The Bison – December 22, 1993

Enrollment in high school is rising, but so is the concern among students about the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). As the agreement approaches, students are weighing the potential benefits and drawbacks of increased trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

"It's a great idea to have free trade, but what independence will we lose?" said Sophomore Melissa Weinstock.

Some believe NAFTA will benefit the U.S. by making it easier to import goods at lower prices. "The theory is that by lowering the costs between the U.S. and Mexico, it will increase the number of jobs in the U.S.," said junior Carlos Hernandez. However, others are more skeptical. "It's harder for companies to produce in Mexico because of lower salaries, and that might hurt American jobs," said senior Maria Garcia.

Social studies teacher Raymond Laird said, "I believe the benefits could outweigh the drawbacks, but we have to be careful about how it affects the labor market."

Many students are also concerned about the impact on specific industries, such as manufacturing and agriculture. "I'm worried about how it will affect my future career in manufacturing," said junior David Smith.

As the debate continues, students are finding ways to educate themselves and their peers about the complexities of NAFTA. "We need to understand the pros and cons before we can form an opinion," said senior Sarah Jenkins.

Education has us wondering as a nation: Why are our students failing to do as well as the other countries of this world? Don't get me wrong. There are a lot of super schools in America, but as a whole, our American school system is crumbling.

A lot of suggestions have been made about this topic, but one answer rings loud and clear to me.

Our media has tried to block it out, recent political personalities have also trashed this beacon. I feel it is time to shed some light on this very important solution.

For the most part our teaching methods have veered away from their original purpose. The original purpose of teaching wasn't to cram your brain with information, but to show you how to arrive at an answer.

Teaching has become based on the outcome rather than the way to get to that outcome. Students cannot get to an outcome efficiently, without studying and being attentive in class.

Recent study techniques have been undermined by ignorant teaching methods. For instance, some teachers allow for retaking tests up to three times. By the third time any student can pass a test. This also does not promote good study habits.

The fact of the matter is teaching techniques really don't need an overhaul. The families of our great nation have deteriorated, and so have our school; coincidence; I think not.

The fact of the matter is families and school are intertwined. Singleparent homes can succeed and some do, but the usual case is just the opposite.

With strong family support students can achieve academic excellence. Students who have no family support tend not to put forth the effort.

An example:

Look at the majority of our innercity youth, gang members. For the most part they come from single parent homes; usually mothers, who work while their children are at home.

This allows for children getting into gangs, dropping out of school and ending up dead.

That's just one example of how families influence education. Every once in a while along comes a determined student who can strive evenly through adversity. But we can't just sit around and hope more and more students will excel through problems.

We must take an initiative to bring back parental responsibility, as well as healthy parent/teacher relations.

Let's take a look at real life for example. Lets say again. If students work hard and study, like the Bears, they will succeed.

In real life you don't get chance after chance to do things. This type of education doesn't promote realism in this school.

Anyway, I hope this gets people to think about how deep our problems as a nation are, the only way to reverse this is to strengthen our homes.

Well, Sunday rolls around and guess what, the Bears crushed the Packers. Gee, I wonder why? The Packers neglected to study or practice and they got annihilated. Do you think Paul Tagliabue is going to tell the Packers, "Well, I know you didn't win on Sunday so I'll call up the Bears and tell them to play you guys again, and again until you can beat 'em." Of course not.

You're probably thinking; how does this collate with education? Simple, by not letting students take tests over and over again. Lets say again. If students work hard and study, like the Bears, they will succeed.

In real life you don't get chance after chance to do things. This type of education doesn't promote realism in this school.

Anyway, I hope this gets people to think about how deep our problems as a nation are, the only way to reverse this is to strengthen our homes.

DEAR EDITOR:

As a senior at Buffalo Senior High School this year, I feel that the senior class should be able to try open campus this year. After all, the senior class of last year had the opportunity to experience open campus during fourth quarter. I understand that it didn't exactly work out as planned last year, but the senior class of this year is a new batch of young adults. I believe that we can handle the responsibility of open campus and deserve a chance at it.

Most of the senior class holds down responsibilities: going to school, keeping our grades up, and participating in extracurricular activities. In addition, many of us hold down jobs as well. We have to find transportation to get to a job, accomplish all of the responsibilities to maintain the job, and for many of us paying our own car insurance and other necessities.

But then we are back in school and we have to ask for a pass to go to the bathroom. What is wrong with this picture?

