PurPle The

Sage Volume 10 Issue 8 • • Waunakee Community High School Waunakee, WIMay 23, 2012 •

►► INSIDE NOW

► FEATURES

The Purple Sage is making a time capsule. See Page 7 to peak

inside.

► OPINION

“In an age where we pride ourselves on our intellect and acheive-

ments, we are in danger of losing what gives us our drive and success.”

- Junior Chris Kottke on the fading age of

reasonPage 5

► SPORTS

► ENTERTAINMENT

Avengers assemble!Read Senior Jack

Rosenberry’s glow-ing review of the

new Avengers movie.Page 10

►► SAGE PAGE

Page 16

Freshmen transition day proposed for next yearTaylor MulcaheyReporter

As the school year ends, the staff and administrators gear up for the next one. They hope to implement a new freshmen transition day.

If approved, the first day of school next year will be for freshmen only and will consist of various activities to acclimate them with the new academic environment the high school offers.

The program has yet to be approved by the school board but was first brought up at the May 14 meeting and will likely be considered for approval at the June board meeting.

The idea of a freshmen transition day was the focus of the school board Building Goals Committee. The committee meets once or twice a month to discuss goals for improving the district. One of their goals this year was higher academic achievement for students. To meet this goal, the freshmen transition program was proposed.

LMTC specialist Stacey Fischer

WHS Senior’s play wins local awardAbby PandowReporter

In Waunakee High School’s Creative Writing classes, all students are required to write a play.

Once the plays are completed they are sent into the Children’s Theatre of Madison’s Young Playwright program.

Students from area schools submitted around 500 plays. Senior Hannah Korb won the competition.

The plot of Hannah’s play revolves around the war in Afghanistan. It takes place in a small hospital.

The main character, Ryan, is

injured and is about to go home to see his family, but before he is sent home, another wounded soldier comes into the hospital with a live bomb inside him.

There a re many fac tors throughout the play, but in the end, Ryan sacrifices himself to save the hospital.

Hannah’s play, “Sacrifice,” was performed at The Playhouse at the Overture Center on Tuesday, May 8.

Korb met with her director a few times before the play was shown and was allowed to make suggestions relating to the acting.

She met with actors to hear their parts, and made changes to fit the stage.

Korb said, “It was amazing hearing the actors read my play

on stage and overall, it was a great experience.”

From left to right: director Richard Scott, Creative Writing teacher Jenniffer Dou-cette, senior Hannah Korb and mentor Bruce Bradley. Korb won the CTM Young Playwrite competition with her play “Sacrifice.” (Photo submitted)

“Sacrifice” adapted and performed at The Playhouse at The Overture Center

The goal is to “try to give them a sense of what are important

skills that they need to know to be

successful.”►Principal Brian

Kersten

said the goal of the program is to give students “the tools for success before they really start the year.”

To develop the program, the committee surveyed teachers and also looked a t s i m i l a r programs in surrounding a r e a s . M e m b e r s o f t h e c o m m i t t e e were asked t o e - m a i l c o n t a c t s i n o t h e r schools to see what their programs offered.

About 15-20 schools’ programs were closely examined, however, A s s o c i a t e P r i n c i p a l T i m Mommaerts said, “No one is doing it quite the way we are doing it.”

The program being proposed for our school puts a larger focus on academics than many other schools’ programs.

For the freshmen transition day, the freshmen class, which is about

280 students, will be divided into groups of around 20. Each group will have two teachers who will lead the group and will give the students more connections with teachers in case they need help

throughout the year.

The day will begin w i t h a m o r n i n g r o t a t i o n o f m i n i -l e s s o n s i n t h e four core areas. For example, in math they

may do a short lesson, or in English they may learn note-taking skills. Whatever the activity, principal Brian Kersten said the goal is to “try to give them a sense of what are important skills that they need to know to be successful.”

The morning will end with a scavenger hunt wherein students will need to work in teams and it will hopefully be a way to incorporate elective classes.

Fol lowing the scavenger hunt, all the students will eat together.

One proposed idea is to give students information on possible co-curricular activities at this time so they are not overwhelmed at the club and organization fair.

In the afternoon, students will receive information on use of the LMTC, Moodle, Infinite Campus and other necessary resources. The day will conclude with a time for “academic feedback.”

During this time, students will once again meet with teachers of the core areas.

The teachers will give students feedback on how they did in class, and students will give teachers feedback on how they feel about the academic expectations for the year.

The following day will be for all students, and will most likely have to be a skinny day to keep the high school in sync with the other district schools for the A-day/B-day rotation. Administrators are now waiting for school board approval, and they hope to have the program in place for the start of the 2012-2013 school year.

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WHS HOMEPAGE6

PURPLE SAGE6

EDITIONS

Softball team honors Madi Aiello. See

Page 14 ►Western Civilization instructor Mr. Slater, dressed as a knight, slays “cancer” while riding his chair, New Blue, at the student-staff basketball game fundraiser for childhood cancer. The event featured a three-point contest and a halftime dance performed jointly with students and staff. Another highlight of the night was a children’s obstacle course contest aided by present and future varsity Badger sports players from Waunakee. Halftime also included candlelight testimonials by childhood cancer survivor Tim Keenan as well as Mary Aiello, mother of the late Madi Aiello. The night ended, however, on a positive note as the students beat the staff with a score of 83-79 respectively. The night was a huge success, raising over $3,500 for childhood cancer. (Photo by Lydia Dorn)

news Chris Pedersen, News Editor

Page 2 May 23, 2012

Success • Confidence • Motivation

Study Skills • ReadingWriting • SpellingPhonics • Math

SAT • PSAT • ACT

Middleton6661 University

Avenue274-4446

Monona400 Interlake

Drive223-1953

Sun Prarie2540 Ironwood

Drive249-2556

h u n t i n g t o n l e a r n i n g . c o m“#1 Leader in Supplemental Learning”

High school facilities to get repairsChris PedersenNews Editor

After last year's referendum, Waunakee High School had over one million dollars left over. These dollars can only be spent on the high school and need to be completed by June 2013. A committee identified 30 items recommended for change or repair and discovered about 30 additional changes that it would like to make if or when money becomes available in the future. Here is a highlight of the biggest changes. Changes to Warrior Stadium

In the home team bleachers, there are several sets of stairs w i t h o u t h a n d r a i l s w h i ch Director of Facilities and Safety Coordinator Joe Bellomo would like to change. “People can fall and we are trying to prevent

that,” said Bellomo. The visitors’ bleachers also need changes. The gaps between the benches are significantly larger than is considered safe, and they have issues with rust. “The visitor bleachers are in pretty rough shape,” said Bellomo. He explains the cost to remodel the current bleachers would be higher than the cost of replacing them.

In addition to replacing the old bleachers, there will be a new set of bleachers where the long jump used to be. Finally, the bulbs above Warrior Field are near the end of their life, and they will be replaced.

Replacing the visitors’ bleachers will cost about 100,000 dollars, the hand rail about 10,000 dollars and the lamps about 8,000 dollars.Changes to parking lots

Large sections of the parking lots at the front of the school have reached a point at which it is no longer enough to fill cracks with tar or other small repair measures. The South Street student lot, the bus loop, the bus lane and the front staff lot will all be completely resurfaced. Resurfacing could

create some issues during the summer because it will interfere with the exit driveway from the Waunakee Public Library, but Bellomo said they are planning a way to handle the traffic. The parking lot changes will cost approximately 247,500 dollars.Changes to the Varsity baseball field

The fence will be moved in about five feet, so mowers can cut the grass at a less drastic slope. Bellomo said they had checked, and the field will still meet regulations.

This change wil l become necessary next year because the turf will be evened out, which will cause the edges to slope more drastically, and an uneven baseball field is not ideal. Fixing the elevation of the baseball field will run up to 116,000 dollars. There will also be a site survey of other athletic fields. “We need to have this survey to have an idea of what exactly we need,” said Bellomo.

Most of the changes have no set time for when they will occur.

Waunakee plans to use the remaining referendum money to make changes to high school grounds before June 2013.

HOSA prescribes victory at stateAshley Anne HobbinsReporter

The WHS chapter of Hea l th Occupations Students of America (HOSA) will send four students to nationals as a result of the State HOSA Competition at Chula Vista Resort during the week of April 15-17.

HOSA’s competitors sophomore Megan Clack, sophomore Megan Olson, freshman Lindsay Denu and sophomore Christina Coleman participated in a team event called ‘’HOSA Bowl’’ where they took third place.

The gir ls a lso par t ic ipated in individual events with Clack and Olson for “Medical Terminology,” Denu in “Medical Photography” and Coleman in the ‘’Human Growth and Development’’ knowledge test. The girls were ecstatic

Justin Benes paints his way to success

Freshman Justin Benes’ artwork was featured in the VSA Wisconsin art exhibit in Madison. The organization conducts art programs for disabled persons. Benes’ piece “My Favorite Season” won an award.

Benes shows off his painting and award. Benes’ work was at the VSA Wisconsin exhibit from late March until April 7. (Photo by Lydia Dorn)

when they found out they qualified for nationals in their team event.

