The Bison – December 16, 1988

Sherie Ruter, 19, a cross-country champion and 1988 graduate of BHS, died on November 24, in a automobile accident.

Ruter, and her stepsister, Julie Gustafson, a junior at BHS, were driving down County Road 12, and had just rounded a slight curve, when the pickup truck Ruter was driving struck an approach, went into a steep ditch, and hit a clump of trees before catching on fire.

"We were going [via Buffalo] toward the Cities, to visit her boyfriend," said Gustafson.

Speed was a factor in the crash. "We were just going too fast for that curve," said Gustafson.

Ruter, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pinned in the pickup with her feet by the petals, torso on the edge of the front seat, and back against the door. Gustafson was unable to pull Ruter from the burning cab.

The pinned Ruter was conscious when the flames of fire enveloped her. Her last words were, "Please God save me," according to Gustafson.

"If she had worn her seat belt, it probably would have saved her," said Sergeant Steve Quill, one of the police officers on the scene.

Gustafson was wearing her seat belt and received only minor cuts and bruises.

Ruter was in track and cross-country while at BHS, qualifying for state competition in her junior and senior years.

She received a scholarship to attend Bethel College, in a suburb of St. Paul, where she was enrolled as a freshman this year.

A memorial service was held on November 28, at Buffalo Presbyterian Church, at 8 p.m.

A Cross-Country Memorial Fund has been established. It will be awarded, in Ruter's memory, to a high school student in cross-country that plans to attend Bethel, or a current Bethel student in cross-country.

Donations are still being taken, and are welcomed. Send all donations to:

Beverly Lois (Ruter) Gustafson

Rt. 2 Box 45

Waverly, MN 55390
(or call: 612/ 675-3662)

A letter received by The Bison thanking BHS:

"The family of Sherie Ruter wishes to thank you for all the prayers, flowers, cards, gifts, and kindnesses you've shown us in our hard time. Sheri had many beautiful memories of her friends, teachers, and people in the Buffalo Community. Your overwhelming support has touched our hearts in a tremendous way and made us realize how much we take for granted. We appreciate your support and thank you for all you have done. In God's love, The family."

Sliding at the Buffalo Heights Golf Course will no longer be a tradition.

Liability and financial threats have made a large impact on the decision to close the sliding area.

There were two lawsuits against the Golf Course last year, one the result of a broken wrist.

The Golf Course Board has placed "No Trespassing" signs on the hill, to decrease the possibility of them being sued for injuries occurring there.

The Board feels that they are doing what they have to do to protect the community and themselves.

"I think the people who decided to slide there made that decision on their own accord and should deal with the consequences of that decision. Don't sue the people who were kind enough to let you slide on their lawn," said Charlie Keifenheim, teacher.

"If insurance rates went down, we would keep the hill open for sliding," said Dave Theis, a Golf Course Board member.

"Although it seems unfair to the sliders, they have to do what they can to keep costs down. The sliders and the golf course should reach a compromise to make both parties happy," said junior Dan Jensen.

Faulty lockers in mall open possibility of student thefts

By Susie Kath
Staff Writer

Most students want respect when it comes to invasion of their privacy, but yet those same students may be the ones that are breaking into other students' lockers.

Although there have been a number of break-ins of the old lockers, the new ones in and around the mall have been the problem.

"The company who manufactured the lockers want to go back and recheck it," said Assistant Principal Lloyd Styrwoll. "The lockers shouldn't be that easy to break into."

There has been about ten to fifteen reported stolen items, but many continue to go unreported. The most common items that have been taken include headsets, money, fundraising candy, and other personal items.

"If I happen to bring something valuable to school," said Senior Dinah Johnson, "I'm more careful now where I put it."

"I like it in a way that it is easier to get into your locker, but I don't like how easy it is for your valuables to be ripped off," said Senior Joe Rusinyak.

"No valuables should be kept in the lockers," said Styrwoll.

"Risk as little as possible because they're not secure."

A representative from the firm that made the lockers has visited BHS to inspect them.

It is expected that the company should solve the problem, but they need time to study the design and then fix it.

"The locker manufacturers, in my eyes, has the responsibility to fix the lockers," Styrwoll said. "I think they agree that the lockers should be repaired."

"They wouldn't have to do anything if people would trust each other, but there's obviously a few people who can't be trusted because things have been stolen," said Senior Corey Flynn.

"A lot of schools exist with no locks," said Styrwoll, "but our students are the ones who are going in and stealing. Both the locker company and the students are at fault."

Staff Writer

One tardy, two tardies, three tardies, detention.
The tardy situation is of concern to the administration. In an attempt to lower the number of tardies, the administration has allowed the teachers to use their own discretion and methods on tardy students. Most teachers set a certain number of unexcused tardies before assigning detention, usually three.

Every day the detention room has several people in for tardies. There are required R-modes for tardies. Obviously, tardies affect students and the administration feels something needs to be done about them.

"Tardies show a lack of responsibility on the part of students, teachers, and administration," said Assistant Principal Lloyd Styrwoll. So to make up for the lack of responsibility, steps are taken to help remedy the situation.

"You're always going to have a problem with students being late," said Junior Kurt Bakken. "With an open campus, you would have the problem of students coming in really late after lunch."

"If someone's tardy, it's their own business," said Junior Michelle Nelson. There seems to be a variety of reactions to tardies among the student body.

"The arguments are there but they don't alter the fact that tardies affect education," said Styrwoll. "Tardies disrupt the flow of learning and affect more people than just the tardy student."

Staff Writer

Her friends think she's crazy for taking the class and especially for going to a different school for it.

Jennifer Thomsen, a senior from Maple Lake High School (MLHS) arrives at BHS at around 8:10 a.m. and leaves at 9:00 a.m. She's here at BHS to participate in the Pre-Calculus class through the statewide Open Enrollment Program since it not offered at MLHS.

Open Enrollment is a program for students to attend classes in other schools when their schools are unable to offer them due to the lack of teachers or students.

"I give Jennifer credit, because she's always here and seems eager to learn," said Pre-Calculus teacher, Carlton Urdahl.

But taking a class at another school also has its drawbacks. "Sometimes when I get stuck on a problem of Pre-Calc and I'm in Maple Lake, I have to ask my ex-math teacher, MLHS principal Mary James. I don't know what I'd do without her," plus, "I don't always have time to complete my tests, so I have to finish them the next morning. Since I leave at 9:00 am, I'm late for my Politics class by ten minutes, and I miss some of the class-time and lectures," Thomsen said.

Thomsen is on the Student Council and Honor Society at MLHS and is taking some college English and Physics courses. She participates in volleyball, basketball, and softball. She also plays the clarinet and the guitar. She is juggling all of this to have fun and prepare for her future. She plans to become either an engineer or a music major at St. Cloud State University or North Hennepin Junior College.

"I'm glad I got the chance to become a part-time student at BHS. If anyone has the chance to enroll in a course at another school, should take the chance, because it is neat to see how differently teachers teach," said Thomsen.

Staff Writer

Accutane, the wonder drug that works wonders, may actually be harming people.

Accutane is a medicine used to treat severe cystic acne which has not responded to other treatments. Accutane generally results in improvement in most patients. In fact, many patients have experienced a complete and prolonged remission of cystic acne after a single course of therapy.

Even though the soft gelatin capsules have a positive response for most, there are still many other effects that people should know about. Severe birth defects are now known to occur in infants of women using Accutane during pregnancy. The drug may cause mental retardation, heart disease, and missing limbs in the fetus. Females should be fully aware of the serious risks to the fetus should they become pregnant while undergoing the Accutane treatment. If pregnancy does occur during treatment, the physician and patient should discuss the desirability of continuing the pregnancy.

An effective form of contraception should be used by women for at least one month before, throughout, and one month after discontinuing Accutane therapy.

"We're not prescribing it to anyone at this time, because of all of the dangers," said a local dermatologist.

However, females are usually put on birth control to help prevent them from being harmed.

