T H E

tiger hi-lineVOLUME 51 ISSUE 10

1015 Division St. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613

Chandal GeerdesStaff Writer

The student senate is off to a fast start this year with many new ideas on how to improve our school and community.

Taking a slightly different ap-proach than in past years, the senate wants to focus more on com-munity projects than on fundrais-ing. These may include “Couch for Cure” where student senate will raffle off seats on a couch for a basketball game. Who ever wins the raffle will get to sit on a decked out couch with food and pop. All the proceeds will go to a charity for cancer patients. Another project planned is random acts of kindness for staff and students. No final decisions have been made in regards to the projects, however updates will be featured when and where in upcoming editions of the Tiger Hi-Line.

“The school can always benefit from school unity. Community projects get people together and break down school barriers,” senate

secretary Ryan Giarruso said.A major goal for the senate is to

work to get the whole student body involved rather than the same group of students. They are starting a new committee of communications, which will include student senate members going into DEAR periods

and discussing with the students their opinions about the school and what they want to see more of or changed. If an issue becomes popular, the senate will take it to the

principals office and discuss it with them to see

what can be done.“We want more people involved

that are not in leadership roles or student senate because this is their school too,” senate president Austin Javellana said. “Students who don’t take the leadership roles should get involved just as much as those who do and have just as many opportuni-ties to do so.”

For more information about upcoming projects and ways to get involved, look for updates in the Hi-Line or contact Austin Javellana at austin.javellana@gmail.com.

Building bonds

Rachel Sharkey Staff Writer

The Friends program has kicked off another year of building relationships between high school and elementary students under the guidance of coun-selor Dan Weichers. This program has junior and senior students volunteer at elementary schools and mentor children.

Friends members visit children from both Lincoln Elementary and Southdale Elementary in Cedar Falls, kindergarten through sixth grade. High school students can only visit the chil-dren during fourth and seventh hour because it’s the only time both of their schedules match up.

“Our schedules don’t match up to the elementary school’s schedule, so it’s hard to match up our days to theirs. This is one of our biggest struggles. I am trying to find more times for the students to get together,” Weichers said.

The program can last all year, and if a high school student’s schedule does match up, Weichers highly recommends joining the program. The elementary school children being men-tored often are in need of a friend or feel like they don’t have any. Weichers said they will greatly benefit from the

volunteer work of CFHS students.“It is called the boomerang theory.

Both students in the relationship ben-efit from the program. I think it is cool that high school students take time for the kids. It’s giving,” Weichers said.

Senior Jennifer Ferrell, who is cur-rently active in the Friends program, said, “I joined Friends to help out children who just need a friend. The little girl I mentor is amazing.”

Joining is easy. Just visit Weichers in the counseling office. There are cur-rently 17 high school students signed up, and he said he is willing to look over more applicants. However, We-ichers said juniors and senior students are usally chosen for mentors because they are more likely to be settled in to high school and have a higher chance of having their own transportation to travel to meet their “friends” in the elementary schools.

“My favorite part is seeing the girl I mentor smile non stop when we are having lunch together. We could talk for hours. She is such a smart and sweet young girl,” Ferrell said. “Wednesdays make my whole week because that’s when I get to see her, even though it’s only for an hour, it makes me feel so happy that I can be a true friend to her.”

Friends program delivers another year of mentoring

Junior Kaitlyn Hennings leads a class activity and works with a stu-dent at Southdale Elementary on an afternooon in November.

Senate takes new approach to break school barriers.

Meg Lane Photo

“The school can always benefit from school unity. Com-munity projects get people together and breaks down school

barriers.”—Ryan Giarruso

Student Senate Secretary

Contact the Tiger Hi-LineThe Tiger Hi-Line is a weekly publication of the journalism classes of

Cedar Falls High School, 1015 Division St., Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. Our website is www.hiline.co.nr. The Hi-Line is distributed to CFHS students on Tuesdays to read in their DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) classes.

Columns and letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Hi-Line or Cedar Falls Schools. The Hi-Line editorial staff view is presented weekly in the editorial labeled as Our View.

Reader opinions on any topic are welcome and should be sent to the Tiger Hi-Line staff or delivered to room 208. All letters must be signed. Letters must be submitted by 3 p.m. on Thursday for publication the follow-ing Tuesday. Letters may not exceed 300 words and may be edited to meet space limitations. Include address and phone number for verification.

