The Bison Stampede – December 2000

Opening Shot Page 2
News Page 3
Editorial Pages 4-5
Features Pages 6-9
Sports Pages 10-15
People Pages 16-20

I have now become a grizzled, old man. I know this for a fact. The reason is, suddenly, I am making "back in my days" statements. With this issue, we tried to tackle some of the thorny issues with teens and sexuality, and how things have changed. When I was a high school student--and this may be hard to believe, but it was not that long ago--I felt few of the pressures that today's teen feels. I had my friends, and worried little about issues of sexuality. But the young adults of today receive a barrage of messages about sexuality. From "Temptation Island," where infidelity has become a game show aired across the nation to the oval office where the definition of "sexual Relations" became a study in etymology, we are a nation that struggles with its sexuality. In a recent survey by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, it was discovered that some 80 percent of parents want the schools to teach birth control and abstinence--a staggering change from earlier days. So, it is in this spirit of opening a dialogue that we present this issue to you.

Andrew Wilkes
Stampede Advisor

This time of the season while you are cozy as can be wrapped up in a warm blanket and enjoying a good movie there are homeless people out there freezing to death. There are many homeless people out there on the streets who are in envy of you with your warm leather gloves. Are you looking for a way to help? Research was done around Wright County and ways to help were found.

McDonalds has an organization for families who have children in the hospital for a long term who cannot afford to pay for hotel stays. It is a home-away-from-home founded by parents, doctors, and friends of children with cancer and other life threatening diseases. Collecting pop tabs year-round has helped keep this organization running. To many people, pop tabs may seem to be a very ordinary part of life. With the recycling of all the pop tabs they receive comes the funding to keep it open for families. This organization doesn't just collect during the holidays; help is needed year round.

Local grocery stores provide all year round to local food shelves. Cub Foods of Buffalo sends the bakery's day old bread to the food shelf. Other food donations are made all year.

As part of this spirit of giving to the community, Stampede conducted a mitten drive right before Christmas. Over the course of the drive nearly four boxes of mittens, hats, and scarfs for collected for needy families in Wright County. All items collected were donated to Human Services in Wright County. All donations were greatly appreciated, and the mitten drive will continue to be tradition for The Stampede. This year, BHS was truly able to take the cold out of winter, and put care in Christmas.

It was at the top of kids Christmas list this year--the WWF Catapult Ring. An 11-year-old toy enthusiast says "you can slam your opponent down and pull his head back." Another toy that was at the top of the list was the WWF Trash Talkin' Stage. The question is, why do kids want these toys? They are products from a show that is supposedly marketed to men from age 18 to 34. These toys and shows are a bad influence on kids today. A study by the University of Indiana shows that in a one year period there were 1658 incidents of people grabbing their crotch, 128 incidents of simulated sex, 42 incidents of simulated drug use, 157 incidents of giving the finger, 21 incidents that had prostitutes as characters.and 21 incidents of urination--all during prime-time.

Some of the things kids like about WWF are the sayings. When asked about their favorite saying, some of the students in Mrs. Magandy's fourth grade class at Tantanka Elementary replied "my favorite is when the Undertaker says 'I'm going to take you down'". Another student said, "I like it when Stone Cold says 'give me a hell yeah' ".

The outrageous, and many times vulgar, sayings are not the only reason kids like wrestlers. They also like them for who they are. "I like Stone Cold because he is strong, and drinks beer," says a forth grade student. "I like the Undertaker because he can take you down as fast as he can eat an apple," says yet another fourth grader. Remember, these are kids.

The question is why are kids watching these shows? Furthermore why are toys being sold to them and why are parents buying them for their kids? Does this cause young children to behave differently, as well as using verbal abuse and sexually absurd gestures? We know that this isn't where kids get the ideas to misbehave, but it sure may have an impact on their upbringing.

"This class is gay."

"My pen is gay."

"Everything is gay." That's all I hear as I walk down the hallway. Why does this word constantly pop out of a lot of teenager's mouths? I don't understand it. For years, people have been associating the gay lifestyle with something that is negative. What makes it so negative, though? I'm sick of hearing that being gay is bad blah, blah, blah. It just gets old after awhile.

After talking to a few people, I noticed that most people don't really know what the meaning behind using this word is. They use it as an insult, but it usually doesn't reflect their opinion on homosexuality.

Kimber Robertson, who uses the word for lack of better words, says: "Homosexuality is somewhat stereotyped and they shouldn't be."

