Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2007)
Student Opinion Matters Spirit assembly needs work: students unimpressed M ary W ood Page Editor After watching the spirit assembly on Feb. 1 6 ,1 found myself wishing I had taken the option of not attending. While the assembly was a nice break from the average school day, I found the way it was run to be highly annoying. Bad spirit assemblies seem to be a common problem, and this one was no exception. Maybe the strange events were a way to make up for the lack of other Spirit Week activities, but it surely didn't work. It only left me thinking that there had to be a better way to run an assembly. Though Cupid's Court was necessary because of its female Homecoming equivalent, the routine was a little stale. Hearing an announcer discuss the contestants' ideal dates was much less entertaining the second time around. Observing the boys thrashing around on the ground wrapped in Saran Wrap was also tiresome. It wasn't ■ 5^' Nick Kemner, Dan Hennelly, Shawn Miller and Spencer Dorway, seniors, lip sync in the Spirit Assembly on Feb. 16. Each grade had student representatives who performed. The assembly included other events Photo by Cole Fiala such as Cupid's Court. any way intelligent after the premiere of "Lizzie McGuire." Thankfully, the junior and senior performances were amusing and less horrible to witness. There was one redeeming quality to the assembly which almost made me forget about what preceded it: the basketball game. Though I'm no sports fan, the game of seniors against teachers kept me on the edge of my seat. It was also nice that both male and female players were in the game. If there's a way to fix a bad assembly, it's definitely including a game. An easy solution to the problem of mundane assemblies is incorporating originality and action. Having sports and small, humorous touches like the clothing in Cupid's Court would make assemblies easier to watch. Maybe if students were able to help ASB by suggesting ideas, the assemblies would be more enjoyable. Hopefully, ASB will be able to make the next assembly better. com p letely aw fu l, h ow ever. The uniform of heart- patterned boxers was cute, as well as the pink robe that the winner received. The most painful parts of the assembly to watch were the lip sync performances. The freshman group's act of walking out, then turning around and leaving during the song, "Walk It Out" brought shame to its class, but provided joy to the upperclassmen who now have new material for their frosh jokes. The sophomore performance of a song from "High School Musical" was just as embarrassing because everyone knows Disney Channel stopped being in Get involved: responsibility, education will solve problem S a ch e H opkins Page Editor More and more on the news we hear of global warming, violence in the Middle East and AIDS in Africa. Everyone seems to have a cause that they identify with, but rarely do we take action to support our words. Now I'll admit, I have nevor held a fundraiser, or written a letter to a person in Congress, but I do read the newspaper, because I believe gmrnt ifier ♦ A West Linn High School, 5464 West A Street, (»3) 673-7843 »fax: (503)657-8710 • vlhs-ampiifier@wlhs.wiwv.kl2.or.us is published approximately every four weeks by the West School Advanced Journalism class. Opinions expressed represent only those of the writer, opinions of West Linn High School, its ', staff, or student body. Sports: Christopher Erbin, Jon i« Helmkamp, Sachie Hopkins, Zak Laster athan Fisher Technology: Nathan Fisher, auren Levine Kelsey Schrader Business: Simon Kirsch & Staff Reporters Lauren Levine Photo Editor«: Malia Chong & Megan Butts, Katie Carnahan, Katie Carney, Malia Chong, »11 ill » Max Hays, Danielle Levine, Kira Matsuoka, Eke McGi $ M i .M ill Joseph Miller, Lauren Pak, Levine Peterson, Jessica Shuholm Contributing writer Calley Lathrop Photographers Sarah Chicoine, Adviser Arm Breyne : : t l that it all starts with being educated and aware. I recently sent out an email to the student body, where I asked students what they felt was the most important issue today. People advocated for everything from clean water, to the War in Iraq, to health care. Personally, I feel education is the most important issue, both in the U.S. and abroad. If we educate people, the solutions to the other problems will follow, and several responses I received echoed this belief. There are ways to get involved, whether it is through joining a club at school or outside of school, through writing letters and raising money for issues. Most importantly, though, is through talking about the issues and spreading awareness to others. So, here are some facts about the world to chew on, while you decide how to get involved: According to wikipedia. org the National Debt is somewhere around $8.6 trillion. - According to climatecrisis.net as many as a million species worldwide could be pushed to the brink of extinction by 2050. -A child dies from malaria every 30 seconds, according to UNICEF -About 44 million people in the U.S. have no health insurance, and another 38 million have inadequate insurance. When it comes to the world's problems we all have a responsibility to be informed to the best of our abilities. Our world is facing many problems, some easily fixed, others not so much. Some people do their part, others much more than is expected of them, and a few are a little apathetic. So, if you think you might be the latter, take advantage of the good education that you have received, find something you feel passionate about, and let that passion lead you. Who knows some good may come out of it? I hat is the most important current event issue today? 9msm, ¡üiBBQ^6míl(íim\í$E?úBaEt[¡ I
