The Bison Stampede – February 2002

Condoms in the Schools by Danielle Klatt and Ashley Menzel
A Deadly Silence
Being Thrown Into the Dryer by Dawn Savell
The Phenomena of Basement Wrestling
The Realities of the Baby by Alicia Schulz
The Story of Single Mom

With the failure of this Fall's referendum, things here at BHS are sure to change. And the ones sure to feel it will be the students.

Already underway are plans to meet the budget shortfall that District 877 is sure to feel. On the chopping block are teachers and programs that we have come to appreciate. All because the community will not fully fund the schools.

The stampede wonders: did the same people who voted against the referendum crowd the stadium at the football games and fill the FAC arts performances? Before a single cent is carved from education, the stampede believes that all activities should be cut. No more band concerts, no more football games. Get rid of the newsmagazine and the hockey team. If we are not going to adequately fund the schools, why should we continue to spend money on the extras? Maybe then, everyone will realize the importance of our schools. Maybe then, the ballot boxes will be crammed with "yes" votes.

Basement Wrestling 3
The Realities of Baby 4
Loitering Law 6
Cover Photo 7
Condoms in Schools 8
Selective Service Advisor 10
stampede Editorial 12

First rule of basement wrestling is you do not talk about basement wrestling. Second rule of basement wrestling is you DO NOT talk about Basement wrestling.

There is a silent hush over the fun and exciting games that go on in the privacy of one's basement or back yard. Boys enter as wads of cookie dough, but when they leave they are carved out of wood. Yet no one talks of these experiences. They are mute to their actions. Until now ...

Juniors Chris Lacasse, Keith Karsten and Nie Schiferli are just some of the many boys that turn their homes into wrestling rings. No actual ring is made, mostly street fights that take place in the kitchen, living room, dinning room-anywhere there is a lamp to be broken, these boys take over. Not so perfect lighting, jumpy camera angles, words mumbled, and some actions not entirely seen. But they get the point across. They want to prove what they can do and how they can do it. Throwing each other into walls, off of decks, down stairs, and into each other. Breaking many things over their heads and using a variety of weapons-the young men created their own Wrestling Federation. With stage names, like Chris the Crippler, Silver Stud and The Barn Dancer, they employ entrance music, costumes, and titles to win. "I wore green pants, a green shirt and a Scream mask" says Chris. " He even had a dance" says Nick of Chris.

The fascination with Pro Wrestling has to do with the entertainment value. Watching your favorite superstar beat the tar out of their enemy is a thrill of its own.

So if there are so many fans of wrestling, then why does this only seem to involve boys? "Girls don't wanna get hurt" says Chris. They asked a couple girls to be in the videos and they all-probably wisely- said no. Boys are born with that high tolerance for pain that girls lack. But there are female pro wrestlers that prove wrestling isn't just a man's sport. This would be the perfect way for girls to get tough and show that they can do whatever they want. Nothing stops Lita from doing a Moonsault when a male gets up in her face.

When asked if they thought they had a future in pro wrestling they all had the same answer "No." But they would, however, try out for WWF Tough Enough. "I would, but I dunno, I'm too short" says Chris.

They all had "Bison" experience with wrestling, but quit shortly after they started. The school's wrestling is extremely different. They wanted to have fun with it and with the school, and having to follow rules, they weren't getting the satisfaction they wanted. "School wrestling ... was just boring," says Keith. It lacked the quality of fun and "No Rules" that they were looking for. So they turned to their own homes ... with a video camera.

It has been a couple years since they have taped a live show. "We all work now, we never have any time," says Keith. The look on their face, though, says that the last video won't be the only one. They all accomplished the goal they wanted to fulfill-to have fun. This article may have even inspired their come back video ... A Thanksgiving Pay-Per-View.

It's a Friday night and you should be out with the guy of your dreams. You two should be on your way to a restaurant where you will have a wonderful dinner, and the good thing is that he is paying.