The people, who say these words on a regular basis, don't really have much to say for themselves. Brandon Helgeson's excuse: "It's probably not the greatest word to use, but I say it because I don't think before I speak."

So, are the people who use this word incapable of thinking of a wiser and more creative word to use? Are they unable to utter a word that is less offensive and won't cause people to get angered by it? When I tell other people who aren't my friends that I don't appreciate the use of the word, they will most likely laugh and blow me off.

So my advice and opinion, think before you speak and treat others how you would like to be treated. It really isn't that hard to do. To all the gay word users out there, use your brains and come up with something original. I wouldn't want to be a person who is not liked because they were stubborn and disrespectful.

To have sex, or not to have sex? That is the question of many high school students throughout the world. When it comes to your personal moral values or beliefs, where do you stand? Do you think you should wait until you are married to have sex? Or, do you think you should have sex once you think you have found the right person? And after making your decision you have keep in mind the risk factors of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Teenagers have many different morals, beliefs, and values. Many children grow up believing what their parents tell them to believe, but as they grow older and become more mature, their own personal values may change. So what are your morals values or beliefs when discussing the sex issue? Twelfth grader Brandon Halgoson said, "I think you should wait until you are married to have sex, you don't have to base a relationship on sex."

When it comes to choosing if you should have sex or not, remember that there are many consequences you have to be aware of before making the decision. According to the BHS nurse Brenda Lenz, "students are not as safe as they should be about having sex." Why is it, we ask, that teenagers decide to have sex? "They are exposed to sexual activity in the media, and they (teenagers) think this is how it should be and then become curious," stated Brenda Lenz. When the same question was asked, senior Shonte Jordet stated that "I don't know if it would be so much that they choose to have sex, as much as it just 'happens."

When it comes to dating there are two distinct worlds: that of "Leave It to Beaver" simplicity, and the murkiness of the post-summer of love reality. Over the last thirty years, dating has changed considerably, and this has made this issue more complex for parents and teens.

You may think your parents are very strict and old fashioned when it comes to dating but turn it around and look at it from their perspective. With their past experiences in the dating world, they feel that they have better judgement of a situation. When your parents see you walking to the door, approaching your dates car, they may have fear in their mind. Not fear of you finding the right person but of dating disasters to be.

Dating teenagers often think that there parents want nothing more than to ruin your social life completely but that is not the case and there is evidence of that. The fact is when they tell you to bring your date home, they are really only looking out for your well-being. They want to make sure you are with a safe person, not some psycho maniac.

Sometimes you think that the last thing your parents want you to do is date but on some level parents of ten ignore the quantity but praise the quality. BHS social studies teacher, Mr. Gerald Bakke, begs to differ, "When you're a teenager you should not date just one person for a long time, you should date one person for 2 or 3 weeks and find someone new. Teenagers should date more than one person for the experience."

Teenagers think that their parents forbid their child to have any physical contact with the date. Often parents disagree and don't want to set boundaries that are too strict.

Midget's Hockey is one of the competitive sports available to athletes at Buffalo High School. Many students are predicting a great turnout on their season ahead.

"With our good expectations, hard work, and our fan support will not only will every game, but will have the best season Buffalo has ever had," commented Logan Berndt, a midget captain. Overall this will be the best of any other previous years in Midget Hockey era. "So please come, because Everyone's welcome, it's free, more fun, and way rougher than Varsity", said captain, B.J. Fenski.

There are plenty of reasons to why athletes tend to play Midgets Hockey instead of on Buffalo's Varsity team.

After several interviews, people had the same reply for the most part. First of all there are no high school regulations or contracts. "You don't play unless your on the good side and have a last name reputation," said Luke Anderson, a former BHS hockey player. "I want to have fun, you actually play, and ya don't gotta practice, like, everyday," said Cody Pierce a Midget starter.

Athletes that try out for Varsity sports seem to be unsatisfied unless they are the center of attention on the field, court, or ice. Some athlete's are not happy with their playing time in sports, or chances of playing, but some were not given a fair opportunity, replied Bobby Kosloski. "At this level some athletes believe they know where they fall before tryout, so. that may be a good reason for them, but everyone I expected to come out did " replied Mr. MacMillan, head coach of Varsity.

Some athletes are upset about why students quit Varsity after years and years of dedication. "It bothers me because you're turning your back on the team," said Varsity Captain, Erik Corey. "Some of this has to with people being upset with the school's program, "We can only take so much, as well all the other politics revolving around High School Hockey," commented a former Varsity and Midget player, Loren Knese.

