PAGE 2A the SPARTANA
6NELSON
CONTINUED FROM 1A
of remarkable. I enjoy being around the
staff, the students, and the administra-
tion; everybody tries to work together. I’ll
miss the people I’ve worked with and the
students. I’ve always enjoyed everybody I
work with. They’ve been very good people
to be around, and I’m going to miss them.”
Just as Nelson says she will miss her
surroundings at Homestead, her co-work-
ers will miss her after she retires as well.
“I’m going to miss having her at the
Celia Grundman,
STAND club presi-
dent, watches as a
student expresses
interest in filling
out a pledge card.
The anti-genocide
group hosted
STANDFast during
the first week of
December in which
donors abstained
from one of their
everyday comforts.
STAND urges three days
without luxury products
STANDFast generates more than $150 in pledges
By Priya Parikh
Writer • staff@thespartana.net
STAND (Student Anti-Genocide Coali-
tion) hosted its second annual “fast,” known
as STANDFast, to assist in helping victims
of genocide on Dec. 2, 3 and 4.
Millions of innocent Darfur residents are
affected by genocide launched by the Suda-
nese government every year. Thousands
of people have been killed, and more than
2.5 million have been displaced. 250,000
were displaced in 2007 alone. The govern-
ment of Sudan systematically destroys the
livelihoods of the citizens through bomb-
ing, burning villages, looting economic
resources, and committing crimes against
humanity such as murder, rape and torture.
Recently, 16 aid organizations have been
expelled from the region by the Sudanese
government, putting 4.7 million people at
risk.
For STANDFast, people were asked to
give up one luxury item they might normal-
ly have that day, such as Starbucks coffee,
lunch cookies, or ice cream, and donate the
money that they would have spent on that
item to STANDFast.
Last year, Homestead raised about $250.
Globally, STANDFast raised enough money
last year to keep the Civilian Protection
Plan in Darfur running. This year, the 26
members in STAND collected money with
the hope of keeping the plan running again.
A total of $160.18 was collected last week.
“People usually end up just donating
pocket change and don’t actually fast,” Celia
Grundman (12), president of STAND, said.
“But they enjoy filling out the pledge cards
with silly things. The money is then donat-
ed to the genocide intervention network,
with the proceeds assisting with programs
to help refugees in Darfur and Burma.”
6SEMI-FORMAL
CONTINUED FROM 1A
rent a separate venue.
“Our budget for the dance decorations
was $7,000,” Shine said. “We went about
$200 over [on decorations], security was
$500, the DJ was $350.”
In addition to this sum, student gov-
ernment had to account for the cost of
water and cups, chaperones and clean-up
in the equation for their total expenses.
Despite all of the investments, stu-
dent government is able to profit each
year from semi-formal ticket sales. These
profits are crucial because student gov-
ernment uses the profits to raise funds
for other activities that they sponsor
throughout the year.
“The money raised from ticket sales
are used throughout the year for clubs,
Student government fundraiser adds
$2,100 to Red Cross ‘Lincolns’ project
By Dan Vandeveer
Copy Editor • copy@thespartana.net
Homestead is a high school of many
fundraisers. Whether in the form of the
backroom selling candy or the sale of the
famous yellow athletic area discount cards,
fundraising tactics are always in progress.
Recently, student government conducted
a fundraiser during fifth period as an ex-
tension of the Red Cross campaign “It’s All
About the Lincolns.” Student government
members offered a pizza party incentive
to the class who donated most money per
classmate.
“The idea was to give as much money
as possible to the Red Cross,” Neil Rajdev
(11) said. “Each teacher was given a jar to
collect money and the class with the most
money collected per student would win a
pizza party.”
Quinn Brenneke (12), student govern-
ment president, introduced the Red Cross
fundraiser to Homestead.
“The Red Cross was doing a fundraiser
for themselves, and I was in contact with
them, and they said ‘What if Homestead
helped us out?’” Brenneke said. “What they
did was put collecting cans in local restau-
rants and other places. So I said, ‘Well, how
about Student Government puts cans in
every classroom?’ And the fundraiser was a
NEWS
back desk, and her companionship,” said
Fitt. “She’s a very easy person to get along
with. Very congenial, and has a good sense
of humor about her. We’ve gotten along
very well for these 18 years.”
With Nelson’s 32 years of experience be-
hind her, Homestead will suffer the loss of a
friend as she continues on into retirement.
