The Bison – October 17, 1991

The continuing quality of Districts 877’s education is at stake. A levy referendum will be held on Tuesday, November 5, to determine whether a tax increase will go into effect for District 877 schools. The money gained from the levy is to be added to the general fund, used for textbooks, instructor salaries, and programs for gifted and at-risk students. If passed, the levy would result in raising the average money spent per student by $197. District 877 is one of the lowest funded districts in the seven county metro area, and is one of only five school districts in the metro area not receiving additional money from a levy. The district is increasing at roughly 100 students per year, and in the next four to five years, additional money will be needed to supplement the increasing population. BHS already has 200 more students more than the planners originally anticipated. With the rising population, construction may be necessary to maintain the educational quality of the schools. Money for construction, like the new tennis courts, would be obtained from the capital outlay fund, which may have to be increased by a future levy. Extra-curricular activities would also be enhanced by the upcoming levy. On the same token, not receiving the levy could mean cuts in the activities. A phone poll taken by of the district’s voters showed overwhelming support and pride toward the school system. The poll also displayed the feelings that the two largest problems facing the district were funding and growth. On Sunday, October 13, student council helped a concerned group of District 877 voters at a phone bank. The phone bank was directed at answering voters’ questions about the levy, such as where to vote and why the levy is needed. “People aren’t aware of how much less our school district receives per pupil than a lot of schools around us,” said senior Sally Lundeen. Some teachers are also taking part in informing the voters of LEVY REFERENDUM Continued on page 8

“Harvey”,the multi-act play that a selected cast of BHS students will be presenting. It is a comic story of a man named Elwood P. Dowd. Dowd imagines that there is an invisible six foot white rabbit named Harvey that follows him everywhere he goes. His frustrated sister, Veta, takes Elwood to a local sanitarium called Chumley’s Rest. William Chumley, a world renown doctor, talks to him and is intrigued by the invisible Harvey. “I really think that the play says something about reality and imagination,” said Clark Swenson, director of the play. The tryouts were held on Tuesday, September 24, and Thursday, September 26. Call backs were Friday, September 27. The cast will consist of six females and six males. The roles are to be played by Nicole LaBat, Laurie Miller, Ned Akin, Marie Zimmerman, Emily McPheeters, Courtney Collins, Scott Burlingame, Brad Elo, Jeff Mauk, Emily VonBauk, Luke Zimmerman, and Holly Mattson. The lead female role is Veta Louise Simmons, portrayed by Miller, and the lead male role is Elwood P. Dowd, portrayed by Akin. Swenson directed “Harvey” 28 years ago and feels that it was very successful. He also mentioned that it was presented at the Guthrie Theater two years ago. Some of the students who tried out are just starting their acting experience. They have various reasons for trying out. “I think that it will be a good learning experience for everyone,” said Zimmerman. Others have been acting for a long time. Mattson has been acting in plays since sixth grade. “Acting is a different way to express myself,” said Mattson. Expectations are high among the cast that the play will be a success. The performances are scheduled for the nights of November 21, 22, 23 in the evening and the afternoon of November 24, at the Junior High School Auditorium.

The right to vote. This is only one of the many freedoms that the early Americans risked and gave their lives for in this great country. Today, people seem to take this right for granted.

Many people in today’s society do not feel the necessity to vote. Some people feel that one vote won’t make a difference, but if everyone felt this way, nothing would ever get changed. Progress would be nonexistent.

Others feel that voting is a hassle and don’t want to take time out of their busy schedules. Yet, in the few minutes it takes to vote, your world can be drastically changed. If the way your government is run isn’t worth the short time it takes to vote, you don’t deserve to live in a democracy.

With so few people voting in presidential elections, what will be the public’s reaction to the levy referendum vote in November?

If the levy doesn’t pass, class sizes will get even larger, text books will become out of date, and the school’s activities will be reduced.

BHS students can make a difference. The Bison feels that everyone old enough to vote, should. We at the BHS should especially be concerned with this issue since, it affects our daily lives. Those who can’t vote can talk to their parents and tell them about the problems facing the school district.

Citizens need to play a part in their government and be aware of what is going on in their community. People who don’t vote have no right to complain about the decisions being made concerning them. Actions do speak louder than words.