Thank you,
Senior Ana Miller

DEAR EDITOR:

Last month I was driving to school on Hwy. 55 early in the morning. I saw a woman walking along the highway, head tilted down to avoid the cold wind. About a quarter mile later I drove past a stalled car on the shoulder and surprised that the woman's car had broken down. Knowing thats she had a long way to go, I did a U-turn on the highway, went back to pick her up, and took her to a service station. But I wonder, how many dozens and dozens of people drove by her and never stopped to ask if she needed help? Gee, wonder if that had been me?

On many bulletin boards in school are green signs that state: "Random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty." I think we all can profit by revisiting the "random acts of kindness." I believe that most of us, most of the time, are tempted to be kind. We hold the door open for people with loaded arms, we give a helping hand to someone who slipped and fell on the ice, we ask a crying child at the shopping mall if we can help find mommy and daddy, we compliment our friend who is wearing a new outfit, and we are there to lend a listening ear to a distraught acquaintance.

Perhaps a couple of times you may not have seized the opportunity to be kind, and I challenge you to think of one act of kindness to try. For example, if the grocery cashier is cranky try saying, "It looks as if you're having a tough day." Or how about to the parent who asked you eight zillion times to clean your room. What could you say this time? How about, "I must drive you crazy when I don't do what you've asked me to do around the house." Those simple responses will get you much farther than the tempting snide remark.

I believe that at heart we all want to be kind, for when we make the decision for kindness, we begin to recreate a world worthy living in and a community of shared hope. School becomes a better place to learn, and home becomes a better place to live. If times are tough, it only means that our gifts of kindness are more needed than ever. Give it a try over the holiday - I think you'll like what happens! By the way, have a wonderful and safe vacation!

-Mary Loberg, Assistant Principal

It's funny how life tricks with friendship. When I was little, I used to live in Springfield, and my best friend was my next door neighbor. His name was James. James came over every day after school, and we played outside all summer. We played hide-and-seek, tag, and everything else. I remember dressing up in costumes, pretending to be princesses and fairies, and running through the grass. We played in the backyard, in the street, and even in the woods behind our houses. We would spend hours playing, talking, and laughing. I remember the feeling of pure joy and the sense of adventure that came with every game. We were inseparable, two little souls lost in a world of imagination. But as we grew older, things began to change. The games became less frequent, and the conversations became more serious. We started to have different interests and different ways of looking at the world. The shared laughter and the simple joys of childhood began to fade, replaced by the complexities of adolescence and the growing pains of becoming adults. We were growing up, and in the process, we were growing apart. The bond that once seemed unbreakable began to fray. We drifted into different social circles, pursued different passions, and eventually, our paths diverged completely. The once-constant presence in my life became a distant memory, a shadow of the friendship we once shared. It's a bittersweet realization, knowing that even the strongest connections can change with time. But perhaps that's just a part of growing up—learning to let go of the past and embrace the new people and experiences that come our way. Even though James and I are now strangers, I will always cherish the memories of our childhood friendship. They are a part of who I am, a reminder of a time when life was simple and the world was full of wonder.

A catholic doctor who performs abortions will elsewhere change their religious beliefs.

Abortion is one of the most debated and talked about issues in the United States today. Women's reproductive rights, a topic that was not so controversial in the past, is now at the center of a fierce political battle. The debate is not just about the legality of abortion, but also about the moral and ethical implications of the procedure. Some argue that abortion is a fundamental right, a matter of bodily autonomy and personal choice. They believe that women should have the right to make decisions about their own bodies and their own lives. Others argue that abortion is morally wrong, a violation of the sanctity of life. They believe that life begins at conception and that every human being has a right to life, regardless of the circumstances of their birth. This debate is not just about politics; it's about deeply held beliefs and values. It's about how we define life, how we define rights, and how we define morality. The issue of abortion is complex and multifaceted, with no easy answers. It's a debate that will continue to rage for years to come, as society grapples with these profound questions.

Editors aide
The editorials show that the scenario has begun to occur. Many experienced drivers try to get ice/snow with the ice and

New drivers have also been involved. Many fear that the ice and cement/frozen road in the vicinity, it's a

I think that one thing can change all the people who get into the winter driving accidents. The school parking lot could be powder snow. When more snow starts to avoid the school rush. I think the reason is winter is fear. People, especially new drivers, have a fear of driving in an accident or maybe even worse.

