Where tradition and innovation meet

Volume 85, Issue 5March 11, 2010

2008 NSPA Best of Show Newspaper2009 Columbia Scohlastic Press Association Gold MedalistiNIWA

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The controversy about the legalization of marijuana for medical use has created many concerns about the morality and usefulness of this healing process. Great Falls authorities and doctors speak out on this issue.

14 •••••••• SPORTS9 •••••••• FEATURE

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6 ••••••••• NEWSFrom firefighter to doctor and dragon slayer to lawyer, Great Falls High Seniors speak out about their childhood dreams and how they have started on the long road toward adulthood and the decisions they will make

Great Falls’ Mr. Hobkins puts on a charity organization to benefit the survivors of the Haiti earthquake. The fundraiser was originally started by Mark Aubrey, a former basketball player whose wife came up with the idea.

WiresOfficials seek other funding options to rennovate the main campus after age exempts it from the stimulus grant

Mary Koppy|Editor in ChiefAccording to the district’s accountants,

$2,364,000 buys nearly $8.3 million. The math makes sense when factored in with the money the district will save with the new additions.

The school district plans to apply for a grant to kick off the nearly eight million dollars of repair work planned to be distributed among the local schools.

The work primarily benefits upgrades that directly affect safety and energy efficiency, such as electrical work.

The district prioritized such items as bigger windows, efficient and balanced heat control and better lighting to help keep the buildings modern and safe.

The grant monies will apply to the local elementary, middle and high school, with the exception of Great Falls High’s main campus.

“Because of GFH main’s historic nature, the decision was made to exclude this building,” Principal Dr. Fred Anderson said.

Because of this GFH main will not benefit from the grant, despite the building’s severe need for electrical renovations, but the district made allowances for that as well.

“They earmarked money from the deferred maintenance fund to do a thorough exam of the school and look at the wiring and windows,” Anderson said. “We felt we needed to take actions to request some of that funding.”

As part of the survey, several local architects will examine the school and draw up a priority list by late spring or early

summer.“Our goal is not to distract from the

integrity of the building,” Anderson said, referencing a similar, historic school in Miles City which underwent sever interior changes to update the wiring.

Anderson cited the electricity as the fundamental weakness of the building.

“We live in a technological age and we need the capability to operate in it,” he said.

Anderson also hopes to see expansion in the cafeteria so the school only needs one or two longer lunches instead of five short ones.

Anderson also hopes to expand the Industrial Tech buildings to give kids more space to work on their projects.

“It’s many students in a small space working with power tools,” Anderson said.

He explained that the potential for injury grows with the lack of space offered in the current shops.

“Ventilation is also an issue,” Anderson added.

“There are some good, energy efficient windows you could put in.”

Historically the school featured windows much taller than their current replacements.

The new windows inhibit the air flow and light permitted into classrooms.

After deciding on the most important necessary renovations the school will host committees comprised of students and community members to discuss the renovation opportunities.

The $2.36 million down payment

the district will place for the other local school will, with the $475,000 saved by the changes, pay for the $8 million dollar changes by September 2011, the deadline for using the stimulus money.

The city mandates an electricity code for its buildings to prevent safety hazards. Currently, GFH does not always meet these standards; although the building’s historic construction grandfathers it in because the wiring met code when workers first built the school in the 1930’s.

The school’s breaker system prevents the wiring from posing a fire hazard.

“The minute the circuits overload it trips them,” head engineer Ray Lyons said.

Both South Campus and the Field house posses wiring up to city code because of their more recent construction.

“When we add a new building or redo a current one we have to keep the wiring up to code,” Lyons said.

“We’re lucky in that we have two full time journeyman electricians working for the district.”

Andy Bubnash and Terry Litostansky deal with any electrical malady in the districts 20 plus schools. The union authorizes them as the only legitimate electricians permitted to work on the districts wiring issues.

Lyons says there has been talk of taking the current cafeteria and kitchen and placing them in a new building ideally situated between the campuses.

The current computer lab would then move down into the old cafeteria building, offering more space and better wiring with which to power the computers.

Connecting the

Melissa Horacek|JournalistMon., March 8, the Great Falls Public

School Board trustees discussed running a mill levy, and in this meeting, each and every one of the trustees voted to call for a levy election.

The school district has been in a financial slump for some time now. Three years ago the district ran a mill levy, which failed. To avoid running yet another last

year, the district used monies released from the PPL lawsuit.

“As a school district, we’ve been tightening our belts for three years now,” said Superintendant Dr. Cheryl Crawley, “The levy is to keep the quality of education that we’ve come to know and love in Great Falls.”

The City Budget Committee held a series of meetings to determine whether or not the district should run a levy. The 2010–2011 Budget Committee went over current school district expenditures. Taking in separate proposals and facts, the committee recommended a spending proposal to balance the districts means with its needs.

The Budget committee has proposed $153,281 in cuts at the high school level, mainly due to declining enrollment. They have also suggested money to be spent from the district’s reserve. The levy itself is set at $896,451. This is the equivalent of 17 teachers’ salaries. The cost of the levy is $14 per year on a $100,000 house.

Crawley believes the levy amount being requested is practical; however, the country’s financial standing could sway voters. “As reasonable as it is, the economic decline that the country is experiencing means that people are barely getting food on the table. Voters may feel this levy is not something they can do.” However, she said, “Representative Sue Dickenson addressed

the board emphasizing the importance of funding education as the way to work our way our of the economic situation in which our country and comminity finds itself.”

Associate Principal Beth Gerhart says that it is too early to tell what could be cut at the high school should the levy not pass. “For right now, we’ve been looking at pre-registration to see how many students are enrolled in certain sections, which shows us how many teachers we will need.”

The district will mail ballots, although three locations around Great Falls will be provided for voters to cast their decisions on May 4. Dr. Crawley said, “At least 50 percent of our voters are registered as permanent absentee voters.”

Mill LevySchool Board unanimously calls for a Mill Levy Election

2 Editor Donovan Dennis March 11, 2010Op-ed

[TheBottom

Line

By Jesse Whyte Is that going to be credit or debit?

More and more people are using plastic for purchases from clothes to office supplies to food. Now teenagers have the ability to obtain a debit card from their family bank.

Until they are 18 parents still must be a co-signer in the process, but it allows teens to use their money easily from their bank accounts.

Banks such as Wells Fargo

and Teachers Credit Union allow students to acquire debit cards that are connected to a bank account.

Also, there is a new online banking system that allows teens and parents keep track of their account activity.

It is easy and fast because now there is no need to run to bank for money because many teenagers continually go to an ATM to get money out which wastes more time and money.

Also, it provides the ability to make small purchases without having the fill out a withdrawal slip or pull out the minimum of 20 dollars from the ATM machine.

Online purchases have become much easier since the introduction of plastic, users still must be careful of fraud while buying off web sites.

Majority of places allow the use of debit cards and it makes things much easier for everyone, but one place that still has not

Editorial Olympic Games viewed as dismal compared to other historic legacies

It began with the death of a Georgian luger and continued throughout the rest of the games with melting snow malfunctions galore. Problems began before the Olympics even opened, when Vancouver officials announced taxpayers may be charged for construction costs of the athletes village, amounting to nearly $875 million. Vancouverites could only wish this was the beginning, however.

On the opening day of the Olympics, just hours before Vancouver welcomed the world to their front door at the opening ceremonies, Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died when he slammed into a steel support beam near the track at 90 miles per hour.

The International Luge Federation blamed the accident on “deficiencies in the track,” later continuing that

Kumaritashvili “did not compensate properly to make the correct entrance” in a curve where he slid from the track. Nevertheless, officials reacted and shortened the track by nearly 190 yards.

Problems continued at the opening ceremonies when one of the four large pillars supposed to light the Olympic Cauldron at the Opening Ceremonies failed to rise. Following the ceremony, the torch was moved behind chained link fences causing distress among tourists and Vancouverites alike.

Dubbed “The Glitch Games” by international media, problems at the games continued when nearly 28,000 events on Cyprus Mountain cost the Vancouver Organizing Committee roughly $1.5 million. The lucky, and the

word is used loosely, fans who obtained standing room tickets faced imported snow pack supported by rain sodden hay bales.

Even with the standing room tickets, though, fans were blessed to see an actual race from their perch in the midst of a forest-encircled viewing area. Fog continually plagued the course causing delays and bad weather overwhelmed Olympic organizers throughout the games.

Unfortunately, not even the athletes were spared from procession of flukes and setbacks. During the biathlon events, a Swedish athlete was delayed at her gate for almost 14 seconds, and two men left off early.

Despite the continual and endless setbacks, there were enjoyable moments

at the games. For the first time in any Winter Olympics, the United States team took home more medals than other nation, and Canada returned to the women’s singles skating podium for the first time in almost twenty years.