This year, the gymnastics team has chosen this as their motto. Behind the scenes, the BHS gymnastics team has been working hard in the off season to produce a great team. With the loss of only one senior last year, the team has great potential. With the addition of the new freshmen and three eighth graders the team skill level has increased since last year.

Competition on the team has been stiff this year with so many people at the same level. Choosing a lineup for meets this year will be determined by their performance in meets and daily at practice. There are only five positions on varsity available on each event, which makes choosing who will compete harder for the coaches.

One highlight of the year is the possibility of a full bar line up. This has been a problem for JV in the past with sometimes only two or three girls competing.

Gymnastics has many components such as dance, strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and gracefulness. All of these components are needed together to make a complete performance. Though the moves are difficult, the girls are motivated to succeed.

"I think about what I am going to do in my head to motivate myself," says senior Suzee Zitur. "Since last season, I have much more confidence under pressure."

"All I need to do to motivate myself is work hard so I can accomplish new skills," states senior co-captain, Nichol Otten.

Not only are the girls motivated by meeting their personal goals, meeting the team goals also motivates them.

What can I do with all this snow? Sound like a familiar question you have been asking yourself. I have some ideas and some facts you may not know about these winter sport activities.

The first snowboard was created in 1929, by M.J. Burchett. He cut out a big plank of plywood and fastened it to his feet. That was about it for the snowboard for about 30 years. In 1963 the next step toward the snowboard was taken. An eighth grade student made a "Skiboa rd" for a class project.

Then in 1965 the "Snurfer" was created as a toy for Sherman Poppen's children. The Snurfer consisted of two bolted skis. But the real change of the Snowboard happened in 1970 when Dimitrije Milovich got an idea from sliding on a tray from the cafeteria. Milovich, who was a surfer on the East Coast, started developing Snowboards based on his surfboards. In 1975 Dimitrije and his "Snowboard" which he called a "Winterstick" received a write up in the March edition of Newsweek.

A big Minnesota heritage sport is ice fishing. Many Minnesotans Love to participate in it. Every ice angler has their specific location to fish on and traditional holes they fish in, but if your open for suggestions on picking your fishing spots I have a few.

Lake Independence is located on the metro's western border. This pool of joy has recently gained lots of recognition for its Muskie fishing. The lake is full of big Bass and Walleye. But what makes Lake Independence interesting is the fast action winter angling.

Capricorn December 21- January 19
You will finally be able to tell your ex that there is no chance whatsoever of the two of you getting back together. You and your pals will have fun spending all of the money that you get from your new job. Old friends will come back and want to be a part of your life. Be careful because one of them just wants to hurt you.

Aquarius January 20 -February 18
Forget your shyness and go for that special someone you've had your eye on for months. It will pay off big time. The fun you will have with them will be tons more than you would have had just being shy and scared of rejection. Just free the inner you and don't look back.

Pisces February 19-March 20
The person you are dating is bad news. That friend you've had forever is a good person to lean on because of some inside information. You will finally decide to quit loaning money to your loser friend who never pays you back and you will be able to buy that new leather jacket you've been eyeing for months. Have fun but watch your back.

Aries March 21-April 19
Your friends just want to get away from you. You've recently become a controlling, possessive person. They have been trying to tell you to back off for a few weeks but now they've had enough. You should give them time to cool off and you will have your friend's back.

Taurus April 20- May 20
This year you will expose a side of you that even your best friends have never seen before. You will finally realize that you DO like that person that has been hopelessly in love with you for months. Go out of your way to make them feel special. Friends might not understand your actions but it doesn't matter because you have found happiness.

An old flame will become a new fire where 'giving it another chance' will be a catch phrase. Your friends will start to understand that this inner you just wants to let loose. Be careful of your carefree wild side because it will ultimately catch up to you.

Your friends have started to turn on you. They are talking behind your back, not inviting you to join them at the post-game parties and they never call you to tell you what's going on. If you get in their faces about it, the whole situation will get worse.

Your parents have started to really get mad at your for things that you didn't even do. They don't let you go anywhere and when you ask they get mad at you because you expect too much and they don't even trust you.

You are 100% on top of things. Your grades have come up since last quarter and you are getting your homework done on time. Way to go! Keep it up because it will benefit you and enable you to go to the college of your choice.

Once in a while you need to let people know how you feel about them. They can't read your mind and in the end they will get madder at you if you just let them annoy you to the point where you blow up and can't stand them anymore.