“I thought it was amazing how us four girls, who had never competed in HOSA before, could qualify for nationals against teams who have been doing this for years,” said Coleman.

“I thought it was an amazing experience,” said Denu.

Christina Gascho is the HOSA advisor and very proud of the girls’ accomplishments at HOSA State.

Olson went on to add, “none of us slept well that night from all the excitement. It was something none of us expected.”

HOSA Nationals is being held June 20–23 in Orlando, Florida. Waunakee HOSA will stay at a Disney Resort near the convention center. Funding arrangements are still being made.

Olson, Denu, Coleman and Clack placed third at state during April 15-17 and will compete in the national competition during June 20-23. (Photo submitted)

It all started with an “I hate it when…” comment about bicycle safety. Soon, this complaint became more than just words as the Skills USA team of seniors Jake Tiffany, Chris Rindy, Bradley Statz and Eric Anderson set out to engineer a solution to improve rider safety.

After brainstorming a slew of various inventions to make bicycling safer, one was chosen: a rear-facing backup camera. Because bikers often choose to ride on the road rather than the sidewalk, they must constantly be aware of cars approaching from behind.

T h e t e a m b e g a n t h e constr uct ion process las t November with the hope of one day reducing biking injuries due to reckless drivers. Anderson recounted, however, that their journey has not been without problems.

Their most difficult issue has been figuring out how to power the complicated piece of electronics.

“Each component of our design requires a specific current and voltage, so making a custom battery pack to power it and still

be portable was a major problem, one that we are still finding better ways to solve,” said Anderson.

All this work paid off for the team on April 17 at the Wisconsin State Skills USA Conference where they showcased their gadget. Their stellar presentation qualified the team for the National Conference in Kansas City on June 25 through 27.

Although they have qualified for Nationals, Anderson remarked that their invention is not yet finished.

“We feel like there is always room for improvement and polish on our prototype, especially with nationals approaching,” said Anderson. Surprisingly, a major problem they have yet to solve does not relate to the design of their contraption.

The three-day trip to Nationals is very costly, so finding a way to finance their travels is crucial. Anderson encourages everyone to attend the team’s brat sale next weekend at Piggly Wiggly. They also plan on holding a car wash in June as well as a Scoopie Night at Culvers.

I n a d d i t i o n , p e o p l e a n d c o m p a n i e s c a n h e l p o u t t h e t e a m ’s c a u s e by donating to their Kickstarter campaign at kickstarter.com.

SkillsUSA bikes on

Aidan Schlittler Community Outreach Director

The SkillsUSA Keebike team (Bradley Statz, Eric Anderson, Chris Rindy, Jake Tiffany) placed third at the state conference and will continue to the national competition in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Lydia Dorn)

Future Problem Solvers solve state, set sights on Bloomington, IAAnna EvansonAssistant News Editor

Future Problem Solvers (FPS) is a program designed for students to help solve problems existing in the world today. Each year students form teams of four and learn a six-step process to solving problems.

The students then study a global issue.

When FPS students arrive at a competition, they are given a situation and asked to solve the problem using the six-step process they learned during the year. The students then write a twelve-page booklet with all of their ideas for

solving the problem. This year, seven of the eight

high school teams at Waunakee qualified for the state competition in Green Lake.

Advisor Martha Barlow said, “We’ve never had that many before, and sometimes not that many teams are invited, but our teams did very well qualifying for state.”

To qua l i fy for the s ta te competition, the students have a two-hour time limit to complete a booklet without any help or notes of any kind.

The state competition lasts three days, during which the students engage in a variety of

activities. On the first night, an opening

ceremony is held where the students carry banners from their teams and some awards are given out.

On the next morning, the students have two hours to write their booklets on the topic they are given.

The rest of the day, while the evaluators determine who the winners are, the students work on dramatic presentations to be put on the next day.

This year, the students in twelfth grade placed fourth and the two eleventh grade teams placed first and second.

To qualify for the international competition in June, the students must place in the top two. The

The senior teams (junior students) placed first and second at the state compe-tition, allowing them to compete at the national level June 7- 10. In front (left to right) Hannah Fricke and Molly McDonough. Second row: Taylor Mulcahey, Jenna McGowan, Kara Schultz and Jenna Frazier. (Photo by Caroline Hayney)

FBLA sends 12 students to nationalsMega FitzpatrickAdvertising Manager

DECA dominates at state, sets school recordLily VanderbloemenManaging Editor

news

Page 3May 23, 2012

The WHS chapter of DECA sent a record number of four students to the DECA International Career Development Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The conference was held from April 28 to May 1, and WHS sent seniors Brandon Creamer, Jake Heitland, Ryanne Graham and Kelsey Cherf, who competed in Hotel and Lodging Management, Automotives Services Marketing and Business Ethics respectively.

In order to compete at DECA Internationals, competitors had to score in the top six at the state competition.

Waunakee qualified a total of six students, but seniors Brandon Jaeger and Alex Brost – who scored third in Business Financial Systems at state – decided not to compete at internationals due to other commitments.

At internationals, students compete in their category by taking a scored exam and then are given scenarios, which they have to present on, called “role plays.”

A l t h o u g h n o W H S students made it to the finals at internationals, the students found success in reaching the international conference.

Creamer said, “It was an unforgettable experience and will definitely help me for the future world of business.” Besides competing, the WHS students went to an amusement park and a

minor league baseball game. Additionally, at the conference

the CEO of Men’s Warehouse gave a speech on entrepreneurship.

Through DECA competitions, students hone their business skills. Creamer said, “I’m getting an experience that I would never gain in high school, such as the face to face interview and presentation experience.”

Heitland, Cherf, Graham and Creamer represented Waunak-ee in the DECA international competition. (Photo submitted)

Waunakee chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) brought 41 students to La Crosse to compete at the State Leadership Conference against 2000 other FBLA members.

While the students were not competing, they spent two days improving their leadership skills in workshops.

At the state conference, Waunakee FBLA was recognized as the fourth place Outstanding Chapter in the state and Jack Flinchum was awarded a Business Award recognition pin.

In addition to this, Jack and Taylor Zimprich were also awarded with the FBLA Who’s Who Award.

Out of the 41 students who competed at state, 12 students qualified for Nationals which will be in San Antonio June 28 through July 2.

Among the students that qualified for Nationals are seniors Taylor Zimprich and Hailey Bormann, juniors Gabe Sobczak, Tyler Weber, Austin Schreiber and Jack Cords, along with sophomores Cailtin O’Connell, Anna Maly and Lexi DesRochers. Also going to nationals is the Community Service Project group

including seniors Brandon Jaeger, Alex Brost, Taylor Zimprich and Brandon Creamer. FBLA adviser Michelle McGlynn will accompany the group to Nationals this summer.

“Overall, Waunakee FBLA had an outstanding year. Our top-notch officer team was org an ized , ded ica ted , and focused on helping our chapter succeed in competition, as the Region V Leadership Conference host school, and through our community service projects. Our local members worked diligently to prepare for competition and be active leaders in the FBLA organization.,” said Mcglynn.

international FPS competition will be held in Bloomington, Indiana during June 7-10.

opinion Jamie Warner, Opinion Editor

Page 4 May 23, 2012

PurPle The

Sageeditorial staff

SARA VINCENTEditor in Chief

LILY VANDERBLOEMENManaging Editor

CHRIS PEDERSENNews EditorWebpage Designer

ANNA EVANSENAssistant News Editor

JAMIE WARNEROpinion Editor

SAMI GILKESFeatures Editor

JACK ROSENBERRYEntertainment Editor

KELLY MARTINSports Editor

MIKAELA BREUNIGSage Page Editor

LYDIA DORNPhotography Editor

HANNAH FRICKEGraphic Artist

BETH PARADISINCopy Editor

BRITTNEY HAUKECopy Editor

MEGAN FITZPATRICKAdvertising Manager

AIDAN SCHLITTLERCommunity Outreach Director

BRANDYN LIEBEDirector of Circulation

ANGELA GILBERTSONPATRICK COLEMANProduction Assistants

TAMMY RADEMACHERAdviser

ThePurpleSage is written and produced entirely by Waunakee Community High School students. Opinions in ThePurpleSage are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the newspaper staff or the school district. Students, staff and members of the community are welcome to submit Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 250 words or less and must be signed. Letters may be delivered to room 1502 or sent to our e-mail address. ThePurpleSage is published monthly and is printed by South Central Publishing. Subscriptions to ThePurpleSage are available for $20 per year. Mail subscription requests or other requests can be sent to our mailing address or e-mail address:purplesage@waunakee.k12.wi.us.

Chris PedersenNews Editor

Talking heads lie

Talk shows are of the greatest performance arts of all time. The intro and outro music is always energetic, the hosts have perfected the teaser story lead-in and their voices incite anger with little effort. It is also highly amus-ing to hear the hosts claim the other party is either a union or corporate shill that only cares about making themselves richer seconds after telling the listener to buy stamps, gold or backup software.

Unfortunately, this theatre is going on in real life, and it highlights some of the worst parts of people and public thought. Nowhere was this clearer than in the case of Trayvon Martin.