Nonetheless, the crucial mistakes and hindrances of the Vancouver games can not be ignored. We can only hope that planners of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, take heed and recognize that incompetence will not be tolerated by citizens of the world.

Although weather problems cannot be predicted, more productive and effective backup plans can be executed smoothly, as if they were the original plans. Fortunately for Russia, however, if malfunctions do occur, most people will say, “At least it’s not like Vancouver!”

School Spies on Students Using WebcamCourtney Skillman|Journalist

A couple schools around the United States have put web cams into school owned laptops that students are allowed to take home. Most famous for this is a school in Philadelphia, PA, where students’ parents have sued the school because they believed the webcams used to track the computers was an invasion of privacy.

At Bronx High School, Vice Principal Dan Ackerman not only bragged about being able to watch the students but demonstrated it during an interview with PBS. The Philadelphia school sent a letter to all of the parents stating the cameras were merely used to find missing laptops; however, I find the justification highly unbelievable.

The reasoning behind why it is hard to believe is that a couple days after those letters were sent out the school removed the webcams. They have made a reason for people to be suspicious. If they had just sent the letter

and carried on like there was no problem, then that would have made sense, but they had to go and remove something that may or may not have been an issue.

Also, the students didn’t even know they were being recorded. To add to the absurdity of it all, Ackerman boasted that he actually messed with the students by taking pictures of them using the webcams.

In any case, I would hope that this frenzy ends, and everything will go back to normal for that school, but the problem is not whether or not it will go back to normal. The question is how will it end?

If a national court becomes involved and a decision is reached, will this affect other schools like GFH? The government could be in an upheaval with angry parents and students from across the country, just like those parents in Philadelphia. One school’s decision within their own district does have the ability to impact a nation.

A: In my opinion, that is an invasion of privacy. The school district should not have the ability to invade our private lives. Marissa Evans, 11

A: I don’t think they should because it’s invading their privacy. It’s kind of like being stalked, too. Justin Brasda, 9

A: Really invading privacy. That’s it.Nicole Cuntapay, 9

Q: Is it acceptable for a school district to spy on their students using laptop webcams?

OpinionPublic The

DebitLunches

3The Iniwa“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” -M. Kathleen Casey

The Legalization of Marijuana

The war on marijuana is not only an expensive battle, but a useless one. Marijuana users are not only determined to stand up for what they believe in, but they also are persistent in their effects until the legalization for marijuana is carried out. It seems unethical, when marijuana, a harmless drug that has no associations with overdose or toxicity to humans can be illegal, while other harmful drugs such as cigarettes and alcohol are made legal and have harmful and addictive effects. Still, prohibition against marijuana has failed for over 75 years. And marijuana is now used by approximately 25 million people, and it still continues to be the largest cash crop in the world. Claims that prohibition against marijuana are successful are ridiculous, because there are no supporting facts that marijuana can be completely eliminated. However, if the government decides to legalize marijuana, it could not only help the economy come out of its recession, but also to eliminate crime rates, because of the lack of consequence for those who violate the law. Legalization would also reduce the amount of teenage sales in the marijuana market as well as reduce the sales of other drugs to teenagers. Because of legalization, marijuana would be more common and teenage profits would go down.

However, one of the more important outcomes for the legalization of marijuana would be the reduce of profit for gangs and other countries smuggling in marijuana product. Law enforcers have better things to do other than arrest an estimated 750,000 individuals for the possession of marijuana, especially when adding the cost of the justice system into the human equation. It’s a useless battle and the government system would receive more positive results if they legalized marijuana.

Donovan Dennis|Op-Ed Dani Hertz|Executive Editor

Published approximately every three weeks, the Iniwa is the public forum for 1, 536 Great Falls High School student voices.

Contact information: 1900 2nd Ave. S., Great Falls, MT 59405. Phone: 406.268.6356. iniwa@gfps.k12.mt.us The journalism staff utilizes Adobe Creative Suite 3 to design and word process. The body font

is 10 point Calibri. The opinions and views in this publication are not necessarily those of administration, faculty,

INIWA staff or student body. The INIWA staff reserves the right to edit all submissions.The INIWA maintains membership in NSPA, CSPA, JEA and MJEA. The INIWA has been awarded

distinction as a National NSPA Pacemaker. In addition to being named the All-State Pacesetter from the University of Montana’s School of Journalism, the staff has also placed in Best of Show for general excellence from JEA, winning the 2008 Best of Show in St. Louis, MO. The INIWA was named a 2006 Silver Crown Winner as well as the 2008 Montana Pacesetter.

Marijuana is illegal, plain and simple, and it should be indefinitely.

Unlike the marijuana generations through the 60’s and 70’s came to love, modern marijuana has been altered to a more potent, more hallucinogenic to offer a better “high.”

Again unlike the marijuana of the past, modern concoctions stay in the body systems and continue to have side effects for up to six weeks after the initial use. In addition, it has been proven that marijuana users are nearly seven times more likely to develop cancer than non marijuana users. More serious than alcohol however, marijuana has a profound effect on the brain and the nervous system, whereas alcohol simply corrodes the liver.

Moreover and more importantly, however, if we choose to legalize marijuana, it sends a message to our children that drugs are acceptable, as long as we are responsible with them. It is irresponsible and inappropriate to bestow this message upon our children.

In addition, regulation of marijuana would be near impossible. With alcohol, cigarettes and other narcotics regulation can be easily maintained at the checkout counter. Plus, it is difficult and time consuming to brew alcohol or roll cigarettes at home. Marijuana on the other hand, can be grown, processed and smoked at home with little to no regulation.

If medical marijuana must stay legal, let us set up a system of checks and balances so treating physicians cannot prescribe medical marijuana willy nilly, but all decisions have to be approved by multiple doctors. Medical marijuana is often referred to as a pain management technique, let us remember assisted suicide is as well. For the good of America, keep marijuana illegal, and save the future face of the United States from tie-dye and earth tones.

adviserLinda Ballew

principalDr. Fred Anderson

editor in chiefMary Koppy

executive editorDani Hertz

.com editor in chief

Tory Osment

photo editor Zach Meddock

asst. photo editorKyler Nathe

opinion editor Donovan Dennis

news editorJesse Whyte

sports editorMegan McDunn

business editorKristian Kellems

circulation editorAmanda Monroe

advertisingSara Graybill

cartoonistJerimey Franks

copy editorShafer Higgins

journalistsMelissa Horacek

Kenna MaceyCourtney Skillman

]upgraded to the new idea, is the lunchroom. At GFH, students still must bring cash or checks to pay for school lunches.

They must remind their parents to provide money or go to the bank and get the money out themselves. There is not debit machine to swipe a card and enter a few buttons.

Even though parents can now put money in their children’s accounts straight from their credit cards

through an online site, teens still cannot use their plastic at the school.

Parents are able to monitor the amount of money their student is spending for lunch and what they are eating through this new program.

But the school does not cater to teenagers who use their cards for lunch. The system would cost money to install and it would take time to learn the new programs, but it was make buying lunch easier for some teenagers.

One reason students go out to lunch is because they do not always carry cash because they use a debit card and if the school accepted debit cards, more students would stay at school for lunch. Since the school provides healthy lunches than McDonalds or Taco Bell, parents would now their children are receiving a good lunch.

Staying at school for lunch can help students become more health conscience about their eating habits.

I think that marijuana shouldn’t be legalized. If it is legalized, students will think that drugs are okay, and they are not. Drugs are harmful to people.

“ “

Julie Ryan, 10I think marijuana should be legalized because lots of people smoke it anyway, and if people can be responsible, it should be legalized.

“ “

Erik Grosvold, 9

A qualifying patient or caregiver who possesses a registry identification card issued pursuant to 50-46-103 may not be arrested, prosecuted, or penalized in any manner or be denied any right or privilege, including but not limited to civil penalty or disciplinary action by a professional licensing board or the department of labor and industry, for the medical use of marijuana or for assisting in the medical use of marijuana if the qualifying patient or caregiver possesses marijuana not in excess of the amounts allowed.

Title 50, Chapter 46, The Medical Marijuana Act

4 Editor Jesse Whyte March 11, 2010News

What’s in the Numbers?Census Bureau surveys citizens for 10 year update

Jesse Whyte|News EditorEvery ten years, the U.S. Postal Service delivers a

questionnaire to every United States citizen with ten simple questions and the answers allow the Bureau to determine the demographics of the US.

The first census was conducted in 1790 and it provides an accurate count of the nation’s people.

Approximately 3.9 million people lived in the United States during the first census that is about how many people who live in Los Angeles today.

It also showed the largest cities to be Boston, Massachusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and New York, New York. In 1990, Hawaii was included in the census two years after its annexation and counted about 154,001 residents.

