January 2013

What’s Inside:• OHS group seeks to change the world (page 2)

• Students participate in Special Olympics (page 5)

• Tips for staying healthy in the new year (page 7)

• Girls’ basketball shoots hoops for a cure (page 9)

• Snow-dependent business suffers in mild winters (page 11)

• The Correct Opinion with Wesley Korpela (page 12)

How to prepare for finals weekBy: Heidi Gempeler

Class signup: take it seriously By: Hailey Morey

See “Class,” page 5

Oregon High School students learned the hard way this year that schedule changes are not as easy to modify as expected. One student ran into having two study halls one semester and none the next, while a different student ran into just a plain “empty” space. Another common problem was having single block classes offered at the same time. “I had to drop a class because it wasn’t of-fered certain hours,” Alex Bandt explained. But these problems are not entirely at fault of the ad-ministration. Students are the ones who truly influ-ence the master schedule. Although many problems arose, the master schedule is based off of the course sheets handed out in January and is very open to what students want to sign up for. “Oregon High School is probably the most lenient school in the Badger Conference with schedule changing. There are other schools, that once you have your schedule, you can’t make changes to it and that is what you get,” said OHS guidance counselor Janell Thom-

Schneider. OHS centers the schedule around what students want to take. Problems start to occur when students don’t think about what classes they actually want to sign up for. Stu-dents can always change their schedules later, but just remember the classes you sign up for in January are the classes the master schedule is basing itself off of. “Take signing up for classes seriously. Pick out the right classes the first time,” said OHS associate principal Jason Wilhelm. When it comes to March, the master schedule is set and finalized. They have filled the staff and set the budget, so if you can’t make up your mind in January, then be sure to make it up by March. When registration rolls around, there is no flexibility in changing the hours of the classes in the master schedule, and your only hope would be if another person dropped a class in order to let you in. Ad-

With final exams approaching quickly, many stu-dents are beginning to organize study materials for the three school days of testing, January 16-18, and Link Crew is equipped with several Link Leaders to help students prepare. Senior and former Link Leader Rebecca Wyland always takes final exams seriously. “As an underclassman and before I joined Link Crew, I attended all of their finals week events,” said Wyland. “Working with upperclassmen who had already gone through the experience of finals was very useful for me, and they answered every question I could think of. They are there to help, and anyone who has the op-portunity to work with them definitely should do so.” On January 16, the first day of finals, chemistry teacher and Link Crew advisor Jennifer Ehrlich has planned the annual event “Cocoa, Cookies, and Cram” to take place during the homeroom study period, along with fellow advi-sor and OHS science teacher Tracey Leider. The two have arranged for Link Leaders to be in each freshman homeroom

to help with any last minute studying. “Cocoa, Cookies, and Cram is a great opportunity for the freshmen to ask the upperclassmen link leaders for any last minute help or quizzing,” says Ehrlich. Freshman student Kristen Odorico states that not knowing what to ex-pect is her biggest fear of finals week. “I’ve heard from sev-eral upperclassmen that some teachers try to cram in a lot of information before finals, which becomes stressful for many students,” she said. Wyland agrees, as she was just as nervous during her freshman year. “Although we took a practice final in middle school, I still had no idea what to expect for the real thing. I was more prepared…but I was still very nervous. Being told that freshman year establishes a strong foundation for the rest of high school made me more motivated to start off with high grades early on in order to have a high grade point average. All I can say is that it can only help you in the long

See “Finals,” page 4

Ever since pre-industrial times, the world has seen a one degree Celsius increase in the world temperature. With that increase, half of the arctic ice cap has melted and half of the Great Barrier Reef is gone because the oceans are so acidic. The world’s governments have agreed that a 2 degree Celsius increase would mark the end of the stable climate we are used to, yet we are poised to blow past that mark in 15 years. 350.org is an organiza-tion that is trying to fix the cli-mate crisis of global warming and how fast it is coming upon us. Their goal is to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases re-leased into the air. Even a “few degrees in the climate change can completely change our world as we know it” the orga-nization states. The organization has stationed people in almost every part of the world in order to speak out for the group and lead the way for people to get in-volved. This group has commit-ted a lot of time and effort into making a difference in the world and they believe that they can do it, but only if we work together. OHS senior Ryan McGuine and some fellow stu-dents are coming together to speak out about this topic. They are trying to get the school districts and other facilities to divest in the fossil fuel stock in order to shrink the giant companies that are very powerful in the United States. Fossil Fuel stocks have a huge impact on major com-panies and facilities all around the world, including many here at Oregon. Almost all high schools and universities are affiliated with fossil fuel stocks. These stocks have received a large amount of attention lately because of a major cam-paign to divest in these stocks. “We are planning on pressuring the school district to sell any investments they might have in the fossil fuel indus-try. If they don’t have any, we plan on pressuring the other Madison area schools and the Oregon Library to do so. Since we know for a fact that they own investments in them,” Mc-Guine states. They are doing this because they believe that it is the right thing to do. This campaign was inspired by a movement in the 1970s, when South Africa was controlled by an elite group

OHS group seeks to change the worldBy: Adam Brauns

News page 2

of whites and there was a government-backed system of segregation (called apartheid). Across the United States, colleges got rid of investments from companies that played a role in keeping South Africa in that system. At first, the universities weren’t interested, but after a while they gave

in because of the pressure by the students. These actions played a large role in ending the apartheid government quickly. “That’s pre-cisely the same thing we’re doing here,” McGuine states. The di-vestment campaigns at universi-ties are already getting attention from sources like Time Maga-zine. Most of the universities have denied the students’ initial requests, but as the movement grows, the hope is that more and more will ditch their investments in fossil fuel companies. Accord-ing to the website, the current campaign has 189 campuses in-volved and the number is grow-ing every day. The group at OHS is only at the beginning stages of this

issue. Their ultimate goal, Gombar states, is to “create a better place to live and spread the word for others to hear.” The group has support from ECOS here at OHS, and they are teaming up with green clubs from Mono-na Grove, Madison East, and Madison West to accomplish their goal. McGuine emphasized that he wants OHS to sup-port them in their effort and to spread the word. He also rec-ommends people who are interested to read Bill McKibben’s books or check out 350.org for more information. He also states that anyone should talk to him if they are interested in getting involved or want to know more about the climate crisis. This is only the beginning of a very long process. Feel free to get involved and join the campaign.