Accutane has also been temporarily associated with inflammatory bowel disease, an infection of the intestine, in patients without prior history of intestine disorders. Patients experiencing abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, or severe diarrhea should discontinue using Accutane immediately.

A number of cases of decreased night vision have also occurred during Accutane use. Patients should be advised of this problem and warned to be cautious when driving or operating a vehicle at night.

Control of the blood sugar in patients undergoing Accutane therapy has also become a problem. Therefore, known or suspected diabetics should have periodic blood sugar tests during Accutane therapy.

Some other side effects which may occur while under therapy include dryness of the skin, nose, and mouth, peeling of palms and soles, skin infections, fatigue, headache, increased chances of obtaining a sunburn, and depression.

Staff Writer

The smell of formaldehyde while biology department students conduct animal dissections, haunts the halls of BHS.

This is not the case in all schools however. The national trend is the refusal of some students and teachers to do animal dissections. The movement is being backed by the government as well. The California Legislature has enacted a law allowing students to skip dissections if they wish. A similar bill has been introduced in Massachusetts and a proposed bill in Florida would prohibit all live animal experimentation for students from kindergarten through high school.

At BHS, Biology students dissect frogs, fish, chicken eggs, and fetal pigs. The Advanced Biology and Anatomy students study dead animals which were found by the students or teachers.

Students are given the opportunity to do other work if they choose not to dissect, although they often join in the group dissecting the animals once they see the other students interest in participating.

Buffalo students who were questioned did not agree with the legislative action. They didn't like laws which "would ruin the whole tradition of dissecting frogs in high school," said Scott Winter, a senior who is a former Biology student.

While animal rights groups oppose the practice on the grounds that it's cruel and unnecessary killing, most students disagree. "There is nothing wrong with dissecting fetal pigs because they are already dead, and frogs are so common that it really doesn't affect the population," said former Biology student Brian Schiebe, a senior.

One option satisfies the majority of animal rights groups, students and teachers; the teachers perform the dissections while the students watch.

Dissections are performed for their value in teaching students about animals. "It's another way of learning," said Biology/Anatomy teacher Dave Fiedler. "If I dissect something I'm using a hands-on approach." Said Winter, "Students learn more by dissecting rather than only studying worksheets which are often different from the real thing."

Staff Writer

"Why did God make me such a handsome person?" asks Ralph, a not exactly "handsome", rich, nobleman, and main character of this year's one-act.

The play is an English farce by Nicholas Udall named "Ralph Roister Doister".

In choosing to preform a farce instead of a heavy piece, director Clark Swenson said, "I want the students to get to know different kinds of drama."

The play consists of nine parts. The three males are played by senior Troy Kadlec, juniors Kurt Bakken, and Paul Wilson.

The females are seniors Darlene Gamer, Jenny Lundeen, Debi Hill, juniors Melissa Barth, Amy Hance, and sophomore Caroline Whittaker.

"We can go all the way [to state] if we just get the movements down," said Troy Kadlec.

Staff Writer

The BHS Singers have cut a record, but the first release has its problems.

This year, in preparation for the holiday season, "The Main Street" organization, a group in charge of downtown Buffalo activities and decorations, contacted Choir Director Mike Walsh, to get a group to sing a jingle. Walsh turned to the BHS Singers.

The jingle is to the tune of "Deck the Halls". The lyrics were written by school board member Idella Ziegler. The idea came from Nell Wohlenhaus, head of "The Main Street". He originally got it at a "Main Street" seminar in St. Louis, Missouri.

"I saw it being done at the seminar and said, 'by golly,' why can't we do that?" said Wohlenhaus.

BHS Singers limited practice time to meeting only once a week now. Therefore learning the music is tough.

"The group has to be able to go home and work [on it alone]," said Senior Troy Kadlec.

The final touches was the hardest for the group. They took almost one hour and a half to record the one verse song.

Originally, the jingle was to be played on every fifth or sixth song on the downtown P.A. system, but Masac, owner of the tapes of the carols, said it was not possible to splice the tapes, meaning they could not use the jingle on the P.A.

The Main Street organization has turned to other caroling groups for their help in singing the jingle downtown.

Staff Writer

"The Shot Heard Around the World," the battle between Concord and Lexington, has started a tradition known as the U.S. Army National Guard.

It started when citizens were asked to be part-time soldiers. Now, it is a program open to persons 17 years of or older, and is often used as a part-time job. The National Guard lets students serve their country with less time commitment.

For high school students who plan to attend college, the National Guard also have special schooling benefits.

As a part-time job, the Guard involves working one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer. The average starting pay is six dollars per hour, and increases with higher ranks.

The first step for new recruits is to pick a career field. Then they must learn about it through basic training sessions.

Basic training takes two months in the summer and is usually held out of state. After completion of the first two months, the part-time job starts.

The next summer the recruits train again for two months, and this time there is more classes directed toward the individual's career choice.

Once both basic training camps are completed, the Guards are eligible for any or all benefits.

The GI Bill is one of the benefits of the National Guard. It states that students who are attending college eligible to receive up to $20,000 from the government, to pay back any student loans.

The GI Bill also pays $140 every month, if Guards attend college, for up to 36 months, for expenses such as books, apartment rent, and/or car payments.

There is also a bonus for joining the Guard, depending on the chosen field, ranging from $1,500 to $2,000.

Before one becomes eligible for any of the benefits, excluding payment for monthly service, recruits must commit to an eight year contract with the National Guard. Six of those years are active, which means attendance is required once a month and two weeks in the summer. The last two years are inactive, The Army still can call a guardsman in case of an emergency, but meetings are voluntary.

The deadline for second semester schedule changes is December 23. Most scheduling changes will be accepted if a person has a good reason. The administration does not like changing student’s schedules because the class counts must be almost equal and the schedules have to be reprinted. No requested changes will be granted after December 23.

Registration forms are being taken for the seniors' all-night graduation party. The forms and money will be accepted at the BHS office or by mail to: Linda Thompson/ Carol Lindberg Buffalo Senior High School Highway 25 North Buffalo, MN 55313 It is being held on Friday, June 2, 1989 at BHS, following graduation from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The cost is $30. Make all checks payable to "Senior Graduation Party." Ten students will receive their $30 back, if they register before January 15, and their names are drawn.

Four BHS students placed nationally at the 1988 Journalism Convention in Washington, DC. Tracey Uecker, Editor-in-Chief of The Bison, placed first in the advertising category. Jennifer Wenzel, Assistant News Editor of The Bison, placed second in copy editing and headline writing. Jon Shamla, Assistant Editor of The Bison, placed third in news writing. Amanda Costanzi, Tatanka Editor, placed in Yearbook design.

In the October 28th issue, Sharon Hareid was incorrectly identified as the school nurse. Hareid is the BHS health aide. The district nurse, Evelyn Holland, believes that "students need to know the facts...then they need to take into account their religious training and the values taught by their parents when deciding whether or not to become sexually active. They also need to take into consideration the consequences of their sexual behavior."

"Why did God make me such a handsome person?" asks Ralph, a not exactly "handsome", rich, nobleman, and main character of this year’s one-act. The play is an English farce by Nicholas Udall named "Ralph Roister Doister". In choosing to perform a farce instead of a heavy piece, director Clark Swenson said, "I want the students to get to know different kinds of drama." The play consists of nine parts. The three males are played by senior Troy Kadlec, juniors Kurt Bakken, and Paul Wilson. The females are seniors Darlene Gamer, Jenny Lundeen, Debi Hill, juniors Melissa Barth, Amy Hance, and sophomore Caroline Whittaker. "We can go all the way [to state] if we just get the movements down," said Troy Kadlec.

