Spirit Week RecapBy Jack FisherBefore I begin to discuss one rowdy Spirit Week I would like toannounce that due to the unfulfilled claims of my previous article, Ihave begun negotiations with Cranbrook regarding a transfer as soonas possible. Although this may be my fate and I did make a fool ofmyself with my declarations of a Spirit Week victory, the senior classshowed more spirit and fight than any class I have ever encountered.I am not ashamed for what I had said, for with a few breaks it wouldhave been the actual Truth. Even with an unfulfilled destiny, thesenior class of 2009 is the most creative, resilient, and refined class toever grace the halls of the lovely <strong>University</strong> <strong>Liggett</strong> <strong>School</strong>.In calculating the results of the spirit week tournament, I do believethe seniors had been shocked in upset by a margin of two scantypoints. My friends of the senior class, we all know of the multipleoccasions in which we had choked, practically handing away ourprecious victory to the juniors. Mistakes such as not knowing the universaltruths that a man sleeps more than a woman, and that womenhave larger lips, are not tolerable if victory was to be achieved. AlsoI have never seen a more devastating swing in pin knockdown in myfour years of Spirit week compitition. Going from leading two pins toone, to losing all in one swift flick of a feeble freshman wrist....I do believe the seniors had beenshocked in upset by a margin of twoscanty points.Breaking down the less than satisfactory performances in footballand futsol are not even worth my precious time. Besides re-imaginingthose losses, my pathetic breakfast of Margaret Mary’s birthdaybrownies might end up regurgitated on this supposedly Mr. MacKethan-ownedschool computer. If only we could have pulled through inthese numerous clutch situations, the tone of this article would be alittle bit different.Despiteour shortcomingsin spiritweek events,the seniorsshowed a sideof cooperationand camaraderiethat had not yetbeen displayedto such a level.<strong>The</strong> costumeseach seniorwore werecreative andwell-made, accompanying the theme of Spartans (not to mention thecoordination it took to organize and build a Trojan horse, along withorganizing a routine for the football game). <strong>The</strong> cook-out was a success,even though I was too lazy to wake up for it, due to a late nightSpirit Week football game. If the trophy was to be handed out basedon Spirit, there is no question who the rightful owner would be.Choosing the theme of Spartans and relating much of our campaignto the movie 300, it was almost like we were destinedto fail. No matter how tenaciously the Spartans fought, theywere up against an unbeatable Persian force. Yet the glory isfound in what they stood for and what they fought so valiantlyto protect in the face of defeat. We rose to the challenge onFriday against a junior class that was voted the clear favoritefor the title; however we came up just short. I am honored tobe apart of the class of 2009. Defiant to the end and bondedas one we met our fate with open arms, not ashamed of losing,but proud to be united in our final year together at the<strong>University</strong>.Computer LabCrackdownBy Steven Morris...<strong>The</strong> ability to go onto Facebook, orYouTube, should be allowed ..Our school has gone through some major changes: new teachers,more students, and new rules. <strong>The</strong> library policy, and in particularthe computer lab, has been among the most controversial,but with new leadership comes new rules. <strong>The</strong> new changes arefor the best, academically. <strong>The</strong> changes create a nice work environment,where it is actually quiet and a person can get somethingdone in there. But how often do we need the library like this?<strong>The</strong> school should try to loosen up the computer lab a little bit.In previous years, we had a librarian by the name of Dr. France.Dr. France was a cool guy - just that. He was not strict, and hewould allow noise, but work was still done even while talking tofriends. When he was around, the computer lab was part of whatone kid called, “the golden age of the library,” where anyonecould walk in, talk to friends, chill out, do some work, or just lookon YouTube or Facebook. Now, this does not sound good fromthe teachers’ perspective at all, but why would it? At times it didget hectic, and they had reason to tighten the rules in the computerlab.Although the school has reason to make the computer labstricter, how it is now may not be a good compromise betweenstudents and faculty. <strong>The</strong> new changes have led to the computerlab being a good work environment, and that’s great. Still, thecomputer lab has become one of the most talked about issuesamong school. <strong>The</strong> use of computers now is only for academicpurposes (i.e. no YouTube or Facebook). Also, in the computerlab, there is basically no hanging around or socializing. Recentlya student stated that, “the computer lab is dead,” and it is true.<strong>The</strong>re is not as much activity and the rules need to be manageddifferently.What students want for rules, to a certain extent, should bea factor with some serious magnitude. Though it may soundjuvenille, let us be independent. <strong>The</strong> ability to go onto Facebook,
or YouTube, should be allowed. What the students do during lunch orfree period should be up to them because they are old enough to managetheir time. If they want to spend their time looking up new videosor seeing who wrote on their wall, let them do it. If computers are tooloud, then we could possibly bring in headphones so that the volumein the computer lab is not crazy. Also, let students talk in the computerlab at least a bit more. During any sort of free time, it seems like thereis a ton of people congesting the halls. This is really annoying. I maybe saying it because I am a senior, but I have also heard faculty sayHaiku By DrewBy Drew AmatoChristmas is coming,But there isn’t any snow.It will be so cold.things along the lines of “move it.” So let some students hang out inthe computer lab. If it gets too loud, just tell us to “Shush,” and if thatdoes not work, just kick out the kids making unnecessary noise for alittle bit. <strong>The</strong> golden age of the computer lab is gone, and a trace of itmust return.Senioritis MDBy Alex BollMD Internal Highschoolacis DiseaseicusAuthors Note: Diagnosed with a severe case of senioritismyself, I considered not typing this article due to my illness, butafter Mr. Mock bugged me for a week, I turned it in…late.What is Senioritis?Senioritis is a point in a senior’s life when they no longer feelthe urge to care or get their work done and have the mindset of“I am done with high school and into college and all I want to dois hibernate.”What is the cause of senioritis?<strong>The</strong> negative result of anticipation for graduation and the freedomof college and witnessing how much fun the past seniorclass had their second semester senior year.When do you get senioritis?As for some of us slackers, senioritis kicked in on September6th, 2005, the first day of our freshmen year. For most seniorsit appears during the 2nd semester upon completion of collegeapplications.What are the symptoms?Excessive sleeping in classMany zeros on assignmentsFailing quizzes and testsConstantly staring at the clock anticipating the end of classSkipping classesExtreme partyingApathy when it comes to educationProcrastination and exhaustion due to lack of sleepHow do you cure it?<strong>The</strong> only known cure is a phenomenon known as Graduation.Do I have senioritis?1. Do you skip class?2. Do you party on weeknights?3. Did you give up on studying?4. Do you leave your backpack in your car between 8am-3-pm?5. Are you lazy in general?6. Do you come up with any excuse to leave the ULS campus?If you answered yes to more than one of these questions it islikely that you have contracted senioritis.