Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2009)
(K009 Features Clothing choices available at bargain prices m H aley E pperly ____________ Staff Reporter Abercrombie and Fitch... $55.75, Urban Outfitters... $42.50, Target.... $15.50, Value Village... $2.50. Clothing can be found for a wide range of prices to fit both personal taste and budgets. Walking through the doors of Value Village a vast sea of clothing lines the racks. Clothing is organized in rows of rainbow colors that invite shoppers to take the challenge of finding a treasure. The sound of hangers screeching against the rack is heard over the classic rock music as people sift through the clothing, determined to find a bargain no matter how long it takes. "All the clothes at thrift stores are original and cheap, and sometimes they make for good conversation starters," Taylor White, sophomore, said. "I like to be happy and so if I wear something fun and extreme I can't help but be happy." Where do you find this clothing from previous decades? Legitimately old attire can be found in such thrift stores like Value Village, Red White and Blue, Goodwill, (or even cheaper at the Goodwill outlet store where you pay for clothing by the pound). Resale stores which charge higher prices include Buffalo Exchange and Red Light located just off Hawthorne in southeast Portland. The inexpensive pricing doesn't translate to inadequate articles as some people first believe. "I like thrift stores because it's fun to find quality clothes at a dirt cheap price," Sarah Lord, sophomore, said. "As a teenager I don't have a lot of extra spending money to blow on super pricey clothing." Girls tend to care more about their clothing than boys. They are more likely to buy expensive clothing and designer labels. Most boys polled said they don't place as much importance on who makes the clothing as much as how it feels. "I don't care what I'm wearing, as long as I'm comfortable I could care less what people think about me," Keith Rivers, junior, said. The comfortable factor seems to determine what many students, boys and girls, wear. "Designer clothing is really comfortable, and I get to wear these clothes for a really long time because they are made really well, so they last a long time," Zoey Olmstead, sophomore, said. Olmstead is one of the many sporting soft Juicy jackets in a variety of colors. Others think buying expensive clothing is a waste of money, but are not thrift store shoppers either. "My $20 jeans are made of denim just like your Sevens. Is it really that important to pay for special stitching on back pockets of your jeans?" Erin Morrow, sophomore, said. "People have been raised with the idea that generally expensive means good and so they buy expensive things in the hopes that it will provide the best quality as well," Preston Rattle, sophomore, said. Rattle stated he could care less about clothing, sharing a mutual apathy towards clothing with some other students. Urban Outfitters, located at Bridgeport Village, is one of the more expensive popular clothing stores that acts as a bridge between thrift stores and designer brands. It provides the vintage style that many people look for when searching through rows of clothing at Value Village, but the clothes are new and come in multiple sizes, unlike thrift stores. "On an average day I'd probably wear a pair of some knock-off Converse," Ariane Hopkinson, junior, said. Hopkinson said she uses other forms of expression like humor to stand out. Any way it's analyzed, clothing is a necessity and can be a form of self-expression. One style is no better than another, but each person seems to think their personal fashion sense is the best. It is solely a matter of opinion whether one wishes to go to Gucci for a new bag, or paw through the bins at Goodwill Gracie Myers, sophomore, tries on a dress at Value Village located off of McLoughlin Boulevard. Many students shop at thrift stores to find vintage, unique clothing at bargain prices. P h o to by H aley E p p e rly cords and a v-neck with Service based learning inspires change, empowerment ■ B rittany P eterson Staff Reporter Change is in the air and sev eral teachers are employing action projects as a way to make a positive difference. According to these teachers, they want their students to change discover and feel empowered. Todd Jones, social studies, is one such teacher. He is having his International Relations students design their own projectsaround a global issue the\ feel is important. I want mv students to learn about major issues around the world and raise aw areness, ¿onessaid. When 1 assigned them the orokvt they were enthusiastic D eer down sta- r dents desire to matter. He assigned die project to his students in card March, tones does a community ser vice nroicc: with his classes ever year. The projects can span from forming a protest to raising av\ arc n o - about women's rights and the lack or education available tor women arounu the world to creating a project .-round rccvehb'.cs to raising moner in order to baud a school in Zimbabwe One team in bis class is putting on a vanctv show to : aisc mono, to nano a ins A ■+ > . .tTV'O'W tO x ; grouo aw aaencs. -out how much electricity is wasted at the school. My hope is to see them moti vated and empowered. Jones said. Andrew West, English teacher had his Core English class per form action projects as well. These projects were started in October and completed by his students in March. "The projects were based on needs we saw in the school, the community, the region and the itheriae Millington, .raeshissast help?- take care a cat M Paws Animal s e e d e r in W .llamerre. For their action prw act \LlB.ng:cn ar i Haviev Crawfoid tmm Acut Bsewne s English s class., volunteered at the shelter tor am site moon and Ire Id a- supply drive. - - r,: mwuesv of Katienine M-l-cror world, West said. Tire class formed groups and decided on something ihev wanted to change. " This was not for M r W est but for themselves or something larger then themselves, West Accord ing to West, the purpose of the project was not only to improve English skills such as writing proposals or following through on research, but to do something was that real, mean ingful.. and life altering.. However, students reactions mere varied. "For some students it was life changing, for others it was frustrating to work in a group because of the all important graded West said. Co Although some students may not have gleaned everything the? could have out of toe presect, the results were prom - islng according to West.. Many groups did tilings Alien as volunteering at an anim al shelter or a homeless she.ter One group went as far as' do interview rom eless p.eog .e whe make them residrrce on lire 1-5 exit They; w aited to ¡enow, why Usey were there, what c rough: them- m ete. an.: now t rue •* Ik e d . .Ann BtevT-e English teacher ■-* it St -■ rs -;T“r- »<• n class do an op«s~ emded project è encourage tr their interests while serving others, Brevne said. The class has talked about the project every month since September, but they didn’t start until January. They are due in mid-May. Students have created proj ects such as volunteering at youth agencies and en vironm ental projects. For exam ple, one student is making pillow s for victims of breast cancer. Brevne chose to do a Make a Difference Project not only because it ties in with the cum cu i uni. bu: becau se stu dents. can find passion with a protect such as this. After *rclass finished read ing the Nicer, she wanted them to think about what they could do for others. 1 want my students to fee! empowered. One p erson can make« difference in the lives o f others.' B rey ne said. Arter a A is sam ¿r : c one, the teachers who had their sruderrs plan and carry out action projects were satis- mec cut more trier that, their students developed mte better me: >ple according i Hr general, d o one ar. action research protec: was an excel- ies&t: activity—another fool m i sm. cer ts car use a- ar a.rserj. ¿gams: : gre ranee,' said..