The BHS Singers have cut a record, but the first release has its problems. This year, in preparation for the holiday season, "The Main Street" organization, a group in charge of downtown Buffalo activities and decorations, contacted Choir Director Mike Walsh, to get a group to sing a jingle. Walsh turned to the BHS Singers. The jingle is to the tune of "Deck the Halls". The lyrics were written by school board member Idella Ziegler. The idea came from Nell Wohlenhaus, head of "The Main Street." He originally got it at a "Main Street" seminar in St. Louis, Missouri. "I saw it being done at the seminar and said, ‘by golly, why can’t we do that?'" said Wohlenhaus. BHS Singers limited practice time to meeting only once a week now. Therefore learning the music is tough. "The group has to be able to go home and work [on it alone]," said Senior Troy Kadlec. The final touches was the hardest for the group. They took almost one hour and a half to record the one verse song. Originally, the jingle was to be played on every fifth or sixth song on the downtown P.A. system, but Masac, owner of the tapes of the carols, said it was not possible to splice the tapes, meaning they could not use the jingle on the P.A. The Main Street organization has turned to other caroling groups for their help in singing the jingle downtown.

"The Shot Heard Around the World," the battle between Concord and Lexington, has started a tradition known as the U.S. Army National Guard. It started when citizens were asked to be part-time soldiers. Now, it is a program open to persons 17 years old or older, and is often used as a part-time job. The National Guard lets students serve their country with less time commitment. For high school students who plan to attend college, the National Guard also have special schooling benefits. As a part-time job, the Guard involves working one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer. The average starting pay is six dollars per hour, and increases with higher ranks. The first step for new recruits is to pick a career field. Then they must learn about it through basic training sessions. Basic training takes two months in the summer and is usually held out of state. After completion of the first two months, the part-time job starts. The next summer the recruits train again for two months, and this time there is more classes directed toward the individual’s career choice. Once both basic training camps are completed, the Guards are eligible for any or all benefits. The GI Bill is one of the benefits of the National Guard. It states that students who are attending college are eligible to receive up to $20,000 from the government, to pay back any student loans. The GI Bill also pays $140 every month, if Guards attend college, for up to 36 months, for expenses such as books, apartment rent, and/or car payments. There is also a bonus for joining the Guard, depending on the chosen field, ranging from $1,500 to $2,000. Before one becomes eligible for any of the benefits, excluding payment for monthly service, recruits must commit to an eight year contract with the National Guard. Six of those years are active, which means attendance is required once a month and two weeks in the summer. The last two years are inactive, the Army still can call a guardsman because of an emergency, but meetings are voluntary.

To the tolling of the bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells-
To the moaning and groaning of the bells,
"The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe

Every student in this school has been trained to respond to loud, obnoxious, antiquated bells. Bells so loud and familiar that the standard alarm clock’s buzz or beep may not be enough to wake an average sleeper, if it was not for the automatic response of jumping up out of a chair or pushing into a crowd to join them to consciousness.
Teachers and students alike are cut off in mid-sentence, mid-thought, and mid-assignment by the bells. Just as Pavlov’s dogs salivated whenever they heard a bell, students react to the stimulus.
This piercing form of conditioning is unnecessary for all BHS students.
If the purpose of this school is to train students for factory life and blind obedience to authority, then the bells are wonderful and important.
If, however, the school follows the ISD 877 Mission Statement, bells impede the likelihood of students ever becoming independent learners or critical thinkers, destroys any chance of their developing the ability to adapt to a changing world or developing self-esteem.
Responsible citizens, maybe. More likely conformist clock-watchers.
Do students really need to hear 19 bells from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00?
The Bison suggests a two week trial period in which no bells would clamor. Classes would begin and end around the same time but at the teacher’s discretion, say within two minutes either way of what it is now.
Teachers will be able to determine what they think is a tardy and give out discipline as they see fit.
Students who are concerned that teachers will just drone on for extra minutes, can be reassured that they have power too. It’s called the two minute warning and is currently functioning. You’ve seen it. Two minutes before the bell is about to ring, students signal that the class is over by closing their books, starting conversations, and staring at the clock.
You have the power to protect your ears.
Talk your administrators into silencing those bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells.

One of the most accident-prone intersections in the Brainerd District of Minnesota is also one of the most often traveled by BHS students.
With the increase in traffic at the intersection of Highway 55 and Third Avenue every morning and around 3 p.m. weekdays, a large percentage of drivers crossing or turning onto Highway 55 are students.
The most workable solution to the problem of traffic delays and the high accident rate is a stoplight.
Plans for the stoplight at this intersection have been in the works for some time, but delays arose over who will pay the $100,000 bill.
According to Fred Naaktgeboren, City Council member, two legs of the intersection form Highway 55, belonging to the State of Minnesota and therefore, the state should pay for half of the project.
The remaining half of the cost will be paid by either the city of Buffalo, or the city and Wright County together.
When a system of funding is approved by Minnesota, the leg of the intersection running toward BHS, will be the city’s responsibility, causing the city to pay one quarter of the bill.
The remaining quarter will be paid by the party who maintains the leg which runs South of the intersection, toward the Buffalo Junior High.
According to County Commissioner Arlyn Nelson, Buffalo and Wright County have "agreed to disagree."
The two groups have consented to allow the State to decide the matter, which is probably the easiest and most time consuming solution.
Stoplights aren’t cheap, but an intersection with the amount and type of traffic as this one warrants a stoplight. The city and county should settle their differences and work out a solution themselves to prevent accidents.

Coke is it.
But not when the machine is broken.
If the Student Council wishes to represent the student body, the overwhelming need is caffeine in the form of Coke
Taking care of the machine is by no means the adviser’s responsibility, and it is by no means the glorious job most members dream of doing. It’s a sticky, dirty job--but somebody has to do it.
Pepsi may be the choice of a new generation, but machine repair is the real thing.

To the Editor:
May I thank you for the supportive editorial in your last issue. It was not only encouraging to the Tatanka staff, but informative to the student body.
As one editor to another, I respect the difficulty in capturing facts.
I do, however, have some clarifications about the Senior sit-in. The first and most obvious being that the reason yearbook sales were extended was not a result of the protest. Sales had been extended before the sit-in occurred.
Another correction is that the sit-in was not "called" after the Seniors "learned" their color photos would be cut because of low sales. The Seniors heard a rumor. A decision had not been reached about photos because all receipts had not been accurately counted yet. The rumors the Seniors heard was based on an estimation of sales.

To the Editor:
In agreement that greed comes before charity, students don’t understand the cause and effect of helping the food shelves.
Does anyone remember when they were young and were so hungry for something to eat and mom would say, "wait until suppertime,"? Remember how upset you felt and how much complaining you did? You usually got something too.
Well, people who need the food shelves don’t get a snack before supper. Sometimes they don’t even get supper. Students shouldn’t get a reward for bringing in a box of rice.
Be altruistic, do it for the good of others, not yourself. If you can do something that would make people thankful for Thanksgiving for a few extra credit points, then your morals aren’t worth a can of beans.

To the Editor:
I think it is time for the school to stand behind the BHS Ski Team one hundred percent.
As in all sports, the key to being competitive is the will to win. It would, however, be nice to have a coach to teach and the money to support the team.
Ski Team members have some of the biggest hearts in the world. Unfortunately, they don’t have the wallets to match. The costly expense to ski can range from $800 to $1500.
The school should not slap a $400 participation fee on top of that. There is also a huge debt for the team to cover for the cost of practice gates, another two thousand five hundred at minimal cost.
In addition, the team has been burdened with a new MSHSL law proclaiming skiers must practice and compete with protective helmets. These extra debts are putting the BHS Ski Team some four thousand dollars in the hole. Add up the costs and you can see it is a rich man’s sport.
BHS has never tried to discriminate against students who are not as fortunate as others. In this case, however, the students can’t afford the costs. Now with these new high costs, even the most affluent group of BHS students cannot afford the monstrous sum.
Unless the School Board coughs up the money and takes a stand, the whole team is going to fall down.