A 167 million dollar campaign to reach every person was provided for the 2000 Census and its advertising help reverse the lack of responses experience since 1970. More history on the census can be found on the Census Bureau’s home page. April 1 is named as “Census Day” because it marks the beginning of completing the questionnaire received in March and the completed form will be collected until July of the same year.

For the 2000 Census there was a 72 percent participation rate and Montana followed close to the national percent with 70 percent.

“The census’ ability to make changes is limited to people’s willingness to participate, just like voting,” senior, Elias Pomeroy said.

The first question is basic because it asks how many reside in that apartment, mobile home or home and the

second question links into the first. It asks to total the number of people that was not mentioned in the first and this can include children, infants, relatives such as cousins, roommates, nannies and those who are staying temporarily.

The next question asks if the home occupied is rented, paid for, making payments, or not paying any money on the house. Their fourth question asks for a phone number incase of any confusions or questions on an answer. Their next six ask information about each of the people staying at the home.

This includes: first and last name, gender, date of birth, age on April 1, whether the residents are of Spanish, Latino, or Hispanic origin, race, and if any of the persons live at a different place for reasons such as college, jail, military, or child custody. Participation in the census is so important because it affects the number of seats a state hold in the House of Representatives and many use this information to research markets, locate skilled workers, and much more that effects U.S. citizens.

“Even though it can be time consuming and people may think it is useless, it provides the funds for the general good such as education,” senior, Tony Rosales said. Also, the data helps determine how federal funding is distributed and spent on services such as hospital, school, bridges, tunnels, and emergency care.

“It really impacts minorities, those living in poverty, the elderly, and anyone who receives money from the federal government,” said Pomeroy, “and if people fail to participate they will not get the maximum amount of money possible.” Their goal is to help people and provide

recent information, they want to be able to supply federal funding to those who need it, but participation is needed to make the system work to benefit everyone.

Filing out the questions and sending them back is mandatory and if not completed a census taker may visit the household and ask the questions to the family to ensure participation. The Census Bureau protects the answers provided and ensures confidentiality of information by Title 13 of the U.S. Code and other federal laws including, the Confidential Statistical Efficiency Act and Privacy Act. Names, addresses, social security numbers, and telephones cannot and will not be given out because the numbers are for statistics and demographics of the United States. Every employee of the Census Bureau takes the oath of nondisclosure which protects every citizen’s information. Violation of the oath will result in a fine up to 250,000 dollars or imprisonment up to five years, or both.

The population of the U.S. determined by the 2000 census is 281,421,906 and 49.1 percent is male while the other 50.9 percent is female. The data collects shows how much of the population is living in a household with children, living with children under 18, living in a renter-occupied or owner-occupies housing units, and it also show the average household size.

All the statistics may not be used by every person, but it provides accurate data for research for students, the state and federal governments, and business people alike.

Get ready for April 1, “Census Day,” and help obtain the most accurate count of the United States.

Facts of Montana 2000

Home ownership rate, 69.1%

Persons per square mile, 6.2

Foreign born persons, 1.8%

High school graduates,age 25 and older, 87.2%

Disabled persons,age 5+, 145,732

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Mary Koppy | Editor in ChiefThe Secretary of Education met

with dozens of students nationwide on Wed., Mar. 3, through one small, gray device.

The conference call, which took place over the span of 15 minutes, came across to the students involved as more of a plug for the Race to the Top contest than the advertised question and answer session.

“I felt a little bit jerked around,” GFH senior Connor McCormick said. “It seemed to be a lot more political.”

The Secretary came online at 1:30 p.m. and continued taking questions until 1:45. He answered each question posed by students before tying the topic back in to the Race to the Top challenge. The challenge, a contest in which schools may enter to have the President speak at their commencement, will accept nationwide applications until Fri., Mar. 12.

“I didn’t know how legitimate it would be,” junior David Cerotzcke said. “I was hoping we would get some meaningful answers.”

The Secretary accepted two questions each from four schools over the 15 minute conference before announcing the end of the call and wishing

participants good luck in the contests.GFH participants included seniors

Kenna Macy, Connor McCormick, Jesse Whyte and Mary Koppy, junior David Cerotzcke, and sophomores Donovan Dennis and Jerimey Franks.

“In an indirect way it gave kids a look into what was happening, but it would have been clearer if they had directly answered any of the questions,” Macy said.

Despite the distinct evasive answers the Secretary offered, students from across the country asked relevant, timely questions, such as how the government can promise a “safe and healthy learning environment” when, as one students put it, “30 or 40 kids

cram together into one classroom for a lesson.”

“Kids a s k e d r e a l l y

g o o d q u e s t i o n s ,

things high school students today really

want to know about,” Macy added.

At one point in the interview, Duncan told the student with the safe and healthy query that she strayed too far off topic and

stated that the question failed to pertain to the Race to

t h e Top Challenge. Although he then answered her

question, he made

it clear that he wished to discuss the challenge rather than the difficulties facing students nationwide.

“I would have wanted some answer from him at all,” McCormick said. “It would have reassured me that they have a plan.”

“It was a publicity stunt,” Cerotzcke said. “He tried to make it look good while advertising the Race to the Top.”

The delegates to the conference expected some answers as to the direction education reform would take in upcoming years.

“There will be significant improvements,” Duncan said. “We have great bi-partisan support, and we hope to unveil more about the new programs in the coming weeks.”

“We are really rewarding excellence,’ he continued. “I’m not interested in absolute test scores. We want to find ways to reward growth, gain and improvement.”

“There has to be a point to what you are doing,” McCormick said of the education system. “There’s no reason to what you are doing as long as you are just filling things out to get the grade.”

Cerotzcke feels just fine about the education system in America. “If I wanted a Chinese education,’ he said, “I would move to China.

Duncan expected changes to be unveiled in coming weeks, while he explained President Obama’s goal, to top the world list with the highest percent of college graduates by 2020.

Shafer Higgins | Copy Editor Youth Legislature, a program where high school students

are able to see up close and personal the inner workings of state government will run from April 11–14.

Attendees choose a role of government and act it out. A mock session of state legislature is then played out. The roles: page, reporter, lobbyist, legislators, elected officer, appointed officer and attorney keep students busy during the duration of the program by doing activities such as working in committees, introducing bills, arguing legal cases,

making a daily newspaper and accounting for the roles of various elected officers. These mean to give students real life experience in the workings of government and politics.

A good place to start for youth legislature participants is the page position. They run errands for committees and the Model Supreme Court. They deliver messages for legislators and other officials. The experience allows them to see all the parts of the program.

A paper, published daily by youth reporters, informs participants about the news of the legislature, so they can learn about civic journalism.

At the end of the session, elected officers are elected for the next year. These posts include Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, President of the State, Secretary of State and Supreme Court Justice. These elected officers in turn appoint others to positions.

Students can even be lobbyists and make shady deals in the dark recesses of the state capital building, while student attorneys work cases that could possibly be appealed to the Montana Supreme Court.

5The Iniwa“Information is the currency of democracy.” -Thomas Jefferson

Education InteractionSecretary of Education Arne Duncan takes call-in questions from scholastic journalists

LegislateStudents learn about state Congress as they implement mock government at capital

Mary Koppy | Editor in ChiefAccording to a national poll posted by CNN, the

American people trust politicians over big business as the solution to the nation’s financial woes.

That is saying something, when Americans consider these points: Our national politicians cannot even balance their own budget, especially in the face of increased spending for stimulus and economic recovery projects.

One Senator, Jim Bunning of Kentucky, can hold up unemployment legislation all by his lonesome, and to what point? Bunning objects to a bill extending jobless benefits to hundreds of thousands of Americans whose benefits had been expiring. The economic effects of Bunning’s actions included skyrocketing numbers of unemployed (5 million by mid-May, according to the U.S. Department of Labor). In addition, thousands of families now covered by a special budget subsidy called COBRA will lose access to affordable health care. Bunning’s actions reek of selfishness and lack of responsibility.

The talk floating around about scrapping the health care bill (which has all but annihilated every other scheduled topic for the last year) and instead, starting from scratch. To what end? Trying to find something easier, something quicker and something newer? Not likely.

The American people, at present, trust these politicians because they see them. They see them taking the president of Toyota to task. They see them accusing one another, and many other government officials, of failing to be bipartisan.

Yet they never see them doing their jobs. For all the posturing and self-inflated finger-pointing accomplished by this Congress this session, the nation still lacks a balanced budget; affordable, practical health care or the fair, bipartisan Congress touted at the beginning of the session.

In a nation where millions of citizens lack the means to pay for health care,Congress squanders time and money fighting petty, private wars. Our national representatives have become more concerned with personal achievement and their next election race than with serving the people.