Scan this QR code to visit 350.org!

McGuine. Photo by Mack Tubridy.

Meet OHS’ exchange students!By: Hailey Morey

Feature page 3

OHS is proud to welcome nine foreign exchange students this year. We hope you enjoyed meeting them and

learning a little more about their countries.

Sasha Keehl

Theresa Roesch

OHS exchange students Theresa, Carlos, and Sasha. Photo by Carissa Goodwick.

“Exchange” continued on next page

Traveling from Weinboehla, Germany, Theresa, 17, got involved in the exchange program through her sister, Elisabeth, now twenty-two years old, who was an exchange student in Illinois six years ago. Theresa got to visit her sister when she was an exchange student by meet-ing up with her in New York City. She chose to come to the U.S., but had no control over her state placement. She is here through the program Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI). Theresa is currently living with the Peterson family and has two new host sisters, Erika, 16, and Isabella, 10. Theresa has found that holidays are celebrated more here than in Germany. She also loves the lifestyle here. Peo-ple in Germany seem to be always busy while in the U.S.; Theresa has noticed that it is a little more relaxed and the people are very friendly. Although, she has also recognized that many people here are late to a lot of meetings; this is one of her pet peeves. In Germany, Theresa is involved in dancing in a carnival club. While attending OHS though, she has become involved in Interact and also attends a lot of basketball games to watch her host sister play. School has been one of the biggest changes

moving from Germany to the United States. “School here is easier, and the classes are different,” she explained. “They are more fun.” She really enjoys the class Diversity Studies, as such classes are not offered at her school.

One of the classes she took in school was Latin and she now knows how to translate it. Theresa’s school starts at 7 a.m. and goes until 2:40 p.m. Their schedule changes every day but repeats weekly. Theresa said they also have lockers but nobody really uses them, and she found that at OHS there is an actual relation-ship between a student and a teacher. She explained that ad-justing to the school was not difficult. When an exchange student attends her school in Germany, nobody really talks to him or her. On the contrary, at OHS, a lot of people she didn’t know came up and talked to her. Theresa mostly misses her family and friends. In June they will be traveling with her to Las Vegas, Utah, and the Grand Canyon. She will also be traveling to Mexico with her host family over spring break. She is looking forward to seeing another part of the United States and a new country.

Coming from Yekaterinburg, Russia, Sasha, 15, is now leading a very different lifestyle. Sasha explained that Russian people are more active, as in they are always out and about. She said that they usually don’t stay home a lot and you can see people on the street all the time. Hanging out with friends was her main activity in Russia. She thought the exchange program was interesting, so she decided to try it. She is here through her exchange program, Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), which provides scholarships for high school students to spend an academic year in the U.S. She had to go through testing, complete a writing portion and went through an interview process. Twenty thousand participated in the application process, but only 243 were chosen. Sasha is also a participant in the exchange program ASSE, which is her placement organi-zation. She is currently looking for a new host family as she is now living with her representative. “Every day here is interesting,” she said. Sasha has joined Art Club at

OHS and enjoys it. She has already traveled to Chicago and Milwaukee where she realized she misses the big city. Sasha also misses her three-year-old sister Alisa. Unlike the other exchange students, food did not make her “miss list.” The food in the U.S. is similar to food in Russia. For Sasha, being a junior at Oregon High School is much different than attending school in Russia. The school system was the biggest change for her. In Sasha’s school, the school day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. All eleven years of schooling are attended in one building. The government decides what the students will learn, so changing classes is not an option. “Teachers here are really friendly, they are always willing to help you, and you can talk to them about

whatever you want,” she explained. “They are more like friends and they care about you.” In Russia, teachers are not as interested in the students and are not as friendly. Adjusting to our school system was easy for Sasha. She thinks students are friendly and polite here.

Feature page 4

Carlos Ochoa“Exchange,” continued from previous page

“Finals,” continued from front page

Carlos, 17, is a senior here at OHS. He is from Can-cún, Q. Roo, Mexico. Carlos started to think about becom-ing an exchange student in 7th grade. Last year an exchange student from Germany attended his school, which inspired him to do the same. He is here through the Rotary Exchange Program, and only three students out of his Rotary Club were selected. Carlos got to choose five countries in order of where he wanted to attend. His first choice was Austra-lia, then Japan, Switzerland, Germany, and last the United States. He still hopes someday to travel to Australia. Carlos was placed with the Ledin family for the first half of the se-mester, and is with the Vande Zande family for the second. A key consideration in Carlos’s exchange student application was being involved in Interact. Interact is an ex-tension of Rotary Club but for high school students. Carlos started the Interact Club in his school. It is a service-based club that does community service projects. They especially highlight one big local service project and then one interna-tional project with other small volunteer opportunities on the side every year. Coming to OHS, Carlos noticed that there was no Interact. He founded the OHS chapter and was elect-ed president. His hopes are to get more people involved and to do more community service. Besides being involved in Interact, Carlos was a member of OHS’s JV boys soccer team, and he likes to paint and to draw. He likes the brats here, but does miss his fa-