Everyday the commercials make it seem like driving in the slush is a death sentence. They tell you that every time you step on the brakes, you're going to slide into a ditch. But that's not always the case. Sometimes just the fact that it's icy and cold makes people nervous. It's a psychological thing. It's not that the ice is actually that dangerous, but the fear of it is. And that fear can lead to accidents. People might drive too slowly, or they might drive too fast, or they might not be paying enough attention to the road. And that's when the accidents happen.

I think that with so many people driving through the school parking lot in a hurry, it's a recipe for disaster. It's a situation that's bound to happen eventually. We need to be more careful, especially when the weather is bad. We need to be aware of our surroundings, and we need to be prepared for the unexpected. And most importantly, we need to be patient. Driving in the winter can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be dangerous. If we all take the time to be careful and patient, we can all get to where we're going safely.

3, 7, 1 Happy New Year! Right now it is 12:00 a.m. January 1st and people in Chattanooga are making New Year's resolutions. "I don't think New Year's resolutions is just to keep to specific resolutions," said Hermitsillo.

There is probably an important reason behind all these resolutions. "It's probably a fashion that they have to do," said junior Stacy Schantz.

"We make them just because everybody does," said Schmitz.

If New Year's resolutions could talk just like the stories that some it may even be an impossible task. "I tried to go shopping for one year," said Hermitsillo.

Then she had to manage to follow through with her resolutions although her resolve to self-discipline and/or self-control was going to chinny nails, and I wanted to go shopping, and I stuck to it because I have self-discipline.

Some have given up the idea of New Year's resolutions altogether for one reason or another. "I don't make New Year's resolutions, I just try to keep up to them," said junior Lissa Fritts.

In the midst of the noise makers and the partygoers, it doesn't take long to start off the new year with food and make a resolution.

When someone says the word Christmas, what comes to mind? Maybe it's relatives, friends, or one of a thousand other things. [unclear] presents and excitement in Christmas is present and constant in loving.

"It's not the giving, it's not the loving," said sophomore K. Kolstad.

Christmas is most people decorating right after Thanksgiving and take decorations up in the house. White lights, ornaments, and even candy can be seen in many places. Many families have decorations up in their homes. "My family always bakes cookies together," said senior Sarah Johnson.

Family outings also help to lift spirits over the holidays. "We always buy our Christmas tree as a family," said freshman Tiffany Banks.

Of course, traditions merely serve as a way to gather and stuffing themselves with food.

"My family opens Christmas presents on Christmas morning around about 2:00 p.m.," said junior Kevin [unclear].

The holiday lights around Punta in the eye of everyone that believes. Some believe that plugging in thousands of sparkling lights are the creating the perfect symbol of holiday spirit.

Jewish celebration of faith, tradition Hanukkah
BY Jaime Loebertmann
Staff writer
Rejoicing, eating, giving and celebrating presents; does anybody recall which holiday was just described? It was Hanukkah or Christmas or maybe both. Hanukkah is a festival of lights.

While celebrating Hanukkah, Jacob Schobler said, "going to a religious house to eat bagels, present and also going to a temple to pray is fun."

The Hanukkah celebration is a festival to celebrate the victory of the Jews fighting the Maccabees. As Hanukkah is celebrated, there was only one crusader, or crusader of old to fight the legions and yes somehow Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration of faith.

Many people said that when they think of Hanukkah or Christmas they think of having a good time with people like family and friends, having a big meal and most of all presents.

Hanukkah is a celebration that begins in December and every day you get to open a present. Different beliefs, said freshman Kristina.

All holidays are a celebration and Hanukkah is just a celebration of Jewish faith.

"Hanukkah is a Jewish people observance," said freshman Anna Havens.

With 7 teams in the championship Conference, the competition will demand that gymnasts reach their goals.

The varsity gymnastics team started practice and is looking forward to a great season.

The team has high goals for this season and is trying her best to achieve them.

"We hope to get everyone involved in the program," said coach Madeline [unclear].

With the upcoming season, the competition will demand that gymnasts reach their goals.

"We hope to be the best in our conference," said Jessica [unclear].

With all the work and effort the team puts in, they will be ready for the season.

"There are many people with lots of talent," said Monica Hill.

The hockey season has shot and scored with a great season.

Great talent and determination. The varsity team has started the season with a lot of energy and junior varsity has also been working hard.

The biggest challenge this year is to stay consistent, but the team is ready for it.

Other challenges ahead for the team include playing against tough opponents, being in practice, and staying focused.

"The team needs to improve on shooting and scoring," said coach [unclear].