Editorial StaffEditors-in-Chief: Sara Gabriele and Ellen Gustavson

News Editor: Sara Gabriele and Allyson VuongOpinion Editor: Meg Lane and Kaylee Micu

Sports Editor: Ali MillerFeature Editors: Ellen Gustavson and Ali Miller

Entertainment Editors: Meg Lane and Kaylee Micu Photo Editor: Tracy Lukasiewicz

T H E

tiger hi-lineDec. 7, 2010

2 opinion

our view

Money may make the world go round, but not without its share of baggage. Nowhere can this be seen better than in politics. Currently, Congress has put all major issues on hold to focus on whether or not the Bush tax cuts should be extended for the top income bracket.

It is impossible for a two party system to exist without any disagreements. But we at the Tiger H-Line feel that no matter which side you’re on — liberal or conservative — Congress is not acting to benefit the country at the moment.

Ignoring all other issues, including negotiating a nuclear weapon treaty with Rus-sia or repealing “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” to focus on tax cuts is not getting anywhere.

Congress is stuck in a grid-lock, and the issue caus-ing so much uproar, whether or not the cuts should be extended for the very wealthy, in fact affects a mere 2 percent of Americans.

It does not take a genius to figure out that a grid-lock does not move anywhere. All Americans were intro-duced to this concept in Kindergarten along with the notion of “compromising.”

Our country is facing many domestic and inter-national issues. We cannot afford to halt all progress because the two sides are not willing to work together.

Not only will we not progress, but consequences will ensue. In the case of the tax cut debate, if Congress does not reach an agreement, 98 percent of Americans will receive this consequence because no tax cuts will be extended.

Grow up, Congress, or go back to Kindergarten.

It does not take a genius to figure out that a grid-lock does not move anywhere.

In lame duck session, Congress find room for compromise

Jordan BurtchStaff Writer

Recently, the new PlaySta-tion 3 Move and the Xbox 360 Kinect have been a big hit with people around the world.

The PS3 Move is the com-bination of the PS3 system, the PlayStation Eye camera and the PlayStation Move mo-tion controller.

For the Move controller, the Eye camera and Sports Champions game, the bundle costs $99.99. For a 320 GB PS3 system, the Move motion controller, the Eye camera and Sports Champions, the bundle would sell for $399.99. These are just the bare bones for this unit.

How the Move works is by having the Eye track the ball on the end of the Move controller and translate that motion onto the screen. Yes, players need a controller, but it lets their whole body do the work, not just their fingers and a controller. Players might

want to buy a Move gun attachment and a Move charg-ing station as well.

The Xbox 360 Kinect is going for a price of $149.99, and that would be all one needs if one already has an Xbox 360.

If players don’t have the 360, there are bundles avail-able for that too. For $299.99, one can get the new Xbox 360 4GB console, the Kinect sensor and Kinect Adventures. Also, for $399.99, one can get the new Special Edition Xbox 360 250GB console, the Kinect sensor and Kinect Adventures.

What the Kinect does is

it tracks the player’s body motion and translates it onto the screen. It also recognizes voice commands, so there is no longer a need for a control-ler. It is quite cool.

Some think that paying the extra $50-100 for the Kinect is too much for almost the same product, and some people have thought that these new systems were just copy cats of the Nintendo Wii that came out in years past.

From a safety standpoint, the Kinect may win the fight, because with Kinect, there are no controllers and no chance of a controller being hurled at the television screen or any valuable near by. Just make sure to have a clear area to participate.

Have you ever carried your cell phone around in your pocket? Slept with your phone under your pillow?

Studies are starting to show that your cell phone can slowly become your killer. Scientists and doctors are teaming up to do major research on the link between cell phones and brain cancer or other harmful effects phones may have on your body.

Recent studies have shown that if you’re a frequent cell phone user and talk almost 24/7, after a while, your nerves could become dam-aged, memory loss could oc-cur or even acoustic neuroma or brain cancer caused by radiation from your friend, the cell phone.

Now, most of us teenagers have our phones in our hand

or pockets all day, which, can cause joint issues.

The phone companies that have the most issues with ra-diation from their phones are Motorola and Blackberry.

Thankfully, not all phones from these companies are as harmful as others, but all

phones do cause at least a small amount of radiation. Samsung is number one cell phone brand that has the most slots on the top 10 lowest radiation-causing cell phones list. The absolute worst phone due to radiation in the United States is the Motorola MOTO VU204.

Some people have even been calling cell phones the “electronic cigarette.”

Some things that you can do to protect yourself is that if you’re in an area with low ser-vice, stay off your phone. The lower the service the more radiation your phone omits. If you need to make a call, use your speaker phone. Sending text messages will also cut down on the amount of radia-tion your phone gives off.

The jury is still out on the definitive hazards of prolonged exposure to cell phone radiation, but consider yourself warned on the risks.