In a time when they see fit to bring the president of a foreign company to task over an error in his products being corrected as they speak, who will take Congress to task?

Not the Senators resigning in quiet disgust. Not the news commentators looking for an opportunity to make a scandalous quick buck. The people themselves must speak to their own rights. They must vote for people willing to vote for them. They must blur party lines before their representatives will ever think of following suit. Most importantly, they must involve themselves in Washington’s day to day affairs if politics will ever become more than a massive web of red and blue.

Face ValueDysfunction runs to extremes for ‘in charge’elected officials

A News Analysis

EMULATE STATE 2010 Youth Legislature: Jesse Whyte, Jacob Strauss, Briar Voy, Will Strauss, Tony Rosales, Meagan McCarty, Meghan Semmens, Trent Wasserman, Ben Zieske, Elias Pomroy, Brent Ekblad, Tom Long. Zach Meddock|Photo Editor

Let’s play, “Do You Know…”Do you know if you’re under 21 and have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .02*

or greater, and you are in control of a vehicle, (i.e.; driving, passed out behind the wheel, etc.), you can be charged and prosecuted as an .02 violation?

The penalties: Fine of $100 to $500, chemical dependency course, treatment if indicated (which you pay for) and driver’s license suspended for 90 days.

This is in addition to whatever your parents will do to you!*It would take 1 beer to get a 130 lb. person to a .02 BAC level.

Make the smart choice and be alcohol and drug-free!A message from your Cascade County DUI Task Force

6 Editor Jesse Whyte March 11, 2010News

Jesse Whyte|News EditorIn November 2004, 62 percent of Montana’s voters said

yes to medical marijuana for those with certain aliments. They passed Initiative No. 148, which allows certain patients with specific medical conditions to alleviate their symptoms through the limited use of marijuana under medical supervision.

Recently, Comfortable Living has opened downtown Great Falls and allows those wanting to apply for a Medical Marijuana card, commonly referred to as ‘green cards,’ talk and review medical records with a physician, but the physician then can write a recommendation to the state of Montana if he believes the patient qualifies for a green card. “The medical records must support chronic conditions as defined by the state,” Rick Matye said. Matye works at Comfortable Living and assists the physician in determining if a patient meets the standards set forth by the Montana Medical Marijuana Act.

The state defined debilitating medical condition within the act to prevent any person from obtaining medical marijuana. Conditions and diseases include: cancer, glaucoma, cachexia, severe or chronic pain, seizures, including but not limited to seizures caused by epilepsy, and other situations that one can consult with the physician. Other scenarios can include motor vehicles that result in loss of limbs or severe back injuries.

“Our average patient is between the ages of 45 and 50,” said Matye, “and they usually have cancer or debilitating

injuries from things such as motor vehicle accidents.” A pain specialist and neurophysiologist, Dr. K. Allan

Ward, is conducting an online patient survey to receive a better understanding of medical marijuana. His goal is to learn who is using this medicinal drug, why they use it, and if it interacts with any other medications a person may be taking. Within the survey he also asks if the patient has had any history of drug or alcohol dependency. He also asks age, ways used to consume marijuana, which way is most effective, where the patient obtains it and whether there has been any legal difficulties acquiring it since receiving a green card.

The purpose of the survey is to find positive and negative effects of medical marijuana and the data will be available for research purposes once enough information is collected. Everything is confidential and an answer for every question is required, but it is preferred to gain accurate results. “I want to learn about the scientific aspect of medical marijuana,” Dr. Ward said. With his survey he learned some of the patients are drug users and other are truly need of medical marijuana.

If people do know the effects of a substance, they should not use it and that includes marijuana. They are has not been any test done on marijuana to find out the consequences of using the substance.

Drug companies usually conduct a test within the first year of a new prescription medication and then it is sent to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration

(FDA), but marijuana has not undergone any of these tests. There are different phases within the drug testing process and Phase IV testing allows companies to find out if the drug works and actually helps people. Without this phase of the test, all the facts about a drug are unknown.

It is hard to make a generic brand of marijuana that has the same effect of natural marijuana because the use of synthetic THC does not provide the same result.

Marinol is a generic form of marijuana that contains synthetic THC; it does help those who have severe nausea so they are able to eat. It controls compulsive vomiting so the patient can actually eat something, but marinol does not help fight the effects of multiple sclerosis or glaucoma as natural medical marijuana does.

Even though medical marijuana helps those who are very sick, such as a person with cancer, multiple sclerosis, or severe seizures, it can damage and slow the growth process of young brains. “When people between the ages 12 and 20 use marijuana their minds become stuck at that young maturity level,” Dr. Ward said. Marijuana disrupts and can even stop people from maturing to their full potential especially when it is used at a young age.

Marijuana has the same effects as alcohol or any other depressant, such as sleeping aids. “It slows down the perception of time,” Dr. Ward said, “which makes activities such as driving, dangerous.” Not everything is known about marijuana, so it is a product that should be used with caution and care.

Medicinal PowersMedical marijuana clinic strictly adheres to Montana initiative while providing patient relief

Fast Factss

7The Iniwa“Some people swallow the universe like a pill; they travel on through the world, like smiling images pushed from behind.”

What CanYou AFFORD?A new era, a new convenient way for paying, plastic takes over teenager’s method of paying, because of its ease of use, but students need to be aware of the dangers it poses

Megan McDunn|Sports EditorWill that be cash, check or credit? Credit. Many teenagers are using plastic money instead of

paper money, but there are risks that go along with using credit or debit cards instead of cash or checks.

“Debit and credit cards are convenient,” said senior Vince Koslosky, who holds both a credit and debit card.

Much of their convenience can also make them risky to their users. Many users use their cards for online shopping, but that is a good way for internet hackers to steal their credit card information. Which in turn can lead to them charging money from your credit card or withdrawing money from your bank account.

Koslosky also said, “Teenagers should only be able to get credit or debit cards when they have proven they will be responsible with them.”

If using a credit card it is important to pay your payments on time because it will affect a person’s credit score. Having a good credit score is a crucial part of life because they are used in many different instances. Employers will look into those who are applying to work for them to see if they are responsible, or landlords will look into them to be sure the applicant is dependable enough to trust their house with. It is also used to receive loans for cars, houses or for any other loan applied for. Even missing a few payments can reduce a credit score significantly, so if students are seeking or already have a credit card it is important they be sure to pay their bill on time.

On Febrauary 22, 2010, Congress passed CreditCARD Act, trying to redudce the amount of charges and make

things better for credit card consumers. Instead it seems to have made credit cards more costly for its’ users and made them less accessible to teenagers and lower income families.

With the new laws anyone under the age of 21 will have to have an adult co-sign for them to get a credit card. or show proof of enough income to pay off the debt of their card This will pose problems not only for these young adults, but also for the credit card companies because one of the largest groups of credit card users are college students trying to make their way through college. By taking away a large target area for them credit card companies are bringing back charges such as annual fees and taking away certain rewards from their cards.

The laws have brought some good because it helps iron out some of the fine print that caught many users, especially teenage users who do not necessarily understand what all the legal things mean. There are a few major things these new laws will help. There will be a limited amount of interest rate hikes, give clearer due dates and times, more time to pay monthly bills and it also gives a right to opt out of certain changes to their cards.

It is important teenage credit card users look closely at their terms of their cards to be sure that when these new laws were put into action the credit card companies did not make changes to their terms.

If teenagers are seeking to apply for a credit card, they need to obtain a trustworthy adult with good credit to cosign for them, so they will receive good interest rates and higher credit limits, if necessary.

When using a debit card, senior Sam Rispens said, “Students need to be sure to manage their bank accounts because the money they charge is coming out of their checking accounts and overdraft fees can be costly and avoided.”

Overdraft fees, which occur when the user uses more money than is available in their checking account, can range from anywhere between a 5 and 50 dollar service charge withdrawn from their savings account.

Many students are getting debit cards to take on trips because it is much safer to use than carrying around a lot of cash. It is also easier because when going to another country, it is not necessary to exchange between American currency and their forms of currency.

There are now also prepaid debit cards that do not come directly out of a bank account but rather are paid in advance. They are used the same as a debit card, but they have a fixed amount on them.

These new cards are becoming popular for children starting at age 11 up to 18 year olds. It is a good alternative if teenagers do not want the card to have a connection to their bank accounts.

Plastic money has become the easiest way for many people to buy things because it can be used over the internet and people do not have to worry about carrying around large sums of cash.

The most important things students need to be aware of when using plastic instead of paper is to always manage their accounts, pay their payments on time and be sure to never give away information regarding their cards.

*Saving versus spending was talked about in 57% of homes. Fewer than 40% of parents said they talked about credit cards, loans and debt, and their own family finances with their kids.

