2008
^Oregon GDL laws cracking down on teen drivers?
E mmaue C ox
Staff Reporter
Newly licensed drivers
are fidgeting in their seats as
rumors run rampant that there
may be new restrictions on
teen drivers.
The law currently states that
teens under 18 may not drive
with anyone outside of their
immediate family for the first
six months of issuance. .
But that law is rumored to
be changed to a full year. This
law is heard to not be released
until after the beginning of the
New Year. For the second six
months, one cannot drive with
more than three passengers
under 20 that are not in their
immediate family.
Restrictions then continue
through the first year
regarding curfew, and all other
safety laws apply.
The rumored new
restriction would require any
drivers bom in or after 1992,
once issued their license, to
wait a full 12 months before
having anyone outside of their
immediate family in the car.
There is much uproar
from the younger drivers that
will feel the full impact of
this possible new restriction.
However, older drivers may be
basking in the glory of being
born before 1992.
According to the
Department of Motor Vehicles,
this rumor is FALSE. Workers
at DMV receive calls about
this rumor every year, and
"there are not going to be
any changes regarding the
Graduating Driving License
(GDL) restrictions whatsoever."
If there are more questions
to be answered, the DMV
recommends a call to the
public affairs hot line at (503)
945-5270.
The GDL programs that
are currently in place have
been shown to improve the
safety and support value of
driver education according to
national study, and that there
seems no need to jump to the
drastic.
The first six months after
obtaining a drivers license tend
to be the most dangerous, and
these GDL laws have shown to
improve the safety since they
were put in place in 2000.
GDL in Oregon, as in most
other states, places a variety of
restrictions on drivers younger
than 18, a time when novice
drivers are gaining experience
behind the wheel. The program
also offers a drivers education
class.
These classes don't just
educate the students about
driving, but also educate them
about how to identify possible
distractions in the environment
around them and be aware of
possible causes of accidents in
order to prevent them.
Statistics have improved
enough since the laws were
enacted, that there is no need
to intensify the restrictions.
Young, inexperienced
drivers are taking a turn for
the better with the help of
the GDL program. Due to the
improvement in these drivers,
there doesn't seem to be a
need to change any of these
laws. According to DMV,
Oregon will continue with
the program, as is in hope of
insuring the safety of drivers.
Kenyan exchange students visit WLHS
le g a l f ¡Silers_____________ m
continued on page 1
"I would like to identify
the value of education and
be an inspiration to others in
my country. Kenya has a lack
of medication and treatments
for diseases like AIDS. I want
to help my country, and
hopefully bring medication
and affordable treatment," he
said.
Simiyu has taught English
literature for 13 years and
spent 11 of those at Namwela.
She has three children and
outside of school enjoys
cooking, going to church and
Shakespeare.
There was a long selection
process to decide which of the
450 students would represent
Namwela. First, applications
were accepted. Many students
were afraid of travelling,
especially by plane, because
bad weather had caused
deadly plane crashes in Kenya
in September.
Many did not let weather
worry stand in their way.
Several hundred students
applied, and 90 of them were
chosen to be interviewed.
Twelve were selected, and
then more interviews took
place. The number was
narrowed down to six, and
then they realized it needed
to be reduced to four. Finally,
the top four on the list were
chosen, according to Madame
Irene.
Each of the visitors worried
that students would not accept
them or would think of them
as strange or different. "We
thought Americans do not see
animals like monkeys, and
maybe you'd think that's what
we were," Amunga said.
"I just would like to
thank everyone who made
this possible, West Linn
High School, G ATA and the
students. In a million years
we never thought this would
happen when we joined with
West Linn and it's been a great
experience," Madame Irene
said.
Keya agreed. "I would also
like to thank everybody, the
parents, students, teachers.
We hope and look forward to
seeing you all someday in our
beautiful country," Keya said.
The group had planned to
leave on Jan. 5, but their stay
was extended. Kenya broke
into what could be called a
"civil war," after the December
presidential elections
sparked outrage between the
government and its citizens.
As of Jan. 14, over 700
people had been killed and
250,000 people had been
displaced. Namwela is located
near Nairobi, where fighting
has been the worst. There is
little communication, so the
visitors do not know the state
of their families. Phones are
ringing with no answer. Kemei
knows his father was forced
into hiding.
Since the partnership,
WLHS has donated textbooks,
money for a well, athletic
uniforms and a computer
for Namwela. The visiting
students' high school fees will
also be paid.
▼
Kenya is located
in eastern
Africa, and is
about twice the
size of Nevada.
UCTURE:
epublic
C LIM A T E :
around the
everywhere
else.
*
s'sW/%
O FFIC IAL
LANGUAGE
The country's
official
language is
Swahili, but
English, the
national
language, is
more widely
spoken.
SPORTS:
"Metamorphoses” cast members Avery Breyne-Cartwright, sophomore, Dylan Stark, Rosie Dickson, Connor
McGuire, seniors, and Catherine d'Autremont, junior, perform the final scene in their final performance.
The scenes were written, directed and acted by students in Acting/Directing Seminar, an honors level
; class. Two evening weekend and an in-school performance played to full houses.
Photo by Maiia Chong
f
Cricket, track
and held, football
(soccer), volleyball
and rugby.