People should not even have to be persuaded to vote. Many countries in the world are trying desperately to get what we Americans are neglecting. Voting is a privilege and we should feel honored that we have a government that cares about how we feel and is represented by the people, for the people. You can’t change the world vegetating on a couch.

Get out and vote.

Armed with cans of red and white spray paint, unidentified vandals attacked BHS.

They sprayed paint on the school, the sidewalk, the new picnic tables, and “The Rock.”

Who is at fault? Is it the Elk River students? Is it the Buffalo students? Is it some mysterious group of spray painting gnomes?

The Bison feels that the students who toilet papered Elk River’s High School are partially at fault. They did “start” it. Still, The Bison feels Elk River’s vandals should have limited themselves to spraying “The Rock” red.

Two wrongs never make a right. The vandals acted very childish and vengeful. All the trouble that they went to, all the money they spent on paint, and all of the little messages they wrote, weren’t even seen by most of the students.

The Bison also feels that the money that the district had to use to clean up this mess could have been used for things that we need.

Pranks can’t be outlawed but, vandalism is a crime. Vandalism is not only punishable by law but, it is also very ethically wrong. How can anyone destroy property that doesn’t belong to them, and not have a guilty conscience?

Society has gotten so bent out of shape over who’s better than who, that they are turning amoral. Are we taking a step backward?

The next time George Bush disagrees with Iraq, maybe he should go over to Baghdad and spray paint Hussein’s house red, white, and blue.

Grow up and learn to deal with things in a rational way. If you do, the world will be more peaceful, and buildings will be a lot less colorful.

The Bison’s sole purpose is to inform high school students of issues that affect them. It is our responsibility that the news we print is accurate and unbiased.

The Bison will print a correction statement if a mistake is found. The correction statement will run in the following issue.

The Bison will strive to clearly name their sources and only print current news that is beneficial to the whole student body.

Instead of printing a slanted story, The Bison hopes to present both sides and let readers draw their own conclusions. Only news will be published and will appear in a non-biased manner.

The Bison will resist any and all attempts at censorship either before or after publication.

All contents on The Bison’s editorials pages reflect students’ opinions on major issues. This page serves as an outlet to students, allowing them to voice their feelings. Editorials state the opinions of The Bison editorial staff. Columns are signed and reflect the opinion of the writer.

The Bison encourages students to write letters to the editor and express their opinions. The right to decline or shorten a letter to the editor is reserved by the editorial board.

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Have you ever wondered why you can’t fit a piece of bread back together after you cut it, even if there’s no crumbs? If you have, then DON’T read this column! If you haven’t, then read on!

I’m new this year, in case you haven’t heard the news and as you can tell, I have no idea what I’m writing! (I’m just babbling to take up space!)

Anyhow. . . on with the show! I’m Rachael (and this is my dog Toto, too!) My I.Q. is actually higher than my age sometimes! Heard that before? Well, now you have.

Okay, so now that I told you what you need to know, I have a complaint to make.

I know! I know! You don’t want to hear it right now. So read it instead.

My complaint is on cliques. Why on Earth do we have them? The people who are so called “popular” people get a HUGE ego boost (not saying all of you do) and the rest are just left in the dark like dust blowing in the wind. (Catch my drift?)

Now don’t get me wrong! I’m for ALL walks of life. The song “Shiny, Happy people” slightly explains my personality (even though I ABSOLUTELY DREAD that song.) But I’m really sick of hearing people talking about other people behind their backs!

I think we should consider the option of controlling cliques a little more! People deserve a chance, right? Well, okay then, let’s give them one!

So now that you’re bored to death, you may put me away. This is the close of my babbling and I’ve filled all the needed space!

So until next time. . .

Lately, the world has been changing so drastically, that it is almost impossible to keep up with it.

I remember the day when all our parents had to worry about was making sure that we crossed the street safely.

But that was then.

Today’s society forces parents to deal with greater concerns when it comes to their children.

Our world has become one we can not feel safe in all the time. We have been forced to live in a so-called “constant state of fear.” The unfortunate occurrences of child abductions, thefts, murders, and suicides have become topics that we can no longer just ignore.

Everyday we read newspapers that are covered with nothing but topics that deal with ideas of killing or stealing just for enjoyment.