vorite dishes from home, ceviche (a seafood dish), and en-chiladas suisas. Carlos has enjoyed attending Badger games such as football, basketball and hockey. He has not seen a baseball game before so he hopes to attend one in the spring. One thing he misses dearly though is his little Chihuahua. One of the biggest changes while living in the Unit-ed States for Carlos has been the school system. Carlos ex-plained that in Mexico there are separate schools for grades7, 8, 9 and 10, 11, 12, as well as for boys and girls. There is a set schedule that the students have to attend and do not get to change their classes around. The teachers also travel to them throughout the school day. Carlos started to learn English in elementary school. He speaks English, Spanish, is taking German at OHS, and will learn French when he goes back home. Carlos is considered a senior here but is a junior in Mexico. He also said that they have more vacation time in Mexico than offered here. Carlos has already been to Chicago and will take a west coast trip during the summer. His trip will include sights like the Grand Canyon and San Francisco. He also traveled with his family to Colorado five years ago. There he attempted to ski with his sister Ana Elena, 14, and was introduced to cold weather. “Seeing snow and even touch-ing it was very awesome . . . it’s hard to explain how happy it made me feel.”

run to study and be prepared.” To prepare for finals week, Wyland looks for study areas that offer little distraction as well as plenty of space that she can be comfortable in. “When I study, I have to have all of my study materials laid out in front of me in differ-ent sections, and I shift from subject to subject in smaller time increments,” she said. “Cramming all of one subject’s information into one sitting is not effective for me. One of my favorite places to study with friends is the Firefly Coffeehouse, as it is generally quiet, cozy, and a great place to have a study date. I usually work by myself, but it never hurts to be in a study group with a few others in case you become unsure of some specific things.” The majority of OHS students find that some of the most useful study tools offered by most teach-ers are the study guides. “I have always done every study guide or review sheet distributed by a teacher,” said Wyland. “Some semester exam study guides even count as a small percentage of credit for the test.”

Ehrlich, as well as the other two chemistry teachers, hand out an extensive review packet towards the end of each se-mester. “The majority of my chemistry students do my final exam study packets,” said Ehrlich. “Even though the study guides count for a small amount of points, they count for so much more in the long run. From what I’ve seen in previous years, the students who use the review packets have been much more prepared for the exam.”

Students participate in Special OlympicsBy: Kayla Kaeppler

News page 5

Oregon High School is full of athletes that take part in sports year round. During the winter season, basketball is a popular sport. Not only does the school have students on the boys’ and girls’ teams, but on the Special Olympics team as well. This time of year is huge for the Special Olympics basketball play-ers. Those who participate on the Special Olympics basketball team practice every Thursday at the Hill-crest Bible Church and are coached by OHS special ed-ucation teacher Elisa Ried. Ried coaches about two hours per week, and has volunteered with the Spe-cial Olympics since 1994. She started coaching in Or-egon in 2003. Ried states that her fa-vorite part about coaching is seeing “the athletes having fun and getting out of their comfort zone.” Amy Verheyden, mother of athlete David Thomp-son and Agency Manager for Oregon Special Olympics, says that she loves to watch her son get out there and play. She feels that when Thompson is on the court, all the stress and obstacles in his life all just melt away and “it doesn't matter. He's out there. He's trying his best.” This is Thompson’s fourth season on the team. Ac-cording to Thompson, some teammates have been part of the team for 10 years. Those on the team include Alex Braun, Ja-cob Casper, John Herreman, Dillon Holmes, Dustin Holmes, Bridget Horan, Jacob Johnson, Ethan Muehlenbruch, Thompson, Tom Topp and Ryan Shields.

Verheyden said the team, including David, knows that “working together is what makes a team work, and it's not just about one person doing poorly or well, but rather to all feel like you can be unified to be successful.”

A typical practice con-sists of running, stretching, working on dribbling, shoot-ing and passing, followed by running plays, and fin-ishes off with a scrimmage. Verheyden states that David “went from being a very sedentary person, to work-ing out every day.” Thomp-son stated that the team practices about 1.5 hours a week. On his own, he puts in an additional hour a day. These athletes are dedi-

cated and excited for game days. Thompson’s typical routine includes listening to music, stretching and talking with teammates to keep his nerves down. The team has multiple games throughout the winter, including scrimmages, and would love to have more people come out to support them. Any athlete knows that it feels much better to play for fans rooting you on. Thompson, Ried and Verheyden all agree that they would love to see more people get involved. Whether it is coming to support them at their games, practices or scrimmages, volunteering, or sim-ply just wishing them luck in the hallways, the support is appreciated. Scrimmages have not been set, but the regional tour-nament is Sunday, March 3 at the MAC Center in Verona. For more information, see Ried or Mr. Casey.

ministration does anticipate that students are going to want to drop and add classes, but it becomes difficult to deter-mine how many students that will be. For those who wanted to change their schedule at registration, appointments were asked to be made for a later date, so students knew that the counselors were devoting their time to them. Although get-ting an appointment this year seemed chaotic, the counselors did not want to waste your time by having you stand in line. “There are just too many needs and not enough time,” said Thom-Schneider. If you’re looking to add a class after five days, the teacher will have to re-teach what you have missed. It is time-consuming. If a student is really struggling with a class

“Class,” continued from front pageand realizes that it is just not the right class for them, then no “F” will be involved. That student will have to meet with a counselor, the teacher, and an administrator. If they are all in agreement that there is truly an academic reason for the student to change out of a class, then an adjustment will be made without the effect of an “F” on that student’s transcript. The next time you have difficulty with your sched-ule, remember that your fellow classmates are the ones who decided what the classes were going to be like, not adminis-tration. To avoid problems in the future, take signing up for classes seriously. Think twice about what you want to take, and just keep in mind that those course sheets do have a big effect on next year’s master schedule.

Last year’s Special Olympics basketball team. Photo submitted by Elisa Ried.