*10% of teens 12-19 have their own credit card; 38% believe credit card use should be limited to adults only.

*Teenagers are active consumers, spending $175 billion in 2003, with 21% having their own credit card or access to their parents’ credit card, and 16% holding their own ATM cards. Information from Networks Financial Institute

8 Editor Dani Hertz March 11, 2010Feature

EASYKILL Pt. 2Prescription pill fraud may seem like the simplest get

rich quick scheme. However, the cost of addiction and repercussions for dealing out way the money, by a long

shot. It’s the cheapest thrill. It’s the easiest kill.

Illustration by|Jerimey Franks

Melissa Horacek|JournalistMoney is the ultimate

enticement. The more lucrative an illegal

operation, the higher the risks involved. These realities hold true for prescription pill fraud, one of the fastest growing and most precarious drug dealing networks.

There are three classes of prescription pills: depressants, stimulants and pain killers. The latter’s affects have become a sure fire catalyst in the steady growth of prescription pill fraud. “When those types of medications came out within the past five or 10 years, we saw a spike in fraud and abuse because pain killers are more potent and subject to abuse,” said Detective Sergeant Chris Hickman of the Central Montana Drug Task Force.

In a letter to community leaders, Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock writes that Montana ranks third in its number of teenage prescription abuse.

The destructive downfalls of prescription pill abuse are given a generally distorted view due to the prevalent belief that because they are over the counter they are safer than other substances. The truth is, in fact, much grimmer than that widely accepted fable. Prescription pain killers work much like alcohol in that both depress the central nervous system. In contrast, when pain killers are abused, they become comparable to the effects of heroin. Hallucinations, confusion, constipation and lightheadedness can ensue along with the inevitable psychological dependence. When a person abuse pills, an increased chance of overdosing is occurs. To run this risk means an agonizing stay in a hospital or death.

Something as simple as individuals adding a “0” to their prescription for 10 pills is a common and simple enough practice, qualifying as prescription pill fraud.

Doctor Shopping is a popular method in which those addicted to pills or dealing the substance can illegally attain them. People may have a legitimate medical condition or complain to their physician of a completely false ailment in order to obtain pills. Once their prescription runs out or there is a chance of discovery, the individual then goes to a different doctor and complains of that or a similar medical complication.Great Falls Clinic Pharmacy manager Tim Levandowski says his pharmacy sees prescriptions for pain killers on a “daily basis” but only receives a hunch of abuse of fraud less than one percent of the time.

If an individual has some type of insurance, the pills are then paid for completely or partly financed. This makes selling them even more lucrative. Pain killers generally sell for one dollar a milligram.

Once dependant on pain medications, the irresistible need to have them in the bloodstream is overwhelming. Michelle*, now in her mid 20s, has struggled with an addiction to Percocet and Vicodin since her sixth grade year. She has played witness to abuse in the Armed Forces, within her family, and has even seen an acquaintance of hers apprehended. “I had a friend busted by undercover police officers about two and half years ago. He was busted with something like 500 Vicodin and over 700 Percocet. As far as I know, he’s still in prison,” elaborated Michelle.

Two years ago, a Great Falls High senior happened upon the business of dealing pills after appendix surgery. He made as much as $10 for every two Percocet he sold, even selling one bottle of pills for $260. What he might not have known is that his monetary joys came at a high enough price. Had he been caught, he could have faced life in prison.

A felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs can lead to imprisonment of two to five years and a fine of up to $50,000 for being in possession of as much as one pill. Criminal distribution of dangerous drugs can lead to two years to a life sentence.

The prison term and fines depend upon the pills and quantity. Reference guides can help law enforcement to identify what sort of pills the reprimanded are in possession of. The government also has a system in which drugs are classified. These five Schedules are controlled by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration. “Scheduled pills and non scheduled are marked with letters and numbers that tell law enforcement what that pill is. For example, Morphine would not have the same markings as OxyContin would,” said Hickman. The more addictive, harmful and less useful in the medical field a pill is, the higher it ranks on the Schedule scale.

The only real way for pharmacies to investigate the possibility of a patient’s maltreatment of pills is to contact past doctors or pharmacies where a person has attained drugs in the past. This is essentially an archaic system of tracing the crumbs back to the campsite.

There is no database set up to detect prescription pill fraud within pharmacies. According to Detective Hickman the idea has been discussed in Montana, but never put into effect. “The state has talked about creating a data base specifically for prescription abuse but the problem that the state runs into is the cost involved. At this point it is difficult to find the funding to create a database.”

*Michelle’s name has been changed upon request of interviewee.

9The Iniwa“A grownup is a child with layers on.” -Woody Harrelson

When I Grow Up...‘I wanna be famous; I wanna be a star; I wanna be in movies...’

Rachel Leathe12

Kenna Macy|Staff WriterRemember when we were young, and

we had the biggest dreams in the world? We could be anything our little hearts desired, the sky was the limit. Astronauts, performers, firemen, world leaders… the possibilities seemed endless.

A lot has changed in ten years, we have lost our innocence; in the way that we have realized in order to accomplish our dreams requires effort, drive, motivation and determination. The process of growing up changes us and helps us find our true passion, and the impact we want to make on the world.

The transition from day care to elementary school, from middle school to high school comes with many changes. Groups of friends change according to current interests while the search for our identity becomes an everyday journey.

Did drawing with chalk on the sidewalk help you to realize you wanted to pursue art? How about going out hiking, camping and fishing during the summer, being in nature, did this help you discover wildlife biology could possibly your niche?

Perhaps taking swimming lessons helped you discover your love for being in the water. The things we were exposed to when we were children helped be become who we want to be today.

Defining our independence became the reason we carry out most of the actions we choose to throughout our adolescence.

So ask yourself, have you lost sight of your dreams? If so, what is it that made you do so?

“When I was younger, I wanted to be a vet, really bad, actually,” said senior Rachel Leathe. “I loved animals, and I thought working with them all day would have been so much fun!”

Then as she grew older, she had

heard the animals sometimes have to get put to sleep. “It was devastating,” she confesses, “so officially in the 7th grade, I changed my dream.

“Honestly, the main reason I chose to be a veterinarian was because I really wanted to avoid having to decide what I really wanted to do. I was truly undecided.”

After deciding to no longer pursue becoming a veterinarian, Leathe considered different levels of work still involving animals. “I considered being an animal trainer, but the idea of animals in captivity wasn’t appealing to me. So I considered perhaps biology, but that is too much science for me,” Leathe laughed.

Currently, Leathe is contemplating either a Photo-Journalism, major of photography or something involving fine art. “With journalism, the picture revolves around the story. But with art, the story is the picture. I would love to find a way to morph the two and become an Independent photographer, but it doesn’t promise a paycheck every month.”

She also may be considering becoming a professor. “English is definitely a subject I would like to teach. As of right now, I am planning of attending the University of Montana in Missoula next year, enrolling in many English classes, and hopefully if things don’t change, I will be a English major. Whatever I decide to do, I have no doubt I will have fun doing it!”

Senior Jonathan Ravenscroft has decided not to attend college right away after graduation. “I enjoy doing too many things! It’s so tough to choose,” Ravenscroft said. “It’s so expensive,” he said. “I have seen the amount of debt that builds up, because of student loans. If I ever do decide to attend college, I definitely would much rather saved up

some money before jumping into it.” His dream job, “definitely a film

maker; I love movies, seeing things overdramatized. You could go anywhere and do anything with this kind of job.” Another passion Ravenscroft holds dear, music. “I would love to leave Montana to pursue music. I very much enjoy writing music, anything with music, really. There aren’t many opportunities to make it big in Montana, though.” Ravenscroft plays 6 instruments: the piano, the guitar, the accordion, the bass, the xylophone, and the melodic, “which is basically the harmonica’s cousin,” he laughed. “Oh, and I sing too!”

More than anything, though, “I want to see the world! There’s just so much out there. Though Montana is a beautiful place, I want to see what else is out there. I can’t see myself staying in one place.”

“If I over think things, I tend to be very hesitant or not to do it,” said Ravenscroft. “I don’t want to think about what I am going to do after graduation, because then I will begin to stress out about it; I just want to do it.”

Ravenscroft thinks about goals, but doesn’t write them down. “I don’t like to have a plan; too many things change. You honestly can’t depend on the thing; you definitely need lee-way.”

Senior Shelby Strang wanted to be a Veterinarian, then, similar to Leathe, she realized they sometimes had to kill them.

“So then I wanted to be a singer, then a model. I really enjoy taking pictures, so I may pursue photography, but also maybe. I’m really interested in music; it would be awesome to perform! But in the end if Strang did end up pursuing music, “I would probably end up a music teacher, but I don’t want to work with kids,” Strang joked. “It’ll all work out.”

