The Bison – December 22, 1989

Either students are getting more clever, or they just aren’t smoking as much, because smoking has cut down at BHS, according to Assistant Principal Lloyd Styrawall. The last two years have had less smoking problems than before. The majority of the students caught smoking in the bathrooms have been girls. Not one incident has arisen this year with boys smoking in the bathroom, said Styrawoll. The 1989-90 BHS Student Handbook states, "Student use, and/or possession of tobacco in any form--including snuff--will be permitted on any school property or district buses, or at any school event, home or away." The first offense leads to a three day suspension; second offense, a five day suspension. Continual offenses may result in expulsion from school. This has not happened so far this year. "Smoking is ok, and [a cigarette] is good to have at the end of a long stressful day in school," said senior Brett Uhde, after admitting that he started two years ago. He also stated that he plans to quit in a couple of years. The longer someone smokes, the harder it is to quit. If the person succeeds in quitting, he/she is faced with the demanding temptation. If a student is caught with cigarettes, the cigarettes are confiscated. "I don’t care," said junior Bree Fehn, a smoker for four years. "I’ll just go out and buy another pack," said Fehn. Non-smokers, "passive smoking", can also develop severe health problems, such as respiratory infection and lung cancer if they are around smokers frequently. "Smoking is rude and smells terrible," said junior Ellen Frump, but adds "It’s their decision, not mine, and I don’t think [the administration] should try to stop them if that’s what they want to do." The Surgeon General’s Report in 1985 stated that one-fourth of all high school seniors who had ever smoked, had their first cigarette by sixth grade, half by eighth grade.

A Russian immigrant has enrolled at BHS. Pavel (Paul) Karasev challenges the district because he cannot yet speak English. Because no one in the district can speak Russian, the district hired a translator to help them register Karasev. Even though the family came to the United States with no money, Karasev’s mother cried with joy at the opportunities afforded her son when shown around the school.

From religon to dating to food and responsibilities, foreign exchange students have experienced a big undertaking by coming to Buffalo, Minnesota this year. All these students came from different parts of the world, where each had their own customs. The temporary home here has been an excellent learning experience for both them and their host family, and even the "main stream" student body.

Imagine being too scared to go to the school lavatory alone. This is how some students at Park Center School felt when a female classmate was sexually assaulted in an upstairs lavatory. Students at Park Center are more careful and don’t go to the bathrooms alone. "I look around more now," said Angela Bloomstrand, a Park Center senior. BHS students and some staff members are starting to realize it could happen here too. "I hope it wouldn’t happen, but a person would be a fool to say that it couldn’t," said science teacher Boyd Emmel. "I feel less secure to know that something like this can easily slip by," said sophomore Jenny Schmitz. Of all the victims that call the Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center 24-hour crisis phone, 85% of them are under the age of 18. Out of all the victims, 85-90% know who their perpetrator is, (parents, siblings, relatives, friends, classmates, etc.). "It’s pretty scary but even worse if you know who [the perpetrator] is. Though either way it is still bad," said Major Jo Sandretsky, Education Coordinator for the sexual assault center in St. Cloud. "Most students in our building don’t really think it could happen here, it doesn’t pertain to them--the news just comes from some place else. The same problems that exist outside, also exist inside," said Emmel. "I feel scared to know that it could happen here," said freshman Sherry Nelson. One BHS student, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, "Sexual assault is a scary experience. After going through speaking to teachers, counselors, police officers, and [Sexual Assault Center] advocates, and now facing the possibility of bringing this case to court, I’m more scared now than I was after the actual incident happened [which occured at her work place]." The degree of punishment depends upon the charges against the perpetrator, but for a juvenile, the most likely outcome would be solely psychological counseling and probation. "It’s really tough to prosecute, but it’s starting to change," said Sandretsky. Victims also go through long term effects such as low self-esteem and shorter attention spans. "A victim feels as if it’s a deep, dark family secret. They also feel a lot of shame and that they deserve it," said counselor Mary Leff. The crisis line for the assault center in St. Cloud gives counseling, assists people in reporting the incident to the police, and act as an advocate.

On Wednesday, November 29, the Supreme Court argued whether or not both biological parents of unmarried girls under 18 years of age should be notified before an abortion is taken place. The law also allows the teenager to seek a judge's permission if there is fear of the parent's reaction. The controversy is this law could be intruding on the private and personal lives of the teenagers. After all, is there a Minnesota law requiring both parents to be notified when teenagers ask for help in drug treatment for sexual transmitted diseases? "...if my daughter were to get an abortion, there would definitely be some controversy risen in the family. I'd never cast her out as a family member, I mean she is my child, but it still would create some controversy," said one parent. "I think I'm an open minded parent. I feel as long as she lives under my roof, she'll live under my rules and regulations," said Larry Bratsch, father of Stephanie Bratsch. Forty-percent of all teenagers who become pregnant each year have abortions. "I guess I can understand if some teenagers don't tell their parents," said Ray Lundeen, father of sophomore Sally Lundeen. "It depends on the family background."

FFA, no longer Future Farmers of America, but just FFA, is open to any Agriculture student. The corn drive for Camp Courage was one of the biggest events of FFA this year. Eight groups, of two to three people each, went from farm to farm collecting corn, and then they sold it to the elevators. FFA raised over $1800 for the camp, in just the one day that the corn drive was held. Another big event was the National FFA Convention in Kansas City, this fall. Four students, senior Nicole Schultes, senior Angela Pearn, senior Kurt Bengston and junior Pat Nelson, attended with the help of the fundraising money collected during their Tuesday donut sales. Currently, FFA is practicing for judging animal contests in Willmar. Finalists then proceed to the State Convention at the University of Minnesota, in April. January 6, 1990 starts the FFA Winter-Blast. Students from eighteen schools from around the state will be participating in contests, craft shows, and games through the January 18th. Rambow also urges members to attend the week-long summer Leadership Conference in Duluth, Alexandria or MacGregor, Minnesota. "It's a super experience for the students," said FFA advisor Jere Rambow. Rambow is disappointed in the low number of FFA members this year. "FFA isn't for everybody, but there's room for more people," he said.