Have fun!!! This month is your time to let loose and have fun. It will be a fun time to hang with your family too because they will turn out to be actually pretty cool. This year, you will do something that will make a HUGE difference but no one will appreciate you and give you credit.

You will get noticed by the person you wanted to see most, and you will decide that you really don't want to have anything to do with them. Have fun with friends and show them the real you.

Across
1. Messy stuff from bottom of boots
2. Wet snow that falls from sky
4. Opposite of boarding
5. House of ice
6. What your eyes do when blown by cold wind
7. People who live in the arctic
8. Cut a hole and sit on a bucket
9. Running on snow with skis
10. What clears the roads
11. Puck that passes two or more red lines
12. Opposite of skiing
13. Low pressure systems from the arctic

Down
1. Wet snow
2. Snow pile made by the wind
3. Helium ball that is closest in winter
4. What happens after passing a plow
5. Trade winds from Alberta
6. Skating sport
7. Going around gates while skiing
8. Name for threatening weather
9. Put on lips when it is cold
10. Corn cob pipe, and button nose
11. Put this limb in your boot
12. Threatening wind from east coast
13. ___ of past, present, and future
14. Travel on trains illegally

K E C S I A Q E B N Y N G J 0 K D F P J F L V T X H N F D I 0 R A H S N S H V Q Y E E R R A H A T E R T A I 0 P A S D E G S T U B Y T Z R I Q Q E E T U P O S B F R N B R I A O C L R N R R E Y A I D L G O I N E A U S Z E Y N E D R E Y Z S U F I W T D Q U O A D F I U B R B Q Q U T I Y G Z H Y R N Q P R F H J S V T V T U R D N H Z J H A E N A Y E T D C Y C N A E M T G A K J O R B S P H R Q C X U X U B O R I R J R L B C V D O J T A H Z G N I I K S T E K D A I W F K F I Q K Q Q I Q T Q T C E U L J N E K G L 0 0 P N E Q R P X O N Y X G Y Z I B R J L C 0 C A B N N Z 0 T 0 S U Z H T X 0 A L W 0 B R E P U S B X B C L V I L J R C L Z T A V K P X S V F V A I E P C Z A C H V E G T H E J A Z D C G L C D V A M A N S U R B D Y G S L E E T X L C D U B S X O R K E B R S U F O H S L F Z H I V Y N D Z P J L Q N K U I D P G D K G L N X B T M F L A H Z N Q A Y O S A F F J H G J Z N R Q G K S G X B E S T P A S D G H J K K L Q E W H J D F C V R

Words

Blizzard
Boots
Coat
Dreary
February
Football
Freezing rain
Gloves
Hail
Hat
Hockey
Ice
January
Mittens
Skiing
Sledding
Sleet
Snow
Snowboarding
Super Bowl
Third Quarter

Twenty people. Three judges. Thirty minutes. All these things describe, in some way, the One Act Play, a Minnesota State Sanctioned Competition (like sports), which means there are a lot of rules.

There can be no more than twenty people competing in the One Act Play per school. There are three judges focusing on: script, how natural they act, whether or not the set is logical, and how well the performers work together. The play can not be more than thirty-five minutes long, or that team is disqualified for that meet. This is sometimes a problem, because setting up the stage is part of that time.

There are two different types of competitions. Usually, the team is given a rank, and they have to get so high a rank to move on.

This year's competitive play is Black Comedy. The basic plot is as follows: A young English Artist is selling his sculptures, and is expecting a visit from a wealthy man who wants to purchase one of his sculptures. He's also expecting a visit from his fiancé's father, whom he has never met before.

However, there is a power outage before the guests arrive, so the majority of it takes place in the dark (hence, Black Comedy). There's a catch though: In parts where there is power (and lights), the stage is very dimly lighted. When the Power is out, the stage is brightly lit, and one of the challenges is to act like it is dark and you can not see.

However, "getting the kids to move around in the dark is the greatest challenge of all," says the play's director Ms. Hagstrom-Dahl.

Everyone has a good time though, despite so much practice (almost every day) and so many challenges to overcome. Says Mrs. HD, "Everyday we goof of for the first fifteen minutes. If I'm going to spend all my time with these kids, I want to have a good time." But will they succeed? They "have a really strong cast," so she thinks they will.

Does this all sound interesting? Try to catch this play during one of the regional competitions that will be occurring over the next several weeks. You will not be disappointed.