My question to the public is ‘What kind of world are we living in, if we kill or steal for enjoyment?’

Personally, I fail to understand how one could find enjoyment in these types of actions. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I had committed such crimes.

Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, people do some pretty awful things, especially around the holidays. They choose the holidays, because they know that more people will feel the effect of their actions, or at least more people will tune in to what they did.

With Halloween quickly approaching, the fear of treats being tampered with becomes an increased concern among parents. In today’s world, every possible precaution should be taken when it comes to trick-or-treating.

My intentions are not to put a bad name to Halloween, or to scare people from taking part in Halloween activities, but rather to point out that safety must be on everyone’s list of major concerns.

Personally, it disgusts me that even Halloween has to concern people... considering that it’s suppose to be a time of enjoyment for kids, and grown-ups alike. But the fact remains, that the world we study about, the one that existed 20 years ago, no longer exists.

I realize that you can never go back to how things use to be. But, right now, I am not satisfied with the way in which our world has evolved.

We live in a world that demands that we deal with thefts, murders, etc. I believe that it is about time that we start doing something to make this world we live in a truly better place... a place in we can comfortably call our home. If we continue to live with this sort of fear, things will never improve, in fact they will only get worse.

We need to stand up and call for harder sentences for those who commit these sort of pathetic crimes. If we don’t, we are basically saying to the people who commit these crimes, that we really don’t care what happens to them.

But, I won’t accept that. I believe that people want what is best for everyone, and will take action in order to ensure that.

Why should we be forced to live in this sort of fear?

A thousand greetings, fellow members of the public education system.

It’s the 28th day of school, and there are merely 882 hours of class remaining, not including the 25 minute mod period which occurs almost every day.

Are you informed of how improper it is to use words of the length of ten minus six letters? (It’s tough to write in the previously mentioned style. If you do not believe me, try it sometime.)

Writing the above was complete nonsense. My own name is four letters long.

This month it’s tough to decide what to write about. October is such a boring month. What happens in it?

Okay, you win. There is a lot to write about in October.

The World Series is in October. But that’s only exciting if the Twins play in it and win, but let’s take one thing at a time. They haven’t won the Pennant yet. For those of you who can’t stand baseball and the wonderful Twins, I’ll humor you and not devote my whole column to them (although I most certainly could).

Halloween is also in October. It’s one of the most entertaining holidays of the year. Especially since it’s a school day and you can see all your classmates in weird costumes. And it’s not around dead-line time so the wonderful editors of The Bison can relax and enjoy it!

Halloween is filled with fun traditions.

You can spray paint your hair green and purple and your parents will think it’s cute. Provided the hair spray washes out, that is.

People give you free candy for looking strange on Halloween. When else do you get anything (besides detention) for acting strange?

This is a little off subject, but I’ve always wondered what would happen if you went Trick-or-Treating on November 1st. Would most people give you candy because they are totally sick of all the extra candy they bought? Or would they think you’re totally insane and call the police? Considering the second option I don’t dare try it.

For those of you who are interested, the end of the first quarter is the 30th. Aren’t we lucky? We get to start off the new quarter wearing weird costumes. You do realize that the new quarter is only 13 days away. That’s less than two weeks away. Now is the time to start doing a whole lot of extra credit so you don’t have to explain to your parents why you got such a lousy grade in English (fill in class of your choice here.)

Do you realize I started this column with three paragraphs that did not contain a four letter word. Since then, I’ve written 34 four letter words. Just an interesting trivia fact.

Until we’ve recovered from our Halloween candy, Good-bye.

Nine students from eight different countries left their homes and familiar cultures behind them in order to expand their horizons by seeking an education in the United States. Along with learning a new language, these students will also gain many new friends which will stay in there memories forever.

The next two pages are answers to many different questions that were asked to each foreign exchange student during a evening get-together.

Bison: What new things have you learned since you've arrived in the U.S.?
Annika: “Language. I think that the attitude is very different here. You cannot talk to someone here and not like that person, and that's strange.”
Rodrigo: “Everything is different. The teachers, the school, and the food.”
Kirstin: “School.”
Carlos: “When we first came we had to learn time the first three months. The language and school is very different about time. You have to get used to it everywhere.”
Roman: “The way of life. The way teenagers my age live. I've learned lots about the school systems too.”