On February 26, Trayvon Martin walked through a Florida neighborhood and had an altercation with a neighborhood man leading to him being shot and killed. What exactly happened is still being worked out, and we will not know for sure what happened until the case goes to trial.

What we do know is Tray-von is black and his shooter is white, and that is all the

Negative campaigning has been a regular part of American pol it ics s ince Lyndon Johnson’s Daisy ad in 1964, so we often take its presence for granted. However, this very subtlety is what makes it so effective. Like commercial advertising, it manipulates emotions at the subconscious level, changing our opinions and perspectives without us realizing it.

Take Obamaville, an attack ad made by Rick Santorum as an example. The commercial featured a post-apocalyptic world, supposedly the United States that would be if Obama

were elected again. There is imagery of a man putting a gas nozzle against his head like a gun, and the spooky voice-over and flashes of static take inspiration from the trailer to a horror film.

The Obama administration makes similar generalizations in The Life of Julia, an online advertisement. TheLife of Juliafollows a hypothetical woman, Julia, through her life from birth to death, comparing the effects of Obama’s legislation to Romney’s planned legislation. The advertisement features Obama’s plan, which enables Julia to “volunteer at a community garden.” Then, it compares it to Romney’s, under which “Julia’s benefits could be cut by 40

percent.” The advertisement is not as startling as Santorum’s, but it still presents a broad generalization.

Negative campaigning paints the voter’s opinion of the other party. We tend to think in black and white already, and the polarized negative campaigns only push opinions about the other party to the negative extreme. This polarizing is subtle because it works through the same tricky mechanisms as commercial ads, but it shows in society.

Faith in government and in society in general is at an all-time low. In a recent Gallup poll, 73 percent of Americans say the state of moral values is getting worse, 19 percent say it

is getting better, and five percent say it is staying the same. The economic climate is suffering from the same pessimism. Failing businesses can blame their lack of success on the government’s failure to keep taxes low.

The results are detrimental to society. If the Republicans th ink the Democrats are business-hating hippies, and the Democrats th ink the Republicans are rich stiffs, it is a wonder we get any legislation passed at all. In addition, what happened to optimism and seeing the good in bad situations? Franklin Roosevelt convinced the public that “happy days are here again” at the depth of the great depression. We need that sort of thinking now.

talking heads seemed to need to know.

The progressives’ voices have somehow managed to turn this into Republicans being racist because... how exactly is this related to politics? Oh right, the vocal left assumed the right would side with Zimmerman or the police because that is just how they work. Then the voices on the right begin explaining how they really care for other races, and it is the progressives who do not care, using racial decrees to hide the weakness of their arguments. At no point did anything consider that po-liticized or not, this media fren-zy is over the death of a young man. Can we not say, guilty or not, it is unfortunate to see a kid die and leave it at that?

That is the real tragedy. Our political situation is vile. Every-one seems to know politics in America are dirty, yet MSNBC, Fox News and radio networks pull in millions of viewers. So this begs the question: if ev-eryone hates dirty politics, why are they so prevalent? If attack hosts or attack ads are irritating, why do numerous people quote them as gospel? We need to consider the strong likelihood that immature political mud-slinging is successful because it sells. What is sad is not that this exists; there will always be anger. What is sad is not even the fact that anything, even the death of a 17 year old guy can be fodder. What is sad is that, despite all the protesting, it seems this is what people really want.

Fresh new Chinese class

Talk shows spin the stories to support their own agendas, diminishing the gravity of the news they are reporting

Negative campaigns distort truth, instill pessimismJamie WarnerOpinion Editor

Fo r t h e l o n g e s t t i m e , Spanish and French have been the dominate languages at WHS. However, there is a new contender that was just introduced this year. The first year of Chinese is drawing to a close, and it is definitely a new and fun alternative to the classic romance languages.

First of all, Chinese is super fun. There is a good chance that you will play at least one game during the 90 minute period. The teacher, 林老师 (Lin Laoshi), always makes the class interesting and full of pop culture references to help make learning more entertaining. She is also very nice, and there may or may not be candy involved.

Chinese may seem like a daunting language, but it really is not that hard once you get the basics. You start out learning pin yin, which is designed to introduce learners to the sounds

of Chinese characters while still being able to use normal letters. Actual Chinese characters are introduced slowly, and many of the character parts mean specific things that translate through characters. These are called radicals. Once you are familiar with a variety of radicals, you figure out what characters mean much more easily. Besides, getting to write in a language that not a lot of people at this school understand is pretty rewarding.

The classes are also not very large at the moment, which makes them very close knit. The small atmosphere makes it easy to learn and get one-on-one help from the teacher. It also means each class develops its own inside jokes and stories.

Chinese is definitely one of my favorite classes this year. I have signed up for Chinese II for next year, and I cannot wait to see what new things we will learn. I highly recommend this class for people who are looking for a fun alternative to Spanish or French.

Brittney HaukeCopy Editor

QuotableUOTE

– Aristotle

“

”

The roots

of education are bitter,

but the fruit is sweet.

This last month, Japan shut down its last nuclear power plant in Hokkaido. The action was the product of a motion to abandon nuclear power in Japan following the Fukushima disaster. According to Reuters, 30 percent of Japan’s energy came from nuclear power prior to nuclear dismantling. It was planning to up that to 50 percent by 2050. Now, that number is zero. Japan has turned to coal and natural gas.

While nuclear power does have many drawbacks, such as the potential for catastrophic disasters like in Japan, there are still many upsides. Nuclear power is renewable, does not pollute the environment to the same extent as fossil fuels and is (mostly) safe. After all, it took an earthquake, the aftershock and a tsunami all to take down the power plants in Japan.

Whether or not you support nuclear power as a source of renewable energy, it is indisputable that it was a growing technology which had its center of development in Japan. Now that Japan cut off its nuclear production, we will have to wait for other nations such as the United States and India to catch up. The

frontrunner has dropped out of the race, so much development on this technology has been cut off.

However, there is a prospect for a restart of nuclear power production. In the Kansai region in western Japan, a local assembly agreed that it was necessary to restart two nuclear reactors. The summer is the peak time for energy usage, and the town does not want to risk power outages or mandate reduced power usage in local industry.

After the disaster in Japan, perhaps this is a good time to give nuclear power a short break. This could be the perfect time to begin doing more research and testing on ways to improve and make nuclear power safer. While nuclear power can be dangerous, with proper planning and a focus on safety, the danger can be almost completely reduced. This is a complicated issue however, and not a place for rash decisions.

Demand begets innovation, and there is a demand for safe, sustainable energy growing by the year. Nuclear energy can be the solution to this demand. However, what happened in Japan will stunt development in this promising technology.

Lost opportunities

WEDNESDAY SOCIETYTHE

speaks STAFF EDITORIAL

opinion

Page 5May 23, 2012

There is something vital in today’s world that seems to have disappeared from the pub-lic mind. Vanishing for quite some time now, this concept has been vital to development of mankind for the past 600 years and will be vital to the continuation of its prosperity for the next thousand to come if it does not disappear alto-gether. It is ironic that we call today the ‘Age of Reason’ when reason itself seems to be disap-pearing from humanity.

Although the human ca-pacity for reason has existed

for millions of years, the con-cept was first truly adopted in Greek society during Socrates’ time. From there, it moved to Rome, where it flowered into mathematics, medicine, archi-tecture, astronomy, machinery and other marvels of the mod-ern world. Unfortunately, logic in Europe fell into a coma after the fall of Rome in 476 A.D., and it stayed that way for the next 1000 years. Revived by the Renaissance, reason exploded in 1400 A.D., and with it returned the ideas of medicine, science and mathematics. The progres-sion of reason since then has formed the world we know it today, but now, the popularity

of reason seems to be on the decline. Gone are logical debate and rational thought, only to be replaced by corn-pone opin-

ions and rumors. Perhaps one of the most dis-

turbing places reason has been lost is in the political plane.

Christopher KottkeColumnist

Society must embrace logic, age of reason

“Should we abandon the bipartisan system?”

“What if you believe in some things from Demo-crats and some things from Republicans?”

Brandi JansenGrade 9

“Keep the two we have.”

Ashley ErlandsonGrade 10

“Do away with both and make me supreme overlord.”

Jason McConnellEnglish Instructor

“I think we need to get more than two parties to get more than two points of view.”

Anthony KeichingerGrade 11

“I feel like we should add another party to the system.”

Sam AverillGrade 12

With its bipartisan system, reason in America’s politics is choked and suffocated under misinformation, lies and su-perstition. The problem with the bipartisan system (or any partisan system for that mat-ter) is that rather than having their members think about each issue logically, parties require members to adhere to the gen-eral political view of the party so that opinions are uniform. It is obvious how this opinion-ated way of doing things is det-rimental to the continuation of reason, and it is maddening to people who think through is-

see LOGIC page 6

opinion

Page 6 May 23, 2012

Thumbs up! Thumbs down...