“I will miss her knowledge about every-
thing,” Gloria Junk, registrar, said. “She’s
been such a help to me, and I don’t know
what I’m going to do without her. She just
knows everything. She’s friendly, she’s al-
ways happy, she listens, and she never
complains. She’s just fun to be around, and
we’re really going to miss her.”
PHOTO BY LAUREN OLSON
“What we’re doing is more like abstain-
ing, rather than fasting,” Omar Nadeem (11)
said. “What you give up doesn’t necessarily
have to be food. It could be buying songs on
iTunes or anything else the person donat-
ing would consider a luxury item that they
purchase often.”
In addition to the money donated to help
those in need in Darfur and Burma, a small
amount is also required to keep STAND go-
ing.
“The money that was collected during
the three days will also go to the club for
financing our stamps and stationary for let-
ters that will be written to our representa-
tives and President Obama about the situa-
tions in Darfur and Burma,” Jasmine Marie
(12) said.
During the three days of STANDFast,
STAND members set up a display at lunch,
including a bulletin board which explained
the fundraiser. Money was collected before
school in the IMC commons and during
lunch.
“I participated in STANDFast because I
think it’s important to do what I can to aid
the efforts to end genocide,” said Allison
Baer (11), a STAND member who collected
money during lunch. “It’s such a simple
thing to do- to give up one luxury item you
would normally consume. There isn’t any
reason not to.”
Reasoning like this motivates Homestead
students to give a little of themselves to
those that have so much less.
“I was motivated for this because ev-
eryone has the right live, and especially
the right to live freely, is very important
for everybody to have,” Sameerah Alkhairy
(12) said. “Unfortunately, not everybody has
that right, like the people in Darfur who are
experiencing this genocide. So any contri-
bution helps. Especially over there, a little
bit of money goes a long way.”
senior scholarships, free prom tickets
for seniors, MORP and Just Because
Week activities, next year’s Homecoming
events, donations to community organi-
zations such as the Red Cross, Earthfest,
etc,” student government advisor April
Moss said. “Semi-Formal is our big fund-
raiser for the year.”
In addition to raising money, the goal
of the semi-formal dance is to create a
magical night for Homestead students.
They succeeded, and many students
agree that the dance last Saturday night
was exactly as the theme described, “A
Knight for a Princess.”
For many, the semi-formal dance is a
long event that includes picking out the
perfect dress or tie, finding a date, arrang-
ing dinner plans, and spending an insane
amount of time pleasing someone’s mom
by taking awkward pictures in painful
heals. This pre-semi ritual is often what
stands out in many students’ minds when
really big success.”
According to Brenneke, the Red Cross
conducted the “It’s All About the Lincolns”
campaign throughout the entire Fort
Wayne area. Excluding Homestead’s do-
nation, they made approximately $2,400.
Homestead, then, was able to collect and
contribute a total of $2,100 to the other do-
nations.
“I think the fact that there was a pos-
sibility of a pizza party really made
everyone want to donate. I’m glad
that our money went to such a
worthy cause.”
DAVID LIBBING (11)
Student in Winning Class
“Homestead almost matched exactly
what they collected from the whole city
of Fort Wayne,” Brenneke said. “[The Red
Cross] was very, very happy when we gave
them their check. They were ecstatic.”
Shawn Harkness’ and Jim Lamping’s
fifth period classes led Homestead in dona-
tion totals with $9.08 and $9.20 donated per
student, respectively. Lamping’s class alone
“Vandalism costs money when
you need to spend time clean-
ing off stuff. It costs labor and it
costs the district money.”
GARY TROOST
Building Maintenance Supervisor
6BATHROOM
SHENANIGANS
CONTINUED FROM 1A
Recently, there have also been
problems with cafeteria ice cream
thrown on walls, leading the admin-
istration to crack down on limiting
food to within the cafeteria walls.
“Most people have no intent to
throw it anywhere,” Kintz said.
It takes a custodian about 30 min-
utes to clean a bathroom that goes
through average wear-and-tear dur-
ing the day.
Often, bathrooms may be closed
to students due to vandalism, or else
because repairs need to be made.
“If over a third of the fixtures
don’t operate, we’ll shut it down un-
til it’s fixed,” Pete Carteaux, mainte-
nance engineer, said. “We don’t have
to worry about interruptions.”
Carteaux said that since the school
is almost 40 years old, replacement
parts are harder to find. The mainte-
nance staff, however, maintains that
they are mostly worried about stu-
dent and staff safety.
“If the restroom is not usable in
my opinion, or we can’t get to it right
away, we’ll close it down for a day,”
Troost said.
The same policy goes for any of-
fensive words scrawled by potty-
mouths on the walls.
