thanksgiving break! If you have any questions,<br />

please contact Avni Nahar or Ms. Dransfield.


A Day in the Life: USMC Pvt. Tilley<br />

Fall 2011 The Rebel Word Page 4<br />

By: Jennifer Graham<br />

Hello! You’ve all been wondering and asking about Cody Tilley. Well, he isn’t Cody<br />

Tilley anymore. He is Private (Pvt.) Cody Tilley who just graduated from USMC<br />

(United States Marine Corps) Boot Camp.<br />

Pvt. Cody Tilley graduated from boot camp on 110923 or September 23rd, 2011. He<br />

spent three months getting dirty in the mud and getting yelled at by drill instructors. He<br />

has always wanted to be a Marine and he wanted to be part of “The Few the Proud”.<br />

“I joined because I wanted a challenge & most of all, a life I could be proud of. It’s<br />

not an easy road to become a Marine. I’m proud to be a U.S. Marine as hard as it gets,<br />

because I know I’m a part of something now. I’ve earned a title no one can take from<br />

me.” When I did a text and letter interview with Pvt. Cody Tilley, I asked him what<br />

he thought was the hardest and easiest thing about USMC boot camp. He texted back<br />

saying “It’s hard not knowing what’s next and it’s really tough mentally. So it’s mostly<br />

emotionally and mentally tough and that’s the hardest part. There isn’t anything easy<br />

about USMC boot camp either…”<br />

“The hardest part of boot camp was more emotional and mental because there is constant<br />

pressure & stress. You have to push yourself to do simple things like stay standing<br />

when you want to sit so badly or not to scratch your face even though it itches so damn<br />

bad. It teaches you how to push yourself with everything so you never give up. The<br />

easiest part of boot camp is sleeping because it is easy to give in to fatigue. You know<br />

you have to get up or stay up to get your gear in order or iron your uniform, so doing<br />

that teaches you to stop procrastinating and it helps you become proactive. The truth is<br />

that nothing is easy about it but you learn how to become very efficient because instead<br />

of using your time unwisely and wasting it you are prepared for everything ahead of<br />

time. You learn to adapt to everything around you under stressful conditions and you<br />

learn to use things around you in many different ways. What helps get you through the<br />

hardest times are the fellow recruits on your left and right pushing through the same<br />

challenges. You learn how to carry each other through & you take care of one another<br />

at all costs.”<br />

“Well, one day in the chow hall I stood up with food in my mouth, and three drill<br />

instructors got in my face yelling at me. They told me not to swallow my food until<br />

morning, but I swallowed my food right after they told me not to and they said they<br />

were going to IT (intense training) me the next morning. I was hoping they would<br />

forget. They didn’t...”<br />

Pvt. Cody Tilley joined the Marine Corps not only to be part of “The Few the Proud”<br />

but to also fulfill his Grandfather’s dream. Pvt. Cody Tilley said “It was nice seeing my<br />

Grandfather at my graduation. He looked really proud and happy, which made me feel<br />

really good.”<br />

Pvt. Cody Tilley is now at Marine Combat Training. His MCT will only last a month<br />

and then he is on to Military Occupational Specialty training. Cody may or may not be<br />

back until Christmas or later. The hardest thing about him being in boot camp was there<br />

was no contact except letters.<br />

“Receiving letters motivated me a lot and helped me get through it.” Pvt. Cody<br />

Tilley told me this at his Marine Graduation. He was really happy that everyone wrote<br />

him a lot; he said when he read the letters it took his mind off of what was coming next.<br />

More Halloween Fun at <strong>South</strong> <strong>Burlington</strong>!<br />

Yes, this is Mr. Burke,<br />

our faithful principal.<br />

Some of our wonderful Rebel Word Staff!<br />

Animal Magnetism,<br />

classic Ms. Schaefer...<br />

Nice shiner, Rocky!<br />

The S.B. Guidance ...<br />

they work hard!<br />

Pig in a blanket<br />

anyone?<br />

This aging beauty queen<br />

smiles for our camera!