Crayon sharpeners

Garage sale treasure-hunting

Musical sells out and wins 14

awards

An A grade gets a pass out of

finals

Avengers grosses over a

bajillion dollars

Being shot down by pirates at

Great America

Driving during garage

sale weekend

Elementary on CBS

Final project deadlines

overlap

Season finales

Battleship

Track wins everything

Mass participation in

lipdub Sea turtles

sues in a logical manner. Take the ‘issue’ of man-made global warming. The blur in truth caused by partisan politics has spread so far that even people who do not adhere to one party believe there is a legitimate de-bate among scientists over its validity. While it is true that some scientists do not believe in man-made global warming, the vast majority of scientists ac-cept that global warming is oc-curring and man’s greenhouse emissions are causing it. There is no serious debate on the is-sue among the scientific com-munity, and as more and more data is collected, there are more and more scientists who accept

man-made global warming.Why is there such a debate

over it in politics? The Demo-cratic Party has asserted that global warming exists so that they can place more restrictions on big business and to place more standards on environ-mental protection. Republicans reject the idea because it hurts big business, and they support a more laissez-faire economic policy. Because of political par-ties, reason and logic are re-duced to furthering each party’s political agenda. Instead of us-ing logic, they base their poli-cies on what is more convenient for the party rather than what is actually true. Facts are true whether or not you believe in them. This is why partisan poli-tics is where logic comes to die. When one party says one thing,

the other party must automati-cally say the opposite simply to create resistance to the other party. All this achieves is the slowing down of decisions and the creation of confusion among the masses.

Science is a beacon to reason, and through science, reason flourishes. Good science does not have bias, good science does not have an agenda, and scientists certainly do not par-ticipate in a global conspiracy against the masses.

Unfortunately for science, many people today do not ac-cept science and its principles. Nor do they understand how it works, so they reject it and un-wittingly reject logic along with it.

Take, for example, when the Kansas Board of Education

required public schools to dedi-cate equal time between teaching the proven theory of evolution and the notion of creationism. While it is not science’s place to determine anyone’s religious beliefs, there is a good reason why over 99 percent of biolo-gists accept evolution. There are a countless number of facts that support evolution, but not a single scientific fact that sup-ports intelligent design. There is absolutely no debate over in-telligent design versus evolution in the scientific community. By forcing public schools to teach creationism, the Kansas Board of Education validated a notion that has no empirical proof and effectively neutered reason and intellect.

In an age where we pride ourselves on our intellect and

Movie sequels can be events of sheer happiness, “Oh my God, Lord of theRings: theTwoTowersmade my year;” or events of sheer sadness, “I just saw the second Pirates of the Caribbean and it made me vomit in my mouth.” A big fact of life is the fact that when a movie is wildly successful, it will have a sequel. Look at TheAvengers. It has broken one billion dollars in revenue worldwide and a sequel has already been announced. That is acceptable considering that the movie was awesome.

What I do not like is movies that have no reason to be sequels. The second Transformersmovie has too many explosions and not enough plot, while the first one is a perfect summer blockbuster fare. The second Star Warsmovie, Attackof theClones, is a morally reprehensible film that should never have been made. That hateful opinion is due to many reasons. Mainly that it is a live action film that is ninety-nine percent CGI. The other reason is Yoda, an 800 year old Jedi master, doing back flips that are clearly suited for a 400 year old Jedi master.

However, there are sequels that are wonderful because they were meant to be made. All of

the Lord of the Ringsmovies were great, not only because the trilogy was already a set of books, but also because such tender care was used in their making. I am not just a sequel snob who bashes sequel movies with special effects. I bash movies that use special effects for the sake of special effects. Obviously, giant fighting robots will cause explosions but the point I am trying to bring home is that the movie must then use

good writing to strengthen those effects.

Another point that I am trying to make is the fact that most movie sequels are good. I just mention the bad ones more. I believe that out of 100 sequels, 82 will be great and 18 will not be great. So go out and enjoy sequels, but be cautious and use good judgment when choosing a movie so you will not end up seeing Jaws4:theRevenge.

achievements, we are in dan-ger of losing what gives us our drive and success. Ages of rea-son bring happiness and pros-perity to all they touch, while the lack of reason brings suf-fering and oppression through superstition and the lack of capacity to think. For the sake of humanity and the trillions of lives to come, a true age of reason needs to be everyone’s focus.

As people, we need to be able to think critically and to ques-tion everything. Above all else, we must be able to look at the facts, accept them and draw logical conclusions about the world in which we live. Not to do so would be the destruction of mankind and would lead to the pointless deaths of billions of people if not trillions.

from Page 5

Logic

Hit or miss film sequelsMovie sequels have the potential to tarnish childhood memories or make a satisfying sequel.

Jack RosenberryEntertainment Editor

featuresSamanthaGilkes,FeaturesEditor

Page7May23,2011

May I have your attention please...ADHD “smart drug” boosts focus but has deadly risks

With the competiveness and difficulty of work at the collegiate level, more and more students are turning to performance-enhancing drugs in order to nail their final exams. Adderall is one of the most common drugs students turn to.

Adderall is typically a white pill that can be taken orally and is prescribed for those with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The drug contains amphetamine and according to WebMD, is used to “increase the ability to pay attention, stay focused and control behavior problems.” However, the drug is commonly known to be used by people without attention deficit disorders in order to increase efficiency and productivity.

AddictionAlthough students do find themselves more alert

and focused while taking Adderall, the side effects can be severe. Not only are insomnia, dry mouth, loss of appetite, diarrhea, headache and dizziness concerns for Adderall users, but the addictive properties of the drug can be even more dangerous.

Adderall affects the reward system in the brain. When used in higher doses than recommended by a healthcare provider or for extended periods of time, Adderall can be habit-forming. Dopamine naturally recycles itself, but amphetamines block this, which produces an intense feeling that more is needed to sustain the high. Without the drug, a regular user may feel withdrawal symptoms. One anonymous user said, “[I] know in my heart that I am addicted…This medication helped me at first. It felt like legal meth–because that is what it is.” Thus, professionals caution people not to use Adderall when not prescribed. Furthermore, it is illegal.

Adderall at a glanceOne in four college students admit to having used Adderall as a

study aid. In addition, Adderall is commonly used as a weight loss device.

Potential risks of use include sudden death (people with heart abnormalities have died suddenly after taking Adderall.), stroke, heart attack, hypertension, psychosis, seizures and aggressive behavior.

Coming down after use can result in intense headaches, nausea and dizziness.

How it worksAdderall, the combination of dextroamphetamine

and amphetamine, is popular for controlling symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adderall is also used to treat narcolepsy, a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep. Adderall is classified as a central nervous system

stimulant. Stimulants are known to cause hyperactivity but can be calming if used in doses for ADHD. As seen from brain imaging techniques, there is a

malfunction in the frontal cortex of a person suffering from ADHD. The frontal cortex is the area of the brain responsible for reasoning, planning, focusing, problem solving and other higher-level processes. If dopamine (an inhibitory neurotransmitter that works to stop any excitement from occurring) levels are not sufficient in the frontal cortex, the important functions suffer. In the most basic sense, Adderall increases dopamine flow in the cortex so that it can function at a normal state.

The “smart drug”Students, especially at the collegiate level, use Adderall

(or as students have dubbed it a “smart drug”) to improve attention and performance in academics. The increased focus needed for extensive study sessions or reading hundreds of pages at a time makes Adderall very appealing for students. The government’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2008 found that college students (among ages 18-22) were twice as likely as their counterparts who were not full-time students to have used Adderall non-medically. Another survey study of 119 American colleges found that up to 25 percent of students enrolled in very competitive universities had used Adderall as a study aid. College students get their “smart drug” from other students currently taking the medication for around five dollars a pill, but during study intensive times, such as mid-terms or finals, the drug can be as expensive as 25 dollars per pill.

Illegal use and consequencesThe only legal way to obtain the stimulant is through

a prescription by a doctor. But because Adderall is prescribed so commonly, it is usually not hard to find ways to obtain it illegally. A common way people use to do this is by exaggerating symptoms of ADHD to their doctor, so they are prescribed the drug on false terms.

Using Adderall illegally is a felony and users may be detained if caught with it and do not have a prescription. Under the Controlled Substance Act, Adderall is a schedule II controlled substance. Under this same act, it is punishable with prison time to possess schedule II medication not prescribed in one’s name. Adderall has a legitimate medical use but is also likely to be abused.

25% of students aged 18 - 22 have used

Adderall

Illegal possesion is considered a

felony and will result in prison time

Side effects range from extreme headaches

to heart failure and seizures

Spread composed by Aidan Schlittler, Jenna Frazier and Lily Vanderbloemen

May 23, 2012 Page 9Page 8

Waunakee High School Time CapsuleThe 2011-2012 School Year in Review

This year was the first year the drama department had a sold out show in the new PAC, and they not only sold out one show, but rather, they sold out three. Belle was played by senior Sara Vincent, and the Beast was played by senior Andrew Zobel. The musical won 11 Tommy Awards and three honorable mentions.

The “Hunger Games” book series finally took the big screen in March. It had great success with positive reactions. “Purple Sage” snagged Charlie Fuller’s last official lesson plan. Waunakee students had many mixed reactions to Fuller’s retirement. He affected numerous Waunakee students in many ways, and he certainly went out with a bang.