Bison: What is the most difficult thing you have had to deal with since you've arrived?
Kirstin: “Food!”
Rodrigo: “The people here use a lot of conservative language. They are loud and different. In Brazil and Spain we can go out at night, weekends, and have a active night life. You can drink or smoke, there we just get used to it.”
Preedee: “It's to hard to understand American accent. You speak so fast, strange, but not really strange.”
Annika: “You have to know what people want, even before they ask it. Like, in the family, they expect you to be home at a certain time, but they don't tell you when to come home. When you do finally get home your late, according to them. Then they ask, 'Why weren't you home earlier?'”
Carlos: “I can not understand the language and the slang. Maybe I will in two or three years though.”
Roman: “I think there is no problem I can't deal with. But speaking English all the time, maybe.”
Rosie: “The first week was a little bit hard. I'm not used to talking English all the day.”

Bison: Do you have any problems with the language?
Rosie: “Yeah, there are some words I don't understand but the main part I do understand. I mean, I can understand what I'm saying but I have a hard time understanding others.”
Sandra: “There's some of it I don't understand but most of the time.”
Roman: “No, sometimes I only understand half, but I can make sence of what they are talking about.”

Bison: Why did you want to be a exchange student?
Carlos: “The experience. I know the culture, the language, the cookies. Maturity it's very important when you live away from home. You learn other languages, other styles, and other teachers. When you're by yourself, you're a little bit different; more responsible, more independent.”
Sandra: “Of course my English but also to learn the culture and to meet other people.”
Annika: “Here I'm more independent, but at home I must clean the house and must come home.”
Rosie: “To improve my English, and to see more of the world.”
Roman: “Fun. I want to be acquainted with another world and learn about the way of life. I wanted to be free from Germany for one year.”
Sverrir: “I've been to many countries and wanted to see America again.”

Bison: How many years of English did you take in school?
Rodrigo: “9 years.”

Bison: What is the strangest question you've been asked?
Kirstin: “Do you have a telephone in Norway?”
Roman: “Which language do you speak; German or Russian?”
Annika: “Do you have micro-waves?”
Rosie: “What color is your under-wear?”
Rodrigo: “Do you live in the jungle where you live? Do you go there every day and are there monkeys in the trees?”
Preedee: “Do you have television in Thailand?”

Bison: What do you miss most about home?
Roman: “My family. To know I'm not missing anything. Perhaps my friends.”
Annika: “Some food, of course.”
Rosie: “My room and baby-sitting.”
Kirstin: “I miss so much but, I'm not homesick. I miss the mountains, sea, food, family, and friends, but I'm not homesick.”
Sandra: “My room, my friends, and my French boyfriend.”

Bison: What is a difference between the United States and your home country?
Preedee: “In my home, I think my school has more unity. Between juniors and seniors they are very close.”
Sverrir: “Kids don't take sports seriously. There is a different discipline in Iceland.”

Bison: Are your host parents more strict than your real parents?
Sandra: “No, no, I can go out after school. We don't have a lot of homework. It's very different.”
Roman: “No, they aren't. In many on weekends, my parents say I must be home at a certain time. My host mother said I can come home whenever I want to. That's very fun.”
Rodrigo: “Yes, the problem is that they have to be more restrictive because they have no way of knowing what we used to do and where we used to go. They do what they have to do.”
Annika: “We talked yesterday at the family meeting. They think we should be together more as a family.”
Rosie: “No, it's different then in Germany. There, I don't even have time to go out. Now, everyday after school, I go out.”
Preedee: “10 years, we go very slow, one year we studied ABC's. It's hard to learn because we don't use it everyday.”
Kirstin: “7 years.”
Carlos: “4 years.”
Annika: “7 years. It's easy because of movies, music and television.”

go out."

Bison: What is the strangest question you’ve been asked?
Kirstin: “Do you have a telephone in Norway?”
Roman: “Which language do you speak; German or Russian?”
Annika: “Do you have microwaves?”
Rosie: “What color is your underwear?”
Rodrigo: “Do you live in the jungle where you live? Do you go there every day and are there monkeys in the trees?”
Preedee: “Do you have television in Thailand?”