College Adventures<br />

Fall 2011 The Rebel Word Page 5<br />

By Carly Kemp<br />

Tereza Kacer<br />

“Since I graduated from SB last June, I have been leading my idea of a perfect life. I do what I<br />

love to do most - travel - and make a living doing it. I just came back to New York recently after<br />

spending the summer back home in Europe and it is time to get back to work as a model. I ride a<br />

scooter - one of the basic ones that you have to push off of the ground for - around the city to get<br />

castings, shoots and shows and eat bagels during my free time.”<br />

Aya Alnamee<br />

“UVM was the last on my lost for colleges I only applied there because the application was free. I<br />

was accepted and eventually I decided to go there. I wasn’t excited at all for this experience. But<br />

when the school year started it was a different world a completely different experience than what<br />

I expected. So many opportunities for students to get involved, study, and have fun. I’m enjoying<br />

my college experience a lot. I’m a senator in the student governor association and also a Green<br />

House resident. I recommend UVM to every student who wants to get good education and have<br />

fun in the same time!”<br />

New Gym Classes Come to SBHS<br />

By: Vika Bespalov<br />

Most schools have traditional<br />

gym classes, where everyone<br />

does a variety of activities<br />

throughout the course. Last year<br />

this was one of the few options<br />

we had for gym class. Now we<br />

have many new options and a<br />

new requirement; every student<br />

must have .5 credits of a fitness<br />

class, there are three classes that<br />

students have to choose from<br />

that focus on one area of fitness.<br />

The options are cardio, muscular,<br />

or speed, agility and balance.<br />

After that, students have to take<br />

four classes worth .25 credits<br />

of electives of their choosing.<br />

Some of the 13 options include<br />

Dance, Individual Personal Fitness,<br />

Intro to Skating/Ice, Activities,<br />

Period Zero-Basketball/<br />

Ice Hockey/Speed <strong>School</strong>, Self-<br />

Defense, The Outdoor Experience,<br />

and Yoga.<br />

This is a big change to our gym<br />

system. Some say that it gives<br />

people the opportunity to focus<br />

on something that they want to<br />

try, rather than doing numerous<br />

different activities. Cool choices<br />

like yoga, self-defense, and<br />

ice skating are not regularly offered<br />

at other schools. So take<br />

control of this opportunity and<br />

check out the new classes to see<br />

what you think!