Students blame school for burnout, but outside responsibilities also contribute to academic decline. Academic burnout is the transferring of stress to school performance caused by trying too hard until one's grades fall sharply. "A lot of pressure on students comes out of school," said counselor Gloria Rose, "work is a vicious cycle." When a student buys a car, it needs gas, repairs, etc, and to keep in fashion, new clothes are also needed. Which means money is always a problem for most students, which results in teenage workers. The cycle doesn't stop. "As a society, we can't expect students to be employed, be good students and athletes. There are a few, but they go after everything in life," said chemistry teacher Charle Keifenheim. Many on Keifenheim's tennis team quit their jobs during the season. "Students should evaluate what's more important," said Rose. "School is getting harder and harder...work interferes with homework on occasion," Beckius said. Beckius works 20 hours a week. "I work four days a week until midnight, and I just don't have enough time to do homework. On my days off, I'm tired," said senior Jeff Zvorak. Zvorak gets A's and B's despite his 32-hour work week. "School is getting to be too much of a hassle," said Zvorak. "I can pass without doing anything," said senior Kelly Woelber. Woelber gets D's and is satisfied with them. Woelber works 45 hours a week. According to Woelber his hardest class is American Literature. "It's not boring. You just have to read," Woelber said. Teachers most often give an honest effort, but teachers get frustrated also. For students to even try has changed over the years. As the student goes through the grades it's more uncontrolled to show effort," said Keifenheim. "Don't ever let anyone limit you. You can always change," said Rose.

Preparations are being made by the Buffalo Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) for a blood drive scheduled for mid-February. This week, the organization discussed the event with Lilian Paradise, a public health official. "We're hoping it will be a great success this year," said NHS President Mike Cady. Another project currently planned by NHS requires members to sacrifice their free time. The members chart out the time that would be available for volunteer work. People in need of their services would then contact them. NHS has already held several service projects this year. Shortly after the initiation of new members, NHS conducted a pre-Thanksgiving food drive for the Wright County food shelf. NHS also collected winter coats for people who need them. With the help of senior photographer Paul Wilson and substitute teacher Warren Nelson as Santa Claus, NHS took Santa Claus pictures to raise money for the Peace Corps and Special Olympics. In addition, NHS members sang carols at Ebenzer and the Retirement Center. NHS members also gave their time to raise money for Jacob Wetterling, an eleven-year-old child abducted from St. Joseph's by a man wearing a ski mask on October 22nd, 1989. Unlike most other school organizations, NHS does not have open membership. Students are considered for membership their junior and senior year and must meet four criteria to seize a position on NHS. All NHS members have achieved a grade point average of at least 9.2 and submitted an information sheet to a faculty advisory board for evaluation. The faculty advisory board scores each pledge individually based on service, leadership, character, and attitude. Fifteen points are possible and students who score twelve or more points are invited into membership. The faculty advisory board, however, reserves the right to deny membership.

Modeled after similar programs in colleges and churches, once again, BHS presented its annual, 16th Century Christmas. Two years ago, Mike and Erin Walsh organized and put on the first program. The program, based on the Madrigal dinners popular in colleges, was taken from historical records of the Christmas celebrations during the 15th, 16th, and even 17th century. They usually served full meals. This year Wassail, a spicy hot cider (traditionally ale), and plum pudding was served. While the audience ate, the performers and BHS Singers performed mini-skits, written by Erin Walsh. One featured Sir Loverrn, played by junior Bill Zimmerman, who attempted to catch his love with a potion made by Vinie the Physic, played by junior Eric Bose. The main feature of the program was the BHS Singers, who performed a variety of Christmas carols, all of which date back to the 16th century.

Preparations are being made by the Buffalo Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) for a blood drive scheduled for mid-February. This week, the organization discussed the event with Lilain Paradise, a public health official. “We’re hoping it will be a great success this year,” said NHS President Mike Cady.

Another project currently planned by NHS requires members to sacrifice their free time. The members chart out the time that would be available for volunteer work. People in need of their services would then contact them.

NHS has already held several service projects this year. Shortly after the initiation of new members, NHS conducted a pre-Thanksgiving food drive for the Wright County food shelf. NHS also collected winter coats for people who need them. With the help of senior photographer Paul Wilson and substitute teacher Warren Nelson as Santa Claus, NHS took Santa Claus pictures to raise money for the Peace Corps and Special Olympics. In addition, NHS members sang carols at Ebener and the Retirement Center. NHS members also gave their time to raise money for Jacob Wetterling, an eleven-year-old child abducted from St. Joseph’s by a man wearing a ski mask on October 22nd, 1989.

Unlike most other school organizations, NHS does not have open membership. Students are considered for membership their junior and senior year and must meet four criteria to seize a position on NHS.

All NHS members have achieved a grade point average of at least 9.2 and submitted an information sheet to a faculty advisory board for evaluation. The faculty advisory board scores each pledge individually based on service, leadership, character, and attitude. Fifteen points are possible and students who score twelve or more points are invited into membership. The faculty advisory board, however, reserves the right to deny membership.

When a student reaches the point of choosing a college, there are several factors that a person should consider, according to a handout from Buena Vista College.

Attending college fairs are a good idea, according to the handout. A student learns a bit about many of the schools there, but should decide on a few schools to seek out personal attention beforehand. Research the college before the fair as to be sure to ask good questions.

Visits tot the campus during the school year, is often recommended, and since students guide most tours, Questions about personal student life can be asked.

Some tips for admission: be on time, do not miss the set deadlines, apply for financial aid, and sign up early for classes.

Yearbook meets deadline, first half of book finished

The yearbook staff met its deadline and now have the book half complete. The 60-page deadline was reached after a three day rush to put the pieces together. The pages were sent in on last Thursday, December 14 at 1:00 pm.

“It was a stressful deadline,” said Tantanka Associate Editor, senior Ken Waldvogel.

The staff spent approximately 25 extra-curricular hours on December 11th, 12th, 13th, to complete the first half.

Board meeting scheduled

The District #877 School Board will be meeting Monday, January 29th, at 7:30 pm, in the Junior High School library. It is open to the public.

Modeled after similar programs in colleges and churches, once again, BHS presented its annual, 16th Century Christmas.

Two years ago, Mike and Erin Walsh organized and put on the first program.

The program, based on the Madrigal dinners popular in colleges, was taken from historical records of the Christmas celebrations during the 15th, 16th, and even 17th century. They usually served full meals.

This year Wassail, a spicy hot cider (traditionally ale), and plum pudding was served.

While the audience ate, the performers and BHS Singers performed mini-skits, written by Erin Walsh. One featured Sir Lovelorn, played by junior Bill Zimmerman, who attempted to catch his love with a potion made by Vinnie the Physic, played by junior Eric Bose.

The main feature of the program was the BHS Singers, who performed a variety of Christmas carols, all of which date back to the 16th century.

NOW OPEN IN MINNETONKA
541-0052

Students may not be aware of a statute that could take money out of their pockets--with the aid of their parents.

Statute 181.01 has just that power, stating that any parent or guardian wanting the wages of their charge must notify the minor’s employer of their intent. According to the state attorney general’s office statute 181.01 implies that a parent or guardian has a right to wages earned by their dependant charges.

This obscure law could complicate the lives of over fifty per-cent of the student body. A poll taken for the 1988-89 school year by Activities Director Nancy Bergert indicates that over half the student body works. Bergert’s poll also shows that students work to buy a car, clothes, or save for college.