By: Mackenzie Maier

News page 6

New Year’s resolutions

By: Lauren HughesJanuary is National Blood Donor Month Deemed National Blood Donor Month in 1970, Jan-uary has become a time when millions of donors are thanked for giving their blood. Although it is National Blood Do-nor Month, there is actually a decrease in donations across the United States on account of weather and the busy holidays. The American Red Cross aims to “raise awareness about the constant need for blood” and encourage individuals to donate year round. Patients of every age are continu-ally in need of blood; in fact, one out of every 10 patients admitted to a hospital needs blood, according to the Red Cross. The donated blood is used to treat trauma victims, cancer patients, and other medical conditions. Hydration, nutrition, and sleep are three vital neces-sities to a successful donation. All types of blood are ac-cepted but the need for the universal blood type, or type O negative blood, is stressed. The American Red Cross says “it is always in great demand and often in short supply.” This type of blood can be used by patients of all blood types so it is especially critical in emergency circumstances. The do-nated blood is first sent to local hospitals. When their needs are met, the blood is utilized all over the United States. The Red Cross states that “youth play an extremely important role in the nation’s blood supply.” Before you can donate blood, you should make sure you meet all eligibil-ity requirements. Donors have to be at least 17 years old to donate, but in Wisconsin, at age 16, an individual can donate with his or her parent’s consent. As long as the donor is of age, is in good health, and reaches the weight requirement, he or she are capable of donating “Approximately 20 percent of donations come from

high school and college blood drives,” so the American Red Cross really stresses the significance of youth donations. Each spring, high school group Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), assists the

American Red Cross in a blood drive here at the Oregon High School. Student member, Dani-elle Lee, has been actively involved in the drive since her freshman year. The group is respon-sible for advertising the blood drive, providing a food table and acting as donor aids. As a do-nor aid, Danielle said, “I supervise the people giving blood and ensure they are comfortable throughout the entire process.” She aims to en-

courage donors, like senior Andrew Jend, to continue to give blood. Andrew donated at the drive for the first time last year and plans to give blood in the future whenever he can. “I just felt accomplished after I donated blood, especially knowing I might’ve saved someone’s life.” Those interested in donating don’t have to wait until spring to donate with frequent blood drives taking place elsewhere in the commu-nity. You can find a donation spot near you at http://www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation. To treat patients reliant on lifesaving blood products all over the United States, the Red Cross is entirely depen-dent on the generosity of the public. Celebrating National Blood Donor Month is a way for the Red Cross to thank those who donate because Red Cross knows the donated blood is extremely valuable. “With one donation, you can help save up to three lives,” according to the Red Cross For more information on blood donation or the Red Cross organization, visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/.

The first of the New Year is a special time for a lot of people because it provides a fresh start. It’s a chance for people to try something different or accomplish a new goal. “I want to get in a shape and hopefully gain a six pack throughout the year,” said OHS senior Zach Reagals. For a lot of teenagers, that seems to be the case. Many say they want to lose weight, find a girlfriend/boyfriend or get better grades, but not everyone is like that. When senior Zach Eyers, was asked about his New Year’s resolution, he said “to be someone others look up to.” Reagals said, “My goal of losing weight is going to be a short goal for me. I am always going to be exercising to stay in shape but once I reach the goal I want, I am not going to try as hard.” But some goals don’t have a time period. “My

goal is going to last the whole year and beyond because you can never be too good of a person,” said Eyers. “There is always room for improvement.” Forty percent of students polled want to get a job and make money, 27% want to get healthier, 13% want to be a good role model and someone others look up to, and 20% will try harder in school. Throughout the New Year people are going to be taking day-by-day steps to achieve their New Year’s resolu-tion. Some goals will require the whole year to accomplish, others only a few months. No matter what your New Year’s resolution is, there is never enough you can do to make that goal a reality.

Tips for staying healthy in the new yearBy: Sarah Jacobs

News page 7

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential in order to live a long and fulfilling life. More specifically, balance between exercise, nutrition, hydration, and sleep is the key to staying happy and healthy. A common misconception is that exercising must be related to athletics. Most people are unaware that staying active can be anything from basic stretching to competing in the Iron Man. It is suggested that you find a form of exercise that you take pleasure in and make it part of your daily routine. Also, don’t hesitate to bring your friends along because it can make the workout even more enjoyable. It is recommended that an in-dividual achieves at least 60 minutes of moderate exercise each day. Advantag-es of physical activity include sleeping better, the production of endorphins in the body which can make a person feel happier and more peaceful, and the prevention of mild depression or low self-esteem. “Statistically, it has been prov-en that our senses, our ability to learn, and our immune sys-tem are heightened as a result of exercise,” said OHS health and physical education teacher Mark Diercks. Additionally, staying fit will be beneficial in the future as well. Strength-ening the body while you are young can lower the risk of health hazards as you age. Another important aspect of health is nutrition. In our culture, the majority of people eat three meals a day. Although society has adapted to this eating schedule based on a farmer’s mentality, it has been proven that eating less at more intervals throughout the day is more beneficial. More-over, it is strongly advised that teens increase their intake of fruits and vegetables. A helpful trick to make sure you are getting a variety of vitamins and minerals from produce is trying to eat as many different colors as you can. “To help you get enough fruits and veggies each day, try putting a serving or two (1 serving = 1 cup) in a plastic sandwich bag,” said OHS athletic trainer Megan Lee. “Bring one to school each day to keep in your locker so you can have a healthy snack at hand.” Also, a common fallacy is that eating healthy means no junk food. Eating sweets like cookies and desserts is ok, as long as it is in moderation. In addition, eating breakfast is necessary to start your day. “Students who eat breakfast have higher test scores, su-

perior concentration and better muscle coordination,” said Lee. According to Lee, a healthy breakfast should consist of some kind of protein because it makes you feel fuller for lon-ger as compared to carbohydrates. A popular excuse teens use is that they don’t have enough time to eat breakfast in the morning. However, making the time to do so would be well worthwhile and beneficial for the mind and body. Hydration is also a critical component to staying

healthy. It is important for students to understand that the body needs water just as much as it needs vitamins and minerals. A good way to ensure that you are getting enough water through-out the day is to bring a water bottle to school. This way, you will have constant access to water. Students should also be aware that when you get thirsty, it is your body’s way of telling you that it needs more water. Water is important for digestion and high energy levels as well and without it, your body is more vulnerable to un-pleasant medical complications.