This is my thirteenth year in school. Lucky me.
I’ve had a variety of different teachers each with their own teaching methods. Whether or not this makes me qualified to say anything about what and how I’ve been taught is debatable.
At times in class, having knowledge of my First Amendment "right" [the only one left] as a student, freedom of expression, the urge to shout, "What the heck are you trying to do?" to the teacher gurgles in my throat.
Instead, my fingers tap on imaginary computer keys that materialize after school to produce this:
1. Most students appreciate and learn from the occasional videotape or filmstrip as part of a class, but there is such a thing as Audio-Visual Over-kill.
Why do you even need a teacher if all they’re going to do is turn on NOVA and expect you to absorb it? Sitting in the dark, watching a TV screen tires my eyes, my mind, and my body. It is difficult to pay attention, let alone stay awake during your third videotape in one day.
2. Isn’t class discussion where students in the class also participate? In some classes I’ve had discussion, in practice, means lecture. The students aren’t expected to say anything so, the teacher’s questions become rhetorical.
3. Low expectations. Most students want to do well and usually will face a challenge with good results. Telling them everything they could possibly need to know for class, especially when it is structured around a textbook, is insulting. How are BHS graduates supposed to understand the concept of studying independently if they are never expected to do it before college?
4. Everyday I deal with people on a social level outside of school. Whoever told teachers that it would be beneficial for me to learn how to work with other students on assignments, projects, tests, etc. was an idiot. I don’t want to "learn" that when you must depend on people they can be unreliable and uncooperative in school.
Yes, cutting grading in half or one-third by placing students in groups is beneficial for teachers, but it will not measure the overall knowledge of the group, only the one or two "smart" kids or the people who accidentally opened their mouths and were coerced into participating.
5. Too much time is wasted during the school day. If you don’t believe me, take an average class and time how long it takes for actual teaching to begin. Also, don’t forget about timing class shut-down and preparation for the next period before the bell.
Students like it this way.
They’ve shaped education as much, if not more so, as teachers by doing the minimum to pass, cheating, not studying on their own, not doing their homework, not making an effort to participate, and not demanding the highest quality education possible.
They’ve cheated themselves and me.
As a self-declared representative of one part of this school, I’m challenging BHS to uphold parts of their Mission Statement.
The mission of ISD 877 is to provide an educational environment which emphasizes independent learning as a lifelong process and challenges learners to:
--become critical thinkers
--develop positive self-esteem
--reach their maximum learning potential
--adapt to a changing world..."
There’s one line I’ve left out about becoming responsible, [conforming] citizens who do only what’s expected of them, no surprises.
Figure out why.

Parents are like diseases. They can be filed into categories by their actions or symptoms.
There are approximately three categories parents come under. Some parents are listed under more than one. But all are curable.
WARNING: If your parents do not classify under any of the following categories they may self destruct. In case of this emergency contact your local bomb squad.
The Classifications of a Parent in Alphabetical Order

The Absent parent:
Common in households where a high paying job or a successful social life is present.
Symptoms include an answering machine that is never shut off, a freezer packed full of frozen dinners, and where responses are usually void.
Prescription: Re-do the message on the answering machine to say Mr. (or Mrs.) Green have run off with Vice President Dan Quayle to participate in a life of sin and are no longer able to come to the phone, and throw away your parents date book.

The Best Friend:
Common in households where pride is shown.
Symptoms include dressing like their teen, going with their teen to social events, and kissing them in public.
Prescription: Put tabasco sauce on your cheek and buy something that doesn’t come in the size your parent wears.

The parent with Expectations:
Common in households where the parents are under-achievers.
Symptoms include month long groundings if anything under an A is brought home by the student, and there is an uncontrollable curiosity as to where the other point went off a paper that received 99 points out of 100.
Prescription: Dig up your parents old report cards, get them photocopied and hang them every place your parents might look. Also, since this is a severe syndrome, program the Brady Bunch to come on during news time.

Rattle and hum.
The three words that can send many people, myself included, into fits of joy. The album is that good.
It begins with lead singer Bono Hewson saying, "This is a song that Charles Manson stole from the Beatles. We’re stealing it back," (from the song "Helter Skelter"). It immediately enters into a rocking guitar line, and keeps up an incredible level of energy and power for the rest of the album.
From the intense feeling and emotion in "Heartland" to the fast-paced fever of "Desire", the music never is anything less than etheral.
The Edge’s guitar screams out the basest of human emotions: love the most recurring of them. The theme of love winds throughout almost every song, pervading the music with a sense of beauty and wholeness.
"Rattle and Hum" is more than just a compilation of their greatest hits--this is a chronicle of rock and roll.
Moving from blues (with a little help from B.B. King) to ballads to the hardest rock, this epic album encompasses the history of modern music...and nobody could have done it better.
Bono, an awe-inspiring writer, ends up "Silver and Gold" with an improvised, moving account of Bishop Desmond Tutu and the effects of apartheid. The "OK Edge, play the Blues!" Edge does just that, blasting into a biting riff that threatens to shatter glass with its energy.
U2’s music is often overpowering, often hypnotic with its emotional power, which the studios enhance even more.
"Rattle and Hum" is a mixture of that technically perfect studio work and raw, thrilling live songs.
Larry Mullen’s drums fit exactly with Adam Clayton’s bass lines, creating a strong backup for Bono’s soaring voice and Edge’s howling guitar on "Bullet the Blue Sky" and "Pride (In the Name of Love)", among others.
Their renditions of Jimi Hendrix’s "Star Spangled Banner" and Bob Dylan’s "All Along The Watchtower" are nothing less than a classic band playing classic songs and not losing any of what made the songs great in the first place.
It is their lyrical and musical talents that make U2 one of the classics. At the Grammy Awards, they stand alone; as concert films go, they rival the Beatles.
U2 is definitely a group that will be around for a long time. And "Rattle and Hum" is definitely the sound of the decade.

This is my thirteenth year in school. Lucky me. I've had a variety of different teachers each with their own teaching methods. Whether or not this makes me qualified to say anything about what and how I've been taught is debatable.

At times in class, having knowledge of my First Amendment "right" [the only one left] as a student, freedom of expression, the urge to shout, "What the heck are you trying to do?" to the teacher gurgles in my throat.

Instead, my fingers tap on imaginary computer keys that materialize after school to produce this:

1. Most students appreciate and learn from the occasional videotape or filmstrip as part of a class, but there is such a thing as Audio-Visual Over-kill.

Why do you even need a teacher if all they're going to do is turn on NOVA and expect you to absorb it? Sitting in the dark, watching a TV screen tires my eyes, my mind, and my body. It is difficult to pay attention, let alone stay awake during your third videotape in one day.

2. Isn't class discussion where students in the class also participate? In some classes I've had discussion, in practice, means lecture. The students aren't expected to say anything so, the teacher's questions become rhetorical.

3. Low expectations. Most students want to do well and usually will face a challenge with good results. Telling them everything they could possibly need to know for class, especially when it is structured around a textbook, is insulting. How are BHS graduates supposed to understand the concept of studying independently if they never expected to do it before college?

4. Everyday I deal with people on a social level outside of school. Whoever told teachers that it would be beneficial for me to learn how to work with other students on assignments, projects, tests, etc. was an idiot. I don't want to "learn" that when you must depend on people they can be unreliable and uncooperative in school.

Yes, cutting grading in half or one-third by placing students in groups is beneficial for teachers, but it will not measure the overall knowledge of the group, only the one or two "smart" kids or the people who accidentally opened their mouths and were coerced into participating.

5. Too much time is wasted during the school day. If you don't believe me, take an average class and time how long it takes for actual teaching to begin. Also, don't forget about timing class shut-down and preparation for the next period before the bell.

Students like it this way.

They've shaped education as much, if not more so, as teachers by doing the minimum to pass, cheating, not studying on their own, not doing their homework, not making an effort to participate, and not demanding the highest quality education possible.

They've cheated themselves and me. As a self-declared representative of one part of this school, I'm challenging BHS to uphold parts of their Mission Statement.

The mission of ISD 877 is to provide an educational environment which emphasizes independent learning as a lifelong process and challenges learners to:
-- become critical thinkers
-- develop positive self-esteem
-- reach their maximum learning potential
-- adapt to a changing world..."

There's one line I've left out about becoming responsible, [conforming] citizens who do only what's expected of them, no surprises.

Figure out why.

Parents are like diseases. They can be filed into categories by their actions or symptoms.