Rebel Opinion<br />

Fall 2011 The Rebel Word Page 6<br />

Occupy <strong>Burlington</strong><br />

By Amna Mustafic & Nicholas Garcia<br />

For over a month now, some<br />

of our community members<br />

have been occupying Vermont.<br />

Occupy Vermont is<br />

an organized movement of<br />

people that were inspired<br />

by Take the Square, NYC<br />

General Assembly, and the<br />

Arab Spring (well known<br />

past protests.) This could<br />

also be known as the 99%<br />

Movement, referring to the<br />

difference in wealth between<br />

people.<br />

The politicians, bureaucrats,<br />

and bankers caused<br />

the current economic crisis.<br />

The result has been Occupy<br />

Movements around the country<br />

including <strong>Burlington</strong>, VT.<br />

More than 1,000 people have<br />

been arrested for protesting<br />

against banks that are in the<br />

opinion of the protesters taking<br />

money from the middle<br />

class and using it further the<br />

aims of the upper class. People<br />

are also protesting against<br />

the government that they feel<br />

isn’t helping the poor and<br />

middle class as much as they<br />

should.<br />

On <strong>October</strong> 20th Nick Garcia<br />

and I went out to meet the<br />

people that were occupying<br />

<strong>Burlington</strong>. Upon our arrival<br />

we got a chance to really see<br />

what was going on. What we<br />

saw was no surprise. Everybody<br />

was determined to<br />

make a difference and stand<br />

up for what they believe.<br />

Rain or sun they were outside<br />

no matter the circumstances.<br />

Because of this I think that<br />

the protesters are doing the<br />

right thing. Protesting their<br />

opinion is a great way to get<br />

more people involved. It was<br />

interesting to see how they<br />

developed their plans and the<br />

way they took action towards<br />

achieving their goal. Isn’t it<br />

about time to change things?<br />

Millions have been out of<br />

jobs and been looking for<br />

one for years now. Nothing is<br />

changing and people are getting<br />

sick and tired of it. The<br />

protesters are not just protesting<br />

for their own problems,<br />

but also for the younger generation<br />

that is about to enter<br />

their struggles as well. So<br />

why should they get arrested<br />

for that? Many of us need to<br />

have our voices heard. The<br />

rules have been altered lately<br />

and many of the protesters I<br />

have met feel they have been<br />

cheated by politicians. Some<br />

are even scared of finding<br />

jobs after graduating college.<br />

If this continues what will the<br />

future look like? This what is<br />

what some of the protesters<br />

had to say:<br />

A & N: Why does the rest of<br />

the crowd have to copy what<br />

the speaker says?<br />

Answer: “Because when you<br />

are in a large group of people<br />

it’s hard to hear the speaker.<br />

It’s commonly used so everyone<br />

hears, it takes longer but<br />

everyone hears and understands<br />

the message. It helps<br />

with decision making too.<br />

“It’s called consensus Facilitated<br />

and consensus decision<br />

making” says Linda Hamilton<br />

from Charlotte. [Note:<br />

This is also done because<br />

loud speakers and microphones<br />

have been banned by<br />

the police]<br />

Rebel Sports<br />

A & N: What would you like<br />

to people to know about this<br />

protest?<br />

Answer: “We have to maintain<br />

parks, hold and occupy<br />

the entire park area. Bring as<br />

many tents and tarps as possible.<br />

To fill grass with tents,<br />

we can make a presents so<br />

they won’t be able to push<br />

them out!!”<br />

Statement from a protester:<br />

“History has shown us that<br />

violence is not a way to<br />

accomplish what we want<br />

therefor I would like to create<br />

a statement of non violence.”<br />

A & N: “Why does your sign<br />

say Goldman Sucks?”<br />

Answer: “Because Goldman<br />

was one of the main banks<br />

that got bailed out they basically<br />

took our money. They<br />

are also the biggest contributors.<br />

That is one of the ways<br />

that money controls our government.<br />

Goldman is a big<br />

part of that.”<br />

Girls Soccer<br />

By Connor DeVarney<br />

Rebel Football<br />

By Ryan Scagnelli<br />

The Rebel Girls’ Soccer Team won their semifinal game on Wednesday<br />

<strong>November</strong> 2nd to advance to the State Finals. The Rebel Girls improved<br />

their record to an outstanding 14 and 3 and were looking to repeat their<br />

championship run with a win over CVU. “This has been such a fun<br />

season.” said Senior Midd Kayla Schaefer. SB and CVU met twice in<br />

the regular season, which both ended with a win for the Red Hawks. The<br />

State Finals had a similar ending with CVU winning 4 to 0.<br />

Rebel Field Hockey<br />

By Sean Lunny<br />

Our field hockey team is headed to the ‘ship! The Rebels headed into<br />

the playoffs as the number one seed with a record of 14 wins and only<br />

2 losses. The ladies look to extend their championship streak this Saturday<br />

against Middlebury at UVM at 3:00 p.m. Come out and support our<br />

Rebel girls!<br />

Rebel Cross Country<br />

By Jake Barton<br />

The <strong>South</strong> <strong>Burlington</strong> Rebel Boy’s Cross Country team is looking very<br />

good this fall. Top runners Malcolm Plunkett and Tommy Royer, returning<br />

from last year, look to lead the path for the Rebel boys.<br />

“We’ve had some very good races this year”, runner Patrick Hickey says.<br />

“We have been placing very well [both] in and out of state”.<br />

Also, watch out for the upcoming and fast improving girls cross country<br />

runners. Top runners Katie Merrick, Katherine Cook, and Christa<br />

Weaver are leading the path for our Rebel girls. “We’ve been improving<br />

a ton”, runner Avni Nahar says. “We have had some very good races,<br />

including a race in Manchester, New Hampshire and a 3rd Place finish in<br />

<strong>Burlington</strong>.”<br />

In the semi-final game, the Rebels season came to an abrupt end when<br />

Hartford claimed the game. The Rebels fought hard but their efforts<br />

weren’t enough. The Rebels ended their year with a record of seven wins<br />

and three losses, losing only to Essex, BFA and Hartford. With half of<br />

the varsity football team graduating this year, there will be a fairly new<br />

squad for 2012. Giving rise to speculation about the team’s chance next<br />

year.<br />

Boys Soccer<br />

By Jennifer Camm<br />

The boys soccer team’s 3 game shut out win streak was snapped on<br />

Wednesday afternoon by Colchester. With only three games left in the<br />

regular season, the Rebels hope to finish the season strong, especially<br />

with the return of Eric Davidson!<br />

Jack Tarricone says, “We are preparing ourselves for CVU who we<br />

play the last game of the season. It will be a good test to show the team<br />

where we are for play offs.”<br />

Playoffs begin at the end of the month and we’ll just have to wait and see<br />

if it makes or breaks the our boys.<br />

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE<br />

REBEL FALL SPORTS TEAMS!