Another tip is that young adults should keep alcohol and caffeine to a minimum. Alcohol and soda actually dehy-drate you because they make your body excrete extra water. Drinking water regularly is one of the best things you can do for your body, and it’s free! Lastly, getting a substantial amount of sleep can make all the difference, especially for teens. OHS nurse Shelly Hicks recommends that high school students get at least 8-9 hours of sleep each night. “The body will recover itself a lot faster with sleep,” said Lee. She also stresses that sleep is important for students because their minds and bod-ies are still developing. To make sure you are getting enough sleep, it is a good idea to get yourself into a consistent cycle. Going to bed and waking up at the same time can be a big help. Hicks also made it clear that students should not stay up late study-ing every night because when they are tired, they remember less and are less focused. Getting enough sleep is undeni-ably important to your health because it rejuvenates the body and prepares you for each day. Altogether, in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, students should make a habit of exercising, eating right, hy-drating and sleeping each day. A healthy lifestyle while you are young sets the foundation for the future.

Photo courtesy of benefits.gov.

Obama to be sworn into office Jan. 21By: Charles Groenier

News page 8

Need advice?Ask Carl!

Submit your questions or concerns anonymously in the box outside

Ms. Riese’s room, 603.

He’ll answer your questions in upcoming issues!

Since the United States gained independence from Britain, the presidential election has been one of the most sa-cred and honored traditions of all time. From George Wash-ington in 1789 to Barack Obama in 2009, U.S. citizens look forward to watching their new President sworn in to office.. When an event as prestigious as the presidential inauguration is held, the preparation and security must be at its best. People come from all over the U.S. to make sure everything is in place, from the food that is being served to how the President will be getting from place to place. P a t r i c k Riese, who was a Transportation Se-curity Officer with the Transportation Security Administra-tion, was called to work during the 2009 Inauguration where President Obama was sworn in. “Officers arrived two days before the inauguration in Washington D.C. and went through multiple briefings from various D.C. staff” and were “briefed by the Secret Service on how the security checkpoints were to be operated and on how we would screen all the attendees,” said Riese. Preparation not only makes the event be able to function on time and properly, but it is what also makes the event ap-pealing to watch. The 2009 Inauguration was “very well put on as an event symbolizing the country” said OHS parent Joleen Lentz.

Many people of the utmost importance attend the Presidential Inauguration such as the current President, the future President, various government officials and other po-litical figures, so it is essential to have their safety guaranteed and the government takes no risks. “They had Secret Service

personnel, Capital Police, Armed For-est Service Rangers, Armed Park Ser-vice personnel on horseback, local and surrounding area Police Officers and Transportation Se-curity Officers stra-tegically placed all over the U.S. Capital grounds” said Ri-ese. “Attendees go through a metal de-tector; if they set off the audible alarm, they would receive a

full body pat-down in search for prohibited items.” The inauguration is one of the largest gatherings in the United States and one of the most watched events on television. “I watched the swearing in because it is very meaningful to swear a person in to be a leader of a country,” said Joleen Lentz. President Obama’s 2009 inauguration had the larg-est attendance of any event in the history of Washington, D.C., and the largest attendance of any presidential inaugu-ration in U.S. history. “I feel like I was a part of history,” said Riese. This year, the presidential inauguration will be held on January 21 in Washington, D.C.

President Obama sworn into office in 2009. Photo courtesy of CBC News.

Current bowl selection system flawedBy: Ethan Karls

Sports page 9

Every January, many sports fans look forward to the college football bowl games. Although these games bring a lot of excitement to fans, they also remind us of the flaws of the current system. With 35 bowl games this year, 70 Divi-sion 1 college football teams will have the chance to partici-pate in a bowl game. How these teams are chosen, however, can create a significant amount of controversy. The teams selected to a bowl game will either play in a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) bowl game or a non-BCS bowl game. The BCS bowl games are the games that create controversy. The selection system for the BCS bowl games creates five bowl match-ups, involving the ten top-ranked NCAA Division I football teams, including the BCS National Championship Game. The intention is for the top two teams in the nation to play in the Championship game. The method by which these teams are chosen is controversial. The top teams are ranked by combining the results of two polls, the Harris Interactive College Football Poll, and the USA Today Coaches’ Poll, along with a com-puter ranking, which is based on six weekly computer polls.

Based upon these results, the top two teams are chosen to the play in the Championship Game, and the remaining top eight are chosen to play in the other four BCS bowl game match-ups. This system is controversial because it doesn’t rely on playoffs, unlike Division 2 and Division 3 college foot-ball, as well as other Division 1 sports such as hockey and basketball. The current system is not “able to crown a true champion,” said OHS athletic administrator Mike Carr. The fact that the national championship game is decided by polls and computers and not by what actually happens on the field is the main reason many people dislike the current system. Although this system does have many imperfec-tions, it does have some good aspects. When asked what the current system does correctly, OHS student and football fan Sam Fredrickson said “it provides a number of bowl games for teams to play.” “[The current system] extends the season, gives fans an additional outlet, and gives colleges and universities ad-