These things are important to students, and they are willing to work for them. For the vast majority of students, a job constitutes the only way to get a car and the clothes they want. Denying a person the right earn money deflates their dreams and tears away at the fiber of the American way of life.

If the parents and guardians of the student body started to collect money, they may spend the money on items that they and the worker might not need.

Worse yet, they might gamble the money away or to indulge in another vice. Indeed, an amoral parent might even force their child to work to finance their faults.

This statute, with its potential for abuse, must have angered the dependant workers who had lost their wages from the beginning.

Yet, since its adoption in 1902, this law has neither been amended or repealed. This should not surprise anyone.

Students are the only people in society who have an interest in repealing this statute and few of those imposed on may vote. The few that can, do not.

We are enslaved by our own youth and apathy.

Despite the changes in course offerings for next year, one irritating omission remains.

Advanced Composition, among other courses, had been rubbed out, while Shakespeare, and others, have been worked in.

Yet, BHS’s well-oiled curriculum is missing Intro to Massage.

Yes! A hands-on class to instruct students on the fine art of rubbing people the right way, smoothing away tensions and academic burnout, and easing students into the up-tight real world, certainly would fit into the school’s mission statement.

Think about it.

How many people suffer from ulcers, heart attacks, high blood pressure, migraines, hyper-activity, insomnia, and bad vibes?

Back rubs, foot massages, facials, and spine cracking would be units of study students would not let slip by. BHS graduates who have completed this elective will be head and shoulders above the rest.

Other benefits could include better student attitudes, closer relations with classmates, flurries of positive strokes, and improved posture.

Students would begin to shine in other academic subjects.

The class need not be a real grind--but neither would it be a fluff-class. Required homework would no longer be seen as drudgery and students would no doubt take great pride in polishing their technique.

Normally, falling asleep in class is the highest sin imaginable for we students. Falling asleep in class insults teachers, suggesting that their lecturing is less exciting than napping. But as far as back rubs go, sleep is the ultimate complement.

Surrounded by a world of stressed-out adults speeding through the rat race of life, BHS would become an oasis where students take life laying down.

Touching thought, isn’t it?

We’ll be right back after these commercial message

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“Well, baby..."

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We don’t teach dogs to simply obey commands, we teach them to make their own moral decisions...

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...fur all over the kitchen and said “Where’s Lucky?--”

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...ruckus at the zoo today when Rocky the parrot began yelling obscenities at the crowd.

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Let’s sell our cabbage for love...

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...of the N.R.A., who claims that “guns don’t kill people, bullets do.”

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I had so much food for thought that my brain threw up...

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...and little Katie is recovering today after a little run-in with Scruffy, the family dog. “I was whopping him with a Barbie doll,” she said--

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...and now back to our program.

The holiday season is when people are most selfish--and that’s why I like it. Christmas time has always been cheerful for me, although I haven’t always been able to say why exactly. It’s not that people aren’t selfish other times of the year, but it isn’t always so obvious. Really, the only time we’re not being selfish is when we aren’t motivated.

Think about it. Motivation comes from something we want. It may be that we want to believe we are feeding the hungry in Africa, so we give. It may be that we want to go to heaven, so we obey rules. It could be that we want to become a state level athlete, so we put ourselves through training and pain-ing. It could be anything we want. I know, I’ve been motivated before.

Let’s take an example. Let’s say that you want your little sister to have all of your earthly belongings as a Christmas gift. Is this an altruistic act?

Don’t be confused. Altruism, according to a sign posted in the school mall, is unselfish caring for others. Altruism is really circular reasoning that avoids the word greed. For example, you would give your sister those things because you want her to have them, and if you get what you want (the satisfaction of giving), that’s selfish, and not an altruistic act. The only way an act could be altruistic, as we’ve defined it, is if it were done at random and without thinking. Altruism is just a word for hiding ulterior motives.

Some popular Christmas time activities include giving gifts, giving to charity, contributing to food drives, volunteering our time, and for some, respecting the laws of their church. I’m glad these aren’t altruistic activities, because if they were, we couldn’t enjoy them. In the real world, we give gifts because we enjoy watching the recipients. Some respect the laws of the church so they can go to heaven. People give to charities to feel good about themselves and/or to shed some guilt for the holiday season. We contribute to food drives to win doughnuts. Christmas has become the secular holiday of selfishness--it wasn’t always secular.

In summation:
Why do we give gifts--to make ourselves happy.
Why do we respect the laws of the church--to go to heaven.
Why do we give to charity--satisfaction or guilt.
Why do we contribute to the food drive--to win doughnuts.
why do we donate to SCC--to win a drawing.
Why do we pour creative energy into SADD posters--to win money.
If you think I’m trying to scold everyone, you’re wrong--I’m congratulating them. My objective is to deal honestly with other people, and the fact is that people always have and always will operate on a selfish basis. That’s human nature. Problems only arise when we’re not honest about our self-centered nature. Take the church, government, and school system, for example.

Christmas is the holiday of selfishness, but not honesty. Christmas is cheerful now, but I can’t wait until people are selfish and honest about it at the same time.

Second hour psychology class with senior Eric Bakke would be an unparalleled experience for anybody. This experience is especially unparalleled if you happen to sit side by side with him--and just happen to be his sister.

Not every student is lucky enough to be in the same class with one of their siblings.

Lucky me.

Mrs. Khalil--when do we study megalomania?

Before I go any further, it must be said to those who don’t know Eric (all five of you), he lives for power and success and power, and he is a genius--after all he had a perfect score on his sample MENSA test.

I, on the other hand, flunked out of DENSA.

However: He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.

You probably have seen his “Hunchback of Notre Dame” backpack and trend setting hair style, making him instantly recognizable.

His biggest desires, greatest concerns, deepest interests include Herbert Hoover, Batman, lust for power, to learn Hypnosis, to have ESP, UFO’s, anything about presidents (except Kennedy--he detests Kennedy), dolphins, calculus, and physics for fun. He reads everything from World Book Encyclopedias to books that tell you how to fish. Okay, once when he was desperate for a book, he even read a teenage romance novel. He found it “interesting.”

I’ve noticed a lot of things about Eric in second hour psychology class, the only class we have together.

For example, when taking a test, he places his backpack on those trapezoidal tables between us like it was the Berlin Wall.

As if I’m groveling for answers from him.

Everything Mrs. Khalil teaches, Eric can tie to Herbert Hoover or Adolf Hitler.

During class discussions, he feels obligated to share stories from my life. The perfect example of this was when he informed the class that I sleep walk (which is true) and how one night I wandered into his room and turned on the TV and left. He of course thought I was trying to kill him in his sleep.

No kidding.

