New copier overused
If you ever intend to use the new Xerox 8200 copy machine, you
had better have at least 20 minutes to wait in line. Teachers over-use
the new copy machine. A recent poll of 20 teacher’s aides (those
qualified to use the new machine) were asked whether they thought
the teachers ran off significantly more copies on the new machine, as
opposed to the old one. Nineteen of the 20 aides said “yes.”
The problem seems to be, that teachers think because the new
machine is so fast, they can copy twice as much as they did with the
old one. It is true that the new machine is faster, but what the
teachers do not realize is that if the double-sided copy mode is used,
the machine is not that much faster than the old one. Bill Aue, A.V.
Department head, explains, “The new machine is more efficient;
there is no doubt about that. But the lines are twice as long because
people use the (new) machine twice as much (as the old one).”
Aue has tried to solve the problem by sending out notices to the
teaching staff, asking them to cut down the number of copies. But it
was to no avail.
The problem will solve itself one way or another. Either the teachers
will succumb to Aue’s pleas, or we will lose the new machine because
of the mounting costs of its over-use.
Second lunch lacks taste
Students of a “first class” school such as West Linn should not be
subjected to the slim selection of leftovers merely because they are
scheduled to second lunch.
No one expects school food to taste or look like a buffet at the
Benson, but they do expect (and with good cause) the food to be hot
and fresh. Maybe the food starts out that way but by second lunch
the limp lettuce has grown slimy, grease has covered the cold french
fries, the cheese on the pizza and ham sandwiches has turned to rub
ber, and the rolls are stale and cold. Sure this food is still edible but
just imagine the problems that could arise from the consumption of
such food.
First, the slimy lettuce could slip down someone’s throat; if it didn’t
gag him to death, it might present difficulty in digestion. Another
item is the french fries. Now cold french fries are bad, but cold grease
in the shape of french fries is worse. Cold grease seems to collect on
the roof of the mouth a great deal like peanut butter, without the pro
tein. Students must remove the residue on the roofs of their mouths
to learn the lessons for the day.
The cheese does not cause too much trouble for the students
wihout dental work, just extra chewing, but for others the cheese
may pull out fillings or collect on braces. It would be better sold as
super balls.
v
Finally, possibly the most dangerous problem, the rock hard rolls
could seriously injure someone in a food fight. How would that look
in the papers? Often, the rolls are gone before the salad is but one still
has to pay the same for the lunch. How’s that for fair? Only some
salad lunch purchasers would have ammunition.
Problems cost more to correct than they do to prevent. The staff
who plans the lunches should take a lunch count of both lunches.
Less food should be cooked and brought out at a time. Hot food
should be placed over a low heat and in containers with lids. Finally
ice should be placed around or in the food needing to be kept chilled.
We should eat no food after its time.
Double block: welcomed
The time has come to commend the WLHS staff for a job well-
done. They have come up with the new double block schedule. The
efforts to perfect this idea should be appreciated by the students, for
it was done mainly for them.
Although double block had a hard time getting on its feet again
after the six-week trial period during the first semester, the wait has
been worth it. Instead of 110 minute periods, classes are 90 minutes
in length. Fifteen minutes make a lot of difference after an hour and a
half. The lunch period is an hour long, which allows students time to
do other activities as well as eat. Many different activities are schedul
ed for students to participate in during lunch break. That is not to say
that students are obligated to take part in these activities, the choice is
theirs.
The point is that everything was done for the students. It’s only ob
vious how much time, effort, and planning was put into making the
students’ day less monotonous and “boring.”
Now that things are getting off the ground, it’s up to the students to
keep things going. The rules now are the same rules that applied
before the new schedule started. It would be terrible if all the hard
work put into this idea was thrown away because the rules were
broken.
len LO t
1UMY204LUM.
Recently I was requested to write an article
about the senior party, but since then we have
had posters, fliers sent home, class meetings,
and deadlines. In fact, by the time this sym
posium reaches your eyes you will have miss
ed or met the $10 deposit deadline by three
days. S o it would be pointless for me to “urge
you” to participate. Nevertheless, I think the
party should be discussed.