Instead, you are lying in a hospital bed, sweating, annoyed by the doctors surrounding you, and you're pushing your hardest to get that baby out of you.

Junior Tina Sandland is sixteen years old and she should be out having fun, but she's stuck at home taking care of her ten-month-old baby boy.

A couple years ago she fell in love with the father of her baby and he always said he would be there for her no matter what happened. The thought of having a child had crossed their minds, but they never planned on it, until one day Tina got pregnant. She wasn't that surprised because her and her boyfriend had been having unprotected sex. When she found out she was pregnant, the first thing she said was, "My parents are gonna kill me."

--- "Her parents obviously didn't kill her, but they thought she should get an abortion because she was too young"

--- Her parents obviously didn't kill her, but they thought she should get an abortion because she was too young. She seriously thought about having an abortion, but her boyfriend wouldn't let her. He said everything would be just fine and she thought they would have a perfect life.

Boy was she wrong. While Tina was pregnant, she lived with her boyfriend at her house with her parents. Awhile after Tina gave birth to their beautiful boy, Nathaniel Michael Johnson, her boyfriend moved out to live with his mom up north because he got into a fight with Tina's mother.

As soon as she had the baby, she was attached to him. Her parents thought maybe she would want to give him up for adoption, but she just couldn't stand the thought of someone else taking care of him and she wouldn't know if he was getting treated badly or not.

As time passed, Tina and her boyfriend started to see and hear from each other less each day. He always seemed to be too busy to talk or to visit his girlfriend and son. She's lucky if she gets to see him three times a month. When she does see him, she'll see him for a couple days at a time, then she won't hear from him for awhile again.

The father did have a job at a casino, but he quit and now he has no money to support his son and he is thinking about moving to Minneapolis and hopefully getting a job there. He used to pay and support Nathaniel, but now he has no job and money.

But for Tina, the promises and dreams have become hallow—she doesn't believe anything he says anymore because almost everything seems to be a lie.

Luckily, Tina's mother is helping her pay for all the things that Nathaniel needs, but it's not her responsibility.

Tina did have a job, but she quit because the father told her they were going to move up north, but then that plan backfired and she was left without a job. She is trying to get a job now so she can support the two of them.

The thing she doesn't like about working is that Nathaniel acts different when she's not around him as much, but she says that she hopes he will understand someday that she is taking care of him and she wouldn't know if he was getting treated badly or not.

The chill in the air ends many things. Summer has ended and Winter has settled in. School has started and streets have quieted down, but not completely. The cool has sent many indoors. Yet, when driving downtown there are still teens hanging out on the streets, for the time being anyway.

New laws have been made to kick teens off the streets and away from their hangouts. But where can they go? Is there anyplace, anywhere that would appeal to teens?

In the summer, when the heat hit and the nights cooled down, the streets became a playground for teens. Different areas harbor different people and different groups.

At the courts, the guys play basketball while the girls mingle and socialize. Every once in a while, they'll hit the volleyball around or someone will pull out a sack and start up a game of hackie. The lights go out at around 11:00pm—which is when everyone leaves. It usually tends to be civilized and they keep it as quiet as the basketball game allows.

Down at the corner, cars drive past; the revving of the engine or a loud exhaust can be heard on almost any given night. Those who stop are invited to join in on the conversation, which usually deals with cars. The girls bounce from group to group or car-to-car sharing their thoughts on more compelling subjects.

At Gordy's, the scream of the car stereos can be heard as teenagers all stand out by their cars. Conversation is going and a yell can be heard from across the parking lot. Then an occasional fight breaks out and again the police are down visiting with the teens. The conversation is less fun loving then the teens would like—thus ending another night. But tomorrow they'll be back.

But now the basketball courts lay silent and the parking lot is bare, the one last glimpse of summer is the corner. A new law is stealing away the havens that teens once ran too. This new law is against loitering. Tickets can be issued, tickets for standing around town.