One of the best days in class was when Mrs. Khalil noted that people are naturally power hungry. Eric smiled and laughed his Eddie-Murphy gasp and a Steve-Martin-reveling-in-power-and-glory guffaw. Strange laughs are a Bakke trait. We both have the same sense of humor and laugh together at the same things in psychology class--even if classmates don’t.

But then again, we don’t get out much.

The most exciting time of the 55 minutes are the worksheet races when he sees if he can beat me with his “vast knowledge of psychology”. He usually wins.

But I have him beat hands down when it comes to getting to class first I guess that means I’m nerdier-than he is. I must admit that we waste some time hearing about Eric’s philosophy of life. But that’s Eric for you.

In psychology everything goes back to the childhood. When we were kids he was the cowboy, I was the Indian. He got to be Batman, I played the Joker, Penguin, Riddler, and the Cat woman. He lived heroically; I died or got stuck in jail.

In Psychology we learned that your existence is basically programmed by the sixth year of life. No different for Eric. While other children were watching Sesame Street, Eric was writing books--his first he finished in third grade and it sat on the primary school shelf for a couple years afterward. I hope they didn’t throw it away. It could be worth some money when he becomes rich and famous.

If Eric is the most famed, the nearest to Bakke Celebrityhood, even more widely known than my father the most winningest coach in BHS history; I am the least known Bakke.

But that’s another story.

No kidding.

The top three albums of the 1980’s according to Rolling Stone magazine may not be in your vocabulary.

The November 16, 1989 issue of Rolling Stone honored The Clash’s “London Calling” as the number one album of the decade. Prince and the Revolution’s “Purple Rain” was number two, U2’s “The Joshua Tree” was third.

Not many students seem to be familiar with the English group, The Clash. “I haven’t even heard of the Clash’s,” said junior Mark Foede. Singer Joe Strummer, guitarist Nick Jones, Bass player Paul Simmon and drummer Micky “Topper” Headon released their 19 song double album in January of 1980.

The Clash’s angry punk style came at the best time it could. London in 1979 was a place of racial tension, rising unemployment, and widespread drug addiction. Strummers’ soaring vocals and Jones’ guitar fury were the perfect accompaniment.

Minnesota native Prince had four albums in Rolling Stone’s top 100, including the number two album “Purple Rain”, which sold 14 million copies. Although Prince and the Revolution debut many of “Purple Rain’s” songs at First Avenue in Minneapolis in August 1983, it wasn’t until June 1984 that it was released.

Prince wrote songs about sex, romance, freedom, and more sex.

The Irish quartet U2 was third with “The Joshua Tree” and 40th with “War”. The groups’ performances are singer Bono Vox, bass player Adam Clayton, guitarist The Edge, and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. U2 released “The Joshua Tree” in March 1987. The album has done extremely well, selling over 12 million copies.

U2 composes spiritual, creative, political, and social songs. The Edge puts it best by titling the album “an album of contrasts.”

Despite the changes in course offerings for next year, one irritating omission remains. Advanced Composition, among other courses, had been rubbed out, while Shakespeare, and others, have been worked in.

Yet, BHS’s well-oiled curriculum is missing Intro to Massage.

Yes! A hands-on class to instruct students on the fine art of rubbing people the right way, smoothing away tensions and academic burnout, and easing students into the up-tight real world, certainly would fit into the school’s mission statement.

Think about it.

How many people suffer from ulcers, heart attacks, high blood pressure, migraines, hyper-activity, insomnia, and bad vibes?

Back rubs, foot massages, facials, and spine cracking would be units of study students would not let slip by. BHS graduates who have completed this elective will be head and shoulders above the rest.

Other benefits could include better student attitudes, closer relations with classmates, flurries of positive strokes, and improved posture.

Students would begin to shine in other academic subjects.

The class need not be a real grind--but neither would it be a sluff-class. Required homework would no longer be seen as drudgery and students would no doubt take great pride in polishing their technique.

Normally, falling asleep in class is the highest sin imaginable for we students. Falling asleep in class insults teachers, suggesting that their lecturing is less exciting than napping. But as far as back rubs go, sleep is the ultimate complement.

Surrounded by a world of stressed-out adults speeding through the rat race of life, BHS would become an oasis where students take life laying down.

Touching thought, isn’t it?

We’ll be right back after these commercial message--click.--at the astounding low price of only $16 a can! And remember, this is Gromo brand food varnish, so that foodo’ yours is gonna glisten like--click.--seeee, you have to have to CHOP that pork real good... chop chop chop chop chop chop... You’ll need 16 cups of this, so just keep--click.--God wants you in Japan.--click.--recent study shows that up to 40% of all husbands would lay their life on the line for a “Garden Weasel”...--click. ...tonight on “You and Your Parasites: Get to know them” is your host...--click. ...but seriously. Sammy, where do you keep your other eye?” “Well, baby...”--click. ...just send $60 cash to “Barney’s Booger Burglar” and end the embarr...--click. ...people are finding that with the use of the wheel they are able to move objects more quickly and easily than by simply dragging or pushing the object...--click. We don’t teach dogs to simply obey commands, we teach them to make their own moral decisions...--click. ...fur all over the kitchen and said “Where’s Lucky?”--click. ...ruckus at the zoo today when Rocky the parrot began yelling obscenities at the crowd.--click. Let’s sell our cabbage for love...--click. ...of the N.R.A., who claims that “guns don’t kill people, bullets do.”--click. I had so much food for thought that my brain threw up.--click. ...and little Katie is recovering today after a little run-in with Scruffy, the family dog. “I was whapping him with a Barbie doll,” she said.--click. ...and now back to our program.

Here you are divided into groups. You’re a prep, a skater, or a druggie, and in Denmark you just talk to everyone and you’re not. ‘If you like The Cure and I like Belinda Carlisle, you know we can’t talk to each other’. --Christina Ravn Copty, Denmark

Foreign Exchange Students: Kalle Riitahaar a - Finland Annette Burkert - West Germany Christina Ravn Copty - Denmark Helena Jansson - Sweden Nana Hanayama - Japan Huruko “Fuko” Amano - Japan

Bison: How is religion different here than it is where you live?

Kalle: We don’t go to church every Sunday. We only go once or twice a year.

Christina: Religion is probably not that different because God is God, Hell is Hell, and the Devil is the Devil. The difference is that you guys have a double standard, you go to church once or twice a week and because of that you believe that, ‘I am such an honest believer and I’m surly going to go to heaven’. Then the rest of the week you do whatever.

Bison: Is that primarily your observation as students here?

Christina: At home if you believe in God you don’t go out and do something that wouldn’t please him. Like going out on Friday and getting drunk, and then going to church on Sunday!