Point - Counterpoint<br />

Fall 2011 The Rebel Word Page 7<br />

Is <strong>South</strong> <strong>Burlington</strong> Too Politically Correct?<br />

Forward by Samuel Rodgers<br />

Political correctness has become part of our culture. We choose our words carefully and “correct” others when they are not being “PC”. It is natural<br />

then that a discussion of political correctness arises within the hallowed halls of <strong>South</strong> <strong>Burlington</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong>. Are we too politically correct<br />

or are we not exercising enough political correctness? Two students consider this issue in this version of: Point/Counterpoint.<br />

By Bailey Gokey<br />

In the society we live in today almost<br />

everything you say in public<br />

could be used against you. Your<br />

personal opinion can be taken out<br />

of context or even seem offensive<br />

when it is just that, an opinion.<br />

When it comes to <strong>South</strong> <strong>Burlington</strong><br />

<strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong> it’s a larger scale<br />

than just one person’s opinion.<br />

With students from all over the<br />

world attending <strong>South</strong> <strong>Burlington</strong><br />

it would be hard for the administration<br />

to know what would and<br />

wouldn’t offend every student.<br />

Rather than playing this guessing<br />

game which very well could end<br />

badly, the school should just continue<br />

to strive to be as politically<br />

By Sean Lunny<br />

Our school has been caught in a<br />

flurry of controversy in the past<br />

few years. We all know about the<br />

new grinding policy, the pep rally<br />

was taken away and then reinstated<br />

and there was plenty of controversy<br />

with that, and of course the<br />

Powder Puff (Wait, am I allowed<br />

to say that?) Football Game. I find<br />

myself asking “why?” Why is our<br />

school trying to please everyone<br />

and why are they making big deals<br />

out of nothing?<br />

I understand the pep rally being<br />

taken away, the negativity at the<br />

last one was reportedly awful.<br />

Fine, at least we have it now, but<br />

there was controversy with the<br />

new pep rally. Apparently the fact<br />

that the football team was planned<br />

to be announced last was unfair because<br />

it made it seem like football<br />

was more important than the other<br />

sports teams. The fact that the<br />

order of teams being announced<br />

was changed because some people<br />

believed it gave one team more<br />

importance just made me shake my<br />

head in disbelief at some of our<br />

school’s decisions.<br />

Now, the Powder Puff Football<br />

Protecting the People: Political Correctness<br />

correct as possible.<br />

When there is a failure to remain<br />

“politically correct” it can sometimes<br />

lead to law suits. In most<br />

PC cases, the result is not good.<br />

<strong>School</strong>s have been sued over what<br />

students have published in school<br />

newspapers, what administrators<br />

and teachers have said to students<br />

and almost anything else you could<br />

think of. At Notre Dame University<br />

a few years back a student’s<br />

cartoon was published without<br />

anyone noticing the blatant antigay<br />

message. Students and families<br />

were outraged and threatened<br />

to take them to court over it. They<br />

settled outside of court and now<br />

the school must be more vigilant<br />

with prior review.<br />

As almost everyone knows<br />

the school was recently hit with<br />

the Powder Puff football issue.<br />

It’s admirable that even though<br />

he was unsure where the whole<br />

school stood on the issue, Mr.<br />

Burke cancelled it once there was<br />

even a mention of it being sexist<br />

and derogatory. There also was<br />

a chance of injury which, most<br />

likely, only solidified his decision.<br />

When issues like this come up in<br />

a high school it is important for<br />

school officials to respond quickly.<br />

Only a few students feel offended<br />

and degraded by some of these<br />

P.C. - A Waste of Time<br />

Game. A group of senior girls<br />

organized the event for charity,<br />

and it got canceled because of<br />

worry about injury and the “negative<br />

social implications”. First off,<br />

anyone who plays flag football in<br />

gym class is taking the same risk<br />

of injury that these girls were,<br />

so that is not a valid reason for<br />

canceling the event. The real issue<br />

is that the event got canceled because<br />

some felt it was degrading to<br />

women and women’s sports. The<br />