There are approximately three categories parents come under. Some parents are listed under more than one. But all are curable.

WARNING: If your parents do not classify under any of the following categories they may self destruct. In case of this emergency contact your local bomb squad.

The Classifications of a Parent in Alphabetical Order

The Absent parent: Common in households where a high paying job or a successful social life is present.

Symptoms include an answering machine that is never shut off, a freezer packed full of frozen dinners, and where responses are usually void.

Prescription: Re-do the message on the answering machine to say Mr. (or Mrs.) Green have run off with Vice President Dan Quayle to participate in a life of sin and are no longer able to come to the phone, and throw away your parents date book.

The Best Friend: Common in households where pride is shown.

Symptoms include dressing like their teen, going with their teen to social events, and kissing them in public.

Prescription: Put tabasco sauce on your cheek and buy something that doesn't come in the size your parent wears.

The parent with Expectations: Common in households where the parents are under-achievers.

Symptoms include month long groundings if anything under an A is brought home by the student, and there is an uncontrollable curiosity as to where the other point went off a paper that received 99 points out of 100.

Prescription: Dig up your parents old report cards, get them photocopied and hang them every place your parents might look. Also, since this is a severe syndrome, program the Brady Bunch to come on during news time.

Rattle and hum.

The three words that can send many people, myself included, into fits of joy. The album is that good.

It begins with lead singer Bono Hewson saying, "This is a song that Charles Manson stole from the Beatles. We're stealing it back," (from the song "Helter Skelter"). It immediately enters into a rocking guitar line, and keeps up an incredible level of energy and power for the rest of the album.

From the intense feeling and emotion in "Heartland" to the fast-paced fever of "Desire," the music never is anything less than etheral.

The Edge's guitar screams out the basest of human emotions: love the most recurring of them. The theme of love winds throughout almost every song, pervading the music with a sense of beauty and wholeness.

"Rattle and Hum" is more than just a compilation of their greatest hits--this is a chronicle of rock and roll. Moving from blues (with a little help from B.B. King) to ballads to the hardest rock, this epic album encompasses the history of modern music...and nobody could have done it better.

Bono, an awe-inspiring writer, ends up "Silver and Gold" with an improvised, moving account of Bishop Desmond Tutu and the effects of apartheid. The "OK Edge, play the Blues!" Edge does just that, blasting into a biting riff that threatens to shatter glass with its energy.

U2's music is often overpowering, often hypnotic with its emotional power, which the studios enhance even more.

"Rattle and Hum" is a mixture of that technically perfect studio work and raw, thrilling live songs.

Larry Mullen's drums fit exactly with Adam Clayton's bass lines, creating a strong backup for Bono's soaring voice and Edge's howling guitar on "Bullet the Blue Sky"

and "Pride (In the Name of Love)", among others.

Their renditions of Jimi Hendrix's "Star Spangled Banner" and Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower" are nothing less than a classic band playing classic songs and not losing any of what made the songs great in the first place.

It is their lyrical and musical talents that make U2 one of the classics. At the Grammy Awards, they stand alone; as concert films go, they rival the Beatles.

U2 is definitely a group that will be around for a long time. And "Rattle and Hum" is definitely the sound of the decade.

Sassy, the magazine that claims to "tell it like it is," came out like a lion last March amid the roar of controversy and praise.

At the same time, the newly revised Responsible Human Sexuality Curriculum for ISD #877 is taking the lamb-like approach.

Both Sassy and the curriculum deal with teenage sexuality.

Both Sassy magazine and the curriculum have acquired opposition to their contents.

Sassy magazine has taken a more direct, straightforward approach to issues concerning teenagers, their sexuality, and how they deal with it than its rival magazines.

"Getting Turned On," an article in the June issue of Sassy, described how sexual feelings begin in the brain and trigger chemical and physical reactions.

In addition to what Sassy has described, it has also angered many parents, particularly those in the Moral Majority headed by Reverend Jerry Falwell whose purpose is to preserve conservative ideals.

Some material that could be considered controversial. There is some information about birth control, we define different birth control methods. There is some information about abortion in a definition. We were careful not to encourage students to seek abortions," said Susan [unclear]

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Jennifer Schmitz, freshman
"I would buy it because it deals with teens and what they're interested in."

Tammy Leff, junior.
"I like it, I'd probably buy it. The clothes are really cute. It looks kind of like 'Teen or Seventeen. The articles are really interesting."

Brandon Thibodeau, sophomore.
"I wouldn't buy it. I'm a sports person. They've got some crude advertisements in there, though."

Wade Erickson, senior
The questions like '300 Guys Answer the Big Questions'; these questions are not like we would answer them...It's like sophisticated people. I like the articles-the crime articles, the rock singer articles. It's like your average Life magazine, but with a little more to it."

Fact: During their teenage years nearly 70% of American teenagers become sexually active.

Fact: About one in ten American girls become pregnant. The number is more than double that of other Western countries. In the U.S., 96 out of every 1,000 teenagers get pregnant each year.

Fact: About 50% of the 1.3 million American teenagers who get pregnant each year choose to have abortions. If they go through with the pregnancy, most keep their babies.

Myth: There must be vaginal penetration before a pregnancy can occur.

Fact: A pregnancy can occur without intercourse in some cases, since sperm released outside of the vagina can travel inside.

Myth: A woman can't get pregnant during certain times in her cycle.

Fact: It's possible for a woman to get pregnant at any point in her menstrual cycle. A woman is most likely to get pregnant if she's intercourse during ovulation, the time when an egg is released from an ovary and starts going through the Fallopian tube.

Myth: Practicing birth control will positively prevent pregnancy.

Fact: There are some very effective means of birth control. For instance, taking birth control pills—which contain chemical hormones called "estrogen" and "progesterone"—prevent pregnancies about 90 percent of the time. But even this method sometimes fails. In short, there is no foolproof way to prevent pregnancy.

Sources: The Alan Guttmacher Institute and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.

are lessons that have been submitted into the new curriculum to teach students how to talk about STDs, and how to better protect themselves. The problem can become deadly for those with a new sexually transmitted disease; the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: AIDS.

With a very well-defined possibility that teenagers who are heterosexual could obtain AIDS from having sex with an infected person, school districts as soon as 1984 started new programs or courses on sex education. Now in numerous states assorted sex education and AIDS prevention lessons have been submitted or required for students to take.

The present curriculum now accommodates lessons on AIDS such as "AIDS," (Moral and Ethical Issues surrounding STDs particularly AIDS.) "With the current social trends of AIDS we feel it's important to teach tenth grade students to be informed of some of the social consequences of their behavior because tenth grade health will be their last required health class," said Carol Marston, physical education teacher, who helped write the new curriculum.

The lion-like approach of Sassy and the lamb-like approach of the curriculum, is the difference between using sex to sell magazines and at the same time inform, and informing teens in school without selling sex.

The curriculum includes information on an issue important to many people: saying no to sex. "Deciding about Sex-the Choice to Abstain" and "Don't Be Fooled into Thinking Most Teenagers are Having Sex" are two lessons added to the curriculum. Sassy also stresses that saying no to sex may be a good choice for teenagers.

Communication is an aspect discussed thoroughly throughout the curriculum. Lessons illustrated include: "Communicating with your Parents and Partners", "Communicating about Sexual Limits", and "Developing Personal Sexual Philosophy."

"I think a lot of students will be uncomfortable with the new curriculum. They're like their parents--they don't want to talk about it, (sex)," said junior Tanya Seely.

Sexual Crime such as rape is also discussed and analyzed in the curriculum: "Acquaintance Rape Dynamics" with the Problem Solving Task: Ellen's story. Other stories written as

Sexually Transmitted Diseases are a widespread, growing problem in today's world. "Signs, Symptoms and Treatment of STDs," "Communication about STDs," "Moral, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Reporting STDs," and "Resources for STD Patients" are lessons that have been submitted to the new curriculum to teach students how to talk about STDs, and how to better protect themselves. The problem can become deadly for those with a new sexually transmitted disease; the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: AIDS.