Girls’ basketball shoots hoops for a cureBy: Aimee Urben The OHS girls’ basketball teams will be hosting their 3rd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night Friday, January 18 when they host Madison Edgewood. This year they invited all girls’ youth teams in the community to help surpass last year’s $3,500 raised, with hopes of reaching $10,000 for the University of Wisconsin Car-bone Cancer Center (UWCCC). Teresa Peach, one of the leaders on the planning committee, admits it’s an aggres-sive goal, but says, “We were able to raise over $3,500 last year, and hopefully by engaging the youth basketball teams, and more time to plan the event, we will be able to hit our new goal of $10,000 this year.” The UWCCC is the only comprehensive cancer center in Wisconsin. Thousands on the UW campus come together in research laboratories with more than 280 physi-cians and scientists to launch pilot programs and find new discoveries for the best ways to detect, prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. The Panther players and parents have been working hard planning for a successful evening. They also have a few events planned prior to the fundraiser. During several lunch periods in January, players will be selling pink and white tie-dyed T-shirts to students and faculty. The shirts will sell for $12.00 and all the proceeds will be included in their event night totals to support the UWCCC. Their goal is to sell 300 T-shirts which will also be available for purchase the

night of the event. In addition to selling T-shirts, they plan to have “Spare Change Days” where students can donate to the cause.

The event includes the games, but a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, prizes and a halftime shooting contest. Spe-cial attributions will be paid to both loved ones lost and breast cancer survivors. Join the girls January 18 for a night of PINK to fight for a great cause. The freshman game kicks off at 5:30, JV at 5:50 and Varsity at 7:30. All youth basketball players wearing their tie-dye T-shirt will receive free admission to the varsity game.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancer. One in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. But the statistics are improving, and the death rate has been on a steady decline since 1990. Today, only about 1 in 36 breast cancer cases result in death. The decline has been attributed to earlier detection through mammograms and screenings, increased awareness, improved treatments and advanced technologies. Millions of Americans across the country get involved with raising money for finding cures and new tech-nologies to fight cancer and stop the loss of life. The OHS girls’ basketball teams want to do their part in joining the fight against breast cancer and would like to invite and wel-come everyone to participate for the cause.

See “Bowl,” page 13

Club of the Month: SALTBy: Sydney Hagen

• Before 1850, golf balls were made of leather and were stuffed with feathers.

• A pole vaulter, when he lands, may absorb up to 20,000 pounds of pressure per square inch on the joints of his tubular thigh bones.

• Noisemaking and fireworks on New Year’s Eve is believed to have originated in ancient times, when noise and fire were thought to dispel evil spirits and bring good luck.

• The most popular T.V. show in Venezuela is the “Miss Venezuela Pageant.”

• Adults have, on average, two gallons of air in the space between their skin and their clothes.

• Minnesota has 99 lakes named Mud Lake.

• Benjamin Franklin gave guitar lessons.

• Alaska is the state with the high-est percentage of people who walk to work.

• The gnomon is the thing that casts the shadow on a sundial.

• Being unmarried can shorten a man’s life by 10 years.

Facts courtesy of weirdfacts.com.

The SkinnyBy: Miranda Mellen

Feature page 10

Members of SALT, short for the Student Asset Leadership Team, en-gage in many activities at OHS, as well as the district’s elementary schools. Some of events they host include vis-its to the elementary schools to teach 3rd and 4th graders about the assets by playing games and helping them to make connections between the assets and their lives. Oth-er activi-ties SALT members p a r t i c i -pate in are r a n d o m acts of kindness, starting a a n t i - c y -berbully-ing Twit-ter page, and making announcements to educate high schoolers about the 40 developmental assets. “The 40 Developmental Assets are 40 positive experiences and quali-ties that everyone has the possibility of having to create a positive environment and life for themselves,” said SALT ad-visor and OHS special education teach-er Nicole Koeller. Educating people on these assets is what SALT aims to do. “We wish to build a better, safer, and friendlier community in all

schools in the Oregon School District,” said junior Nick Miller. Some of the benefits of the club include “brighten-ing the day of your fellow high school-ers and helping teach the elementary schoolers.” One of SALT’s most popular random acts of kindness for several years now is to hand out hot chocolate

and candy canes one day each w i n t e r b e f o r e s c h o o l , for free. SALT just held this year’s day on Dec. 11; they s e r v e d a r o u n d

200 cups of hot chocolate and candy canes. “[SALT] is a good leadership group that promotes the assets and a positive way of life,” said former SALT member Brooke Debroux. If you are looking to help the Oregon community and get involved in a fun club at Oregon High School, look ito joining SALT today! They typically meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 am in room 632. See Ms. Koeller for questions and details.

Snow-dependent business suffers in mild wintersBy: Tessa Ryan

Paw Print Staff

456 N. Perry ParkwayOregon, WI 53575

Phone: 608-835-4418 OHSPawPrint@gmail.com

Editorial Board: Sean Bull

Carissa GoodwickMiranda MellenMaddie SmithMack Tubridy

Photography:Carissa Goodwick

Mack Tubridy

Contributing Staff:Adam Brauns

Heidi GempelerCharles GroenierSydney HagenLauren HughesSarah Jacobs

Kayla KaepplerEthan Karls

Wesley KorpelaTyler Lentz

Mackenzie MaierAlex McDonaldMax McDonaldHailey MoreyAlex NowlandMichael Rosga

Tessa RyanAlec Steensland

Aimee UrbenAdrian Valdez

Jacob Wall

Advisor: Ms. Abby Riese

News page 11

Winter is the time of the year where snowboarding and skiing parks make the most money, but does the amount of snowfall affect the amount of income for these parks? There is no doubt snow-boarding and ski-ing are popular for many people here in Wiscon-sin, and even for some people, “snowboarding is what [they] look forward to for the whole year,” dedicated snowboarder and OHS junior Troy Johnson stated. With our winters becoming more and more un-predictable, the amount of snow-fall is slowly decreasing. “Our park does very well in the winters due to the facilities we have available for our guests. We have how-ever seen a decrease in our income with-in the past year due to our winter weath-ers but we make fake snow to make up for it” Don McKay, General Manager for Tyrol Basin, stated. Those facilities that are able to produce artificial snow luck out when the weather doesn’t accommodate for snowfall; but for those that don’t have this luxury, it becomes hard, if not im-possible to bring in business. Ian Gal-loway, a private lessons instructor for Blackhawk Ski Club, notices an enor-mous drop in the amount of money he has made while teaching lessons. “Last year was a bad winter to

