2
Mar<£
News
Presidential candidates promote diversity in politics
u J ohn C ampbell _____________
Page Editor
With over a year-and-
a-half left until the next
presidential election, it's time
for numerous politicians to
announce their candidacy
for president. This year's
candidates are looking to
make history with the 2008
election.
The Democratic Party
is offering up the most
diverse candidates in years.
In America's history, every
president has been a white
man. But Barack Obama and
Hillary Clinton are looking
to change that. Obama, an
African-American senator
from Illinois gained support
after delivering a speech
that most politicians
considered impressive at the
2004 Democratic National
Convention. His recently
released book "The Audacity
of Hope" and his daily
podcast have gained him
even more publicity with the
voters.
Clinton, a New York
senator and former first lady,
has long spoken about her
political ambitions. Her two
terms in the Senate and her
marriage to former president
World-wide competition
advances students into
scientific community
,
K atie C arney & L auren P ak
Staff Reporters
Students from around
the world were invited
to join the International
Science and Engineering
Fair which is one of the
globes largest science fairs.
This competition is held
annually and made up of
almost 1,500 students from
at least 45 nations who are
all competing for the $50,000
freshman, and Hannah Acre,
freshman, said.
From the District
Competition, the first and
second place winners from
each of the 16 categories
moved on to compete in
Regionals. The categories
vary from Animal Sciences,
Computer Sciences, Earth
and Planetary Sciences to
Engineering. Regionals will
be held March 16 at the
Bill Clinton have helped gain
voter support, but Clinton
is by no means the first
woman to run for president.
However Clinton is the
first to be a frontrunner and
have an actual chance at the
presidency.
"All the hype is with
Obama and Clinton right
now," David Frick, social
studies teacher, said. "Yet
the Democrats may end
up choosing John Edwards
because the other two might
be seen as polarizing."
While the Democrats offer
up new-wave candidates, the
Republicans are putting out
more traditional ones. The
biggest frontrunners for the
Republican nomination are
veteran senator John McCain
and former New York mayor
Rudy Giuliani. McCain, a
senator from Arizona ran for
president in 2000 but lost
to current president George
W. Bush. Polls show that
McCain holds an advantage
due to his sense of humor
and willingness to poke fun
at himself. His appearances
in the film "Wedding
Crashers" and on "Saturday
Night Live" have helped
boost his appeal to young
voters.
"McCain seems like
a good guy and would
probably make a good
president," said Will Gibson,
senior. "But in the end I feel
I'm probably going to vote
for one of the more diverse
candidates. McCain just
seems too traditional."
Giuliani is considered
to be one of New York's
finest mayors, praised for
his attempts to wipe out
organized crime and his
ability to help the city heal
after the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks. His edge may come
in his ability to unify the
Democrats and Republicans
by being able to ride the
middle.
These are only four of the
many people running for the
highest office in the land,
but with the political winds
constantly changing the way
they do, it's hard to predict
exactly what names will be
on the ballot next November.
But according to polls, these
are the most likely nominees.
Thespians lo o k to com pete w ith state's elite;
send varied acts to H istoric Elsinore Theatre
u C hristopher E rbin _________
Page Editor
Despite some tough
judging which kept some
of the upperclassmen
from reaching the State
competition, West Linn is
sending five different acts to
the Oregon State Thespian
Acting competition in Salem
on April 12-14.
While the regional acting
competition was a slight
disappointment for senior
actors, many of the younger
competitors received a
pleasant surprise when
they advanced to State.
Sophomores Caitlyn Olson,
Reis Mahnic and Jenelle
Barzola advanced along with
Elise Biancardi and Avik
Bandyopadhyay, juniors.
Maggie Lewis was the sole
senior to advance to State.
Approximately 600
students from 21 different
schools in the Northeast
Acting Region competed at
WLHS in hopes of claiming
the few positions at State.
Serving as the host school,
West Linn dominated in the
ten acting categories.