I personally think that the senior class has
gone to a tremendous amount of work to get
this party going. They have done an
outstanding job.
There has been a lot of debate over three
items concerning the party that I would like to
refute with my mighty pen: (1) the destina
tion being secret (2) it being on graduation
night (3) it being alcohol free.
First of all, what’s wrong with a little
secrecy? It’s not like the lot of us are going to
be shipped to Timbuktu and never returned. I
find it amazing that the secret place has not
leaked out. Sure, I’ve heard rumors, but
nothing definite. I think it adds enticement
and curiosity.
Come on now, grad night is perfect. It is the
last night, aside from maybe our class reunion
(where not everyone shows), when all 241 of
us (give or take a few) will be together. We
graduate on a Tuesday. A Tuesday! Like
Kathy Stein said at the class meeting — have
your private party on Friday or Saturday and
come on Tuesday. Billy Rancher and the
Unreal Gods will be playing until 6 :00 in the
morning for us.
Seriously, a school-sponsored activity must
be alcohol free. No discussion necessary.
So throw off the robe and yank on some
jeans after grad and let’s roll. By the way, we
have only 22 days left.
The world according to Marc
Attire not indicative of sexual preference
Simply because a person
wears attire that differs from that
of the great majority of the
students at this school does NOT
mean he/she is a homosexual.
As a matter of fact there are few
instances in which clothing can
be
attributed
to
sexual
preference. (These we won’t
discuss.)
Basically I see no reason for
the blatant persecution of those
who actually have the guts to
dress as they please.
But the true individualism is
being confronted by the wrath of
such conservatism and bum-
pkinry that nonconformity
(clothing wise) no longer seems
livable.
You are probably wondering
at the moment just who these in
considerate conservative idiots
are, and indeed they do deserve
some sort of recognition for their
brilliant asininity. The people are
too numerous to name so I will
generalize and narrow the broad
spectrum down to something
tangible, by pointing out exactly
what kind of people we are deal
ing with. Ready?
First and worst we have the
“just plain inconsiderates” who
will make light of anything new
and different. They are easily
identifiable by some distinct
characteristics that set them
apart from virtually any other
crowd.
You
know,
’60s
throwbacks; the long hair, the
ratty clothing, the works. They
travel in small groupsrbut can
only get brave enough to annoy
you when there’s more than
four.
Another obnoxious bunch are
the ultra-conservative dressing,
acting, and looking “friends” that
jokingly rib you and then still
pretend that you really enjoy
their company and should feel
honored to be with them at all.
The worst, however, are the
people you have known for a
long time, and are always look
ing for a cut. These are the guys
to watch out for. It seems as if
they just don’t know when to
quit.
There is one simple explana
tion for all this relentless
persecution. This lies within the
fact that those exercising their
right to free speech are too in
secure to handle any type of
nonconformity and must, in
order to make themselves look
good, put down others. Sure,
we all did it in third grade but
haven’t we come past that stage
yet?
The Amplifier is an official publication of West Linn High
School, West A Street, West Linn, Oregon. Subscription
rates are $5. Advertising rates run $3.5 0 per column inch.
All letters to the editor may be turned in to Mrs. Cole’s box
in the lower office.
Editor-in-chief.......................................................... Susan Denton
Opinion e d ito r..................................................... Marc Whittaker
Feature ed ito r..........................................................Mike Martus
Sports e d ito r..................................................................Steve Kelly
Exchange editors................. Susie Welch and Richard Bloom
R eporters...........................Richard Bloom, Andrea Dechenne
Jami Floyd, Nathan Gerstein, Staci Johnson
Lisa Kendall, Joanie Kramer, Janice McDonald
Frank Scheu, Heidi Von Tagen, Kris Warner, Susie Welch
Photographers................................................... Heidi Von Tagen
and the Photo II class
Advisor.................................................................................. Pat Cole