The administration has its own
methods and procedures for ap-
prehending vandals and controlling
the amount of damage done to rest-
rooms. Students who vandalize can
be removed from class and may face
legal prosecution or payments for
the damage they caused.
“Vandalism costs money when
you need to spend time cleaning off
stuff,” Troost said. “It costs labor and
costs the district money.”
Despite the vandalism at Home-
stead, Troost, who has also worked
as maintenance supervisor at Fort
Wayne Community Schools, said that
Homestead is typical in its amount of
bathroom disruption.
“It’s all within the parameters of
being a high school,” he said.
Even though the vandalism is
routine for a high school, the admin-
istration and maintenance staff still
try to combat the problem.
“Supervision is the key,” Carteaux
said.
Carteaux also said that he is in
favor of administrators or teachers
helping to patrol the bathrooms to
help keep them cleaner. Troost said
he is worried about the effect vandal-
ism has on the custodians who are
left with no choice but to manually
remove the offenses.
“It demoralizes [them],” he said.
“All the custodians keep the building
looking as good as possible.”
610,760
dollars is final amount of student govern-
ment funds raised by semi-formal before
cost reductions, such as food and music.
they reflect upon their semi experience.
“It was really fun having dinner at my
house and all the families pitching in to
make it fun,” Rachel Rifkin (12) said. “Then
my boyfriend broke a bunch of glass cups
by accident in front of my parents which
really set the mood.”
By the time students arrive at the
event, many students find that hitting
the dance floor is an excellent way to un-
wind.
“It was fun getting dressed up and
all,” McKenzie Pratt (11) said. “But it was
awesome getting to the dance and letting
loose after pictures and dinner.”
raised a total of $248.33, and Harkness’
class followed not far behind with $245.25.
These top two classes accounted for nearly
30 percent of the total money donated, and
with such figured, the student government
members consider the fundraiser a signifi-
cant success.
“We got donations from almost all
classes and the fundraiser turned out to be
a success,” Jim Finley (11) said. “It’s great to
see how much Homestead students care for
the community.”
According to the Red Cross’s official
website, the program has been “the nation’s
premier emergency response organiza-
tion” since 1881, and “as part of a worldwide
movement that offers neutral humanitar-
ian care to the victims of war, the American
Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aid-
ing victims of devastating natural disasters.
Over the years, the organization has ex-
panded its services, always with the aim of
preventing and relieving suffering.”
Students, teachers and student govern-
ment members alike were eager to see the
success of the fundraiser.
“I thought the fundraiser turned out
great,” David Libbing (11) said. “Our class
was really into it. I think the fact that there
was a possibility of a pizza party really made
everyone want to donate. I’m glad that our
money went to such a worthy cause.”
Friday, December 11, 2009
6DRUG SURVEY This dramatic drop in tests
has led to rumors that sug-
CONTINUED FROM 1A gest the program is no longer
“random” but now only targets
students who have a possible
“I was asked to be a part of reputation for drug use Gross
SADD by the administration, maintains firmly that this is not
and we meet once a month and the case.
have pizza and talk about be- However, the district’s 4190
ing a positive influence on the
school,” Ayesha Syed (11) said.
Drug Testing Policy for Students
does state that “the school may
To attempt to keep Home- require a student to submit to a
stead as drug free as possible, test for alcohol or other drugs,
Homestead instituted a random if a student exhibits behaviors
drug testing policy for students which lead school authorities
involved in extracurricular ac- to suspect the student is under
tivities and the driving permit the influence of alcohol or oth-
program. The policy was imple-
mented during the 2005-2006
er drugs.”
“The district policy has other
school year and has applied conditions under which we can
since then. drug test students,” Gross said.
“When we first started the “If the student has discipline
program we had a federal grant problems, they can be drug
that covered the first three tested with parent consent and
years, and with that money we the results go to the parents
were able to hire a person to without school interference.
manage the program and we We also have provisions that
were able to test a lot more stu- if an administrator believes a
dents than we are now,” SACS student is under the influence
social worker Anita Gross said. at school… then we can require
“Its now paid through a state a drug test, and there could be
Drug Free Schools grant.” discipline action.”
Because the program’s fed- Gross, however, maintains
eral grant funds have been
that the policy does not allow
exhausted, fewer students are or involve conducting a test
randomly tested each week. based upon hearsay.