make money because there was barely any snow,” said Galloway. “We’re a small, private business that runs strictly from our members so the snow is really important because without it, we can’t

teach our lessons.” Not only is making artificial snow expensive, but it also can be a little bit of a hassle for those who ride on it. “Fake snow is super icy and it gets re-ally bad especially at night.” Johnson ex-pressed. “Fake snow does obviously cost more then real snow, but for the most part, our riders make the best of it and they come out to do what they love to do,” said McKay.

Weather conditions also contrib-ute to the kind of people who are attract-ed to the park at that given time. Riders with more advanced skills go whenever they can. “It doesn’t matter if it’s real or fake snow, just as long as I’m able to get out there and practice for a contest, that’s all I really care about,” said John-son. “Once the season fully starts, I go [around] twenty hours a week.” Those who aren’t as advanced and who prefer to just go to have a fun time tend to lean towards only going when there is real snow, McKay indi-cated. With Wisconsin weather being so unpredictable, businesses have seen some decrease in the amount of income they bring in over the winter season.

Club of the Month: SALT

Skiiers enjoy the snow at Tyrol Basin. Photo courtesy of WKOW.

The Correct Opinion with Wesley KorpelaBy: Wesley Korpela

Opinion page 12

The Correct Person of the Year Award: Mr. Kyle OksiutaA large number of news outlets release who they believe is the most influen-tial person of a certain year. However, I have a problem with this. It appears to me that no one realized the genius, influence, and power of a teacher here at our very own school, Mr. Kyle Ok-siuta. Mr. Oksiuta is the psychology

teacher here at OHS but he's much more than that. I would be willing to make the argument that he is actually an an-gelic spirit trapped in a mortal body and I have a feeling that he would agree. This is why he is the first recipient of the Correct Person of the Year Award. Just being in his presence gives you the impression you're near greatness and this is what I experienced when we sat down for an interview._______________________________________________

Korpela: There's no question that you're honored by my award, but are you going to get a swelled head or are you going to be humbled by this new highlight in your life and why should future Correct People of the Year mirror your groundbreaking behavior?Oksiuta: Child, please. While my accomplishments may dwarf those of most people of Oregon High School com-bined, rest assured that Kyle Oksiuta will always stay hum-ble. Fame, fortune, and good looks aside, I'm still just Ok-siuta from the block. While girls may swoon when I walk the streets of Oregon, back in Stevens Point I'm just another guy. Just kidding, I'm really famous there too.

WK: If you were to pick 10 words to describe yourself, what would they be?KO: Luminescent. Dashing. Mysterious. Vogue. Scintil-lating. Malevolent. Charismatic. Hairy. Putrid. Dictator.

WK: Your psychology classes are well aware of your cat, Gretta. I feel, from what I've heard from you, that there's a lot of chemistry between you and her. Are there any plans on tying the knot anytime soon? KO: MY AGENT GAVE YOU SPECIFIC INSTRUC-TIONS THAT I WAS NOT TO BE QUESTIONED ABOUT GRETTA.

WK: On my short list of people for this heaven-ly title I have Hillary Clinton, Julius Ceasar, Car-ly Rae Jepsen, and Tyra Banks. Why do you think

you beat out these people for my prestigious award? KO: This is just a silly question, Wez. Do you ask a lion why it roars? It just does. Do you ask a cookie why it's sweet? It just is. Did you ask Al Gore why he invented the Internet? He just did. Similarly, I cannot explain why I'm so prestigious. I just am.

WK: What's in your arsenal of personal skills? KO: This would take forever to answer, so I'll simply tell you my experiences from the month of December, 2012. December 1st: invented the 27th letter of the alphabet. December 3rd: meditated under a fig tree and achieved nir-vana. December 7th: successfully cloned Mr. Lindsey using a swipe of his saliva obtained from the water fountain and a healthy ovum from [INFORMATION REDACTED FROM NEWSPAPER FOR CONFIDENTIALITY CONCERNS]. December 10th: played Call of Duty and achieved 64 kills and 0 deaths in a single game. December 14th: received a phone call from President Obama asking for my recommendations on how to handle the fiscal cliff negotiations. December 15th: memorized pi to the 597th digit. December 18th: beat LeBron James in a game of HORSE. December 20th: traveled back in time and defeated a tricer-atops in hand-to-horn combat. December 22nd: forgot school was on winter break and showed up to teach; all students had attended anyway just in hopes of seeing me. December 25th: partied with Santa Claus all day; performed some of his gift-giving duties while he slept off the after-noon. December 28th: developed and subsequently overcame a craving for human flesh following a rare encounter with a Wendigo. December 30th: cuddled with my cat, Gretta.

WK: What has been your inspiration? KO: Oh golly, where do I start. Growing up, I wasn't like ev-ery other kid, you know, who dreams about being a teacher. I was always more interested in what water was made out of in the ocean. Sylvester Stallone's a real hero of mine. Cher. Cher would be another person who's a hero. The music she's created over the years--I don't really listen to it, but that the fact that she's making it, I respect that. I care desperately about what I do. Do I always know who my students are?

“Correct Person” continued on the next page

No. Do I always know what I'm supposed to be teaching? No. But I show up, and I always give it my best shot.