Photo Courtesy|Rachel Leathe

Seniors Shelby Strang and Rachel Leathe play in the Cheese Castle at Lewis Clark, and read a favorite children’s book respectively.

Photo Courtesy|Shelby Strang

Shelby Strang 12

Senior Shelby Strang sits at a desk in the classroom of one of her favorite, elementary teachers, Mrs. Meyers.

Leathe toys with a book in the Roosevelt Elementary library. Photos | Zach Meddock, Photo Editor in Chief

10 Editor Dani Hertz March 11, 2010eNTERTAINMENT

Pop culture’s forgotten standards r e t r o g r a d e=

J.K. Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter’ sparks first interest of a magical worldMandi Monroe|Circulations Editor

Imagine such a small witty book causing an upheaval of culture to arise from a modest country and multiply rapidly across the world’s unsuspecting shores. Harry Potter is loved and hated, mimicked and mocked, read and read again by Generation Y. The undaunted novel was the key to a box full of fresh and good magic that unleashed a tidal wave of a new genre and hardcore fans. New words were put in the dictionary, fictional candies became real, and magical merchandise flew off the shelves.

The world had a brand new reference when thinking of spells and witchcraft, instead of horrible green hags and ugly toads it is common to wonder about Hogwarts and Quidditch. In fact, several schools in the United States have had actual Quidditch matches and tournaments, still with brooms between their legs, though they are not given the ability to fly. People continue to give real life to the books by having an actual Knight Bus tour, a new genre of music called wizard rock, and theme parks with pieces

of the magical world as rides and shops. Such was the enthusiasm of the fans they began writing their own versions of the story with before and after and what ifs. The Potter fan fiction was so plentiful it got its own site. Hardcore fans began throwing parties whenever the next new book came out and were acting as if it was a birthday celebration. The supporters eventually gained their own special name “potternerds”

All of this Harry potter stuff opened up wizards as a not so evil thing. Disney channel soon made their television show ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ and new books all about witches and enchantments came trickling onto the shelves of bookshops. Some of the books claimed to have actual white magic spells and charms in them while others were just fun stories. Then a whole new genre erupted as series with a young protagonists growing up as the books surfaced, ending with the final war between good and evil. Many of these new genres books have begun when the protagonist is 12 years of age and discovering something hidden within them. Examples of this

are The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher and Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. All introduce hidden worlds and new friends with a bit of enchantment sprinkled in. Many other books have followed after their lead and one or two of them have begun their quest in the film world. Some books followed the turning scary things into kind, even handsome things, like Stephanie Meyers ‘Twilight’ series. All these books are original, but there is that hint of magic about them that makes one think back to another book.

The world has been speckled with bits of this Potter and will probably remain to be dotted by parodies, little monuments (like the real platform 9 ¾ in the real kings cross in London) and lifetime fans, who read the book as a children and decided reading was not so dull after all. J.K Rowling introduced everyone to her magical world and allows them go and experience what they can do with it. The series will continue to influence the literary world and the way people give life to their beloved fictional books.

AliceReturnstoWonderland

Shafer Higgins|Copy EditorPerhaps someone else should write

the scripts and devise the plots of Tim Burton movies. Because while his movies are known for their fantastic and innovative visual style, they are also known for weak stories and disappointing adaptations of beloved and classic stories.

His new adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland” is no exception to this rule. Tim Burton claimed that he thought that most versions of “Alice in Wonderland” to hit theatres lacked

story direction and his version would be a remedy to this situation. But in his attempt to apply structure to the flighty world of Wonderland, he misses the point entirely.

The charm of “Alice in Wonderland” is its constant flight from bizarre character to bizarre character, surreal situation to surreal situation. Wonderland is a fluid and constantly moving universe where locations never stay in one place and Alice can never find her way back. This dreamlike impermanence distinguishes “Alice in Wonderland” from other

stories and Burton’s attempts to impose structure conventionalize this classic story and castrate it of its charm.

The irony of this style and interpretation of “Alice in Wonderland” lies in that despite all attempts to provide a better sense of story to this tale, the characters lack chemistry and in the utilization of the dialogue to keep the plot going the quirky and humorous monologues of the famous hallucinatory characters are sacrificed.

Thankfully the aesthetics redeem this film from an absolute failure.

Burton applies his trademark visual style of childlike creepiness, making Wonderland, called “Underland” in this adaptation, to look post apocalyptic. The 3-D is very enjoyable. He masterfully works the Victorian angle of the piece and his color palette is striking in 3 dimensions. Too bad that this visual stunner could not be reconciled with the outlandish playfulness of the original story, because visually speaking Tim Burton would be the man up to the job of placing Wonderland on the silver screen.

Burton’s look on America’s beloved tale stops short of meeting expectations

11The Iniwa“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”- Sublime

Jerimey Franks|Cartoonist“Neon Genesis: Evangelion” is a classic anime,

renowned in the anime community. Twenty six episodes plus two movies and the series still goes on strong to this day. Evangelion has done so well, that 12 years later, Gainax decided to remake the series by producing four new movies to retell its story.

The first of these movies, “Rebuild of Evangelion” 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone’ was released in 2007.It was later released on DVD the following year in Japan exclusively. Even though it sold well, the DVD experienced darkening issues where you can’t see most of the action or scenes in detail, due to obious lack of lighting.

This has been fixed, or so has been claimed, and to make the fans happier they’ve added two more minutes of scenes in the beginning than in 1.0.

On Mar. 9, 2010, the 1.11 version of the DVD and BLU-RAY will be released.

Zach Meddock|Photo Editor in Chief‘Role Models’ is among a list of fantastic comedies that

have graced our eyes and ears with not only laughs, but unforgettable quotes. Like ‘The Hangover’, ‘Role Models’ has become a movie that so many kids are repeating whether their parents approve or not.

A “best comedy” nominee at the 2010 Oscars, ‘Role Models’ has instantly become the perfect party movie and one that you can rely on for a laugh at anytime.

Primary cast members, Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Bobb’e J.Thompson have created a comedy that can stand strong against the classics like ‘Animal House’ and ‘Old School’. It has created such a buzz that every teen and adult will be reaching for this one when they need that pick-me-up or just a good time.

As far as movies go this one is definitely a keeper. So if you don’t have this hilarious movie in your library yet then go and pick this one up for not just your sake, but for everyone who is tired of watching your chick flicks.

Movie‘Role Models’

(Out now)}{

Lis

THE

Hi

Oscar SUPRISES2010 Oscar awards show brings fame to supposed underdogsDonovan Dennis|Op-Ed Editor

Once again, Hollywood Boulevard donned its glitz and glam for the annual Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science Awards.

The Hurt Locker, directed by Katheryn Bigelow (ex-wife of Avatar director James Cameron), won the most statuettes, including Directing and Best Picture as well as Film Editing, Sound Mixing, and Sound Editing. Bigelow was the first woman in Oscar history to win for direction.

Sandra Bullock’s first Academy Award nomination came for her performance of Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side. She won Best Actress in a Leading despite a nomination against acting powerhouse, Meryl Streep, nominated for her role as Julia Child in Julie and Julia.

Jeff Bridges also won his first Oscar as Bad Blake in Crazy Heart. Crazy Heart also won the award for its original song “The Weary Kind.”

Newcomer actress Mo’Nique won Best Actress in a Supporting

Role as Mary, in Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire. She joined with co-star Gabourey Sidibe, nominated for Best Actress, at the awards. Precious was one of the lowest budget films nominated for Best Picture.

Another freshman to win an Academy Awards, Christoph Waltz took home the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supportiong Role for his portrayal of Col. Hans Landa in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds.

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12 Editor Dani Hertz March 11, 2010eNTERTAINMENT

Tune in TV guideAmerica’s favorite shows come back for the fall

Jerimey Franks|CartoonistWho would of known ABC’s ‘Lost’ would

have been so successful?It has been airing since 2004 and here it is six years later with its final sixth season and it still manages to keep its viewers in the millions.

It takes epic writers and a complex plot with deep characters to keep a show alive for that long. However a good show needs to know when to end. If it is to be remembered as being great, it can’t continue on and on until it fades away. It must have a beginning, a middle, and eventually an end, and the writers have prepared for us the final eighteen episodes of Lost. Generally as a show goes on, the quality dies a little at a time, but the sixth season does not disappoint!

The story flows like that of the fifth season, where it divides into two timelines. One timeline presents a “what if?” outcome of the hydrogen bomb detonating in the previous season. The “what if?” timeline is where Oceanic Flight 815 never crashes and then the second continues the real plot, to where the group returns to the present and must face the inevitable smoke monster.

However the final season has still only begun and only five episodes so far have been shown, so there is still time to explain the many secrets and mysteries of the island and how the Valenzetti Equation, one of the many recurring elements, relates to the characters lives, how it has affected them before, during, after the crash, and why it connects them together.