“At the high school, we’re “To do a mandatory drug
trying to do fifteen to twenty a test, there has to be reason to
week,” Gross said. believe. It can’t just be a rumor
These cutbacks have very from somebody,” Gross said.
real results. Though the pool The fundamental goal of
of applicants for random drug drug testing is to create a drug
testing has increased each year and alcohol free Homestead.
and now encompasses 1,836 Even with budget cuts, the fall-
Homestead students, the total ing numbers of students using
number tested last year was alcohol, drugs, and tobacco
only 276 students compared to support and showcase the ef-
834 students during the 2006- forts of NAND and the random
2007 school year. drug testing program.
6FINAL EXAMS of a challenge getting mate-
rial in,” English teacher Travis
CONTINUED FROM 1A Fisher said. “But it’s in the best
interest of the students.”
Some teachers plan on using
of time. the two weeks as a transitional
“I like that there’s no study- period between semesters and
ing during break,” said Leah as a time to cover topics that
Kirby (10), “But [the two weeks will not be on the final. Teach-
afterwards] are useless, because ers are also trying to make the
we won’t have anything to do.” two semesters equal in content
Teachers are inconvenienced despite the difference in length.
by the change, but they under- Although the new finals
stand the reasoning behind it. schedule may seem strange, all
The main inconvenience is add- changes were made to benefit
ing two weeks’ worth of class students and parents.
material to the class after break “This was the best option,”
— and still preparing fair a final said Moake. “Change is difficult,
exam. but we need to make adjust-
“[The change] presents a bit ments.”
HOMESTEAD DEBUNKED
Myth: The administration only briefly looks outside to
decide whether or not to call a delay or closing.
Status: False. The procedure for delays and closings
begins at 3:45 a.m. when Ike Doll, Southwest Allen County
Schools transportation director, checks the weather forecast
and drives throughout the district to assess the roads.
The decision whether or not to call a delay or closing
must be made by 5:45 a.m., when Doll calls SACS Superin-
tendent Steve Yeager to offer his opinion on the conditions.
Yeager, then, legitimately makes the final decision. The deci-
sion must made early enough so that people may plan their
day accordingly, especially for mothers of small children in
the district who might require childcare. — Carrie Cummiskey
the PARTANA STAFF
Patrick Svitek
Editor-in-Chief • psvitek@thespartana.net
Beth Huber Derek Luttrell
Executive Editor • bhuber@thespartana.net Executive Editor • dluttrell@thespartana.net
Suzie Reecer
Executive Editor • sreecer@thespartana.net
Copy Editors Business Manager
Andy Franklin Max Isroff
Kirsten Overdahl
Dan Vandeveer Designer
Mary Distler
Photo Editor
Suzie Reecer Photographers
Kyle Dolfuss
Associate Charles Walter
Photo Editor
Ben Mikesell Writers
Nathan Berning
News Editor Elana Merritt
Carrie Cummiskey Priya Parikh
Stephanie Ponton
Opinion Editor
Celia Grundman
Life Editor
Jalen Prewett
Conor Osborne-Price
Julianne Szostak
Taylor Thompson
Adrienne Westenfeld Chrissy Verhoff
Andrew Weiss
Sports Editor Alexis Yanez
Joe Hanauer Laura Zeng
Feature/The Next 65 Editor Cartoonist
Molly Zweig Cam Kaminski
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Spartana is a bi-weekly stantial and material disruption of
production of Student Publications: the school day as defined by the Su-
Newspaper at Homestead High preme Court will not be printed.
School. Its purpose is to enlighten, Southwest Allen County corpora-
educate, and entertain. The Spartana tion encourages vigorous treatment
has, and may continue to, operate as of a wide range of subject matter,
a limited open forum for the free ex-
change of ideas.
including controversial issues, and
student journalists are free to report
Staff members support the First and to editorialize on events, ideas,
Amendment in its entirety and op- and issues in their high school, com-
pose censorship in any form. The munity, nation, and world according
content of the paper is determined to Policy Number 4150.
by the student staff. In cases of po- Public input will be accepted
tentially controversial material, the from the Homestead community
Editorial Board will meet to decide in the form of letters to the editor.
the content of the newspaper. The Letters must follow standards con-
staff will be assisted by the adviser cerning libel or obscenity. Those
in areas of professional ethics and that could cause a substantial and
legalities. material disruption to the school day
Material that is libelous or ob- will not be printed. Letters can be e-
scene as defined by Fort Wayne mailed to The Spartana at thespar-
Newspapers or could cause a sub- tana@gmail.com
The Spartana is a member of the National
Scholastic Press Association. To view the
newspaper’s editorial policy online, visit
http://www.thespartana.net/?page_id=84/.