“Purple Sage” went under cover to recover Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi’s positive pregnancy test. She swept the nation with the news of her and fiancé’s, Jionni LaValle, upcoming mini-Jersey baby. Questions are still circling about whether or not she will prove to be a good mother, but we will have to wait until the 2012-2013 school year to find out.

Pennsylvania State University

drew

negative press through Jerry

Sandusky’s

40 counts of sex crimes against you

ng

boys. This story ran on “ESP

N” and

major news networks for the m

ajority

of our 2011-2012 school year

, and

Sandusky will spend most of the nex

t

school years behind bars.

This year marked the return of the boy band. “One Direction” replaced the ever-missed “Jonas Brothers.” They became famous on the X Factor and hit mainstream American radio with the song, “What Makes You Beautiful.” Another boy band which found success this year was “Big Time Rush.” They gained fame from the television show, “Big Time Rush,” and are slowly climbing to fame.

Need I say more than, “3-peat?” In case you have been

living under a rock the past three years, Waunakee won

its third straight Division 2 State Championship this year.

Next year, they hope to continue to raise the record for

most consecutive Division 2 wins, as they hold the current

record of three.

Spread by: Sami GilkesPhotos by: Lydia Dorn

entertainment Jack Rosenberry, Entertainment Editor

Page 10 May 23, 2012

The words we have been waiting to hear: Avengers assembleJack RosenberryEntertainment Editor

A miracle has occurred this month. A superhero movie has been made that has not one, not three, not even five, but six heroes in one action packed movie. If you could not guess, I am talking about The Avengers.

Before I even talk about the movie, and I will talk about the movie, I should mention how long I have waited for the movie to even come out. It has been a long time people–so long I think that Iron Man had barely even finished before I started listening for the news that The Avengers would indeed be made.

Now that I have recollected, I can talk about the movie. The plot is simple. The god, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), who was also in Thor, has been given a magical spear and an army of aliens in order to take over Earth and find an object of vast power. The being who has given this goal to Loki is not revealed until the very end, and it is something that I will not ruin for those who have not seen the movie yet.

After Loki finds said power, he takes it. He happens to take this from the security agency S.H.I.E.L.D and its director, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Fearing for the safety of the known world, Fury calls in the

help of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), A.K.A. Iron

Man, Captain America (Chris Evans) and

B r u c e B a n n e r (Mark Ruffalo),

whose alternate

persona is a giant, green, angry monster known as the Hulk. Joining them is Loki’s brother, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), who has been given the power to travel to Earth from Asgard in order to collect his brother and the object of power.

Needless to say, this group has some differences they need to sort out in order to take on the real enemy and save the world.

This movie is unbelievably good. My expectations were exceeded tremendously. There are many things need to focus on, so I will start with the writing and direction.

This movie was directed by Joss Whedon, who is a king of all things geeky and science-fiction related. For those who do not know, he created the short lived Firefly, which has become a cult classic. He also created the popular show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Whedon came up with the story, wrote the screenplay and directed the movie. His directing was top notch.

He did not use classic action effects. He also did not use slow motion much. He only used it

two or three times in the movie, and when it was used, it was used for only a few seconds.

As for the writing, it was humorous when it needed to be, and it was serious when it needed to be. A character that stood out in the writing was, of course, Tony Stark. Stark got most of the zingers in the movie, and Downey Jr. gave each and every one a life of its own.

A character who surprised me with his depth was Bruce Banner. The character was bitterly funny and was actually one of my favorite people.

As for Loki, he steals several scenes in the movie. Tom Hiddleston plays a great villain, and I am actually excited to see him in Thor 2.

I did not mention two heroes in the above summary, and that is because they do not actually have a super power or a suit made out of titanium. They are Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). Their powers just come from physical training. Black Widow uses martial arts and handguns to succeed in being one of the most

deadly characters in the movie. Hawkeye uses a bow and arrow and will not miss any shot he takes. However he does miss once in the movie because of powers beyond his control.

Also, I am glad that the Hulk has finally been given a good role. He has had two movies, and they were not that great.

Now, the next thing that I will mention is the special effects side of the movie. There are explosions and aliens and giant flying aircraft carriers, but they are all used effectively and do not take away from the movie. Instead, they add to it.

Finally, I will discuss my overall feelings about the movie. If you could not already guess, I loved the movie. In fact, adding a letter grade to this review would be insulting to the movie.

It has been enjoyed by many people already. If you have not heard, it has broken the $1 billion mark. Go and see The Avengers if you have not. Better yet, if you have seen it, go again and experience the greatness once more.

These lessons will get you through the rest of high schoolBrandyn LiebeDirection of Circulation

Well readers, the time we have been dreading for so long is upon us. This is the last time I will be writing for The Purple Sage. It has been a glorious couple of years, and I think I have learned a lot that I would like to pass down to you all. But because it is the last one, I am treating you to five more than usual. Here are the top ten things I have learned in high school.

10. If you think the lunch line is a line, you will not get lunch: Every year those poor freshmen walk into the lunchroom and think that the lunch line is actually a line. Come on. This is high school. Two rules: always try and snag the inside line and be wary of young women who feel like enjoying the time they have in the lunch line. You have to follow the flow of traffic. This is pretty basic stuff here.

9. Sports games are more fun when you know the players: The highs of the game are higher and the lows of the game are lower. Being able to

cheer on friends and classmates makes a sporting event better. That and concessions. Knowing the players equals more fun.

8. If you pass a water fountain, you will become thirsty: I cannot explain this strange phenomenon, but I could have just drank Lake Superior, and yet, if I walk past a bubbler in the hallway, I cannot help but think, “Eh, might as well have a swig.”

7. If I wish to become a male teacher, I need facial hair: It is not a necessity, but teachers who have facial hair include, but are not limited to: Mr. Laubmeier, Mr. Breunig, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Stenz, Mr. Ames and on occasion Mr. Huttenberg, to name a few.

6. You will use “this” in real life: Everything that teachers teach us will be used by at least one person in their lifetime. Yes, even math.

5. The Power of a Brownie: You may not know this, but Kokopelli brownies have a healing quality to them. If you have not had a bad day during your high school career, one will come, and when it does,

I wish that you may think of this life lesson: An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but an occasional brownie keeps the bad at bay. That rhymed… unintentionally. If you have

not had a delicious Kokopelli brownie yet, please pick one up the next time you feel down and out. It may just be the boost you need.

4. We have a lot of time: We have four ten minute passing periods a day plus a 30 minute

lunch. That comes to a grand total of 70 minutes of free time between all of our classes. That is a huge number that far too many of us are wasting. Allow me to briefly clarify what I mean by wasting. If you are at lunch having a good time with your friends, is that a wasted half hour? Heck no. That is a great thing to do with your time. If you can honestly say you are doing something that is beneficial to you in some way shape or form, no issues here.

3. The definition of fun: In school, fun rarely means fun. When a teacher says an assignment or project is fun, it does not mean fun: it simply means rewarding. When a teacher says a project is fun, they are masking the

fact that it is an opportunity for us to either check out and call it quits or to rise to the occasion and show what we can do as a student, to show it does not matter what challenge is presented to us, it can and will be conquered.

2. There is a very fine line between learning and pointless memorizing: This

can either be a warning or an invitation to slack; the choice is yours. I wish I spent more time learning and less time memorizing, because memorizing serves you no purpose as time goes by. When I memorize my lines for a play, within a few months, those lines have vanished from my head. Memorizing will only allow you to jump from fact to fact, and when you are old, you will have nothing to look back at and truly remember.

1. Failures are simply hidden successes: This may sound a bit cliché; however, if I look back at all of the times I have failed, those are the times I have grown the most. Having success is fantastic and I wish you all success; however, I wish upon you one failure. One failure, one huge failure and you will more than understand. Secret of life: not making the decision because you are afraid it will be wrong is more of a failure than simply making the wrong decision. Just make the decision, and if you succeed, great, and if you fail, make your next success even grander.

entertainment

Page 11May 23, 2012

An eventful final installment Brittney HaukeCopy Editor

While watching the second to last episode of House MD, I noticed a reccurring theme in my life. I am not a big fan of endings. I always ask myself “Well, now what?”

I had this same experience when I finished reading The Serpent’s Shadow by Rick Riordan, the third and last installment in the Kane Chronicles series.

The book picks up six months

from when The Throne of Fire left off. The chaos snake, Apophis, has risen and is targeting different Nomes, or places where the Egyptian magicians live and train. Carter and Sadie Kane are investigating the attacks, and they just arrived in the Fifty-first Nome in Dallas, Texas. They both believe that it is the place Apophis will attack next. They also think he is targeting and destroying a specific artifact: “The Book of Overcoming Apophis.” However, before the Kane siblings can grab the last remaining copy of the scroll, Apophis strikes. He manages to destroy the scroll and the entire Nome full of magicians before Sadie drives him into retreat.