With a very well-defined possibility that teenagers who are heterosexual could obtain AIDS from having sex with an infected person, school districts as soon as 1984 started new programs or courses on sex education. Now in numerous states assorted sex education and AIDS prevention lessons have been submitted or required for students to take.

The present curriculum now accommodates lessons on AIDS such as "AIDS," (Moral and Ethical Issues surrounding STDs particularly AIDS.) "With the current social trends of AIDS we feel it's important to teach tenth grade students to be informed of some of the social consequences of their behavior because tenth grade health will be their last required health class," said Carol Marston, physical education teacher, who helped write the new curriculum.

The lion-like approach of Sassy and the lamb-like approach of the curriculum, is the difference between using sex to sell magazines and at the same time inform, and informing teens in school without selling sex.

Sassy magazine is printed for girls thirteen to twenty years old to help give out straight facts.

When Sassy says they want to "say it like it is" they mean it. For example, "It Happened to Me" was an article printed about an eighteen year old who had an abortion. Another, "Five Virgins and Why They Think It's Cool" also appeared in Sassy. These are examples of Sassy's straight talk.

Senior Susan Kath, reader of Sassy said, "They display a lot of it," (sexuality). "They say it like it is."

Sassy is not afraid to mention sex. Which is needed to be since during their teenage years, nearly seventy percent of American teenagers become sexually active.

Before she could make a decision on them, BHS librarian, Marcia Paulsen said, "I would have to look at Sassy magazines in more depth." Although she did state that she can see "some articles might be of great benefit, if Sassy were to be carried in the library."

For many teenagers, Sassy magazine really relates to them well. "Sassy is more of a friend," said Elisabeth Larson, assistant-to-the-editor for Sassy, in a telephone interview.

Anything from make-up to sex is what you'll find covered in this magazine.

Sassy magazine. A somewhat controversial magazine whose purpose is to inform teens. Sassy covers subjects like clothes, music, hair, and how to look your best, to subjects like birth control, how to know if you're really in love, and premarital sex. Subjects like the last mentioned is why Sassy magazine is considered to be so controversial.

"We get cancellations all the time from mothers," said Editor-in-Chief Nancy Comer. She also added, "Teens need information, and they're not getting enough from their parents and schools."

Sassy is also receiving objections from a group founded by Jerry Falwell called the Moral Majority which has hundreds of parents backing him up. Their purpose is to preserve conservative ideals. Janice Hindman, an editorial assistant for the Liberty Report, a publication of the Moral Majority said, "The overall tone of the magazine is trashy and not very wholesome." Hindman also said of two articles in a June issue of Sassy, they were "not responsible" ways of informing teens about sex. Sassy's president, Sandra Yates countered by saying, "The biggest enemy is ignorance. Sassy is honest, and talks to teens in their language."

The Moral Majority has gotten several of Sassy's major advertisers to stop running their advertisements in the magazine. According to Yates, the lost sales of advertisers such as Maybelline, Noxell, and Reebok hurt the magazine, but it is still being published.

Not all parents are so anti-Sassy that they want to see the stop of it's publication. Lori Quady, mother-to-be said of the magazine, "I think it's great. I would definitely let my children read it."

"They display a lot of it, [sexuality]. They say it like it is," said senior Susan Kath.

"Why am I turned on?" What no one else tells you

Two child geniuses blow our minds

Want to be on our cover? Enter now

Jennifer Schmitz, freshman
"I would buy it because it deals with teens and what they're interested in."

Tammy Leff, junior.
"I like it, I'd probably buy it. The clothes are really cute. It looks kind of like 'Teen or Seventeen. The articles are really interesting."

Brandon Thibodeau, sophomore
"I wouldn't buy it. I'm a sports person. They've got some crude advertisements in there, though."

Wade Erickson, senior
The questions like '300 Guys Answer the Big Questions,' these questions are not like we would answer them...It's like sophisticated people. I like the articles-the crime articles, the rock singer articles. It's like your average Life magazine, but with a little more to it."

By Deborah Uecker
Feature Editor

Fact: During their teenage years nearly 70% of American teenagers become sexually active.

Fact: About one in ten American girls become pregnant. The number is more than double that of other Western countries. In the U.S., 96 out of every 1,000 teenagers get pregnant each year.

Fact: About 50% of the 1.3 million American teenagers who get pregnant each year choose to have abortions. If they go through with the pregnancy, most keep their babies.

Myth: There must be vaginal penetration before a pregnancy can occur.

Fact: A pregnancy can occur without intercourse. In some cases, sperm released outside of the vagina can travel inside.

Myth: A woman can't get pregnant during certain times of the month.

Fact: It's possible for a woman to get pregnant at any point in her menstrual cycle. A woman is most likely to become pregnant if she's during ovulation, the time when an egg is released from an ovary and starts going through the Fallopian tube.

A prescription is needed to purchase condoms and contraceptives. With the spread of disease, especially in grocery stores condoms and other contraceptive devices on aisle shelves so they're accessible. If not, they can be obtained without a prescription from a pharmacist.

Myth: Practicing birth control will positively prevent pregnancy.

Fact: There are some very effective means of birth control. For instance, taking birth control pills--which contain chemical hormones called "estrogen" and "progesterone"--prevent pregnancies about 90 percent of the time. But even this method sometimes fails. In short, there is no foolproof way to prevent pregnancy.

Sources: The Alan Gutmacher Institute and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.

I don’t always listen to my dad but one philosophy he has about being an adult is, "Adult is just one side of a cube. On some peoples’ cube the adult side shows often, on others, hardly ever." Adult is difficult to define from a social standpoint. Nobody tells teenagers when they become adults. Of BHS students, 61% consider themselves to be an adult.

Being an adult according to students could mean anything from having a driver’s license, being trusted by parents, having children, or, "When you get a real job and start a life," said senior Jeff Reitz.

These are "rites of passage," things that most everyone in the world seek out, things that societies encourage kids to accomplish.

Graduating from high school or college, moving away from home or graduating from religious instruction are all other examples. Of all these rites turning 16 and getting a driver’s licence appears to be the most important to students. "Getting your license means your free. You’re a real person, an adult," said one sophomore.

Accomplishing these tasks doesn’t instantly make students adults. BHS counselor, Gloria Rose took a different viewpoint towards the definition of an adult, "Adult can really only be defined from a legal standpoint."

There is no social definition of being an adult except for one you define for yourself. The word adult has many definitions for a wide variety of people. How you apply adult and when, if ever, you decide to call yourself an adult is all up to you.

After traveling to 35 cities and conducting nearly 5,000 interviews, Glenbard East High School students have published a book about American teenagers’ struggles.

"Voices of Hope: Teenagers Themselves" is their final book in trilogy.

In some cases, it quite graphically depicts the day-to-day lives of American teenagers, and in their own words, offers some solutions.

Solutions range from teenagers and parents "smoking pot together" to encouraging achievement through "positive reinforcement."

Leah Lemke, a junior, has epilepsy. To some that is a new and surprising fact, but she has learned to live with it all her life.

Epilepsy is a disorder of certain nerve cells in the brain and epileptic seizures are sometimes the result. An epileptic seizure occurs when those nerve cells suddenly release a large burst of electrical energy.

Two years ago she went to the University of Minnesota for an Electroencephalogram (EEG) which monitors nerve messages. This tells the doctor how well she is doing and if she can be taken off of her medication.

The night before the EEG Lemke had to stay awake the entire night without any drug stimulants, such as caffeine. She had to take the test to see if there was a chance that she would have another seizure.

During the EEG she lies down in a reclined chair and cannot move throughout the test. The tester attaches over 50 wires to her head by either gluing them on, as in Lemke’s case, or by pricking them into the skin. They have her open and close her eyes, sleep and place a strobe light which gradually increases speed directly in front of her face. The test lasts over an hour and the doctor receives the results to look over them and discusses them with Lemke.