WK: Tell me, using examples of imagery, what a day in the life of Kyle Oksiuta is like. KO: Imagine yourself scal-ing Mount Everest without the use of cables, radio equipment, oxygen, or common sense. Visualize giant gusts of wind blowing back your blonde hair, layered and feathered to per-fection, at such a velocity that it resembles a yellow daffodil flying through the air following an atomic bomb blast. Now en-vision a dragon, swooping by with delicate crimson wings, blowing 400 degree flames of molten lava onto your back. Fi-nally, picture a small woodland creature. This comes as close as can be described in words to what it feels like to be me.

WK: Who do you take credit in influencing? KO: Heh, it would be quicker to ask me who I haven't influ-enced. Let's just say that I have had to rent out 6 warehouses in Oregon just to contain all of the gifts of appreciation I've received from students, their parents, and fellow teachers over the years. I would have to check with my accountant, Mr. Root, for exact figures, but I currently have accumulated approximately 15,000 let-ters, 2,000 flower boutiques, 8,000 senior pictures, 10,000

charitable donations, 20 kittens, and a sheephant (the only currently living offspring between a sheep and an elephant). Sometimes I feel like it all gets to be a bit too much, but I realize that I have a gift and it needs to be shared with the world. I will never stop teaching and I will never stop in-

fluencing.

WK: Do you have any fears now that such a famous star (me) has now intro-duced you to the world? KO: Well, considering that you came into this interview fol-lowed by Anne Hathaway, An-gelina Jolie, Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Carrot Top, I have to admit it's a little intimi-dating to see someone as men-acing as you surrounded by so much beauty.

WK: What are your dreams that will inevitably mold the world into your liking? KO: I dream of a world where all people are jelly of me, I teach a class called "Swag 101", "YOLO" becomes part of the pledge of allegiance, and all cats are loved. Only then will I truly be at peace.

My congratulations to Mr. Oksiuta for winning the most important award I can bestow on any living being. May his prowess as a human being serve as a lesson for any of you who wish to nab the title of "The Correct Person of the Year."

Oksiuta, in all his glory. Classic “pic of self in mirror with cat on shoulder pose.” Photo submitted by Oksiuta.

Opinion page 13

“Correct Person,” continued from the previous page

ditional exposure” said Carr. “There are going to be a lot of fans that will watch Northern Illinois in a BCS bowl that don’t know where DeKalb is….what majors they offer, etc.” Many believe college football has recently taken a step in the right direction. Starting in the 2014 season, Di-vision 1 College Football will have a four team playoff to decide which two teams will play for the national champion-ship.

Although many see this as an improvement for col-lege football, four teams may not be enough. “A playoff of the top 10 teams or so” would be preferable, according to OHS student Cole Hefty. As Division 1 College Football moves toward a traditional playoff system, many hope there will be less controversy in the future, and the “true cham-pion” will be crowned.

“Bowl,” continued from page 9

By: Miranda Mellen

January Horoscopes page 14

Horoscopes courtesy of cafeastrology.com

Aries- January should be a busy month for business and work; at the same time, socializing and romance also fig-ure prominently. Certainly, it's easy for you to get quite fired up about issues close to your heart this month. Your feelings about friends can also be more intense in Janu-ary. New ideas are abundant, but not always supported by people around you.

Taurus- January is a good month for travel and explo-ration, but career or reputation matters can get tricky at times. If you've been considering taking a trip or brush-ing up your knowledge with a course, this is a favorable month in which to solidify your plans. Your flavor for adventure runs high. The last week of the month might involve some conflicts with family members.

Gemini- January is a time for moving out of your com-fort zone and creating new experiences for yourself. The year ahead is another strong one for you, and you have much to look forward to. Plans might be made now for travel, education, or other forms of exploration. Physical energy can be on the low side this month, but emotional energy and enthusiasm run high.

Cancer- Relationships take center stage this month, and you might put your personal plans on the back burner to tend to others. There can be a lot of negotiating, discuss-ing, and compromising going on with a special person in your life. Be willing to compromise and to make a fresh start with others, but stand up for your needs and desires.

Leo- January is very often a month of reorganization, work, and special attention to health regimes for you. While this year is no exception, it's a more pleasant phase this year. There is a strong sense that you are on top of the "little things" in your life. Group activities and friend-ships can be very rewarding this month.

Virgo- Getting your life, including your career, on track continues to be a strong theme, but you are able to find a healthy balance between work and play right now. Do take advantage of your increased motivation and energy for work and health routines, but remember that overdo-ing it will set you back.

Libra- A transformation of sorts in your personal life is in the works this year, and the stage is being set in January. Some insecurities can certainly surface now, but you're in a good position to take charge and manage your relation-ships. Release some of the pent-up frustration. News of a trip or an adventure in the near future can figure strongly in January.

Scorpio- Errands, paperwork, learning, social contact, and short trips are bound to keep you on your toes this month. An important conversation or commitment can oc-cur. Romance is about meeting of the minds right now. All month, you can experience a lot of energy centering around the home or with family. Channel this energy con-structively.

Sagittarius- Friends are in your corner, and you are especially affectionate and generous this month. Per-sonal finances figure prominently. You have the chance to improve your financial position, either by stabilizing cash flow or finding new ways to make money altogeth-er. Learning, communicating, and connecting are all big themes this month.

Capricorn- January is a strong month for popularity and influence, as well as getting personal initiatives off the ground. It's a good time for resolving problems from the past. Intellectually you are in top form. You are willing to work especially hard for security, and you are also quick to defend your values.

Aquarius- While there is part of you that prefers be-ing in the background or under the radar in the first three weeks of January, you are raring to go when it comes to moving ahead personal plans. A project or investment that you may have given up on could surprise you with some movement and possible returns.

Pisces- The year begins on a high note, with doors opening for you pretty much everywhere you look. Janu-ary should be good for making appointments, networking, and enjoying group activities. This is a very strong period for bonding with people with similar interests or perspec-tives.