Conference championship in November. The team is looking forward to the conference championship in November.

In November, the team will face several opponents, who have individual goals, but the team has goals for themselves too.

"In January, my goal is to win the championship," said coach Lincoln.

There are many positive things about the team, in January, and they are looking forward to it.

No matter how tough the season is, the team is looking forward to it.

"Hockey is fun, fast, and exciting," said coach Lincoln.

The boys' basketball team has a great group of players. They played their first game on Tuesday, December 4 against Holy Angels. They won 31-27 in overtime. Playmakers who can score easily, like Kassoud, scored 24 points against the Holy Angels. On Friday, December 10, they played Minneapolis South and won with a score of 52-45. Kassoud has 16 points, followed by Roberson with 15 and Miller with 10 points.

The ski team is ready to begin their season and is looking forward to it. The season has far been as successful as possible. The team has been working hard and is ready to take on the challenges of the season. The team has been practicing on the slopes in order to ski. The next meet, scheduled for Tuesday, December 14, was postponed. On January 6, the team will try again at Buck Hill.

While most students sleep at 7:00 am on December 26, six BHS cheerleaders will be getting up to Dallas for the National Cheerleading Competition.

Seniors Beth Pransky, Jamie Thompson, and Sarah Miller, along with juniors Chloe Bowser, and Nicole Caten, were chosen from a group of competing students at Bendlay State University. They are excited to venture to den competition and showcase their skills all over the USA.

"I don't know if we're going to have fun, I'll feel like we'll and do well in front of a large crowd in Dallas," said Miller. However, she is also very excited, as they expect the competition to be very intense.

"We'll be competing against some squads who are super kind of intense," Miller said. "I think we'll represent Bendlay well against the larger schools," said Pransky.

"I've gained a lot of communication skills. We had six different school/s and programs in our area, and we don't undergo recognition for them," said Thompson.

The cheerleaders are looking forward to the competition and hope to do just as fun and enjoy the experience.

They practice in the gym twice a week after school and on weekends. They also practice six hours in the evening near three times a week and one hour in the morning each other.

"Cheerleading makes me feel better about myself, given it is much more than just dancing. It helps improve my cooperation skills," said Thompson. "I think that cheerleading has helped me thus far in high school."

Staff Writer

The Buffalo Ski Team is performing unusually well to start the season. Due to poor weather conditions, they have been unable to practice often. Even with the lack of warmth and weather, the team is competing well.

The team has been practicing at Powder Ridge, in Klamath, while having several competitions. The team is made up of skiers from ninth to twelfth grade. Because of the younger members, the team is very competitive.

There are five junior and four senior boys on the team. "We have very good team because many of us have skilled together," said Kim Kley. The racers can race a team down slopes to victory.

During practice, teammates practice together to help each other develop their racing skills. The team is also looking to use new racers this year. They will have a much better chance to be successful if they can start, said Kley.

The top ten boys and top ten girls will need to work together to have a successful season," said senior captain Angie Thompson. "We want to compete and hope for better conditions."

Guest Writer

The girls' basketball team won the year on a good note. The team won by a 54-28 margin against Hoodstone. "We played alright," said coach Kris Thompson. "We need to cut down on mistakes. We need to work on the basic defense, offense and press break. To do this, we need to practice more. We want to play our style of game. We can't afford to make mistakes."

The girls' stars started this year with a totally new coaching staff. The coaches are Henrywood, Oswald, and [unclear] Heinicke (B-quad). Jon Kahlber (junior) "I was worried about having a new coach and learning a new system, but the new coach has introduced different ideas," said junior Brooke Thompson. "Last year we just showed up, we want to show up and improve," said Thompson.

"The main thing is to have fun and work as a team," said Thompson. "We want to have fun and see improvement," said Thompson.

The next home game is January 6, against Findlay.

Braving useless trivia questions the BHS Knowledge Bowl team has began practice for the season, and look forward to holding their Conference Champion title.

Knowledge Bowl is an academic team activity for students who like and know trivia. All members meet after school in practices set up like tournaments. Three teams compete against each other.

“I like practice the best, because we get more questions, because tournament rounds are shorter so we get less questions,” said junior Brian Kass.

Tournaments generally consist of a written round and three oral rounds. In the written round, all five team members answer multiple choice questions. Those scores are usually used to rank the teams and decide which teams are in each room. In the oral rounds, four members from three teams compete in a race to answer the questions.