Even though things have already gone from bad to worse, our teenage magician team has managed to hold on to a small, golden box. Before Apophis attacks, Sadie is confronted by a face suddenly appearing out of the wall. Nicknamed “Uncle Vinnie,” he tells Sadie she will not be able to save the scroll but needs to save the golden box. It could

give them the vital clue that they need to defeat Apophis.

Carter and Sadie immediately set out to comprehend the secrets of the box. With the help of Thoth, the God of Knowledge, they learn that if they can destroy Apophis’ shadow, he will cease to have so much influence in the world. It does not sound that challenging, but the Kanes still need to locate the shadow, capture it and perform the execration to destroy it which, by the way, will probably end up killing them. Not to mention, the Sun God, Ra, is still a senile old man. No pressure.

The Serpent’s Shadow hosts a slew of new characters and environments. Of course, there are also many of our old favorites. Zia, Walt, Bast, Amos and Anubis all make return appearances.

Though not my favorite book of the series, it was definitely a great conclusion to this Egyptian mythology trilogy. I have always been a big fan of Riordan’s work, and you should read this book. It is an entertaining read.

Nicholas Sparks’ great successCaitlin McGuireColumnist

With 18 books published, 80 million dollars worth of books sold worldwide and seven movies produced, Nicholas Sparks has made his name known worldwide. His books have been translated into 45 different languages and are very popular today.

Sparks lives in North Carolina with his wife and family. He met his wife, Catherine, over spring break in 1988, and they were married in 1989. They moved to Sacramento, California, and he worked odd jobs for a few years. He and his wife then moved to North Carolina.

Following that move, his career took off. He wrote his first novel in 1985, but the novel was not published. The next year he wrote a second novel, but again it was not published.

He wrote his first novels, The Notebook and Message in a Bottle, in the mid to late ‘90s, and from 2000 to 2011, he published sixteen novels. Sparks writes romance novels and is known for his ability to write a love story

made for the common person. His novels focus on forbidden

love held apart by parents, social status, war, age and many other things that people are able to relate with. Sparks began writing romance novels because, “there was little to no competition.” His career took off after he began producing movies.

His first movies produced were A Message in a Bottle and A Walk to Remember. Both movies had success, but his first novel, The Notebook, was his most successful movie ever produced.

Even today, The Notebook is very popular all over the world and within our school. Junior Dalton Kind said, “The Notebook is my favorite of all his movies, and it really describes what love should be.” It is not the only movie that creates the perfect love story though. In the years to follow The Notebook’s success, four more of Nicholas Sparks’ movies have been produced. The Last Song, Dear John and The Lucky One are his most recent movies and were all made within the last two years. The Last Song was released in 2010 and was immediately popular. Barely two

months after The Last Song was released, Dear John hit the big screen with much anticipation. Finally, just last month, The Lucky One hit the big screen. Sophomore Katie Christensen said that the movie “made me laugh and cry and was absolutely amazing. It truly intrigued me.” The movie is still in theaters today.

Nicholas Sparks may have began his career with two failures, but he has become one of the most popular writers on earth.

The new kids on the blockMeghan CaulfieldColumnist

It has been a while since a band has emerged that could challenge the likes of NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. Boy bands were the soundtrack of the younger generation but quickly became a thing of the past, or so everyone thought.

Recently, there has been an outbreak of boy bands from every direction. One Direction is the one group that stands out among the others, challenging all the hype of successful bands before them.

One Direction is a five person band from the United Kingdom. Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan gained their recognition from the seventh season of The X-Factor when they ultimately ended up in third place.

Afterward, the band earned a recording contract with Simon Cowell’s record label, Syco Records.

Their debut album, Up All Night, was released March 13, 2012 in the United States. Before its release in the U.S., the debut topped the charts in the U.K. and had the same success here.

The album topped the

iTunes charts for months, and their hit single “What Makes You Beautiful,” found similar success.

The following tracks, “Gotta Be You” and “More Than This” are soaring ballads enough to turn any girl’s heart to mush. “One Thing” and title track “Up All Night” are up-tempo, layered songs showcasing all five members’ unique vocal ranges. Contrastingly slow, “Taken” and “Same Mistakes” still manage to flow seamlessly into the album’s mass of cheery dance songs. The super catchy “I Want” and “I Wish” are driven by their repetitive choruses. “Tell Me a Lie” and closing track “Stole My Heart” are radio ready and chalk full of likeable pop harmonies.

Overall, One Direction is quite successful in what they do. They supply catchy, up-beat songs perfect for the summertime. Despite being a relatively new band, One Direction already dominates the other players in the boy band genre.

Truthfully, their songs lack lyrical depth and diversity, but what they lack in complexity, they make up for in their popular appeal and wide audience range.

You probably will not see any heartfelt One Direction lyric tattoos anytime soon, but you definitely will be hearing the names of these heart throbs everywhere you turn.

The chaotic last installment. (Pho-to courtesy of kidsmomo.com)

Comic by Brandyn Liebe

Sparks’ romantic novels are in-ternationally known. (Photo cour-tesy of ebay.com)

entertainment

Page 12 May 23, 2012

A recap of TV finalesTommy WieslerColumnist

Looking back, the past TV season was very eventful . In order to recognize their successes, and failures, allow me to award the best and worst shows.

Best New Show: Person of Interest - While I am not normally a fan of crime investigation shows, this one was something different. Knowing the victim involved added much more excitement than a normal crime show.

Honorable Mention: Up All Night- This show was funny, pleasing, cute and made a good addition to the NBC lineup.

Worst Show: How To Be a Gentleman-If you took Barney Stinson and made him unable to win the ladies, you would have this show.

Not So Honorable Mentions: Allen Gregory, Napoleon Dynamite,

Play an assassin in the New WorldRyan MinorColumnist

Unless you have found a particularly massive and sound-resistant rock to hide under for a couple of years, you may have heard of a certain franchise called Assassin’s Creed.

After four main releases and ventures into handheld titles,

Assassin’s Creed has finally wrapped up the story of the second assassin of interest, Ezio Auditore de Firenze. With one story ending, another is poised to begin, and the developer, Ubisoft, is going to make it quite an interesting story indeed.

The freshly announced Assassin’s Creed III, set in the era of the revolutionary war, introduces the story of a young Native American boy named Connor and his quest to kill many people in the name of justice, revenge and America.

Joining our protagonist will be a host of Founding Fathers and other famous cha r a c t e r s , i n c l ud ing Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Charles Lee, to name a few. As with previous AC games,

combat is going to see a significant change with new techniques and tools. Most notably, Connor has been shown in trailers to be using a weapon more familiar to his heritage: the tomahawk. Besides his axe, Connor will likely also be armed with a bow and a pistol due to their presence in multiple screens and character art.

As the battle moves from dense European cities to the open American wilderness, Connor’s ability to move will also see a significant boost. Now, you will be able to climb and run over rivers, through woods and up cliffs as you take a more acrobatic turn to getting around with a new story and a new character. You have good reason to be looking forward to October 30th.

Are You There Chelsea, Whitney and a list too long to finish.

Worst New Character : Walden Schmidt-Ashton Kutcher was not a good replacement for Charlie Sheen on Two And A Half Men. The show became worse than it was at the start of the season. He could never be as snide as Charlie. Instead, the focus turned more on Alan. That did not work out so well.

Best Finale: Chuck-After five amazing seasons, this show’s ending was perfect: funny, action packed and a great end with Chuck and Sarah, as well as an unforgettable encore performance with Jeffster.

Best Show: Communi t y-After a long hiatus, this show demonstrated its true creative genius. This show has proven it is the best show on television, and it deserves six seasons and a movie.

Experience the creation of America by playing Assassin’s Creed 3. (Pho-to courtesy of psu.com)

-Nickelback: Milwaukee, WI -May 25

-Tech N9ne & Machine Gun Kelly: Madison, WI

-May 31

-Anberlin: Madison, WI

-June 17

-Country Fest: Cadott, WI

-June 21-24

-Summerfest: Milwaukee, WI

-June 27-July 1 & July 3-8

-Dave Matthews Band: Elkhorn, WI -July 6 and 7

-WJJO Band Camp: Madison, WI

-July 28

-Vans Warped Tour: Milwaukee, WI

-August 1

-American Idol Live Tour: Milwaukee, WI

-September 11

Summer Concerts and festivals

For job descriptions and applications, please stop byroom 1502.

The deadline for applications is

May 31.

No experience necessary!

On-the-job training is provided.

If you are thinking about a career in journal-ism, join The Purple Sage!

Thisbe says, “Join The Purple Sage!”Do you want to be a part of an award-winning publication? The Purple Sage is looking to fill the following positions for the 2012-2013 school year!

EditorsEditor in ChiefManaging EditorPhotography EditorGraphics EditorCopy Editor

Section EditorsNewsOpinion Features Sports Entertainment Sage Page

ManagersAdvertising ManagerWeb Page Manager

Page 13May 23, 2012

sports Kelly Martin, Sports Editor

Taylor ZimprichGuest Columnist

These last four years in track contained some of my best memories of my high school experience.

The journey began freshman year at a Watertown invitational track meet when Coach Slater told me I was going to be put into

the open 800 meter run. I had never ran the open 800 meter in my life. I begged and begged him not to put me in it, but I ended up running it anyway and placed third. That was the start of my career in the 800 meter run.