Helena: In Sweden we are born into the Swedish Day Church, that’s the Lutheran church. No one goes to church anyway. It’s kind of the same as in Denmark, if you believe in God you just don’t go out and get drunk on Fridays and then go to church on Sundays and be holy. In Sweden it’s mostly the older people that go to church. If you do believe in God, you just don’t go to church many times anyway. I go to church maybe two or three times a year.

Annette: In Germany some go to church every Sunday and some don’t. I think another big difference is you’ve got a lot of religious groups. I was told that here in Buffalo you’ve got at least eleven churches, and in Germany we’ve got only Catholics and Lutherans and maybe some other ones, but I’m not sure. It’s basically the same as in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.

Nana: I have no religion, but I believe in God. Only some Japanese go to church.

Bison: What are the dominant religions in Japan?

Nana: Buddhist and Christian.

Bison: Are your host parents more strict than your real parents?

Kalle: Yes, my host family is. Here you have to be home at a certain time and have the same rules as my ‘sister’.

Christina: In Denmark I’m an only child and I have a very free friend to friend relationship with my mother and not a mother to daughter relationship. Here I have a sister and she is 13 years old and the same rules they, my host parents, made for her are the same for me. I don’t think that rules for 13 year old’s should be the same as rules for 15 year old’s.

Helena: I don’t think that my host parents are very strict. As long as they know where I am it doesn’t matter what time I am home, and I like that. It’s about the same as it is for me in Sweden.

Annette: At home I can tell my mother that I am going out and I can tell her that I’ll be home maybe seven o’clock, eight o’clock maybe a bit later. Here they want to know seven o’clock, o.k. then, seven o’clock and not a quarter past seven. I can believe this because they are responsible for us.

Nana: My host parents are very friendly and not strict. Here I have a lot of freedom. I have no problem.

Bison: Is that different from home?

Nana: No, almost the same.

Huruko: I don’t think so. My host parents are very nice. My friends can come to my house, and they help me with many things like my homework. I think they are very kind.

Bison: What are the biggest differences between this country and where you live?

Kalle: Food. In school we have all handmade food by the cooks.

Christina: Church and dating, dating especially. Here you have to go out to places and it’s like “big deal”. When you date here you have to do something. Here you can’t stay at a guy’s house and he can’t stay over at your house. It does not mean you have to do anything. Here they would say, “What! Are you crazy!”. The drinking thing. We have a more relaxed relationship to drinking at home. You can go into a liquor store when you are six years old and buy a bottle of Johnny Walker. But if you go to a disco you have to be 18 to be served. Who cares if you look a little older, that will not be a problem. But here if you go to a party it’s like, ‘Thad three beers and I’m so drunk’. Also when you go to parties, it’s like destroying things

...and parties go hand in hand. If you didn’t destroy anything it’s not a party. The parties that seniors have here are like the parties that I had in seventh grade! Now you just sit and talk and you have fun. We don’t display that we are drunk because it’s not a big deal if you’re drunk. It’s like, ‘yucky, she’s drunk’.

Helena: The drinking thing is the same in Sweden as it is here, you have to be drunk if you’re at a party, and it’s so cool to be drunk. Attitude is different, it’s a big deal in Sweden if a 16 year old was to stay overnight at their boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s house. Here you go out with someone four or five times and you call them your boyfriend and in Sweden you don’t even ask someone out unless you really like them. Food, school food, is almost like junk food. Here families have at least 2 cars and a van.

Annette: Same as what they said, same everywhere in Europe. Sports. Here you practice a lot and practice is very hard. We have clubs in the evenings if you want to practice a sport really hard. We’ve got school till one o’clock, and we don’t eat at school, we do our homework in the afternoons and in the evenings we go out to clubs or just somewhere. A class has got a class room, here is the teacher’s class and the students must go to that class. In Germany you go to a class and the teacher comes to you.

Christina: School starts at different times, sometimes eight o’clock, maybe nine o’clock. We don’t have mods like you do here. If we get out early one day you don’t need to take that hour that you’re missing.

Annette: Here you must be on time, if you’re 25 seconds late you need a pass. In Germany you can be 10 minutes late and say, ‘I was at the bathroom’.

Nana: Food, we have rice and special food in Japan. American food is like a snack. School is different, we have a 10 minute break time between each class. We have homeroom before and after school, and there we have announcements, relax, and everybody works hard. In a private school it is not hard but public school we study very hard. Most Japanese students can drink and smoke.

Huruko: Now we can choose many kinds of subjects but in Japan we can choose only one or two classes. The teacher comes into the room.

Christina: Here you are divided into groups. You’re a prep, a skater, or a druggie, and in Denmark you just talk to everyone and you’re not. ‘If you like The Cure and I like Belinda Carlisle, you know we can’t talk to each other’. The way I dress, people would probably say she is a skater, and I’m not because I don’t like The Cure. I don’t really fit into anything here and that is something that really bothers me because here you have to belong to a group. It’s not like you can have friends from all the groups because they will not be friends with just an acquaintance.

Nana: We don’t smile in Japan when you take pictures. You can’t wear bracelets in school.

Bison: Do you feel that there is more unity in BHS than in your schools?

Annette: When you have special events here everybody always gets together. In Germany it’s more like all the people from one class are very close together because we spend the whole day together. Here it’s people from 10th grade are together with announcements, relax, and everybody works hard.

The parties go hand in hand. If you didn’t destroy anything it’s a party. The parties that seniors have here are like the parties I had in seventh grade! Now we just sit and talk and you have fun. We don’t display that we are drunk because it’s not a big deal if you’re drunk. It’s like, ‘yucky, he’s drunk’.

Helena: The drinking thing is the same in Sweden as it is here, you have to be drunk if you’re at a party, and it’s so cool to be drunk. Attitude is different, it’s a big deal in Sweden if a 16 year old was to stay overnight at their boyfriend or girlfriend’s house. Here you go out with someone four or five times and you call them your boyfriend and in Sweden you don’t even ask someone out unless you really like them. Food, school food, is almost like junk food. Here families have at least 2 cars and a van.

Annette: Same as what they said, same everywhere in Europe. Sports. Here you practice alot and practice is very hard. We have clubs in the evenings if you want to practice a sport really hard. We’ve got school till one o’clock, and we don’t eat at school, we do our homework in the afternoons and in the evenings we go out to clubs or just somewhere. A class has got a class (room), here it’s the teacher’s class and the stu-

dents must go to that class. In Germany you go to a class and the teacher comes to you.

Christina: School starts at different times, sometimes eight o’clock, maybe nine o’clock. We don’t have mods like you do here. If we get out early one day you don’t need to take that hour that you’re missing.

Annette: Here you must be on time, if you’re 25 seconds late you need a pass. In Germany you can be 10 minutes late and say, ‘I was at the bathroom’.