“I like the meets best, because you meet a lot of different kinds of people,” said senior Shivaur Robinson.

Reasons for joining varied as much as the types of questions asked.

“I joined Knowledge Bowl because I get to talk to people and have fun. It’s not really strict, it’s more fun,” said junior Heather Oberdeck.

Others simply joined because they wanted to join an after school activity and liked the fun and academics of Knowledge Bowl.

“I joined because I needed something to do after school, something to accomplish,” said senior Ryan Foss.

Newer members expressed surprise after attending their first practice.

“You have to be quick at buzzing in to answer and know a lot of trivia. It’s amazing what you know when you’re asked,” said freshman Beth Pratt.

While all students are welcome to join the team, only fifteen members can participate in a competition. Members of the team expressed their opinions on what would make a member easy to work with.

“I think a good member is someone who wants to be in it. Someone who takes pride in trivia, the kind who like to read encyclopedias and dictionaries,” said Kass.

Most of the team members expressed the idea that the team has a lot fun while practicing and competing.

“I like the humor on the team. I like to sit there and make up funny answers to the questions. Although I know a lot of answers, I still like to have fun. Knowledge Bowl for me is a competitions with humor,” said Foss.

Whatever types of questions will be placed before the team, they don’t know, but they are looking forward to another champion season.

Students in the Buffalo Senior High School performed Sixteenth Century Christmas on December 3 and December 4, 1993 in the Senior High mall.

The concert consisted of the BHS singers, making up the royal court, the Treble singers, making up the ladies in waiting, and other students who put on a skit or served tables. Also performing was a brass ensemble, a flute choir, and a clarinet choir.

“It’s a way for the community to see what Christmas was like in the sixteenth century, and also a way for the community to see that we have special singing groups,” said junior Amy Bokusky.

The performance was very 16th century oriented, with plum pudding, and wassail (a type of cider), candlelight, and costumes that were rented from the Renaissance Festival.

Sophomore Russ Pruitt said that the production was worthwhile because “it gives the choral program the chance to break free, without the constraint of the arts program, leaving them to do exactly what they want to do.”

Even though the program was set in the 16th century, it did have its modern and humorous moments. Many found the combination entertaining.

“I’d say that the funniest part of the program for me was when the court jester kissed my dad on the head,” said Bokusky.

Understanding the concept of financial aid does not have to be as difficult as it seems. For most people, financial aid provides a way to afford a college that may initially seem beyond reach.

When comparing colleges, the most important thing to remember is to look beyond the sticker price. It’s easy to see the price of a college and to panic. However, by understanding the financial aid process, the personal cost of college could be less than what was expected.

Many students ask what financial aid is. It is monetary assistance that is awarded to help make college affordable for everyone. There are three sources of financial aid: federal funds, institutional funds, and private funds. From these three sources there are four types of financial aid: grants, scholarships, workstudy, and loans.

Grants are financial aid that are not paid back. They can be awarded on a federal level, such as the Pell Grant, or they can be awarded on an institutional level, such as college academic grants.

Scholarships are another type of financial aid that doesn’t need to be repaid. They can be local, such as local business scholarships, or they can be institutional, such as a college leadership scholarship.

Workstudy programs allow the student to work on campus at the college they attend. This money is awarded to help pay for the costs of college.

Loans are borrowed money that must be repaid with interest when the loan becomes due. There may be low-interest student loans that are repaid when full-time employment is found after college.

Often, students inquire about how they can receive financial aid. First of all, before working on the financial aid process, students should apply to their top college choices. After acceptance, the college admissions counselor or financial aid office can provide information on the institutional financial aid they offer. They will explain procedures and deadlines for that college’s forms of financial aid.

To apply for federal financial aid, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be filled out. These forms are available from guidance counselors or the college that is being considered. The FAFSA must be sent into the processor after January 1, 1994. It includes a section where up to six colleges can be listed to receive student financial aid information.

Once the processing company receives the FAFSA, it will take six to eight weeks to process. The information is then passed along to the colleges listed on the application form. Each college takes the financial information and makes up a financial award based upon the information received. Notification of the financial aid award will be sent directly to the student from the colleges.

There are several places that offer help and answer questions about the financial aid process. Guidance counselors may provide general information to help students apply for financial aid and understand the process. A college admissions counselor or college financial aid office may be able to answer specific questions about grants, scholarships, and loans available at their college.

For further information, contact the counselors in the guidance office. Understanding the financial aid process and utilizing the available resources can make college an affordable investment.