Since then, I have been to the state meet in the 800 meter all three years. Sophomore year I also competed at state in the 400 meter and the 4x400 meter relay. Junior year I also competed in the 4x400 meter relay. I have enjoyed every moment of my track journey. Another memorable moment, in terms of competition, was qualifying for state in the 4x400 meter relay sophomore year by less than one second. It was an intense race. However, my favorite track memory was placing third

at state my junior year in the 800 meter run and breaking the school record in the event. Standing on the podium was one of the best feelings ever.

I also enjoy throwing discus for the team because no one expects me to be able to compete in that event. As a girls team, we have also won conference the last four years—4 peat! Winning sectionals as a team last year was also an exciting and unexpected moment.

Beyond the compet i t ion aspect, track has been a great bonding experience. I have met so many new people from both my school and other schools. The competitive, yet friendly, atmosphere is what makes track meets so much fun. Bus rides home after a successful meet are also a

highlight of track—especially this year with our “Truth, Dare or Secret?” friendship circles.

The only bad thing about track is it always goes by so fast. Two or three preparatory meets a week, conference, regionals, sectionals, state…it all flies by. High school sports in general are the main aspect of high school I am going to miss. The athletes, the coaches, the meets and the bus rides are all a part of an absolutely amazing experience. Looking back, I realize that I have a lot of people to thank for the fond track memories at Waunakee High School. I would like to thank my parents for always coming to my meets and for always supporting me. Thanks to my coaches, especially

to the distance coaches (Coach Slater, Coach Raffle), for always believing in my ability and pushing me to improve. Thanks to my teammates, old and new, for the fun atmosphere and for always being there.

It is hard to believe that I have come this far from being the scared little freshman who did not want to try a new race. All of the new experiences, memories, records, PR’s and friends have contributed to one unforgettable track career–a career I plan to continue next year at UW-Madison. Overall, I would not change a thing.Sincerely,Taylor Zimprich

Complied by Angela Gilbertson

Junior Samantha Murray dribbles the ball around a Reedsburg player on May 3. The girls’ shut out the Beavers 7-0. (Photo by Lindsay Denu)

Girls’ soccer ranked number two in the state

Boys’ tennis hopeful for state competition

Angela GilbertsonReporter

Sara VincentEditor in Chief

The Waunakee boys’ tennis team hosted Reedsburg on May 8. The team proved their talents over the course of the evening with seniors Alex Brost and Jacob Yaeger, junior Calvin Clack, and sophomore Joey Schneider all going 6-0, 6-0 in their single matches. Through the team’s matches, it became apparent where each player’s strengths lie.

No. 1 singles Clack served with precision and accuracy, causing his opponent to struggle while trying to make solid returns. Clack stayed ahead throughout the whole

match and remained composed, making precisely placed shots onto his opponents court. Brost played his match with a sense of accuracy equal to that of Clack’s but served and made returns with more force. As for Schneider and Yaeger, both played through their matches with speed, controlling the match with visible ease and comfort.

“One great aspect of this year’s team is the depth of talent,” said Yaeger. “Lots of the players play a lot during the off-season which has really paid off for us.” This depth Yaeger talked of is seen by the talent of the underclassmen players, notably the doubles

team consisting of sophomore Bradley Pagnucci and freshman Connor Austria-Kimble. The two demonstrated their abilities during their match against Sauk Prairie on May 3. Although the team lost their first set 6-3, the duo went 6-0, 6-1 in the next to sets to win the match.

The team’s other powerful doubles group is made up of Brost and Schneider when the two are not competing in singles matches. Brost noted their toughest competition so far has been Middleton and Madison Memorial though the pair has defeated both schools. “Doubles is all about serves, returns and

volleys, and the Middleton team has two very good servers with quick hands at the net,” said Brost. “The lefty gave us trouble because of his kick serve but we’ve been practicing and are ready to beat them again next time we meet.” Brost and Schneider work well as a pair as both are serving well this season. Schneider brings a solid backhand return and strong half volleys where Brost brings in better approaches and is more aggressive at the net.

On May 18 and 19, the team competed in the conference tournament at Nielson Tennis Stadium. In the championship round, Clack played No. 1 singles

against Edgewood winning the match 7-5, 6-1. Brost played No. 2 singles against Edgewood and split the first two sets but fell 4-6 in the third set. No. 3 singles Schneider defeated his Edgewood opponent in his third set, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. Yaeger played in the No. 4 slot against Sauk and also fell in the championship round.

The team is looking ahead to their sectionals competition where they hope to advance several players to the state competition. The sectional tournament will be held today at Nielson Tennis Stadium.

The Waunakee girls’ soccer team holds a 19-0-2 record that places them second in the state and 47 in the country.

Junior Hannah Lohmeier said, “We’re successful because everyone goes out every game and gives their all. We leave it all on the field and play for each other. Our team chemistry is amazing; every one of us knows that our 19 other teammates are always supporting us.”

On May 11, the Warriors, at that time fourth in the state, played the number three team, Brookfield Central. Waunakee took home the 1-0 victory.

The girl’s hosted the DeForest Norskies on Tuesday, May 15 for senior night and shut them out 3-0.

Last Friday night, the team

hosted the Badger Invite against Oregon. They managed to accomplish another 3-0 shut out. Goals were scored by sophomore Emily Mouille, junior Samantha Murray and Senior Mackenzie Smith.

Lohmeier said, “Our goal is to walk out onto the field every game

and go as hard as we can. We want to make an impression in the first five minutes with our aggression and skill and then continue with this momentum throughout the

“We have our sight set on state, and

every one of us is focused on doing

everything we can to get us there. ”

►Junior Hannah Lohmeier

whole game.”On May 19, Waunakee faced

Middleton at home. The Warriors shut out the Cardinals 5-0. Murray, Mouille and seniors Jill Ross and Molly Laufenburg scored to bring the Warriors to victory.

“We have our sight set on state, and every one of us is focused

on doing everything we can to get us there,” said Lohmeier. “Personally, I just want to play as hard as I can every game and do exactly what my team and coach ask of me.”

Junior Abby Pandow said, “[We need to] keep humble. [Just] worry about one game at a time and play our game. Play hard and maintain our strong team chemistry.”

Murray said, “[Our team is successful because of] our team chemistry and harmony.”

The team travels to play Madison West tomorrow night.

Taylor Zimprich looks back on running seasons

sports

Page 14 May 23, 2012

Boys’ baseball loses conference title to ReedsburgKelly MartinSports Editor

The Waunakee boy’s baseball team lost the conference title to Reedsburg after a tough loss to Mount Horeb last Friday at home. The team lost against the Vikings in a hard fought battle, 12-8.

Prior to the game, Waunakee traveled to Beaver Dam on May 12 to compete in the non-conference Beaver Dam invite. The team faced Beaver Dam and lost a close game 1-2. The team then faced Janesville Craig and lost 5-6. Then on May 15, the boys traveled to Sauk Prairie. The Warriors won 13-9.

On May 18, the team hosted Mount Horeb. The game started out slow for the Warriors, leaving Waunakee behind 7-1 for the first three innings. Senior Nick Amato started a Waunakee run when the Mount Horeb third baseman had an error that allowed Amato

to make it to first. Junior Willie Freimuth followed and had a ground rule double that advanced Amato to third. Freimuth stayed on second until junior Will Helbing hit a triple, which brought Amato and Freimuth home. Junior Cameron Hurlebaus stepped up to the plate and singled to bring Helbing home. Waunakee began closing the gap when senior Alex Voegeli bunted to get the bases loaded. Junior Luke Johnson followed the bunt and doubled, bringing senior Justin Block and Voegeli home. The score remained 7-6 after the Waunakee run.

In the following innings, Mount Horeb pulled ahead 10-7 before Waunakee could score their final runs. Freimuth singled and advanced to second on a pass ball and scored on a single hit by Block. Block was able to score another run for the Warriors after a Mount Horeb infielder overthrew the ball to first. Waunakee was unable to

keep their momentum in the final inning and the team lost 12-8.

The team held an 8-4 record in

Junior Will Helbing makes the out at first base against Mount Horeb on May 18 at home. The Warriors needed a win to tie for conference champions with Reedsburg, but the team lost 12-8. (Photo by Lydia Dorn)

conference and currently holds a 12-9 overall record.

The team hosted Madison

West on Monday. Results were unavailable at press time.

The Waunakee boys’ golf team won the conference tournament on May 16 at the Springs Golf Course in Spring Green after losing the title by a single stroke last year. The team was led by senior team captain and Marquette University recruit Zach Gaugert.

Gaugert said, “[We are] making a run at state because we have a stacked regional and sectional tournaments, so we will have to be playing our best golf to advance these next few weeks. The team is just working on getting prepared for the postseason.”

Leading up to the conference tournament, the team competed against DeForest on May 8 at the Meadows of Six Mile Creek. Waunakee beat DeForest by 14 strokes. Gaugert led for the Warriors with an even-par 36 for top individual honors. Freshman Max Murphy followed behind Gaugert by three strokes with a three-over 39.