The results of her test came back normal so the doctor cut her dosage in half. Lemke went back to the doctor six months later for another EEG to see how she was doing. During that test she started to convulse. Afterwards the doctor put her back on full dosage of her medicine.

Last November she went back to the doctor for another EEG. The doctor has predicted she will out-grow her epilepsy. If her tests come back normal the doctor will try taking her off medication again.

Her last seizure was in fourth grade when she had a shaking and starring seizure that persisted a couple of minutes. "It was weird. The last thing I remember was being in gym, it was free time and I was playing six square with some friends," said Lemke, "The next thing I could remember was waking up in the nurses office, I had been asleep and I didn’t know how I had gotten there." Following her seizure she started taking medicine twice a day and hasn’t had a one since.

When people have an epileptic seizure they use every muscle in their body. After the seizure is over their body is so exhausted that they tend to sleep about a half an hour to get their strength back.

When Lemke was young she went to a camp for epileptics to find out more about the disease she has. The people there taught her things that she was not supposed to do. She has continued to learn over the years. Lemke has learned about her disease and how it effects her body. She has learned to make decisions on how much she will let the disease effect her life and when the things she wants to do are more important to her than the risk involved.

Lemke’s mother is a nurse so she can ask questions anytime.

Lemke played football when she was younger and was told by the doctor she had to quit because of possible head injuries. She was upset but she accepted it. The doctors also discussed her having to quit hockey but decided against it for the possibility of getting head injuries was less than of football. She currently is one of the goalies for the BHS Junior Varsity hockey team.

Even if she out-grows the disease and it no longer effects her life she has learned things that will help her make other decisions.

They came so close. The Bison Girls Basketball team came one game from a state tournament appearance last year, failing to conference rival Hutchinson.

This year, the team is hoping for another successful year. Because of the success of the Bison’s volleyball team, many girls started the season later than normal, and their first game was moved back ten days.

"It’s really hard to compare this team with the record of last years team, we did so well," said junior Cami Dixon.

As if losing four starters from last year wasn’t enough, the team also has a new head coach this year: Ray VanderWolde.

"We’re struggling with an inexperienced team, with Stacy being our only returning starter, and also a new head coach," said junior Jolyn Halvorson. The team has a total of four sophomores on the team, with Christen Holtorf starting at center.

At the beginning of the season, the Bison were ranked th in the suburban area by the StarTribune’s coaches poll. Many on the team feels that they are probably over-rated.

Tonight, the team hosts Glencoe, in an important conference match-up. With the make-up of the Suburban West changing, the team will be competing against new faces this year. Specifically, Litchfield and Monticello.

"Glencoe seems to focus on Senior Tracey Johnson a lot," said senior Kim Berglund, "We’ll have to stop her. She’s tough."

Next on the slate for the Bison is the Elk River Tournament December 28-30.

This year with a new practice area, inspiring new members, many returning veterans, and an experienced coach the BHS gymnasts have real potential as a team.

"There’s a tremendous amount of improvement because of additional practice time," said Head Coach Martha Driscoll.

Junior Amy Johnson said, "With the new Gym we don’t waste time setting up and taking down equipment because it stays there all winter long for us, and that helps!"

There are three eighth graders on the team this year. The only senior, Captain Michelle Lundeen said, "They have a lot of talent and they don’t get enough experience in Junior High gymnastics."

Driscoll agrees saying, "It’s better to have them practicing at a higher level."

Junior Brooke Kincaid thinks it’s great having the eighth graders on the team. "The younger they start the better our team gets; they’re a big part of our team this year."

"I don’t look at the age of a person, because it doesn’t matter how old you are, just your ability," said Kincaid.

Downhill skiers slash through gates, not over hurdles. But the skiers have been forced to jump hurdles, or problems, even before their season started.

The ski team was forced to look for a new coach when last year’s coach, Tom Athmann, moved away. Then one month before dry land practice began, the new coach they had found quit because he wanted more money.

So, Rick Toso, who had volunteered only as a last resort, will be coaching the ski team along with instructor Anna Kucera.

At the same time the coach quit, the MSHSL came out with a new rule. Due to the deaths of two skiers in the past three years, the League is requiring that all skiers must practice and compete wearing a helmet. The helmets cost approximately $100 each, and the team needed 25 of them.

Along with buying new helmets, they also needed to buy 40 new break-away gates at about $25 a piece. Last year the team used bamboo gates. The "bam

They came so close. The Bison Girls Basketball team came one game from a state tournament appearance last year, falling to conference rival Hutchinson.

This year, the team is hoping for another successful year. Because of the success of the Bison’s volleyball team, many girls started the season later than normal, and their first game was moved back ten days.

"It’s really hard to compare this team with the record of last years team, we did so well," said junior Cami Dixon.

As if losing four starters from last year wasn’t enough, the team also has a new head coach this year: Ray VanderWolde.

"We’re struggling with an inexperienced team, with Stacy being our only returning starter, and also a new head coach," said junior Jolyn Halvorson. The team has a total of four sophomores on the team, with Christen Holtorf starting at center.

At the beginning of the season, the Bison were ranked th in the suburban area by the StarTribune’s coaches poll. Many on the team feels that they are probably over-rated.

Tonight, the team hosts Glencoe, in an important conference match-up. With the make-up of the Suburban West changing, the team will be competing against new faces this year. Specifically, Litchfield and Monticello.

"Glencoe seems to focus on Senior Tracey Johnson a lot", said senior Kim Berglund, "We’ll have to stop her. She’s tough."

Next on the slate for the Bison is the Elk River Tournament December 28-30.

This year with a new practice area, inspiring new members, many returning veterans, and an experienced coach the BHS gymnasts have real potential as a team.

"There’s a tremendous amount of improvement because of additional practice time," said Head Coach Martha Driscoll.

Junior Amy Johnson said,"With the new Gym we don’t waste time setting up and taking down equipment because it stays there all winter long for us, and that helps!"

There are three eighth graders on the team this year. The only senior, Captain Michelle Lundeen said,"They have a lot of talent and they don’t get enough experience in Junior High gymnastics."

Driscoll agrees saying,"It’s better to have them practicing at a higher level."

Junior Brooke Kincaid thinks it’s great having the eighth graders on the team. "The younger they start the better our team gets; they’re a big part of our team this year."

"I don’t look at the age of a person, because it doesn’t matter how old you are, just your ability," said Kincaid.

Downhill skiers slash through gates, not over hurdles.

But the skiers have been forced to jump hurdles, or problems, even before their season started.

The ski team was forced to look for a new coach when last year’s coach, Tom Athmann, moved away. Then one month before dry land practice began, the new coach they had found quit because he wanted more money.

So, Rick Toso, who had volunteered only as a last resort, will be coaching the ski team along with instructor Anna Kucera.

At the same time the coach quit, the MSHSL came out with a new rule. Due to the deaths of two skiers in the past three years, the League is requiring that all skiers must practice and compete wearing a helmet. The helmets cost approximately $100 each, and the team needed 25 of them.

Along with buying new helmets, they also needed to buy 40 new break-away gates at about $25 a piece. Last year the team used bamboo gates. The "bam

The Bison Boys Basketball team will be playing their first conference game tonight at Glencoe. The team is confident that they can beat Glencoe and get themselves on the winning track.

This year the Bison are going to be looking out for conference power Mound and school rival Hutchinson, who also has a young team.

Over the winter break, the team will be playing in a four team tournament at Little Falls.

The team has gotten off to a tough start this year at 0-3.

They lost the opener to state ranked Willmar by a score of 68-51.

One thing that the team has to overcome this year is its lack of height and experience. Compare the Bison's tallest guys at 6'3" to the average big guys at 6'7"-6'9" and the disadvantage is obvious.

There is a reason why there are many underclassmen on the team; there happens to be only four seniors and three juniors out for basketball this season.

As the team heads into conference play tonight, they will rely on their shooting and quickness for a successful season.

Here's a little preview of what's happening on the other end of the court; a freshmen sports preview.

HOCKEY
The Bantam A hockey team has accumulated a record of 9-21 as of December 10. In their first game against Hutchinson, they tied the game with less than two minutes left and were behind Hutch for most of the game.