PS3 Move bundle

Xbox 360 Kinect bundle

New game systems offer active fun

Cell phones: Friend or Foe?New studies link cell phones to dangerous diseases

Kara StewartStaff Writer

Science teacher Debbie Paulsen surfs with interest on her phone.

Sandra Omari-Boateng Photo

Women’s Basketball12/7, @ Cedar Rapids Prai-rie, 7:30 p.m.12/10, @ Dubuque Senior, 7:30 p.m.12/11, @ Decorah, 9 a.m.Men’s Swimming12/9, @ Cedar Rapids Wash-ington, 6 p.m.12/11, Marcussen Invite @ Holmes Pool, 11:30 a.m.Men’s Basketball12/10 vs. Dubuque Senior @ home, 7:30 p.m.Bowling12/10, vs. Iowa City West @ Valley Park Lanes, 3:45 p.m.WrestlyingMVC Double Dual @ home, 5:30 p.m.

1. How are you feeling about the start of the season?“I feel pretty good. We’re off to a great start.”2. What goals have you set for yourself?“I want to be top five in our league.”3. Who/what is your biggest motivation?“I have to say just doing it for myself. Hockey’s my life.”4. The Des Moines Capitals are your biggest competition. How do you feel about the upcoming games this weekend? “They’re a good team, but I think we have more talent than them, and I think we should come away with a win.”

Tigersin

Action

Athleteof

the Week

T H E

tiger hi-lineDec. 7, 2010

3sports

Jon SkarlisWarrior Hockey

Sophomore

Jordan BurtchStaff Writer

Recently, the new rule of no head-to-head contact has been being enforced in the NFL more frequently than ever. Whether it be an inten-tional or coincidental incident, referees are cracking down on each case under the new rule.

The rule is set up to protect defenseless players from being severely injured, whether it be preventing a concussion or a spinal cord injury. If a player makes such a hit to a player’s helmet or neck area, they will undergo an immediate suspension and fine.

Senior Johnathan Beck-man said he thinks the new fines are misplaced.

“I’m not in support of it. I think it is totally being blown out of proportion because, like it or not, they are making NFL players spend tens of thousands of dollars for that when sometimes it’s inci-dental. There is a fine line between purposely laying your helmet into a player as a weapon and accidental,” Beckman said.

“I think the rule should stay as it was before where

refs could throw flags if it was blatantly obvious, but is it really necessary to throw a flag on a linebacker when the running back lowers his head and they just happen to collide helmet to helmet? Probably not.”

Beck-man said one of the key consid-erations of playing football is the free choice of each player’s consent to play and accept the risks of that consent.

“Football is football. They make their money on the sport based on the fact that people want to watch big strong men beat on each other. Soccer players can go play their soccer. As for football, it’s a free for all. To prove a point to the NFL, the Packers and Cowboys might as well have played two-hand touch on

Sunday.” The NFL is constantly

changing as far as game-play and rules, and some argue that these rules should be utilized by younger age groups too, especially so they don’t run the risk of losing the rest of a natural life over some reception attempt, but Beckman doesn’t see

it as any different for high school players.

“I think that if high school football doesn’t adopt this new rule, that is great and the way it should be, but at the same time, I can under-stand why a ref would want to throw a flag if he saw an 18-year-old 200-pound kid leading helmet first into a 16-year-old 140-pound kid, but only if it was clearly intentional,” Beckman said.

Senior Nick Hullermann

said he is more open to the safety intentions in the new rule. “It’s a good rule and probably somewhat of a necessity for the safety of the players. However, football is football and unless a player was blatantly trying to go for the helmet or the hit was exceptionally dangerous, you have to let the boys play ball,” Hullermann said.

Hullerman has mixed feelings about having high schools enforce this rule stricter than in the NFL.

“Yes because you want to learn good habits young, and no because the level of hit-ting is considerably different from a high school to an NFL game,” Hullerman said.

These two individuals have played enough football to know what’s crossing the line and what’s not. If the receiver wants to go up for a tough grab, he has to expect to get blown up by a defender.

He has the choice of whether he wants to go up to grab that ball or not.

Yet, from a safety standpoint, if you were the receiver, wouldn’t you want a safe trip up and a safe trip down without getting knocked out cold?

Football fans debate fines over ‘dangerous’ tacklesHead Check

Jared HyltonStaff Writer

Walking the halls of Cedar

Falls High School, sophomore John Hu-Chen may seem just like another student, but he has a passion burning deep inside him that most other students don’t possess.

Hu-Chen is not only friendly with everyone in the halls, he follows his sociable nature in attending and sup-porting the athletic teams.