Arguably the biggest
surprise of the competition
came in the novice solo
acting category, an event
which would send only one
actor to State. Olson claimed
that single position for her
re-enactment of scenes
from "Kentucky Cycle" and
"Reckless."
"Caitlyn truly was one of
the best surprises to come
out of this competition,"
Jessica Murray, drama
instructor, said. "She really
wasn't expected to advance
to state, but her natural talent
helped pull her past the other
competitors."
Also placing in the solo
acting category were Kristy
Wilkinson, sophomore, and
Lucy Walker, freshman. They
tied for third and received
honorable mentions.
Olson was not intent on
qualifying for just a single act
at State, she also advanced^*
in the Duo Dramatic
VP
Competition. Along with
Lewis, the team reserved
a spot in Salem with their
skit from the performance
"Trifles."
Thespians compete
continued on page 3
Student strives to promote peace by starting club
u K ate C arnahan & J essica S huholm
Staff Reporters
Hannah Acre, freshman, and Hillary Krippaehane, freshman, show
off their ISEF project to the public on March 2. Students who placed
first and second moved on to Regionals, which will take place today
at Portland State University.
Photo by Malia Chong
grand prize.
At Districts, Avi Levy,
sophomore, won first
place in engineering and
mathematics division. He
received $10,000 dollars
and a scholarship of $2,500
to Oregon State University.
Levy will be joined by
Michael Bemert, junior,
Nicole Panichello, freshman,
and Kelsey Guerins,
freshman, who received an
automatic admission and free
round trip to internationals
to observe but not compete.
"We chose to take part
in the Science Fair because
we knew it would be a
wonderful opportunity
to include on our college
applications. It would help
us with our science skills,
and we did not have to
do some of the projects in
biology," Hillary Krippaehne,
Northwest Science Expo
Center. Approximately
20 winners will move on
to the final event of the
competition, Internationals,
which will be held May 13-19
in Albuquerque, N.M. .
"Passing the deadlines
and fitting everything on our
board was the hardest part
of completing the project,"
Lisa Kirkemo, freshman
said. Kirkemo and Katie
Carnahan, freshman, worked
together and presented
their project at the District
Competition.
"I think we did fine;
we made it to state. They
seemed to like our project,"
Kirkemo said. The two will
move on to compete in
Regionals and have high
hopes for participating
in International ISEF
Competition.
P
One month ago, Diana
Crane, junior, was sitting
in Honors International
Relations, thinking about
what to do for her final
project. The Young Advocates
for Peace was her answer.
The new club, which meets
on Mondays at lunch in room
A102, consists of students
learning about different
issues and what they can do
to help.
Right now, their main goal
is to raise more awareness
for the club. "We are pretty
excited for how many people
are coming," Crane said. On
Thursday, Apr. 5 at 7 p.m.,
Young Advocates for Peace
will be holding a peace vigil
in the New Commons. The
event will feature, poetry,
singing, food, and flashlights
according to Crane. A vigil
will be.held on the first
Monday of every month.
The club is also focusing
on participating in upcoming
peace protests, like the one in
Pioneer Courthouse Square
on March 18, which marks
the fourth anniversary of
Hailey Murto, senior, creates a poster to advertise the peace protest
that Young Advocates for Peace members will be attending on Sunday
at the South Park Blocks. YAP was formed by Diana Crane, senior,
to raise student awareness about world issues.
Photo by Malia Chong
the war in Iraq. They want
to focus on the organization
"Save Darfur," and join the
organization's high school
program, STAND.
There are also plans to
invite a Buddhist monk to
come and talk about inner
peace. Club members plan
to write letters, making their
opinions known to U.S.
Senators. "We also have their
phone numbers!" Crane said.
Stacy Erickson, club
adviser and social studies
teacher, is also excited
about the new club. "I love
to see students excited
and involved in positive
activities. This world could
use more peace. Who would
disagree with that?" Erickson
asked.
To join the Young
Advocates of Peace, meet in
Room A102 on Mondays at
lunch. All are invited to the
first Peace Vigil, which will
be held on Apr. 9, at 7 p.m.
the New Commons.
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