The one thing that the team wants to improve on is their defense. "Overall we're playing good this year, but we really need to work on our defense," said freshman Ryan Reid.

The team is not judging the season by how many games they win, but how they played. "This is our last year as Bantam, so we want to make the best year we can," said freshman Mark Arens.

The team has a very positive attitude towards their playing, even if they don't win but they played a good game. "Winning isn't everything. If I play a good game and we still lose, I'll be upset but overall I'll be happy," said freshman Andy Gorril.

WRESTLING
There are only three freshmen who went out for wrestling, all of whom are at the B-squad level: Chris Lohn, Charles Hickman, and Jon Hamm.

"One of the things that is harder for freshmen is the amount of competition. There is so much at this level that some kids aren't coming out for wrestling," said Head Coach Gerry Bakke.

One of the most important reasons why people have to start practicing this year to be good in wrestling is they need to get their moves down. If they can learn some good moves, then all the practicing will pay off.

"The ninth graders have a lot of potential. The only things we need to do are learning more moves, and possibly recruiting some new players," said Bakke.

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Even though the ninth grade girls basketball team has lost four players to the B-squad, the team is starting to pull together.

The whole team has a lot of enthusiasm, and their willingness to learn is a strong point. "I think they have a chance at being a good team in the future if they practice and work hard," said Coach Judy Oliverius.

One thing that has helped them to pull together is how the team gets along. "I like our team because we're all friendly and we get along together, even the new players," said freshman Mara Geis. Freshman Kristina Sexton said, "It's a lot of hard work for us, but I enjoy it because we're getting better all the time."

BOYS BASKETBALL
The boys basketball team hasn't had any games yet, so no one knows if all their work this year is going to pay off. "We're pretty good compared to what we've been doing the past couple of years. I think that we improved because we are working harder this year than ever before," said freshman Ted Zrust.

One thing that they are trying to work harder on is their passing. "Some people aren't getting involved, and that makes it hard for the whole team. Besides passing, we really need to work on our 3-point shooting," said freshman Vilis Zaeska.

ABOVE: The BHS wrestlers showed their excitement after 125 pounder John Dynam won by a fall at the December 2 match against Shakopee.

LEFT: Sophomore Jason Birr attempting a take down on his opponent at the match against Shakopee on December 2.

On December 22 the Bison wrestlers will in be at Forest Lake, who defeated the Bison at the State Tournament in 1987.

Recently the Bison matmen defeated Monticello at Monticello in an important conference match. They also placed second to Simley at the Osseo Tournament on December 10. (Photos by Tammy Ottenstroer)

It’s starting to get cold. Deer hunting’s over. The Vikings aren’t going to make it to the Super Bowl yet another year, so what do? How about that age-old Minnesota pastime of Ice (FREEZE!) Fishing. Yup, the ice is on, the ice huts are out and the ice people are moving back out on to the frozen unknown.

Are they crazy or are they just so bored that it’s the only thing left to do in their lives?

Maybe, for some unknown reason, people get caught up in the competition of it all; you know, the people that want to say things like, "I got this huge walleye, man! You should’ve saw it!" OK, now where did you catch ’em?

The age-old question to go with the pastime.

How do you get this info out of people anyway? Here’s just a few different angles to take when that fateful moment comes and you try to pry that special info out of the corners of your fellow fishermen’s tackle boxes.

#1-The Aggressive Approach
Ted: Did you catch anything last night, Fred?
Fred: Yeah, I caught this really nice bunch of walleyes.
Ted: Really? Were you out at your house?
Fred: (Meekly) Ah...no.
Ted: Do you ever want to fish again or...
Fred: OK, OK!! It was over on Howard Lake.
Effective, but I don’t suggest that you use it on anyone over 300 lbs!

#2-The Follow Technique
Follow anybody that has a reputation of knowing where the proverbial hot spot is and when to go there. Don’t let this person figure out what you’re trying to do. You may even want to go as far as getting decked out in camo, crawling through the bushes, and spying through this person’s window to see which lake maps he is studying.

#3-Persuasion Technique
You call up your fishing buddy and BS around on the phone for an hour. Sometime in that hour slip in that you’ve been catching some nice fish on some little unknown lake back on some remote road that only a few people know about. Buddy on the other end will get all excited very rapidly and start prying on you to get more info. Fishermen are suckers for remote, hidden hot spots in the middle of nowhere.

Soon, your buddy is saying that he’s been catching loads of fish on this well known lake. He’ll be telling the truth if he says that your place sounds better and he plans to meet you there. Trust me, he’s going to his lake so meet him at his hot spot!

#4-Ask Around
This one’s tricky because it’s so hard to differentiate between fishermen (liars) and bait shop operators, who get all their info from fishermen.

Getting out and fishing on the ice may look like the major problem to innocent non-fishermen. You’ve heard the familiar lines before, "What makes you want to go out there and freeze?" and "Are you nuts?!"

Actually, the real problem that faces fishermen is how to find out where they should be fishing, finding the hot spots. This is the challenge that drives the hordes of people out on the ice to form New Buffalo every year.

One of these days someone really will find a Hot Spot, just like one of these years, the Vikings will beat Green Bay. Maybe.

Success is something we earn. Something we work hard for. For Senior Stacy Carver, a chance to go to Division 1 college to play basketball, seems easy.

The students here at BHS are given opportunities, and every once in a while their big chance to jump into the spotlight comes along. But when students are called upon by the top colleges in the area, a choice can be sometimes difficult.

Influencing Carver’s decision were scholarship programs which entitled her to a complete paid education surrounding basketball. Totally up to her, she made her decision by weighing out the reasons for going to any college. A suitable college to Carver would be the University of Minnesota.

Loving the state she lives in and wanting to stay close to home are primarily the reasons she chose to go to the U of M. "I grew up wanting to play for Minnesota," said Carver.

"I would say that she is in the uppercut of the United States. You couldn’t ask for a harder worker, or someone who puts more time into this school, always giving her best," said Nancy Bergert.

By Jason Chalupnik Feature Editor

Wires digging into the sides of your mouth, movement of your teeth seemingly overnight, the "pleasures" of digging food out of them, and trying to move your lips into the correct position for playing an instrument.

To a person with braces these things can make life painful, both physically and emotionally. There are many different types of braces today. The clear ones, the small metal ones, and then the regular metal ones. But what most people don't realize is all the troubles "brace-faces" have to face daily.

Strange thoughts often go through a person's mind when they're sitting in a dentist's chair, but think about sitting in an orthodontist's chair while they attach metal to your teeth with cement.

"I remember the very first time I was in the orthodontist's chair. I thought to myself, 'What are you doing to my mouth,'" said freshman Sheri Moon.

Eating can be a hassle for people with braces. Food becomes an integral part of the metal if a toothbrush isn't handy. Picking your teeth is something not many people care to do in public.

The first few days after someone has the "appliance" on, sore teeth create an unpleasant dining experience. Going back to infantile eating materials, soft, mushy foods may occur. But orthodontist advise chewing your way out of the temporary soreness.

"This might seen strange to most people, but you have to eat to get rid of the pain, which lasts about a day and a half," said Moon.

Rubber Bands and singers don't mix, because if they open their mouth's too wide, their rubber bands will start flying out. Retainers can be a lot of trouble to the people who wear them, because they have to remember to put them back in after eating, and they can also be quite gross to those that have to be around these people.

There is a group of people that suffer frequently because of braces, band members.

A lot of times these people start to think that the braces have lowered the quality of there playing, and that maybe they should just drop out. Yet others don't let this get to them, they take the challenge of their braces and they move forward.

"At one time I actually considered quitting, but then I considered that I was only going to have my braces for a year. So I decided to stay with it," said freshman Monica Tormondsen.

Many people that have Braces don't like the affect that they create, especially when it comes time to having their picture taken.

"I use to hate having my picture taken because the light, from the flash of the camera, would reflect off my braces and the retainers looked even more awkward," said freshman Christy Nordell.