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About The Grantonian (Portland, Ore.) 19??-???? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1968)
4 THE GRANTONIAN December 13, 1968 Young smokers said not serious about hazards Editorials “Public signs of affection are never in good taste.” Outdated or not? Obviously many students think this statement is obsolete. Bundling, necking, or making out—under any title the same action—becomes more frequent in our halls every day. Why? Is the basis of these expressions of affection the fact that students can’t stand to be separated, even for as lit tle as an hour? Is the exodus to a far-away math class that earthshaking? Is the encounter of a flame in the cafeteria so overwhelming that emotions are beyond control—or is the need for these exhibitions only to prove to others that those involved “belong”? These scenes are created by students of all social circles and races with no distinctions as to student body officers, honor students, or athletes. Besides being in conflict with school policy it is in conflict with the rules of good taste. Halls, assemblies, and school grounds can hardly be called the right time or place for such expressions of affection. Our morals are changing . . . but are they changing this fast? Yuletide season said 'busiest' for shoplifters by Carol Monroe “Christmas is one of the busiest sea sons for shoplifting: more than a billion dollars worth- of merchandise is stolen throughout the nation each year,” com mented Sergeant Schwartz of the larceny department of the Portland Police Force. “ITEMS SUCH as jewelry, makeup, scarfs, skirts, jackets and leather coats are being stolen constantly throughout our stores,” he continued. “Security sources today estimate that more than 50 per cent of all shoplifters are rang ing from ten to nineteen. “Ten to fifteen shoplifters are caught a week, and a good share are teenagers. These people may be prosecuted and charged with a felony offense, which can cause colleges not to accept them, and usually none of these people are hired for governmental employment,” Sergeant Schwartz concluded. CONFIRMING THESE reports regard ing teenage theft, clothes buyers and clerks maintain that the majority of their store thefts are by teenagers, be cause of the emphasis on stylish clothes and fashions today. ■ Thomas Mariconda, a New York City social agent, said that there appear to be two distinct stimuli for the trend. In the low-income teenage thief, often the drive represents a craving for possessions that the parents can’t afford, or simply won’t consider, buying. During the Christmas season keep your eyes open for shoplifters and do your community a favor by reporting them to the proper authorities. Cub Edition iati Published weekly -by the advanced jour nalism class of Ulysses S. Grant high school, room 203, 2245 N.E. 36th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97212. Phone 288-5975. Printed by Modern Typesetting company with a circulation of 3200. Second class postage paid at Portland, Ore. Subscrip tion cost $2.00 per year. Vol. 73, No. 13 — December 13, 1968 Co-Editors ................. Margaret Hadden, Mary Ann Hutton Page 1 Editor.....................Donna Lewis Page 2 Editor................ Nancy Herman Page 3 Editor................ .Steve Johnson Page 4 Editor .................. .Jenni Raies Reporters....... Sue Gottsch, Roy Greene, Chris Hawes, Chris Heinrich, Diane Knight, Mark Lowenthal, Georgean Melonas, Carol Monroe, Jenni Raies, Jeanne Taylor Photographer.....................Steve Rooney Advertising Manager .... Kathy Walton. Circulation Manager . .Kathy McGregor Circulation Staff . .. .Margaret Hadden, Mary Ann Hutton Advisor...............'............. Willard Mohn There's a time ... Affection draws frowns ... and a place by Margaret Hadden and Mary Ann Hutton To the dismay and disgust of many students, teachers and administrators; students have openly been expressing affection toward one another in the halls. “These actions are in very poor taste,” commented Mrs. Mel- va Anderson, girls' vice-principal. She con tinued, “The students merely reflect the training they have re ceived at home.” “In our society ex pressions of affection are very private matters and should not be displayed in public,” pronounced Mrs. Constance Per son, faculty member. “These scenes are juvenile and immature. You never see adults engaging in these exhibitions in public,” Mrs. Person continued. “Iron ically though,” she concluded, “the stu dents may be trying to prove their ma turity.” “Bleh!” gasped Miss June Peter son, junior girls’ counselor, when asked her opinion of these students’ actions. She went on to quote, “ ‘There’s a time and a place for everything.’ The school halls are definitely not the correct time nor place for these actions,” Miss Peter son explained. In the past, Miss Peterson has con fronted female offenders but she elab orated, “It’s really up to the boy to stop it, once they have formed the habit.” She concluded, “It certainly cheapens a girl.” “Standards may be changing but I’m still embarrassed when I see a couple being overly affectionate in the hall. I feel as though I’m intrud ing on something private,” revealed a student. “If you really respected a person, you wouldn’t be ‘draped’ around them in the halls where everyone snickers at them,” was another student comment. “With regards to present moral stand ards, I would consider it in bad taste. How ever, with the recent sexual revolution sweeping college cam puses and today’s youth, we may soon be vnt I III finding it acceptable,” emphasized a student futurist. Another opinion voiced was, “If some one wants to expose their feelings to the whole school, then that’s their privilege —it’s none of the school’s business.” School policy does not state that dis ciplinary action will be taken but it re lates that public expressions of affection are in very poor taste. Grant Dress Code Popcorn, possible suspension burden 'very humble pledges' by Chris Hawes Laden with bags of popcorn, love let ters, and bearing last night’s humiliation, “very humble pledges” enter Grant and become the lowest possible form of life. ALL THROUGH the day pledges live in frustration and fear. At school they are made to do all sorts of “funny” things. But, many don’t know that these “funny” things they do can result in suspension from school. When questioned, vice-principal Mrs. Melva Anderson stated that, “Absolutely no pledging is to be allowed in school. People who are caught pledging at school may be suspended along with the pledg er and the club president.” IN PAST years there have been many people punished for violating this school rule and there will be more. The social clubs functioning around Grant used to belong to the school and were school sponsored. Soon, things like pledging got out of hand and the school was forced to put these clubs out! Another main reason that clubs were suspended was the social pressure that was put on getting bids to these clubs. So, for those who didn’t know the rule or the consequence, they are strict and should be enforced. by Jenni Raies Caution: Cigarette Smoking May Be Hazardous to Your Health. THIS EXPRESSION is frequently heard on television and is printed on cigarette packages. But whether it has been taken seriously by teenagers is an other story. However, smoking among students is obviously common and brings up both legal and health factors. But the law is very difficult to enforce and students take advantage of this situa tion. Thousands of teenagers all over the country smoke illegally every day and we see this demonstrated in our own school. THERE IS no apparent solution to this problem because cigarette machines make no distinction as to age, and—un believably enough—some parents actual ly contribute to the delinquency of their children either by giving them cigarettes or permitting them to smoke without punishment. There seems to be no one reason why students smoke. Each person is an indi vidual and has his or her own private reason for smoking. Some smoke just to be “in with the crowd.” It’s difficult to pinpoint the basic thing that motivates smoking. Nobody is the same and no one has the same problem. THE SCHOOL Administration is con cerned about the smoking habit. They feel that students should stop smoking not only because of its illegal aspects, but because of the harmful effects. In interviews with several Grant High staff members and students there were many interesting remarks made about teenage smoking. MR. HUBERT Shovlin, boys’ vice principal, explained that the lungs, heart, and arteries aren’t fully developed in the teen years so that smoking in creases the possibility of a malignancy. Usually, depending on the individual, girls’ organs mature around the age of 18 or 19, Mr. Shovlin informed. Boys’ organs aren’t fully developed until about 21 years. These are the main reasons for the smoking law—■'“it is a health law,” he asserted. The law was formed for pro tecting the health and not made to hin der their means of trying to show their maturity. WHY DO teenagers smoke? Carol Monroe, a junior, observed: “I can’t an swer the question why people smoke, but I think everyone should realize that it is a proven fact that smoking leads to can cer and bad health.” Carol further noted that smoking affects the lungs and makes one short-winded. “I THINK that it’s everybody’s own decision whether they want to smoke or not,” Laurie Tuttle, also a junior, de clared. Yet warnings are being stressed more and more now, especially since it has been confirmed that much damage can resulte to health from youthful use of tobacco. If young smokers would only realize what they are actually doing to them selves, and not worry about what others would say if they didn’t follow “the crowd” anymore, they might become much happier and healthier persons. Enjoy life while you have it! Remem ber: Cigarettes cost money. And besides, the best things in life are free! “Next time you think you’re dying for a cigarette—you might be right,” as the TV announcement goes! Memorial fund nears goal; more names added to ‘list’ According to Mrs. Fred Kempe, at least $831.03 will have been paid towards the completed purchase of the Memorial Or gan by January 1. “If more time is need ed, an extension will be asked for,” Mrs. Kempe elaborated. She went on to say that the names of two more alumni have been added to the list of “gallant dead” who have given their lives in Vietnam. Air Force Major Thomas Laird Brattain, graduate of 1951, was killed on November 28, 1968 — Thanksgiving Day. Army Captain Arthur Eugene Lewis, graduate of 1955, was killed in action on May 17, 1966.
