Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2010)
Forum January Dolphins create disturbance: games banned for a reason D anny M c G arry They appear to be working hard. But take a closer look at their monitors, and you'll see that they aren't working at all, they are playing games like Dolphin Olympics 2 or Farmville. "They're not even allowed to play games at school!" -you might say. Well, students know the risk, and they take it because they don't think they'll get caught. If they are nabbed, then they're banned from the computers for two weeks. I don't think it's worth * the risk. If you're in a class that depends on technology such as Web Design or Digital Photo, then it is difficult to complete your work since most of the work is done on the computer. You may even have to handwrite assignments. In some of the science classes, there are web-labs in Photo by Ethan Brent An unidentified senior plays Dolphin Olympics 2 on a school computer. Computer games are banned at school (a two week suspension from computer access may result), however, many students still use them for entertainment. which you won’t be able to participate. Game playing is prohibited at school, not just when you're supposed to be learning, not just when you're supposed to be writing a 10 page paper and not just when you're supposed to be typing up the notes for the huge test. Thankfully, Farmvillemania at school has died down. But when one fad falls, another rises. I can see why people might be tempted to play games at school even though they are banned. Maybe you're done with a current assignment or working on it at home, but that's when you find something else to work on. But some will say "I'm going to play something that I do enjoy!" But that may have painful consequences. When your parents ask you why you have such a bad grade, I'm pretty sure that the last thing you want to say is that you were playing Dolphin Olympics 2. Class participation grades could also be in jeopardy if you can't participate and when you're distracted, you'll have more homework because you didn't finish it in class. I don't recommend playing games at school. Eventually you will be caught. If you don't play games on the computer at school, you'll actually achieve something, will have less homework, and quite possibly earn better grades. Seems like a good trade for a few minutes of dolphin jumping! Double standards in chivalry create discord in relationships J aime L orenzini to be the archetypal damsel in distress. Ladies, you are independent creatures. You can stay single forever without any qualms. However, if you wish to have a healthy relationship, it would be well to consider conceding absolute self- sufficiency, opting instead to allow your beau to be the man in the relationship. Does that mean that you have to be the archetypal damsel n distress? No Once upon a time, in a very distant land, a prince swept a lady off her feet and attempted to place her upon his white stallion. To this the lady replied, "Excuse me I'm more than capable of getting on this horse by myself." The prince responded by allowing her to mount alone, conceding to let her lead as he hung on for dear life on the back of the saddle. Does this i story sound familiar? Good, it should. I see it every day. A young Graphic courtesy of man www.artmall.vita4me.com attempts to independent woo his lady. She asserts and be your own her independence. He person without pushing your stops trying to woo. She's boy away. offended by his lack of "They should be holding effort. Such has been our open doors, yes, but having dating rituals. them pay isn't really It’s a double standard necessary for me," Kelsey that young men are held Lissman, senior, said. "If they to. They must give the lady offer, it's really nice, but I equal treatment and be the don't mind helping out." knight in shining armor. Offering to pay is a very Finding the balance between gentleman-like thing to these two opposites has do. In today's society it has proven to be difficult, nearly become nearly obsolete. impossible. The age of opening doors, "It's pretty impractical helping old ladies cross the' to think that a guy could street and springing for the perfectly embody both bill seems to have come to qualities," Hillary Kugler, an end. senior, said. In a culture that teaches Likewise, ladies don't young women to fend for have m mmm themselves, it is not hard to figure out why there is a gap in what is to be expected and the de facto reality. Ladies long for the courting portrayed in movies such as "The Notebook" or "P.S. I Love You," but society tells them that they need to be entirely self-sufficient; that any dependency is weakness. "Personally, I don't think women should lower themselves to title of damsel is distress. It gives off the impression of helplessness," Lissman said. The standard for dating needs to be raised. While women do not need to be the damsel in distress, and men need not be the archetypal Prince Charming, there needs to be honor and respect given in a relationship. One way of doing this preforming simple acts of kindness for your significant other. "I think the problem is most women don't see themselves worthy of being earned. If women collectively raised their standard, the good men would rise to the occasion," Ryan Rhodes, sophomore of film studies at Ohio state said. "I hold the door for women all the time. That won't change. Know you're a princess and you have to be fought for by your knight. Don't settle for a simple peasant." Freshmen ask for equal treatment E mily J ohnson C ontributing W riter We all know high school brings on a boat load of responsibilities. And yet to say the least, walking down to Market of Choice, picking out your favorite Arizona iced tea and * lA pound of Juju's can't be one of them? School rules have it that freshman are not allowed off campus during lunch break. Of course, our minds go to "high schooler now, remember?" side and scream, 'but we just got done dealing with the watered- down cookie cutter rules of middle school, its high school now... we are supposed to be free!'. It seems to the majority of freshman that we should be allowed the privilege of ditching the hour long lunch-line in exchanges for a social grown-up stroll down to the store. Taking into consideration that this tradition boggles our minds with the blinding light of making our own decisions, I think the desire comes from the fact of getting to expand on your own without your mother right beside you telling you to put that back because high fructose corn syrup is one of the main ingredients, or having to wait an hour in line just to get a spoon and pretty much just not being treated like kids anymore. Considering that some freshman have already let the rebels shine out in them and gone out to lunch, it is no surprise that we all feel like we should be able to. Come on, what's another 20 minutes spent going down to the store purchasing your items and coming back up? Not much at all. In your freshman year you determine the crease of freedom to be defined, but remember there are limits. West Linn Wilsonville School District has a strict school policy that freshman are not allowed off the school premises anytime during the day, including lunch time (bummer), unless approved from a parent/guardian. This may seem like a Debby- downer to us frosh, but overall it comes to good meanings. "The theory behind freshman not being allowed off campus is, one, freshman can't drive, and, two, we do not want to promote the idea of getting into cars with your friends, even if it means a drive back up to the school" Lou Bailey, Principal at West Linn High School, said. But why don't we put our free souls and young legs out there and do it the old fashioned way. Walk? It comes down to freshman being, well, too fresh, and having yet another willy-nilly responsibility that does not attain to our educational needs put on us, it's an unnecessary door opened. Basically just self discipline that we have not yet developed. So over all we can't argue with the way its set in stone, but just think of it this way, only 150 some odd days left until we can kiss our bread crumbling, back aching, stomach growling, lunch line good bye, and enjoy "endangering" Market of Choice. So whip your $5.50 out and start filling up those express lines! wmmmmmimm m 9