Bison: What do you miss most about home?
Roman: “My family. To know I’m not missing anything. Perhaps my friends.”
Annika: “Some food, of course.”
Rosie: “My room and baby-sitting.”
Kirstin: “I miss so much but, I’m not homesick. I miss the mountains, sea, food, family, and friends, but I’m not homesick.”
Sandra: “My room, my friends, and my French boyfriend.”

Bison: What is a difference between the United States and your home country?
Preedee: “In my home, I think my school has more unity. Between juniors and seniors they are very close.”
Sverrir: “Kids don’t take sports seriously. There is a different discipline in Iceland.”

Bison: Are your host parents more strict than your real parents?
Sandra: “No, no, I can go out after school. We don’t have a lot of homework. It’s very different.”
Roman: “No, they aren’t. In Germany, we go very slow, one year we studied ABC’s. It’s hard to learn because we don’t use it everyday.”
Kirstin: “7 years.”
Carlos: “4 years.”
Annika: “7 years. It’s easy because of movies, music and television.”

Bison: Are your host parents more strict than your real parents?
Sandra: “No, no, I can go out after school. We don’t have a lot of homework. It’s very different.”
Roman: “No, they aren’t. In Germany, we go very slow, one year we studied ABC’s. It’s hard to learn because we don’t use it everyday.”
Kirstin: “7 years.”
Carlos: “4 years.”
Annika: “7 years. It’s easy because of movies, music and television.”

Bison: What do you do after school?
Sandra: “I can go out after school. We don’t have a lot of homework. It’s very different.”
Roman: “No, they aren’t. In Germany, we go very slow, one year we studied ABC’s. It’s hard to learn because we don’t use it everyday.”
Kirstin: “7 years.”
Carlos: “4 years.”
Annika: “7 years. It’s easy because of movies, music and television.”

Nine students from eight different countries left their homes and familiar cultures behind them in order to expand their horizons by seeking an education in the United States. Along with learning a new language, these students will also gain many new friends which will stay in there memories forever.

The next two pages are answers to many different questions that were asked to each foreign exchange student during a evening get-together.

Bison: What new things have you learned since you’ve arrived in the U.S.?
Annika: “Language. I think that the attitude is very different here. You cannot talk to someone here and not like that person, and that’s strange.”
Rodrigo: “Everything is different. The teachers, the school, and the food.”
Kirstin: “School.”
Carlos: “When we first came we had to learn time the first three months. The language and school is very different about time. You have to get used to it everywhere.”
Roman: “The way of life. The way teenagers my age live. I’ve learned lots about the school systems too.”

Bison: What is the most difficult thing you have had to deal with since you’ve arrived?
Kirstin: “Food!”
Rodrigo: “The people here use a lot of conservative language. They are loud and different. In Brazil and Spain we can go out at night, weekends, and have a active night life. You can drink or smoke, there we just get used to it.”
Preedee: “It’s to hard to understand American accent. You speak so fast, strange, but not really strange.”
Annika: “You have to know what people want, even before they ask it. Like, in the family, they expect you to be home at a certain time, but they don’t tell you when to come home. When you do finally get home your late, according to them. Then they ask, ‘Why weren’t you home earlier?’”
Carlos: “I can not understand the language and the slang. Maybe I will in two or three years though.”
Roman: “I think there is no problem I can’t deal with. But speaking English all the time, maybe.”
Rosie: “The first week was a little bit hard. I’m not used to talking English all the day.”

Bison: Do you have any problems with the language?
Rosie: “Yeah, there are some words I don’t understand but the main part I do understand. I mean, I can understand what I’m saying but I have a hard time understanding others.”
Sandra: “There’s some of it I don’t understand but most of the time.”
Roman: “No, sometimes I only understand half, but I can make sence of what they are talking about.”

Bison: Why did you want to be a exchange student?
Carlos: “The experience. I know the culture, the language, the cookies. Maturity it’s very important when you live away from home. You learn other languages, other styles, and other teachers. When you’re by yourself, you’re a little bit different; more responsible, more independent.”
Sandra: “Of course my English but also to learn the culture and to meet other people.”
Annika: “Here I’m more independent, but at home I must clean the house and must come home.”
Rosie: “To improve my English, and to see more of the world.”
Roman: “Fun. I want to be acquainted with another world and learn about the way of life. I wanted to be free from Germany for one year.”
Sverrir: “I’ve been to many countries and wanted to see America again.”