Nana: Food, we have rice and special food in Japan. American food is like a snack. School is different, we have a 10 minute break time between each class. We have homeroom before and after school, and there we have announcements, relax, and everybody works hard. In a private school it is not hard but public school we study very hard. Most Japanese students can drink and smoke.

Huruko: Now we can choose many kinds of subjects but in Japan we can choose only one or two classes. The teacher comes into the room.

Christina: Here you are divided into groups. You’re a prep, a skater, or a druggie, and in Denmark you just talk to everyone and you’re not. ‘If you like The Cure and I like Belinda Carlisle, you know we can’t talk to each other’. The way I dress, people would probably say she is a skater, and I’m not because I don’t like The Cure. I don’t really fit into anything here and that is something that really bothers me because here you have to belong to a group. It’s not like you can have friends from all the groups because they will not be friends with just an acquaintance.

Nana: We don’t smile in Japan when you take pictures. You can’t wear bracelets in school.

Bison: Do you feel that there is more unity in BHS than in your schools?

Annette: When you have special events here everybody always gets together. In Germany it’s more like all the people from one class are very close together because we spend the whole day together. Here it’s people from 10th grade are together with

Continued from page 7

“Someone asked me how old I was. Then asked me if I was the same age in Denmark.”

people from 11th grade, well, sports for an example. In one semester we don’t have six different classes, we have about 14.

Helena: You have a school spirit here that we don’t have in Sweden, but you’re more divided in groups when you don’t have these special events. You’re close to your class only, and not the other classes.

Christina: You have a lot of pep-fests and stuff. We have weeks where we spend time together, or we have video weeks, where you make something, usually projects. Some classes would make a play, or decorate the halls. I was on the video team and we went around and filmed everybody and at the end of the day we showed it to everybody after we edited it. We don’t have pep fests.

Kalle: In my school we don’t have anything like pep fests. We just go to school to learn things. We don’t have anything like hockey in school, you have to join something after school.

Nana: Usually we’re not together, but with your best friends you’re together all day. You have very exciting sports events.

Bison: What was your first reaction when you were notified of your stay in Buffalo?

Christina: I want a boyfriend called Bill, Buffalo Bill!

Annette: I noticed Buffalo first and not the M-N. I thought of the biggest Buffalo I had ever heard of, the one in New York. Then I noticed that M-N meant Minnesota. Then I looked at a map for Buffalo. I thought ‘...where is it, I can’t find it!’ Then I bought a map of Minnesota and it was not there! I really wasn’t sure if it was near Canada or near Iowa! I wasn’t even sure there was a place called Buffalo. Then I received a letter from my host mother and she wrote that it was one hour from Minneapolis and St. Paul. They sent me some post cards from Minnesota so I could see what it looked like before I came. I had not seen much of Buffalo yet. Whenever we go anywhere, we go to Minneapolis.

Helena: I have two brothers that were exchange students in the U.S. One of them was in Arkansas, which is in the middle, and the other one was in California, which is in the southern part, so I thought with my luck, I would be in the northern part. I didn’t want to do that, I wanted to go where it was warm because we have about the same weather as you have, and I didn’t want that, I wanted something different. When I got the message that I would be in Minnesota, I just thought, ‘Okay, that’s my luck’. I really didn’t think much about it, but I wanted to come someplace where it was warm. This is fine.

Christina: In the beginning I wanted to go to California, of course. Then the A.S.S.E. organization told me that one out of a hundred go to California. And because I’m a very, very big Prince fanatic, I just figured, why not go to Minnesota. I wanted to go to Minneapolis. Then when I found out that I was going to Buffalo I thought, ‘There is 5000 people in Buffalo!’. I left my own town because there were too few people there. It was like everybody knew me there, and it was, ‘Oh, Hi, Christina.’ In my city there is 50,000. Then I came to Buffalo and they have only 5000 people! I really didn’t care because they said it was 45 minutes away from Minneapolis. I figured that I would be going there quite often, but now that I am here I see that I have been there only twice. There are only 50,000 people in my city and some still call it a village.

Kalle: When I first heard that I was going to Buffalo, I thought that I was going to Buffalo, New York. Then I saw the M-N and I thought ‘What does that mean?’. Then somebody told me that it meant Minnesota. Then I got out my map to see where it was but I could never find it. When I got a letter for my host parents they told me where it was. I didn’t really think too much about it. One of them was in Arkansas, which is in the middle, and the other one was in California, which is in the southern part, so I thought with my luck, I would be in the northern part. I didn’t want to do that, I wanted to go where it was warm because we have about the same weather as you have, and I didn’t want that, I wanted something different. When I got the message that I would be in Minnesota, I just thought, ‘Okay, that’s my luck’. I really didn’t think much about it, but I wanted to come someplace where it was warm. This is fine.

Bison: What is the most difficult thing you have had to deal with since you arrived here?

Annette: The biggest problem I have is that I live out in the country. At home I can ride my bike whenever I want to go some where. At home I don’t have to ask people for rides some where. At home I can also take the bus some where. Here you have no public buses to ride, and I can’t ride a bike because every thing is too far apart, or it is too cold. Here I have to ask people for rides to places, and have them pick me up at a certain time.

Nana: We don’t need cars in Japan because every thing is so easy to get to like buses, taxis and bikes. Here you can’t do that. I’m O.K. now but three months ago it was very hard. I can never go places myself.

Huroko: Japanese people are very shy. We don’t sit around in class and talk.

Helena: I think the toughest thing is that I don’t have a driver’s licence. You always have to ask your friends, ‘O.K. now when we go to the movie can you pick me up, please, please?!’. I am not used to it, so it feels weird. You almost have to beg them. After school I hate riding the school bus, so I have to ask someone to give me a ride home, then I feel kind of dumb. If someone can’t give me a ride, I have to call my host parents, and if they are not home I have to wait until they do get home, which could take up to two hours. It would be a lot easier if I had a driver’s licence and was allowed to drive.

Christina: Probably getting friends. Getting to know people is not so hard because you’re an exchange student. Every body comes up to you and asks ‘how are you?’ and stuff, but after some time they lose interest in you. It’s not as easy making friends as people think.

Kalle: I have friends that drive cars.

Bison: What have you learned about the United States that you wouldn’t have learned if you hadn’t have come here?

Helena: I thought I would see more drugs here than there is.

Christina: For the people who do use drugs it’s no big deal, they don’t try and hide it. It’s not something you keep as a secret. You want your friends to know about it.

Bison: What are some of the stupidest things people have asked you?

Annette: What is the capital of Munich?

Helena: What is the capital of Europe? Who is president of Europe? Do they have polar bears in Sweden? Do you have days like we have? Are there trees in Sweden?

Christina: Someone asked me how old I was. Then asked me if I was the same age in Denmark. Have you got balloons over there?