“I have a lot of friends on sports teams. It’s very exciting to watch my friends com-pete,” Hu-Chen said.

Fellow sophomore student and varsity football player Hayden Shea loves having

Sophomore fan inspires Tigers

Hu-Chen at games. “I can always hear him

in the stands, and even when we’re losing, he’s still cheer-ing hard,” Shea said.

“I always stay until the very end of the game to show my respect to my friends that are competing. If I could, I

would congratulate them after the game,” Hu-Chen said.

Hu-Chen proved this statement by staying extra late after the football team’s two home playoff games to con-gratulate the players on their way to the locker room.

Hu-Chen first began at-

“I always stay until the very end of the game to show my respect

to my friends that are competing.”

—John Hu-Chensophomore super fan

“Football is foot-ball. They make their money on the sport based on the fact that people want to

watch big strong men beat on each

other.”—Jonathan Beckman

senior

tending Cedar Falls athletic events in eighth grade when Mr. Peters from Hol-mes introduced Hu-Chen to football games. Ever since, Hu-Chen has been hooked.

This year Hu-Chen made it to all 12 of the football team’s games. His two favorite sports to watch are football and bas-ketball.

Rain or shine, win or lose, you know “super-fan” Hu-Chen will be there cheering on the Tigers.

T H E

tiger hi-lineDec. 7, 2010

4feature

SupportStudent Press

The list of businesses and individuals included here are backers of the real world educational opportunities made possible by all the publication and broadcasting programs at Cedar Falls High School. Check out their links at our website: http://www.hiline.co.nr

Gold Star Sponsors ($250)•Sandee’s Silver Star Sponsors ($180)•Cedar Falls Community Credit Union

To find out how you can be a Journalism Backer, call 553-2590 or email hiline.winkel@gmail.com

Bronze Star Sponsors ($100)•Ruth N. DeHoff•Glass Tech•Larry and Judy Timmins

Fans reflect on first part of stunning finaleMaya Amjadi

Staff Writer

J. K. Rowling has made over one billion dollars with the epic Harry Potter series, putting her in second place for richest woman alive after Oprah Winfrey. The series of seven books has resulted in millions of copies printed worldwide and six hugely suc-cessful movies. On Nov. 19, part one of the seventh and final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, made its debut in theatres.

This was a dream come true for many fans, who have been kept in suspense for long periods of time, due to the movies coming out over a span of several years. Senior Catherine Dunbar said she even had a countdown for a year before the premiere.

The second part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hal-lows comes out June 30, ending the long lasting legacy once and for all. But not all fans are so excited for the beginning of the end. Junior Jesse Streicher said, “I am way excited for the last movie to premiere. However, know-ing that with these last two movies, the series will be over makes me so sad. It makes me

wish she would have written more books, but I know that if she did it might ruin the series. The series is perfect the way it is so I hope nothing messes that up.”

J. K. Rowling has publicly announced that she will not be writing any more Harry Potter books, she is done after seven, and quite bluntly, she is set for life. But are her fans as satis-

fied as she is about the ending to this famous series? Senior Alex Huffman said, “I am be-yond sad that ev-ery-

thing is coming to a close. I grew up with Harry and he became a large part of my child-hood.” Huffman said that waiting in line for books and movies is one of her favorite parts of the franchise. “I love the fans

and Harry Potter com-munity,” she said.

For others the end

doesn’t hurt too badly.

Dunbar said, “ It’s not so

much of a letdown, as

really bitter-sweet. Watching

the movies is the last piece of new

Harry Potter that the fans get, and the fact

that this is part of the last one, ever, is incredibly

sad, but I knew it’d be coming eventually.”

Then again, fans shouldn’t be too sad -

the movies can be watched

over and

over and the timeless books have made the most prized place on the shelves of many readers. Sophomore Hanno Fenech said that he has read all 870 pages of the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 47 times.

“The books can never become dull. Every time you pick any of the books up, your world vanishes and you are totally emerged in Harry’s world. It’s wicked,” Huffman said.

Sophomore Meredith Main also agreed, “The books never ever get old, you always no-tice something new every time since it’s so complex.”

Tickets for the Nov. 19 premiere at 12:01 a.m. sold rather quickly, too. Within hours many fans had ordered their tickets eagerly. Fenech said he bought tickets the first day they were online to go to the Ultrascreen in Waterloo.

Many other CFHS students attended after looking forward to the premiere for a long time. Dunbar even camped out beforehand, prepared with blankets and hot cocoa for the long, cold wait. But was this movie worth it for fans? Dunbar said, “I have a lot of faith in this seventh movie.Ellen Gustavson Photo Illustration