On May 11, the team traveled to the Reedsburg Country Club for the Reedsburg Invite. Senior Austin Braska took top medalist honors with one-over 73, his first medal round of the season. Gaugert finished with a three-over 75.

The regional meet was held at Odana Golf Course in Madison on May 22. Results were unavailable at press time.

The sectional meet will be hosted at the La Crosse Country Club in La Crosse on May 29. The state meet this year will be held at University Ridge in Madison on June 4 and 5.

Boys’ golf takes conferenceBrandyn Liebe Director of Circulation

Junior Devin Lysne putts the ball at a golf match against DeForest on May 8 at the Meadows of Six Mile Creek. Waunakee won by 14 strokes. Senior Zach Gaugert led the team with an even-par 36 for top individual honors. The team competed in the conference tournament on May 16 at the Springs Golf Course in Spring Green and took first place. The team will compete at sectionals on May 29. (Photo by Lydia Dorn)

Boys’ lacrosse looks to

Brandon CisewskiReporter

The Warriors boys’ lacrosse team has been adding tallies to the win column for the month of May.

On May 2, they traveled to Middleton and beat the Cardinals 9-6.

On the fourth, the boys hosted rival Verona. They took down the Wildcats 7-5 and continued their winning streak after a victory over Middleton, 9-6.

The Warriors then traveled to Madison West on May 11. The Warriors beat Madison West 10-9 earlier in the season and won 9-8 in another nail-biter.

The Warriors win streak was brought to an end when they traveled to Arrowhead on May 12 and lost 12-3.

Senior Kyle Peterson said, “[We will continue our success by] working hard in practice and playing hard in games.”

The team looked to star t another winning streak when they

hosted Sun Prairie on May 15. The team fought hard and won a close game 12-11.

On May 19, the team hosted Appleton and won 14-4.

The Warriors hold a 10-2 record and a league record of 7-1. The team is ranked fourth in the state and second in the conference behind Sun Prairie.

Senior Hunter Darger said, “[We plan to] finish off the season with a win to win conference and make a playoff run to state.”

Peterson said, “[Our goals for the season are] to win conference and state.”

Darger continued, “[In order to succeed, we need to] stay together as a team and make sure we can pass and catch.”

Junior Austin Schreiber said, “Our individual efforts need to come together to continue our road to a state championship.”

The team hosted a league game at Prairie School against Janesville on Monday. Results were unavailable at press time.

Madi Aiello benefit gameSara VincentEditor in Chief

In order to honor Madi Aiello, the softball team coordinated an evening to raise money for the Pediatric Cancer Fund.

Prior to the event, the team sold t-shirts and raised $917, and during the game, the girls raised another $300 from donations. The night of the benefit, Aiello’s father, Tom Aiello, threw the first pitch. The team wore gold

jerseys with orange ribbons on them. At the beginning of the evening, Aiello’s jersey was retired and presented to her parents. The team then presented the Aiello family with tickets to a Boston Red Sox vs. Chicago White Sox game in Chicago, as Madi was an avid Red Sox fan. The team is still selling wristbands in the athletic office for people to purchase. The money raised will also go to the fund.

win conference title

sports

Page 15May 23, 2012

Senior Jaci Vanden Brook jumps over hurdles during the conference meet. Waunakee hosted the meet on May 15. (Photo by Lindsay Denu)

The boys’ team took the conference title for the second year in a row and the girls’ team won conference for the fourth straight year at the conference meet hosted by Waunakee on May 15. (Photo submitted)

Willie FreimuthReporter

After four straight wins from April 24 to May 4, the girls’ softball team dropped three straight, including two conferences games, which essentially removied them from the conference championship picture.

A loss against Portage at home on May 8 placed the Warriors in a precarious spot if they planned on achieving their original goal of a conference championship. Junior Allie Taylor and senior Nicole Anderson led the offense for the Warriors, each with a double. The Warriors notched eight hits to Portage’s 11, but the run column is the one that matters. Portage scored three early runs and only let the Warriors score two late runs in a disappointing 7-2 loss.

The loss put the Warriors’ fate upon other teams–certain teams had to win, and the Warriors needed to win the rest of their games to have an outside chance. The chance faded in a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to conference leader Baraboo. The game was a pitcher’s duel, with little offense until the first extra inning. The Warriors threatened multiple times with runners in scoring position with less than two outs, but they could not push anything across. The Thunderbirds pushed a walk-off run across, and the Warriors’ hopes for a conference

championship were squandered.H e a d c o a c h T a m m y

Rademacher said, “Anyone can be beaten any given day. As long as we stay focused and believe we can do it, we can win games. Our record belies how good our team can be if we come to play.”

On May 15, the Warriors bounced back with a 7-1 beat-down of the Sauk Prairie Eagles.

The Warriors traveled to Mount Horeb on May 18 and defeated the Vikings 13-4.

Last Saturday, the team hosted the Warrior Invite. The team faced Fort Atkinson first and lost 7-1. Waunakee then played Middleton and won 5-3. The girls faced Neenah for their final game of the day and lost a close game, 8-7.

Rademacher said, “[The win against Middleton] should help with our seeding since they are in our sectional.”

The team wrapped up the regular season against Sauk Prairie on Monday. Results were unavailable at press time.

Senior Mandy Rice said, “We are hoping to make a good run [in playoffs]. We are capable of beating a lot of teams if we keep the energy and intensity up.”

Rademacher concluded, “[Our team needs to] keep playing together, win the game of inches that softball is all about, keep hitting and keep playing good defense [if we want to be successful].”

Girls’ softball hopeful for playoffs

Senior Nicole Anderson catches the ball at first to make the out on May 15 against the Sauk Prairie Eagles. The Warriors bounced back after three consecutive loses and won 7-1. (Photo by Sammy Kauper)

Congratulations to the boys’ 4x800 relay team of senior Zach Mueller, juniors Joe Witt and Stephen Cruz and sophomore Noah Stamsta and the girls’

4x800 relay team of seniors Katie Geishirt, Sarah Heinemann, Taylor Zimprich and freshman Sam

Slattery — both teams broke school records.

FEATUREDPLAYER OF THE

MONTH

CALVIN CLACKPurple Sage: How long have

you been playing tennis?

Calvin Clack: Since I was 10.

PS: What is your favorite

memory playing tennis?

CC: Hitting a player in the neck

and having it count as a serve.

PS: Do you plan on playing

tennis after high school?

CC: That is a good question.

PS: What is your favorite thing

about playing tennis?

CC: To be honest, not letting the

other guy win.

PS: What drives you?

CC: Not wanting to lose.

Photo by Lydia Dorn

sage pageMikaela Breunig, Sage Page Editor

Page 16 May 23, 2012

sage pageMikaela Breunig, Sage Page Editor

Senior Class of 2012While over 86 percent of the senior class is going onto a college, university or technical school, some seniors are making their own path Four Seniors Follow a Different Path

Jason Ford will be play-ing junior hockey. “This means I will move away from home and live with an-other family for most of the year,” said Ford. The junior leagues are a higher level of hockey that will allow him to improve. After complet-ing juniors, Ford wants to attend college saying, “The option of playing junior hockey will let me continue to play hockey while allow-ing me to still go to school. This is an option that is very popular now as my brother [Keegan Ford] is taking the same route too.”

Caleb Smith will become an appren-tice to his father by learning plumbing en-gineering on the job. After eight years of working as an apprentice, Smith will be able to take a test given by the state and become an official engineer. Over the past year, Ca-leb has mastered a three-dimensional mod-eling program for designing buildings’ me-chanical, electrical and plumbing systems on his own through an independent study. Knowledge of this program will give him a head start on his career. Smith will be learning the trade on the job. He is excited about his choice to pursue this option say-ing, “What's the point of spending all that money for a professor to teach me when my father who has been doing his trade for over 30 years can teach me on the job?”

Courtney Cordova will be at-tending the International House of Prayer University in Kansas City Mis-souri, nicknamed IHOPU. Cordova will be studying at the Forerunner Music Academy and says,“I am going there for a year to study God, worship music and just pray and take a year off to gain a better understanding and stronger relationship with Him. I want to get a good foundation on my faith before I go out into ‘the real world’ and further my college educa-tion.” After Cordova’s year at IHOP University, she will go on to earn her degree at a different four year college or university. She is planning to study environmental science.

Zac Armstrong will be going into the Air Force. He will start basic training next year at The School House in Florida for Air Force Spe-cial Forces. He will start with eight and a half weeks of physical and mental training. Officers at training camp “tear you down so they can build you back up as a leader,” says Armstrong. He will then go to the tech school, which will have classes tailored to his job in the Air Force. Armstrong will learn how to transmit radio sig-nals, so he can call in air strikes. If others are interested in the military, armstrong suggests talking to a recruiter or someone involved in the military whom you know. After his military ser-vice, he plans to get an athletic training degree and open his own gym.

In-State School

Out-of-State

Military

Private School

2 Year School

Other*Working

Senior Stats – Where Are They going?

With 265 students surveyed, results are preliminary*Other includes undecided, training programs, and other options