Once I told someone that when a school bus breaks down when it snows, everybody takes their polar bears and rides them to school. They believed me!

Est thing is that I don’t have a driver’s licence. You always have to ask your friends, ‘O.K. now when we go to the movie can you pick me up, please, please?!’. I am not used to it, so it feels weird. You almost have to beg them. After school I hate riding the school bus, so I have to ask someone to give me a ride home, then I feel kind of dumb. If someone can’t give me a ride, I have to call my host parents, and if they are not home I have to wait until they do get home, which could take up to two hours. It would be a lot easier if I had a driver’s licence and was allowed to drive.

Christina: Probably getting friends. Getting to know people is not so hard because you’re an exchange student. Every body comes up to you and asks ‘how are you?’ and stuff, but after some time they lose interest in you. It’s not as easy making friends as people think.

Kalle: I have friends that drive cars.

Bison: What have you learned about the United States that you wouldn’t have learned if you hadn’t have come here?

Helena: I thought I would see more drugs here than there is.

Christina: For the people who do use drugs it’s no big deal, they don’t try and hide it. It’s not something you keep as a secret. You want your friends to know about it.

Bison: What are some of the stupidest things people have asked you?

Annette: What is the capital of Munich?

Helena: What is the capital of Europe? Who is president of Europe? Do they have polar bears in Sweden? Do you have days like we have? Are there trees in Sweden?

Christina: Someone asked me how old I was. Then asked me if I was the same age in Denmark. Have you got balloons over there?

Once I told someone that when a school bus breaks down when it snows, everybody takes their polar bears and rides them to school. They believed me!

Continued from page 1

To help Karasev with the language, the guidance department set up a special schedule. He takes one hour of English as a second language, two hours of indoor/outdoor physical education, and for another hour he is shown around the building, learning English and hopefully making him feel welcome. He also takes the World Studies two hour block from Social Studies teacher John Ause, who has traveled in the Soviet Union and knows Russian phrases.

Ause has his students teach Karasev new words by going through Russian and English books during mods. In particular, junior Grant Ingersoll has worked with Karasev.

Like the students, the school administration has made an effort to help Karasev. The district plans to buy a detailed Russian/English dictionary, and Activities Director Nancy Berger tave Karasev the Bison sweatshirt he now sports.

However, “When the new- ness wears off, we shouldn’t forget about him and also the other students with significant needs,” said counselor Mary Lynn Leff.

Karasev’s family came to the United States on November 15. The Karasevs live with Dr. Gary and Diane Miller. The Millers do not know Russian and so they use sign language, learned some Russian words and purchased a Russian dictionary.

The Karasevs are also learning the language quickly.

“They are neat people,” said Miller.

Wrestling coach Gerry Bakke sets two goals every year: to win the conference and go to state. And once in a great long time to win the State tournament.

This goal this year may not be to win state but it is close. The wrestlers believe that they can win state this year because they are ranked high in the state and they have one of the better teams for Buffalo.

“The team may have one of toughest schedules we have ever had,” said Bakke. Some of the teams that will be giving them trouble are Grand Rapids, Staples, Paynesville, and Albert Lea.

Two of the big tournaments which Bakke is focusing on this season is the Paynesville and Osseo tournaments. Buffalo has never won either of these tournaments which would make a victory even more satisfying. Bakke is also hoping to place in the top 10 in the state. “We can win it all if we wrestle the way we started this year,” said Junior Dan Miller.

Bakke also says that he likes the way the wrestlers have been wrestling over-aggressively.

Even though the team is ranked highly in the state, Bakke says “There’s nothing wrong with losing as long as you learn something from it.”

Bakke also thinks you need to be defeated once in a while if you are to win the state. He said that on one of the old teams, they went undefeated until the region meet and then they lost it to another team. Bakke says it was because they became over-confident.

Although the team is a contender in the state, Bakke has learned over the years not to get over-confident or you will lose everything you have worked for.

After the first few matches, the team seems to be living up to its state ranking, but they believe they can and should do better if they’re to win the state. They also agree that they have the big matches coming up soon on the road and that they will tell them how they can do against the other contending teams.

Going down the side of a steep hill at breakneck speeds of over 35 m.p.h. sounds like a way to commit suicide but for 41 secondary students, it is fun.

The Buffalo Ski Team consists of 14 seniors, five juniors, four sophomores, 10 freshmen, and eight junior high students. “Five years ago, there were only two racers who were coached by their parents and sponsored by the school,” said coach Rick Toso. The cost of being a member of the ski team is very high. “Present skiers foot all expenses, paying $240 each. The school provides helmets and transportation,” said Coach Toso. Members must provide outfits and all other equipment, including skis and poles, themselves.

The strength of the Buffalo Ski Team is the leadership of the seniors but the team needs to develop its 23 rookies for the future. The team’s goals are to increase membership on the team and to be more competitive in meets. The leader of the ski team, however, has had much experience including winning the Minnesota State Slalom Championship. Freshman Tasha Nelson leads the team with the state title under her belt and national experience.

Nelson started skiing at the age of three with the help of her parents. When she came soaring on her Rossignol slalom skis earlier this year at the state championship, she proved she had the right stuff to go to nationals. Getting to the top of the state wasn’t easy, though. Training two hours a day and competing nationally have topped her list lately.

Nelson’s biggest dream is to make it to the Winter Olympics. She says that depending on how well she does, she might make it to France in 1992.

Ski meets are very complicated and interesting. It is not just meeting at the top of a designated hill and skiing down to the bottom. The teams meet at Buck Hill. Each team is composed of ten boys and ten girls. Each racer makes two runs down the hill, the times are added, and the individual racer with the lowest time is the winner. The team with the lowest average time wins the combined award. The first meet is January 4 against Orono and Edina. As of December 11, the girls had two wins boys were searching for their first win this season.

Trapping, a way of life years ago, is now a kind of sport.

Unless you have gone trapping you probably haven’t had this enjoyment. Junior Steve Stelton has been trapping since the age of 10. He traps muskrats, mink, fox, and raccoon. The season for fox and raccoon started the third weekend of October. The season for muskrat and mink started the last weekend of October and the first weekend in November.

Stelton traps at the Ronald Varner Farm, which is a mile and a half from the school. He has a total of 95 traps worth about $300. He checks them every day to see if he has gotten anything. He traps for money but mostly to be outside, to keep busy, and for the thrill of catching things.

It is really hard to catch fox, because they have the best noses in the world. “You have to outfox the fox,” said Stelton. When you set up traps, you look for tracks and droppings where they have been feeding and put them around that area.

Fox pelts sell for $10, raccoons from $8-10, and prime, male minks are $40. Muskrats run from $3-4.

T’was the night before publication
And alone in the school,
My mind was a blank
And I felt like a fool.