Gordy's is completely off limits. All municipal parking lots are from now on. Being caught hanging out there can start with a warning and end in tickets and fines.

The Courts is a public basketball court so teens can be there till lights go out. Then the Courts are closed down and to be there is considered trespassing. The Corner is safe because it is a private establishment. Only the owner can kick the kids out.

Officials say no trouble will come if the teens are behaving themselves and not bothering anyone. First offenders will receive a warning. They will be told the new law and sent on their merry way. After that, each situation will be evaluated to decide the effect of the offense and what should happen next.

City Council member, Marsha Paulson had this to say about the new law. "If you don't cause problems you probably won't be bothered too much." She smiles and then sternly says, "Presenting yourself in such a way to cause alarm is unacceptable."

"If you're downtown sitting on the corner talking to a friend; that's not alarming." She smiles again as she reminisces, "I used to

It's a big secret; it's a taboo; its untouchable. The community, teachers, and administration try to avoid even mentioning it How is it a society that is so advanced in technology can be so backwards in protection of their teens?

Secretaries blush, teachers cower away from the subject, and questions go unanswered. Where is the compassion?

Students take 10th grade health, where they learn ways to be safe. Don't you think if they teach ways to keep teens safe, that the schools should have some area where they are supplied?

When questioned about how it would affect teen promiscuity if condoms were made available to teens in the schools, Tyler Olson replies "Right now they are afraid of getting pregnant but if they were there, [there would be an increase in teen sexual activity]"

But according to Molly Pietig "I would like it if the school nurse would have condoms available because parents are more worried of telling them not to have sex then telling them how to protect themselves."

Health teacher Mary Bremmer said, "Condoms-health wise-it is a great idea. Public opinion-I don't think I would have my job for long." And this is where the trouble lies-people seem to have a rational opinion and a paralyzing fear.

Some more outgoing teachers took interviews. Not all agreed as to what was proper and should be done, but at least they had their own opinions.

Of all the interviews, Ninth Grade Advocate, Rene Parcheta was the only faculty member who was for the distribution of condoms. She explained that because of policy she couldn't hand out condoms to a student because she could lose her job.

"It's policy. I can't hand them out. I would get fired. As a counselor; it's against district rules. I can encourage use though."

She goes on to talk about the good effects condoms have and how they make people talk to one another about sex.

"It doesn't make people go out and have sex but if you have a condom in your hand you have to at least talk."

Parcheta believes that faculty, administration, and parents should not be afraid to talk about sex. The more open and comfortable they are with the subject the more questions teens can ask. And the more answers that teens receive, the better off they will be.

Many teachers believed it wasn't the school's responsibility.

Mrs. Sheri Tamte thought that it might be a good idea to have access to information and resources students needed to be safe. She worried, "I don't want to make a parent's decision. A family decision." She went on to say, "I'm not sure I want that responsibility. I don't need to be a parent to 90 more people."

Ms. Tamte is very open with sexuality and talks to her 15-year-old son Adam freely on the subject. She has found herself asking him in front of his friends how he knows he is ready and responsible enough for sex. She is sure when her seven year old daughter Julia is old enough she will be open with her too.

Mr. Matt Lubben accepted the interview but once he found out the subject at hand he became nervous.

"It's getting a little risque, give me time to think about it." And the interview was postponed.

Mr. Lubben expresses that the school's

---
"Should the schools be responsible for providing access to condoms, or is this the prerogative of the family?"

Eighteen—a birthday people look forward to. Suddenly you are able to legally do things that were denied to you in the past. But with this birthday, you can now be drafted.

With the events that occurred on September 11th, our country has gone to war. We are not only protecting our homeland from more attacks, but also our citizens abroad. If our country needs more men, they can use the Selective Service System and it is possible we may need to.

Suddenly, what was once three arbitrary letters (SSS) now has amazing impact to any young man who is eighteen, or on the verge of turning eighteen.

