October/November Issue - South Burlington High School
October/November Issue - South Burlington High School
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.