A gap on page nine
Was this editor’s worry.
It had to be filled
And in a great hurry!

But this was the sports page
And there was no action:
No games, no events-
Not even a fraction.

When from the computers
There arose such a clatter.
I sprang to the lab
To see what was the matter.

And there on a monitor
Screen did appear
A lively, new poem
Which gave me great cheer.

The poem was written
With margins all set.
And it fit on the page!
I had nothing to fret.

And the very last line
Of this marvelous sight
Was “Happy Winter Vacation,
And to a good night.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Have a safe and happy Holiday Vacation!

The loss of former student Stacy Carver has enhanced the emphasis on team-work and changed the nature of the girls basketball team.

“A lot has changed since last year, everything from philosophy to coaching to intensity, which has made our team more unified,” said junior Cristen Holtorf.

Last year, more revolved around Carver and the team usually tried to get the ball to her. This year, however, the participants of the varsity team all play at about the same level.

“We depend on five instead of just one,” said senior Cami Dixon.

This equality of skill has led to a greater level of team unity. Game strategies must leave shooting opportunities open for five forward players instead of just one, forcing co-operation among the players.

“No one can take the spotlight this year, and say they’re the best,” said junior Emily Casperson.

The presence of only two seniors, Jolyn Halvorson and Dixon, on the team this year further complicates matters.

“We all learn from each other,” said Halvorson.

Age has come to have no bearing and members have become good friends, despite any age differences. In addition, this allows more playing time for juniors and sophomores at the varsity level. With a strong base team coming up, this may build a stronger team in the coming two years.

“Next year things will be better, and the year after that things will be better yet,” said sophomore Leslie Anderson.

The girls basketball team has done better than expected. They have lost three games, and have won two. Although they played no games this week, they will face a number of challenging teams after winter vacation.

More fans than usual came to the first home games. The team appreciates this.

“We need a lot of fan support,” said Casperson.

They think of themselves as being realistic. They do not sport the cliches of “We’re going to take State” or “Our goal is to be number one.”

They just want to be competitive.

Winning a game surprises the boy's basketball team. “It is surprising that we won a game this early in the season,” said Captain Troy Foede after their win against St. Paul.

For a young and inexperienced team, realism is the key with only one senior starter. They aim to improve each practice and be competitive in all their games. “Goal setting isn’t a big thing on our team,” said Coach Wermager. “How far the team goes depends on how the team plays and how much they improve in practices.” He adds: “I don’t care how much we win or lose-just that the team is competitive in each game.”

“Hutchinson will be our biggest competitor in the conference,” said junior Jason Minnick. The team has a few goals, one of which is to win the conference. Even though the team is young and consists of one senior, 15 juniors, and one sophomore, some of the juniors who played last year and this year will again be playing varsity with more experience. “The juniors who played varsity last year did well, and it was a good learning experience for them,” said Coach Wermager.

With all of the experience that the juniors have gotten the team should be a fairly good competitor in the new conference. The team is a bit lacking on height but the team proved that height isn’t everything in the game against St. Paul. The team does have three or more people that can dunk the ball, although “fans can’t expect any dunks this year,” said Minnick. The fans will just wait and see how far the basketball team goes.

My dreams are deferred. My body's not in shape for the sports I'm interested in. Don't get me wrong. I am physically fit, however, I'm just not the right gender.

My goal since fourth grade will never be fulfilled, since gymnastics and swimming aren't available in this school.

I'm a senior, in a school of sports and activities, wondering if I'm fulfilled enough to go on to a much crueler world.

The chooses I have are few or none: to transfer schools now would be ludicrous, fight for a swimming team for men now would be impossible, and to ask for a non-sponsored men's gymnastics team would be preposterous.

The problems evolve from the student body. If the sport doesn't have the right appeal, then there isn't a team.

Two years ago I asked thirty eight students (all male) about swimming and gymnastics,and received a postive response. They wanted both sports to exist. With that information in mind, I went and asked the activities director about these sports. During the time there wasn't an equal amount of mens' and womens' activities. That was the point of not creating those sports.

This year two activities were given to the student body, girls' swimming and boys' soccer. I was wondering at the time that swimming came into effect if I had a chance to participate. But the word "women" stood in my way. I couldn't join a womens' team due to my male gender. Is this fair? If senior Leah Lemke can be in a sports not given to women, then men should be able to do the same. Perhaps you have had the passion in your heart to join a team, but couldn't and knew you could succeed. That feeling is devastating to the self-worth of each one of us.

The ways to change the policies are to ask for the program, petition for the program and to make sure your voice is heard around the state. If this doesn't help, protest and walk out.

To leave you with a thought of my opening, death is not just physical but emotional, psychological and painful to those who know what I mean. The activities that I participated in through my junior and senior high school years have been the best a person can have, but without those that can fulfill me. I still feel empty.

As more team sports are added to the BHS athletic curriculum, and the conference expands, the question is raised why certain other sports haven't been instituted as of yet.

Men's volleyball and gymnastics are two of the most often-mentioned sports needed at BHS. Runners-up include girls' soccer, archery, boxing, men's swimming, co-ed bowling, and a cross-country ski team. Co-ed teams in all sports have been mentioned by many people as something they would like to join, especially volleyball.

Obviously, some of the above teams might not have a conference available in Minnesota, but the opportunity for most of the sports mentioned are open.

Currently, the interest in a men's volleyball team is of pronounced proportions. Of over 20 BHS guys asked, every one would be interested in playing on either a men's or a co-ed team. Freshmen Kevin Kottke and Jim Kath said, "Sure we'd be interested...it sounds like a lot of fun." And junior Colleen Pemberton said, "From what I've seen, there are quite a few guys who can play a great game of volleyball."

Junior Casey Mattson agreed that a men's or co-ed volleyball team would be beneficial, and that he would join if there was one, but also added that all the male players would probably be involved in football, thereby unable to play volleyball.

Multi-sport coach Gerald Bakke thought that womens' wrestling and soccer teams and mens' volleyball, swimming and gymnastics teams would be good additions, but said "You have to be careful not to get too many sports per season. I'd like to see a good variety of sports for athletes to choose from--say four a season--in order to give a diversity of athletes a chance to do what they're really good at, but if there's too many different sports, the teams will be watered down. There will be too few players for too many teams."

The Bison hockey team plans to move towards high standards of excellence in the Met Center. After the first few games of the year, they lead the unranked teams. "I think we can win all of our games this year if we play them right," said junior Josh Leal. During the weeks of practices and games the team's players have commented on the outcome of their progress in the strive for the finals at the Met Center. "We will have to play better than ever, if we want to make it to the Met Center," say many of the players. The team also thinks they're the "best team Buffalo has ever had" said junior Jason Krueger.