girls who planned the event were<br />

athletes, so how can the administration<br />

cancel the event on those<br />

accusations? Just because some<br />

felt it was offensive doesn’t mean<br />

everyone does. Why are we digging<br />

for problems here? As quoted<br />

in Principal Burke’s email to the<br />

school, “Powder Puff encourages<br />

people to see female athletes in<br />

a humorous light, creating a new<br />

kind of misogyny that isn’t rooted<br />

in older restrictions like laws forbidding<br />

women from owning property,<br />

but betrays recent advances in<br />

gender equality.” I am being bold<br />

by saying this is how you should<br />

be thinking, but open your mind to<br />

this concept, if a person is going to<br />

base their view of women’s sports<br />

over a single Powder Puff Flag<br />

Football Game, does that person’s<br />

opinion really matter to you?<br />

Last but not least, the subject that<br />

has brought the most amount of<br />

attention to our school, grinding.<br />

After years of grinding happening<br />

at schools around the country our<br />

school decided to ban grinding at<br />

dances. If I had to guess why this<br />

happened I would say it’s because<br />

somebody complained about it.<br />

The students in our school work<br />

hard; is it really so much to ask for<br />

you to suspend your own outdated<br />

principles for two nights a year so<br />

we can enjoy ourselves? We only<br />

get one high school experience, so<br />

stop thinking about your rules and<br />

your feelings and let us enjoy high<br />

school. “Mr. Burke, I am sorry but<br />

I do not believe that you tried to be<br />

flexible. If you had been flexible<br />

you might have come up with any<br />

number of solutions such as, parent<br />

consent forms, age limits, or a no<br />

tolerance rule for explicit behavior<br />

while grinding, meaning you get<br />

one shot and if you step over that<br />

issues. But, it doesn’t take long<br />

for a larger group of students to<br />

adopt the feelings of the offended<br />

students. The problem takes much<br />

longer to resolve with more people<br />

involved.<br />

Although some may say that<br />

<strong>South</strong> <strong>Burlington</strong> <strong>High</strong> <strong>School</strong> is<br />

too politically correct, you must<br />

take into consideration why that<br />

may be. If the school was spending<br />

all of its budget on court cases<br />

and paying off settlements then<br />

how would we ever afford new<br />

uniforms for the athletic teams and<br />

textbooks for the classrooms? Are<br />

we too politically correct? I think<br />

no.<br />

big bright line, you’re kicked out.”<br />

I can understand intervention on<br />

a smaller scale of dancers that go<br />

above and beyond what grinding<br />

actually is, they should be separated<br />

or kicked out, but will it really<br />

hurt anyone if we grind for two<br />

nights out of the year?<br />

Now I’m not saying that we should<br />

criticize people for opening their<br />

mouths and voicing their opinions,<br />

otherwise I would not be writing<br />

this. People should be praised for<br />

standing up for what they believe<br />

in, especially when they feel they<br />

are being mistreated. I just believe<br />

whole heartedly that our administration<br />

needs to recognize that<br />

we’re not going to acquire some<br />

awful reputation because a few<br />

people are unhappy. We can still<br />

respect individuality and diversity<br />

while being more relaxed on all<br />

of these rules. I might have been<br />

brazen to write this and influence<br />

your opinion, but am I being more<br />

brazen than our administration imposing<br />

their values on our student<br />

body? Too PC at SB, I definitely<br />

think so.


Man on the Street<br />

Fall 2011 The Rebel Word Page 8<br />

What’s Your Phobia?<br />

The Rebel Word asks some of our beloved SBHS Staff Members what makes their skin crawl this Halloween<br />

Ms. Sheehey-“Being struck by a rabid moose” Mr. Marabella-“Heights” Ms. Toner-“No summer vacation”<br />

Mr. McFadden-“Fear of cutting my hair” Mr. Hagstrom-“Heights; Creepy students” Mr. Belton- “Not having Fridays!”<br />

Ms. Weaver-“Being taken away by a pack of wolves and being devoured”<br />

Coach Burleigh & Coach Jones-“Snakes!”<br />

Keep a look out for our fantastic Holiday Edition!<br />

See something that you like? Something you don’t?<br />

Want to suggest an article topic? Let Us Know!<br />

Contact the Editing Team at therebelword@gmail.com or<br />

see Ms. White in the English Office for details.

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