But most importantly, will they ever get off the island?

‘Lost’

Dani Hertz|Executive EditorWhat girl does not want to make it

on ‘America’s Next Top Model’?The young and successful, Tyra

Banks, has put a lot of effort into her hit TV series and it only gets better each season.

Teenage girls across the states are fascinated by the hit show, because of the elaborate ideas behind the casting.

The photo shoots, makeup and judging all come down to one thing,

beauty.There have been thirteen cycles

of ‘America’s Next Top Model’ and the fourteenth cycle premieres Mar. 10 on the CW.

The season premiere will air from 8PM to 9:30 PM, but afterwards the show will go back to its one hour long setting.

But America’s Next Top Model is more than the results of the pictures and creative photo ideas; it is a career

opportunity for some girls who are interested in portraying their beauty in the fashion world.

However, despite the traditional, “slim model” casting in ‘America’s Next Top Model’, on Tyra Bank’s talk show, she announced her opinion on the beauty of the, “more curvy girl.”

For Banks, beauty does not stop at appearance, but in character as well, and she is trying to create that reality for girls across America.

Melissa Horacek|JournalistNot many drama series reach a three

year mark, let along live on into their seventh seasons.

Enter NCIS, a spin-off of the decade long CBS naval drama JAG. NCIS focuses on the exploits surrounding the fake Naval Criminal Investigative Service Major Case Response Team. The show has steadily grown in viewership over its seven years, becoming the number one program in primetime ratings this year. The quirk, edge, and timely topic coverage are what have attained viewers.

The second part of this season is set to focus on the familial and romantic complications of the NCIS team.

Melissa Horacek|JournalistOne thing is for sure in the universe

of television: there will always be game shows, poorly scripted soap operas, Jerry Springer, and teen dramas focusing on supercilious rich kids and supercilious rich kid antics. Gossip Girl began as a novel series in 2002 and was adapted to television in 2007, soon becoming the CW’s (then in its freshman year after the merger between the WB and UPN) biggest original hit.

The sordid upper east side of Manhattan’s social scene contains no boundaries for its young inhabitants and viewer’s can’t get enough.

The third season resumed March 8, with eight new episodes set to air.

Dani Hertz|Executive EditorFox’s new hit show, ‘Glee’ came out

with a bang and ended with an even bigger one.

The first ever, TV show, musical was introduced last Sept. and ended in Oct. However, the fans screamed for more, and a new season will take place in the spring, after new casting decisions are made.

‘Glee’s’ new casting search started in Feb. of this year, but is still going on. Auditions will be open to professional and amateur individuals between the ages of 16-26. If you think what you have what it takes to be on the new hit show, you can submit your application online at www.fox.com/glee/audition/.

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a 13The Iniwa“Every success is built on the ability to do better than good enough.” -Anonymous

Kenna Macy|Staff WriterStaying fit in the winter may

come across as a challenge to some. However to others, the base fact of importance of health and staying fit and in shape brings about enough motivation to get out there and exercise.

Though baseball season has yet another couple months to begin its official season, practices began in November. “We practice for about 2-2.5 a day for 3 days a week,” said sophomore Tanner Lee, “and you will find me at the Peak the other days.”

At the Peak, “I lift, shoot some hoops, swim, and chill in the steam room.” Lee said it is most important to him to stay fit in preparation for baseball season,

“Even in the winter, I keep in shape. Baseball would have to be the main reason, though staying fit for the girls is important, too.”

In advising others to keep in shape as well, Lee said, “Go out and stay in shape so we don’t have an obese nation.”

Some teens stay involved, such as sophomore Adam Murphy, who chose to engage in two different soccer organizations during the winter.

“I attend club soccer during week and ODP on the weekends.” Murphy plays soccer for the school in the fall, and continues to play in the winter to stay fit.

“If I weren’t in soccer,” he said, “I would go to the gym often. It is important to me to keep in shape.”

He prefers to work out at the Peak, enduring in exercises such as running and lifting. During the winter, he advises to “eat right and exercise; keep yourself healthy.”

Sophomore Josh Morrin stays involved with sports in order to stay in shape during the winter season. “I have been wrestling since I was 4, so for about 12 years now. When I’m not practicing for that, you would usually be able to fine me at Gold’s with my dad.”

Morrin said he stops by Gold’s about 3 times a week. “My workout usually consists of running and lifting.” Though he says he knows of the importance to stay fit, Morrin confesses, “If I the option to stay fat in the winter, I would.”

Shafer Higgins|Copy EditorIn a less recognized victory for Great

Falls High School, the freshman girls’ basketball team played a 17-3 season. They were the most successful girls’ basketball team for the school. Their success provided great relief to a high school under attack from lackluster sports seasons.

When asked about their success, star player Mary McDunn said “We did so well because we all knew each other before and had played together as a team so we all meshed really well. That combined with the coaching of Mark Faught led to our success.”

She went on to say that she wasn’t surprised at the team’s success because “the freshman class has lots of talent in all athletics, not just basketball.”

The success of the freshman girls’ basketball team is a good indicator of how girls’ basketball will be for Great Falls High in the future as the JV girls did well also. Once they hit their stride as a team they have a very promising

chance for success.The importance of a team mentality

for a successful sports season cannot be over emphasized. The previous experience the freshman girl basketball team had in playing together in earlier in their careers lead them on to victory.

Coaching is also very important and the relationship players forge with their coach over the course of a season can make or break their path to success.

All in all, the road to victory is paved with teamwork and trust of fellow players, and the freshman girls’ basketball team was exemplary in its premier season for Great Falls High School. This showing of not only victory but also Bison pride is hopefully a telling divination of what is to come for girls’ basketball and sports in general at Great Falls High School. This team of precocious winners will likely provide their school with its next batch of champions. Hopefully these girls can keep spewing out victory after victory in the years to come.

ctivate yourselfStudents share ways to get or keep in shape during the winter

Tearing up the court

Discussing Strategy The freshman girls basketball team gathers around their coach Mark Fought during a time out during a game held in the old gym. The team finished the season with a 17-3 overall record. Photo Courtesy| Roberta McCune

In a year sparse of victory in girls basketball for Great Falls High, the freshman girls team reedeemed their school and were victorious

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WORKING OUT Students feel the need to keep in shape all year round and classes like swimming and weight training can definitely help to keep kids going. Zach Meddock|Photo Editor

Tory Osment|.com EditorA school board meeting on Monday approved a

plan to renovate CMR and Riverside tennis courts.According to Dr. Anderson, the idea to renovate

the tennis courts “has been in the works for about a year and a half”. The last renovations made were in 1978, the school district paid $37,000 for repairs.

The new renovation costs will come from both the school district and the city’s Park and Recreation Department. The City will contribute $150,000 to the project to resurface the CMR courts and repair the Riverside courts. The City and Tennis Association are asking the district to match their contribution.

The money provided from the district is split between four areas; $50,000 will come from the deferred maintenance fund, another $50,000 from the Coke and Pepsi fund, and a final $50,000 to be split evenly between GFH and CMR.

The Coke and Pepsi fund has been providing roughly $50,000 a year for the last 10 years to the school. That

money paid for the new scoreboards in the Field house and Memorial Stadium.

The CMR courts will need renovations and the Riverside courts “have been chained up for several years because they have been in such bad condition” Dr. Anderson said.

The four courts at Riverside are not able to be accessed by GFH students. Currently, GFH tennis players have to share the CMR courts. The Riverside renovations will provide a much more convenient place for GFH students to practice. With fundraising by the Tennis Association the Riverside courts may be expanded to eight, like the CMR courts.

“So often things are neglected,” Dr. Anderson said about the cracked and inaccessible courts, “they really shouldn’t be.”

New renovations will give GFH and CMR the opportunity to host state and

divisional tennis tournaments. “We cannot host tournaments now,” Dr. Anderson

said, “because the courts we do have are spread so far over town that it is not convenient to have kids all over the place.”

New renovations will not only benefit the tennis players of GFH and CMR; the community will also be able to use the newly renovated courts.

“Tennis is a lifetime sport that people can play at all ages and with all the focus on health it’s a good thing” Dr. Anderson said.

14 Editor Megan McDunn March 11, 2010Sports

STRIKING A POSE Brianna Hearns, Trevor Johnson, Alex Stucker, Jeren Robinson, Nathan Hicks, Stuart Robinson, Megan McDunn, Kelsea Dixon, Shayna Vinson, Mitchell Wanke and Ellie Crum take a moment for a photo during a practice. The students played at the Hoops for Haiti basketball game last night to raise money for Haiti Relief. Photo | Zach Meddock

Mandi Monroe|Staff Writer Hoops for Haiti began last year as

a simple basketball game for young Haitian children to participate in and gain new clothing. The fundraiser was started by Mark Aubrey, a former college basketball player whose wife, Sarah Aubrey, had the idea to carry out the benefit, when visiting Haiti last march to play soccer with the locals. They had built a new basketball court during her stay.

