News
2007
'Crystal Darkness' stirs students' emotions
u N icholas A rntz ____________
Copy Editor
"Where do you go when
you have nothing left?"
is one of the questions
posed by a former crystal
methamphetamine user in
the documentary, "Crystal
Darkness."
The 30 minute
commercial-
free video
aired on all six
of Portland's
commercial
broadcast
stations on
Oct. 9.
The
program
portrayed
the real-life
consequences
of using
meth, how it
destroys your
relationships, and how it
caused each of the users to
contemplate suicide while
using.
Some student reactions to
the video were:
"The fact that many of
the drug users were "A "
students and people almost
out of college was hard to
believe. "You are signing a
contract and entering a dark
portal when you take meth
for the first time/ Some
described it as a deep dark
pit that you can't get out of."
— William Maurer,
freshman
"After watching
"Crystal Darkness," I am
even more persuaded
that I am not going to get
myself involved in not just
methamphetamines, but in
any type of drug or anything
similar. My parents always
tell me not to get caught
up in those things, but this
was visual proof that when
they give me their lectures,
they are trying to protect me
instead of put me to sleep.
The pictures of the teeth
and gums will remain in
my head for some time. My
mom would kill me if after
$5,000 worth of braces, I
just ruined them like that
by using meth. However, I
know that there would be
a much larger consequence
for taking any drug, and that
my teeth would be the least
of my problems."
—Ryan Scott-Deeter,
freshman
"Everyone's faceless
and everyone's the same.
Everyone turns into the
drug, and loses themselves.
The first time trying meth,
for anyone, is an endless
vortex, a hole. An addict
loses their conception of
time."
—Jessica Foster, senior
"Depression, holes in
your skin and mouth,
eaten cartilage, personality
loss/change, loss of friends,
family, loved ones, and loss
of your mind. All of this just
for a high? How selfish can
they be to affect their health
and others
around
them just
to get the
'greatest'
high
around?
After
seeing the
program
I went
on the
awareness
web site
associated
with the
showing
and it is
clear that they offer support
to the people who need it.
So it really confuses me
why people who are on the
drug do not get help if they
really want to turn their life
around. Some of the pictures
are engraved in my mind,
such as the holes in people's
faces. Why would anyone do
this?"
—Brandon Bisson,
freshman
"[The children] part
saddened me the most out of
the whole program because
it is so depressing to think
that many babies have to
fend for themselves while
their parents go off and
do drugs, not caring about
anything but having meth.
It made me think, where do
these kids go afterwards?
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What if they don't have a
family that they can go live
with, would they have to
live in an orphanage? It
baffles me how people can
make such wrong decisions
in life."
—Emma Davis, freshman
"First time meth users
Blood
become something that
can only be described as a
different person, someone
with no coherent morals.
With such a strong addiction,
after one hit a person's life
can be shaken. After just one
hit, lives get ruined."
—James Mesplay,
will save many
C alley L athrop
Staff Reporter
Some people may not
think high schoolers can
make a difference, let
alone save a life. But that’s
exactly what happened on
Oct. 17, when 129 students
participated in the Red
Cross Blood Drive.
Students each gave one
pint of blood, which, on
average, will save three
lives. Because of those
donations, 387 people will
be given a second chance.
This year, the Red Cross
challenged West Linn to
donate 130 pints. Although
donations fell one pint short,
the administration still
considered the goal met.
"The Red Cross was
very impressed with how
smoothly things went and
with our students here. I
was told by a few workers
that this is their favorite
place to come and work
a blood drive. I feel very
proud of that. We do have
quality young people here
and a quality staff that
molds them," Julie McLeod,
health teacher, said.
The Blood Drive was
spearheaded by seniors
Eli Groman and Alexa
Swanson. ASB advertised
the drive and provided
assistance during the
event. Posters were placed
throughout the school, and
several students dressed up
as giant blood drops and
travelled the school.
According to McLeod, if
you were too young or too
small, or just didn't get the
memo, there will be another
blood drive in the spring.
Unlike canned food or cash
donations, giving blood is
giving the gift of life.
Search for new principal begins
Hm principal
continued from page 1
"They need to have
a sense of the modem
school," Woehl said. With
the advanced technology
being used in school every
day, they also need to be
comfortable with the rapid
expansion of electronic
resources.
The administration
should be an active part of
the community and school
events. Under Noah's
tenure, parent volunteer
help has steadily increased.
"The high school is a central
part of the community; a
unifying piece of the town
where people come together,
like football games," Noah
said.
Once the final applicants
have been chosen, they will
sit down at a one-on-one
with Woehl. They will also
go through at least two
hours of interviews. Two
interview boards consisting
of students, staff and
parents will each separately
interview the candidates
Following this, the groups
will compare notes on
strengths and weaknesses
of each candidate and the
different aspects they liked
and disliked about each of
them.
Two or three of the
applicants will be chosen
to come back for a half
day interview with the
administration and
the school board. After
narrowing it down to one
or two people of particular
interest, someone will be
sent to observe them at work
in their current position.
They will be evaluated on
their charisma and their
relationships with the staff
and students and.
Noah says she will miss
the school and it will be hard
to see someone new take
over. She has accomplished
what she wanted to see
done in the school and is
prepared to let someone
else's vision lead. As a part
of the transition process,
Noah will help them get
acquainted with the systems
and community before she
leaves.
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