"What does that mean?" replies Junior Amanda Mengelkoch when asked if she knew what the Selective Service was.

Not many students at BHS knew what it is when they were asked. But once the word "draft" was used, there was a lot of "Oh ok, I know what you're talking about now."

To put it into technical terms, the Selective Service is an agency of the United States Government to draft men into whatever part of the military they are needed in. The law requires that all male citizens register within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Late registrations are accepted, but not once a man reaches the age of 26. Once a man reaches the age of 26 he is considered to be too old to register.

It is now possible for a man to submit registration information early, as long as he is at least 17 years old. Selective Service will keep his information on file and process it automatically later in the year, when the man is within 30 days of reaching his 18th birthday.

To register, the easiest and fastest way is to do it online. Go to the Selective Service website (www.sss.gov) and click on the "Register online now" icon. All you have to do is fill out some basic information and within seconds you'll receive your Selective Service number. Another way you can do it is go to a U.S. Post Office and pick up a registration form, complete it and sign it, and mail it in.

If the Congress and the President reinstated a military draft, the Selective Service System would conduct a National Lottery to determine the order in which young men would be drafted. The lottery would establish the priority of call based on the birth dates of those registered. The first men drafted would be those turning 20 years old in the year of the draft. If a young man turns 21, he'd be in the second priority, and so on. Younger men would not be called until men in the 20-25 age group are called.

Even though it is the law to sign up when a man reaches 18 years old, there are still some people who refuse to sign up. Sam Nord says, "Canada here I come! How stupid can you be?"

A former student at BHS, Andy Holthaus, who is now serving in the military, said the main reason he signed up was to fight for his country.

You may want to think twice if you're one of those people who are thinking about not signing up. You may find you are ineligible for certain benefits. Some include student financial aid, government employment, employment, you won't qualify for Federal student loans or grant programs, and more. Some doors may be permanently closed. You may, if prosecuted, face a fine of up to $250,000 and/or a prison term of up to five years.

If a man really feels that he doesn't

On Election Day, our school immediately changed. You may not have felt it at the time, but a groundswell was definitely underway.

With the defeat at the referendum, life at BHS will never be the same. District 877, which needed the monies of the referendum to operate, is now approximately $1.4 million in the hole. And this money will be made up—it must be made up.

Now this is where the hurt comes in. Nearly 85% of the district's financial outlay comes in salaries and benefits. As a result, most likely, the deficit will be made up with staff reductions—enough to total $1.4 million.

Now, with an estimated budget of $5 million dollars, the district spends, annually, over $5 million on non-staff related expenditures. Can the money be found, creatively, without cutting staff?

It is the stampede's fear that those with the least voice will pay the most with budget reductions. District 877 has a proud tradition of providing excellence to those that have much. But who will advocate—give voice—to the "have nots"?

Was does this mean for the students of BHS? Next year there will be more crowded classroom, less elective choices, hallways and learning environments spilling to capacity.

The editorial staff of the stampede is saddened, frustrated, and angered by this turn of events for education in Buffalo. But we can do something. Make your voices heard. Do something. If you think that the educational opportunities at BHS are valuable make some noise. If you settle for, "Well, I am just a kid. Who'll listen to me?" then your decisions will be made for you.

The bison stampede is a public forum published by Buffalo High School, and presented to the community of Buffalo, MN. Its purpose is to investigate, evaluate, challenge, and inform students of issues which may be of concern to them. The stampede also provides an open forum for the diverse views of its readers—opening its pages to writers outside the staff.

Editorials represent the consensus of the editorial board, but not necessarily the views of the advisor, administrators, or the Buffalo School District.

The stampede staff encourages letters to the editorial board. Letters should be fewer than 250 words and must be signed. Letters are kept on file in the stampede archives and may be reviewed upon request. The editorial board reserves the right to edit letters due to space restrictions, and to avoid statements which may be construed as libelous, slanderous, or obscene