Bison: How many years of English did you take in school?
Rodrigo: “9 years.”

When many of us think of running, we picture ourselves collapsing as we finish the mile in gym class. The Bison cross country team changes our perspective on running as the team battles away in the North Suburban conference.

The Bison girls’ team is currently ranked eighth in the state while the boys keep their hopes up of going to the state meet for a third straight year.

“I think we have a good chance to go to state. We’ve been running really well,” said coach Gerry Bakke.

The runners are stressing motivation as a key point.

“We definitely have a chance to go to state,” said senior Don Klick.

The boys’ team has been struggling with injuries this season. At the Buffalo Invitational on Thursday, September 26, the boys were held to fifth place. Four of the five varsity runners were sick.

The girls’ team placed third at Buffalo and took first at the Chaska Invitational on Tuesday, October 1. At Chaska, seven runners placed 16th or better, with junior Becky Loberg taking second. According to Klick, the team remained grouped together, helping to increase their times.

“If the whole group moves, you have a team,” said Klick.

The performances at Chaska and Buffalo represent the way the girls’ team has run the whole season.

“We’re almost assured to be in state,” said Loberg.

The loss of many graduates has also hurt the cross country team. The boys team lost six varsity level runners, including Jason Minnick, who placed 14th in the state.

“We really lost a lot on the boys side,” said Bakke.

Heading toward the end of the season, both teams are looking for positive results in their meets. The girls are looking forward to winning the conference, facing Moundsview and St. Francis, while the boys are looking to maintain their second place finish that they claimed last year and possibly beating fourth ranked Moundsview. Both teams are looking forward to regions and hopefully going to the state meet on November 12.

“We got a good chance [to win regions] if we keep improving and stay away from injuries,” said Bakke.

The conference meet took place last Tuesday afternoon at the Elk River Golf Course. The Region 2AA meet is set for next Thursday, October 24 at Marion Park in Hutchinson, starting at 4:30 p.m.

Are Bison sports really the best in the business? If you ask some people they’ll say that we are, but if you ask others, they might disagree and they’ll point out the football team’s last two ill-fated seasons. Ever since I moved here five years ago, the Bison football team has had losing seasons and they haven’t won a homecoming. Some rumors are lingering that the Bison haven’t won a homecoming since 1972, and others say 1965. Have faith compadres! Next year’s team looks promising. With this year’s J.V. and B-squad teams playing next year, it’s a sure thing.

The Bison cross country team most likely has nothing to complain about. With the girls’ team ranked eighth in the state and the boys running hard, who’s going to complain?

As the soccer team is in its first year of varsity, they are desperately looking for wins, but they have been cut off at the pass by a lot of one goal defeats. In the long road ahead, they should come of age and put their opponents out of their misery in the conference next year.

The girls’ volleyball team, with a 8-8 record, are statistically well off. “Jamming the Gym” for this sport is really easy as fans pack the stands during home matches.

Fighting for a conference championship title, the girls’ tennis team battled Fridley. The team lost but took second place in the NSC for the second straight year, despite not having the new tennis courts at BHS.

For the second year in a row, the Bison swim team is more or less drowning. They only have one win chalked up on the board. A lot of school records are being broken, but that it isn’t too impressive considering the fact that the swim team has only existed for two seasons.

With hard work, confidence, dedication, and strong fan support, the fall Bison sports could dominate in the NSC . . . someday.

But, that’s my opinion.

“Jamming the Gym” may only be a once a year event, but as far as the volleyball team is concerned, they would be happy to have fan support every night as they look toward post-season play.

The Bison volleyball team, with a 8-8 overall record as of October 9, has its eyes set on the playoffs. The Bison were eliminated from the Region 2AA playoffs last year in the first round and the players are looking to do better this year.

“We hope to be seated [in the region playoffs] high enough to play at home,” said senior Kim Ibs.

The team has three seniors and a host of returning juniors with varsity experience, increasing their chances to do better this year.

“Only three players graduated last year,” said Ibs.

The team has had an up and down season, according to junior Tracy Hansen. Right now the team is looking to finish the regular season with a winning record.