The program started up before the horrendous 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti’s once charming shores. The malevolent quake left over 212,000 people dead and one million people homeless. Many of the homeless are comprised of children whose parents perished in the disaster. They are a nation in need of aid and support. Currently in the aftermath of the tragedy, schools all over our United States are pulling together to accomplish the event to answer the need of the pitiable and hurt children.

Now our very own Great Falls High will achieve the charity event

on Wednesday, March 10th to be held in the old gym at 5 pm and will not go past 7 pm. The fundraiser is a staff and student basketball game. Twelve seniors, with six boys and six girls, will make up the two teams to go against the faculties teams.

As announced on February 24th the boys’ roster includes Alex Stucker, Nathan Hicks, Mitchel Wanke, Trevor Johnson, Stuart Robinson, and Jordan Van son. Then the lady’s roster contains Megan McDunn, Ellie Crum, Shanya Vinson, Kaetlyn Woods, Kelsey Dixon, and Brianna Hearns. The coaches of the team are Tori Dowson and Jeren Robison. The faculty’s team is Scott Donisthrop, Sean Donelly, Kathy Jackson, Mike Hodges, J.D. Twichel, Geoff Habel, Morgan Kasuske, Dawn Dengal, Chrissy Baroch, Cindy Duffy, Kevin Kolve, and John Stroop. Their team is coached by Dr. Anderson. It costs one dollar for admission and the Hoops for Haiti basketball shirts will be sold during the game. All the proceeds from the game will go to Haitian relief. Please come and

support your fellow classmates and the unfortunate Haitian children.

One can also get involved by donating shirts, shorts, and basketball shoes to the kids at http://www.hoopsforhaiti.org.Or take a trip down there this summer for hands on help by going to http://www.helphaitinow.org. Also if one wants to make a direct donation, just text “HAITI” to “90999″ and a donation of ten dollars (charged to ones cell phone bill) will automatically be given to the Red Cross to help with their relief efforts.

If you are in an English class of Mr. Grouts, he will be matching each one of his students entrance fee for the cause. There are many ways for students to get involved and help is appreciated even if it is just a small gift of old basketball shorts. With your help and a little compassion we can make a big difference in a child’s unfortunate world. Going to the game is just one way to start helping those in need. Remember to make time on March 10th for those who cannot even ask for it.

Megan McDunn|Sports Editor2010 is the year of the tiger on the Chinese

zodiac, but in America the month of March is the month of basketball.

65 teams will be selected for both the men’s and women’s tournament via winning their division tournament or being selected by the selection committee which bases their decision on overall record and strength of schedule. Both University of Montana teams are still in contention to win the Big Sky Conference playoff bid and the Montana State University of women are also still vying for the title. Neither school has made it past the round of 32 or been seeded any higher than 12 when the Grizzly men were during the 05-06 season. The teams look gives it their best efforts in changing that this season.

For the men, the tournament selection will be held Sunday March 14 at 4PM and the opening round games will begin March 16. The championship game is set for April 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse and Duke are expected to be awarded the number one seeds. The big surprise this year has been the poor season 2009 National Champions the University of North Carolina has had. They are not even ranked in the AP or ESPN top 25 polls. Many are expecting Kansas to again win the championship as they also did in 2008.

For the women, the tournament selection is going to be announced on March 14, and opening rounds will begin March 20. On April 6, the championship game will be held in San Antonio, Texas.

UConn seems to once again be headed to the winners circle. After breaking their own record of winning 70 consecutive games from November 9, 2001, to March 11, 2003, no look to extend their new streak of 71 which dates back to November 16, 2008. The UConn women are seeking to defend their title and become national champions for the seventh time in school history. Stanford who holds a 28-1 record and Nebraska who also holds a perfect record this season are looking to upset the Huskies in their own bid to become the 2010 National Champions.

Whether it is to defend, recapture or gain their title, basketball teams, both men’s and women’s, will be put forth their best effort throughout March to be crowned 2010’s national champions.

Hoops Haiti4Marchadness

Student staff basketball game raises money and awareness for disaster in Haiti

Preview of basketball teams expected to make 65 team brackets

RENoVatECMR tennis courts get a facelift, Riverside courts get a makeover

15The Iniwa“The ultimate test of a relationship is to disagree but to hold hands.” -Alexandria Penney

BIG FIVE

Apollo Anton Ohno became the most decorated American athlete in winter Olympic history after he won silver in the 1500 m final. He placed second following a crash by two Korean skaters, Lee Ho-Suk and Sung Si-Bak. Ohno also took placed third in the 1000 m after recovering from a slip with less the three laps left. Although he disqualifiedin the 500 m, Ohno recovered in the 5000 m with a bronze alongside fellow Americans J. R. Celski, Simon Cho, Travis Jayner, Jordan Malone. Ohno is the most decorate American winter olympic athlete with eight medals (two golds, two silver, and four bronze), and is one of only four Americans to win three medals in a single Olympic games. Ohno has also placed well at the World Championships, winning a combined nine gold medals, seven silvers, and seven bronzes.

Canadian Joannie Rochette continued to skate after her mother, Therese, died of a heart attack only two days before her scheduled competition. Rochette’s bronze medal marked Canada’s quiet return to women’s singles figure skating, being the first medla Canada has won since 1988. She finished behind Yu-Na Kim of Korea, and a mear 3 points behind Mao Asada of Japan. Rochette demonstrated her grace and poise we witnessed so often throughout the games Monday night when she returned to Montreal. Rochette addressed the crowd awaiting her in both English and French before thanking them, but begging them for the privacy as she and her family grieve the loss of her mother. Rochette has won the Canadian Championships every year since the 2004-2005 season, and placed second at the World Championships last year.

Evan Lysacek took defeated defending champion Yevgeny Plushenko in men’s singles figure skating, the first American to win gold at the Olympics since Brian Boitana won at Calgary in1988. Lysacek, the reigning world champion, finished with a career best 257.67, 1.31 ahead of Plushenko. The 25 year old American hero accepted applause and cheers from thousands of approving as he graciously accepted the gold medal. Lysacek’s only flaw was a fall on his opening quadrouple toe loop. Unapproving of his victory, however, was Russia’s Plushenko, who returned to the competitive world of figure skating from retirement, with the sole goal making history winning a second gold medal. He said, “If the Olympic champion doesn’t know how to jump a quad, I don’t know. Now, it’s not men’s figure skating; now, it’s dancing.”

Two more golds for Canada materialized in the form of the men’s and women’s hockey teams. The Canadian womens team shutout the Americans with a 2-0 victory, and the men pulled out a 3-2 overtime victory against the Americans. Canada’s Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal 7:40 into the overtime period after an invigorating first three periods. Canada’s Jonathan Toews and Corey Perry produced a 2-0 lead, but the Americans fought back scoring twice, once just 24 seconds before the end of regulation play. Robert Luongo performed well in the goal, blocking an astounding 34 shots elevating Canada to the podium with a gold medal. Ryan Kesler and Zac Parise scored for the Americans, who had not lost one of their last five games in the round robin tournament. Overall, the Canadians continued the winning streak after a win in 2002 at Salt Lake against the Americans.

Team USA’s Nordic team took home four medals, including a silver in the large hill event. This quinched team USA’s medal drought Nordic events. Team members Todd Lodwick, Billy Demong, Johnny Spillane and Brett Camerota combined to take a silver in the team event, and a gold overall. Lodwick has competed in the Olympics since the Lillehammer games in 1994, making him the only member of the team to have skiied in five separate Olympics. Demong has competed since the 1998 games in Nagano, Japan. They with joined youngsters Spillane, competing since the 2002 Salt Lake games and Camerota, the youngest who joined at the 2006 Olympics in Torino. Austria was the only team to beat the Americans in the large hill They took home the gold after Mario Stetcher slipped past Demong on the last downhill, winning with a comfortable 5.2 second victory.

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16 “No one is right. No one is wrong. Life’s just a game, just one epic holdiay” - Tom Delonge March 11, 2010In-Camera

WARMTH!IN NEED OF

Being that we are living in a place that seemingly has a year round layer of frost covering not just the ground, but every aspect of our lives. We have been shown a sneak peak of what our summer may bring and well, we need a lot more of those blue skies and sunny eyes. School is dwindling to an end and it is about time for the frost to leave along with the work of school. Just a little more sunshine will erase the frost and cover this place with some kids loving what Great Falls hides for nine months. It is absolutely time for some sunshine!

WE ARE ALL IN NEED OF SOME SUN