R O V. V E N K W S
Kri.. Feb. I. 1973
THE ROQUE NEWS
I CIIOUMTIC J
( punas I
Published bi-weekly, during the school months, by the Associated
Student Body of Ashland Senior High School, 201 Mountain Ave.,
Ashland. Oregon 97520. Subscription cost $2.50 per year.
Editor Rosario I)e LaTorre
News Editor Jeanne lloadley
Editorial Editor Joseph Hawk
Feature Editor Steve Schmelzer
Sports Editor Sharon Hill
Advertisers Shirley Delsman, Teresa Fowler, Anita Johnson
Business Manager Jeri Lewis
Photographers Harold Berninghausen, Willie Thompson
Reporters Randy Dew, Garry Now, Dale Nelson
Sports Reporters Kevin Gandee, Charlie Lewis
Advisor Clifford M. Brock
Printed by THE PRINT SHOP. Ashland. Oregon
Stage II Class
Set For Spring
Fourth quarter English will
offer a new dimension in the
spring drama course.
Some of the plays that will be
studied by the spring drama
students will be performed by the
drama club. English teacher
Gerald Merryman, who designed
the course, is organizing this
project so his spring drama
students can see how the plays
are to be performed.
"It should make the class a
little more interesting for the
students," said Merryman, and
then added, "seeing the plays as
they should be performed should
give the student a better per
spective as the quality of the
plays."
Plays that will be studied
include The Importance of Being
Earnest by Oscar Wilde, Othello
by William Shakespeare and
Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond
Rostand.
Flag Salute
(& te6T)MUe'U ,
JJgMUfJ WWP THE TH0U6H7
Junk Ma7 Overcomes Office Staff
In the wake of protest concerning playing of the National Anthem
at sub-Olympic meets comes the Student Senate's decision not to
require participation in the flag salute.
For the uninformed, the Student Senate abolished compulsory
participation in the flag salute and instituted what will henceforth be
known as the "Thought For The Day."
The idea of the "Thought For The Day" is commendable; the
intent is sincere and honorable. But when certain individuals refuse to
show patriotism for our country by standing, for a fraction of a
minute, for the flag salute, it becomes intolerable.
It is doubtful that these energetic individuals are too lazy to stand
for such a short time. Therefore, there must be an independent reason
for their adamant refusal. In fact, one of the "non-participants" stated
his reason as "not wanting to waste any time on something so
unimportant ... as the flag salute."
This is a very vile attitude. When the Russians met the Canadians
in a series of Ice hockey games in Canada last year, both parties
remained standing for the opponents' National Anthem. Such is
proper, due respect.
Perhaps for the representative who refuse to participate,
impeachment proceedings are in order.
What better place to start a meeting which is to help unify the
classes than to have all members, in unison, pledge allegiance to their
country.
JAH
Lincoln's Birthday
After Christmas vacation, there are no days off for students
scheduled until Spring Vacation. Christmas vacation is over on
January 3; Spring vacation begins on March 19. That's a period of
roughly two and a half months for students.
California students get both Lincoln's birthday (February 12) and
Washington's birthday (February 19) off, but on these days, Ashland
students will be in school. However, governmental offices will be
closed, and classes will not be held at SOC.
By law Oregon schools must be in session 175 days. AHS is in
session 178 days. Because up to five days may be taken off for snow or
such "acts of God," but Ashland usually closes school only one day for
such things, it seems that one or both of the birthdays could be taken
off. They are also strategically located in a sort of midpoint between
Christmas and Spring vacation. DN
by Joseph Hawk
"In twenty-four hours the
average adult exercises about
seven million brain cells."
"Some scientists are predicting
that in the 21st century clothes,
will be sprayed on."
Where is the world's greatest
accumulation of such trivia?
Ashland High's office after the
mail comes.
Hoards of "junk mail" come
into the office everyday. Every
thing from companies that ad
vertise slogan buttons to maga
zine subscriptions converge in
the office like magnets.
This worthless mess ends up in
one of two places: in the waste
basket or in the Student Body
Office. "I wish there wasn't such
a thing as junk mail," said Boy's
Dean William Mearns. "The
biggest problem comes in its
disposal. That's a lot of paper to
burn."
As more companies spring up
through the country, the chance'
of escaping from junk mail is
decreasing.
As was found in one piece of
junk mail: "Over twenty-seven
million dollars is spent on the
processing of junk mail every
year."
by Steve Schmelzer
Many young people today think that they have a monopoly
on life. They feel that ten years after retirement they will die a
natural death and everything will go according to plan.
This idea is in no way true at all. Recently I met an eleven
year-old boy. The little boy was a healthy happy child with no
thought of death at all. Two weeks after meeting the boy I found
out that he had been hit by a car and was dead. You see when
death comes knocking, it doesn't matter what the age of the the
victim is.
Because we humans don't know when we ourselves will die
or someone we love, it always helps to be at peace with both God
and man. I've heard family quarrels end with angry words like,
"I can't stand you," or "you make me sick." Little do these
people realize that the person they are arguing with could easily
die or be killed at anytime.
If people realized that at anytime their loved ones could die
they would probably try to show all the love they could, because
once a person is dead it's to late to tell a person you love them or
try to apologize for something you've already said.
George Washington Speaks .
by Jeanne lloadley
Monday, February 19 is George
Washington's birthday. Next
year, it will fall on February 18.
To make things even more con
fusing every calender has the
22nd marked as Washington's
traditional birthday. The Rogue
News thought it might be inter
esting to see just what Mr.
Washington would have to say
about all this changing of his
birthday.
Reporter Mr. Washington, what
do you think about the govern
ment moving your birthday from
February 22 to the third Monday
of every February?
Washington It's simply disgust
ing, this is the second time
they've done it to me you know.
Actually I was born on February
11 but after they changed the
calender back in '52 (1752. the
Ed.) I never could keep it
straight. I just got used to
celebrating on the 22nd and now
they do this to me!
Reporter How do you feel about
three day weekends in general?
Washington From what I've
heard they're great! But if you
want my honest opinion they're
not the time to celebrate holi
days. The holiday is completely
lost in the excitement of the
weekend. The trouble with this
country is they set up a day and
call it my birthday when it really
isn't and they don't even think
about me at all. I don't know what
this world is coming to, you're all
a bunch of hypocrites!
Reporter But Mr. Washington,
all the stores have sales in your
honor, and children everywhere
remember you for your honesty
all through the month of Feb
ruary. Washington There you see!
That just proves my point! They
aren't thinking of me they're
thinking of the profit they can
gain from my name. And that's
another thing. I don't know who
the idiot was who started that lie
about me chopping down a cherry
tree but if I ever get my hands on
him . . .
Reporter Now Mr. Washington
control yourself. Everyone ad
mires you for your honesty in
admitting your guilt.
Washington It's slander! They
make me out to be some kind of
malicious vandal. If that's the
best they can do I'd rather not
have them remember me at all!
Especially not if they have to
change my birthday to do it. If
they admire my honesty so much
why lie about when I was born.
The least they could do is call it
"George Washington Day" and
leave my birthday where it was.
Reporter That's a very good
point Mr. Washington, we're out
of time now but thank you very
much for vour comments.