“We play good one day, then bad the next,” said Hansen.

Some of the strengths of this season include playing more as a unit versus playing as a bunch of individuals. Unfortunately, longer matches are taking a toll on the Bison. According to Ibs, staying focused and never letting up are areas that they need to improve in.

The next match for the Bison is against Fridley on Tuesday, October 22, starting at 4 p.m. The next home match is against Totino Grace on Thursday, October 24, starting at 7 p.m.

With October comes a favorite Minnesota tradition: hunting season. Hunting season is a normal part of Minnesota life. Hunters flock like the birds they’re shooting at to get to the perfect duck blind. Armed with their gun, duck caller, wooden dummies, and their trusty dog, they look for migrating birds to fire at, hoping to get one.

After duck season comes deer season. The hunters rush up north and brave cold and snowy weather, going into the forested areas and searching for a deer that would make a fine trophy. If caught out in an open area, the deer doesn’t have a chance.

I could never do such a thing as hunting. I used to live a couple doors over from Malardi Lake, a small lake northeast of Montrose, designated as a state wetland area by the Department of Natural Resources. Local hunters would park their vehicles in the scenic view area. The hunters would then hide out in the tall weeds around the lookout and wait, shooting at the crack of dawn.

The problem with hunting on Malardi was that I was usually just getting up out of bed and walking to the bathroom for my shower when the first rays of the sun would come over the horizon. Normally I wouldn’t be thinking about hunters, but as soon as I would hear the gunshots, I’d quicken my pace down the hall, duck into the bathroom, and shut the door behind myself.

The property my parents owned was a run-off area for Malardi Lake. We had wooded areas on three sides of us and we used to see much wildlife. We had deer come through our vast 20 acres of land. My family would look out of our picture windows in the living room and watch the deer, who were usually unaware of our presence, as they grazed in our front and back yards.

Hunting season may be a way of enjoyment for some, but others see it as an excuse to shoot animals. I know that hunting controls the animal populations, but as I see it, hunting is the senseless killing of natural wildlife and I do not appreciate it.

Are Bison sports really the best in the business? If you ask some people they’ll say that we are, but if you ask others, they might disagree and they’ll point out the football team’s last two ill-fated seasons. Ever since I moved here five years ago, the Bison football team has had losing seasons and they haven’t won a homecoming. Some rumors are lingering that the Bison haven’t won a homecoming since 1972, and others say 1965. Have faith compadres! Next year’s team looks promising. With this year’s J.V. and B-squad teams playing next year, it’s a sure thing. The Bison cross country team most likely has nothing to complain about. With the girls’ team ranked eighth in the state and the boys running hard, who’s going to complain? As the soccer team is in its first year of varsity, they are desperately looking forwards, but they have been cut off at the pass by a lot of one goal defeats. In the long road ahead, they should come of age and put their opponents out of their misery in the conference next year. The girls’ volleyball team, with a 8-8 record, are statistically well off. “Jamming the Gym” for this sport is really easy as fans pack the stands during home matches. Fighting for a conference championship title, the girls’ tennis team battled Fridley. The team lost but took second place in the NSC for the second straight year, despite not having the new tennis courts at BHS. For the second year in a row, the Bison swim team is more or less drowning. They only have one win chalked up on the board. A lot of school records are being broken, but that it isn’t too impressive considering the fact that the swim team has only existed for two seasons. With hard work, confidence, dedication, and strong fan support, the fall Bison sports could dominate in the NSC . . . someday. But, that’s my opinion.

Outcome Based Education (OBE) is a program that bases graduation on the achievements made by a student, instead of the number of hours spent in a classroom.

OBE is an opportunity for students to pick a learning style that suits them and then to use that style at their own rate.

"I’ll probably learn more because I can work at my own pace," said freshman Tara Gilb. Outcome Based Education would be a shared responsibility for both the students and the teachers involved in the learning process.

People involved in making OBE happen recognize that everybody learns at their own pace. "I wouldn’t have unneeded pressure [to do my school work]," said junior Phillip Vanormy. "It would allow the people that learn a little slower to have time to learn."

By the 1996-1997 school year, Minnesota will be the first state in the nation to implement OBE statewide.

Minnesota graduates will be required to possess skills (such as reading, writing, etc.), that will enable them to function effectively in the outside world.

"For the first time," said Joan Wallin, chairperson of the department committee responsible for developing the rule proposal, "we would know just what a high school diploma really represents."

OBE requires a change in attitude of teachers, students, and parents, about a commitment to learning.

No particular grading style, scheduling procedure, or delivery system is mandated.

The seven graduation outcomes and 63 competencies, identified by Minnesota Department of Education, demonstrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for functioning in the world.

In the OBE program, the teacher teaches the student until the student accomplishes one of the competencies.

There are three levels of Outcome Based Education. Adept is the level that each learner must accomplish to be eligible to receive a secondary diploma. The advanced level prepares the learner to pursue academic and professional fields requiring higher levels of competency.

Exemplary is the performance level designed for pursuit of individual learner interests.

"Minnesota has a good system of public education," said Tom Lindquist, president of the State Board of Education, as quoted in the Education Update. "This is not an attempt to fix problems that may exist, but to create a new framework which is results-oriented and based on the belief that all students can learn. We need to prepare our graduates to meet the new challenges of the Information Age, the 21st Century, and international competition."

Modern Music Masters, otherwise known as Tri-M, will be holding their first induction of the year in early November.

Tri-M is an organization that recognizes people and their musical abilities.

They meet one day a month, during mods, with their advisor, Choir Director Mike Walsh, to plan upcoming events.

To be accepted into Tri-M, students in the past were expected to meet certain standards. These included: maintaining a B or higher grade point average, being involved in music related activities outside of school, playing or singing a solo for the executive council, and passing a test.

Some members felt that some of the requirements were unnecessary.

"[The test] was a very detailed, in depth test. It didn’t have anything to do with music. It was about how Tri-M got started," said Tri-M president Sheri Moon.

This year, they made some changes in the standards that are expected of the members. Students no longer have to take the test, but expectations are getting higher. The grade point average has been raised from a B to an A, in band or choir.

"The standards are being set higher so that it will be more of an honor [to be accepted]," said Tri-M secretary Emily Gervasio.

If a music teacher feel like they have a student that is extremely exceptional in music, they will recommend that student to the Tri-M council for membership. Ten to fifteen people are usually contacted by Tri-M members, asking them to try-out.

Some people that want to be in Tri-M, inquire about it, and then come to the inductions. Try-outs average about 20 people. Those who are accepted will receive an invitation to the induction ceremony.

Tri-M’s main goal is to "spread music to the people".

Some of the events that are being planned are: to go to the elementary schools and perform mini concerts for the students in the morning before school. They would also like to carol in the halls during the holiday season.

They also plan to attend other performing arts presentations like the Minnesota Orchestra, the Nutcracker Ballet, and an Ordway performance.

An on-going issue at BHS is open campus, students having the alternative of leaving the grounds during school lunch periods.

With open campus there would be more choice of food. Students could have an abundance of choices, compared to the school’s three daily choices.

"There would be a better choice of food the students could go home if they needed to," said senior Nikki Paripovich.

The added independence of open campus would prepare college-bound students to be more accountable for their actions.

"It would teach students responsibility and respect for their elders," said Paripovich. "It would also relieve tension and give students a break."

Money may be a problem for the school.

"If we have open campus, people aren’t going to eat the school lunch and that will mean less money for the school," said Molly Anderson.

Money is a concern on the part of many students as well.

"Students are going to need more money for food, plus gas money to get [someplace]," said Paripovich.

For open campus to work, lunch periods would either need to be lengthened or a stricter tardy policy would need to be enforced.

"Some people don’t keep track of time, [in fact] some might not come back at all," said freshman Molly Mullin.

If the lunch period is made longer to accommodate open campus, the school day would need to be lengthened.

"There is a restricted schedule to follow," said principal Nick Miller. "There are also many people to try to please, such as: students, parents, teachers, and the school board."

The zero hour would be ideal for those who would like more choice in the classes they choose.

"Your priorities really get tested," said Lundeen.

The emotions of the voters are, for the most part, positive. The question facing many, is whether or not the support will show up in the ballots.

"Students in our school who are 18 and can vote, [I hope that] they get out and vote yes," said Lundeen. "Since there aren’t any major elections this year, people aren’t even necessarily thinking about voting."