east lyme high school east lyme, ct the vvikingiking ssagaaga september 22, 2008 volume 42 edition 2 From Vikings to Saints Five East Lyme student-athletes transfer an investigation, but all we found was to St. Bernard High school speculation and rumors,” said athletic by Ellie Kleinhans director Jim Moran. “You’d hate to punish a student for speculating. We’re not going Within weeks of summer beginning, to do that. But at the same time we have rumors started to spread about East Lyme rules to follow and want to make sure that High School losing some of their most they’re followed.” talented athletes. By the time school started According to the Connecticut back up, many of those rumors had been Interscholastic Athletic Conference confi rmed—fi ve ELHS student-athletes had (CIAC) Handbook, the “recruitment of transferred to St. Bernard High School. students, or attempted recruitment of Senior Jordan Rando, a starting running students, for athletic purposes, regardless back for ELHS football team; senior Lucas of their residence, is a gross violation of the Bowman, a state runner-up and former spirit and philosophy of the by-laws of the wrestling captain as well as a linebacker for [CIAC] and is expressly forbidden.” ELHS; senior Sean Kydd, a wide receiver It also states that a school is responsible for the ELHS football team; junior Dylan for any recruiting violation made by anyone Delacruz, a two-year starting shortstop associated with the school in any way— for the ELHS baseball team; and junior coaches, athletic directors, teachers, even Photos Submited Austin Gillespie, a starting left fi elder for students and parents. And the violations Five ELHS students transferred to St. Bernard the ELHS baseball team, all traded in their include direct or indirect contact with High School, four are shown here: clockwise from maroon for a different shade of red. a student suggesting that they transfer top left, Lucas Bowman, Jordan Rando, Dylan Due to these student-athletes transferring, schools for athletic purposes. Delacruz, and Sean Kydd. An investigation into ELHS looked into a possible recruitment Gillespie stated that he transferred solely possible recuritment violations is ongoing. violation. “Myself and Dr. Sullivan held (continued as St. B’s on page 9) New Roof, Same Old Story Leaks are still a problem at year when Mr. Hewitt fi rst East Lyme High School tiles around the school that arrived at ELHS, he has had by Ellie Kleinhans have water damage stains. In addition, cracks in the walls, to replace the ceiling tiles 7 Three years ago ceiling tiles specifi cally in the A Wing, leak to 9 occasions. This can get in the library and other various of water whenever there are costly. The administration is rooms were rotting due to water severe downpours, resulting in now looking into getting to the damage. The problem worsened large puddles in the hallway. core of the problem, instead of to the point where replacing the “When it doesn’t pour, I don’t fi xing only what can be seen on tiles would solve nothing for have a problem. When it pours, the outside. much longer than a day. So, I have a big problem,” said head “We are having a contractor the roof had been completely custodian Michael Hewitt. “It come down to work on this replaced the next summer. Now, doesn’t have anything to do with issue,” said Mr. Hewitt. The the water problem is back. the roof. It’s the roof top units— fi nal evaluation and cost should e.kleinhans/saga Although it is not quite as or the ventilation system.” be available by the end of the Custodians repare to replace just severe, there are many ceiling Since November of last month, if not sooner. some of the ruined ceiling tiles Kydd Wedding Morning Show From Gymnastics Fall TV Preview 4 Throwdown7 to Diving 8 1100 inside 2 september 22, 2008 opinion Say What You They claim she has no experience, If Sarah Palin proves to have just as much but in fact she does. Two years as mayor experience as the Democratic presidential and two years as governor. Palin may candidate of 2008, participates in some be new to politics with only four of the same activities as a Democratic nominee of 2004 and knows how to care years of experience, but how is for her children and run a state at the same Democratic presidential nominee time, why do people dislike her so much? Barack Obama any different? If Her views could do it for the Democrats, anything, four years in the senate is less after all she is pro life, pro war, and is pro experience than Palin’s. He is just one of offshore oil drilling. As for the offshore many as a Senator, whereas Palin governs drilling, Palin is an avid supporter of drilling Alaska, the largest state in the country. in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge, And what makes Alaska special is the which is in Alaska, so that the United State different culture it has compared to that doesn’t remain dependent on the Middle of the east coast. One major aspect of that East. She knows a great deal about the oil culture is hunting—Palin hunts moose. problem through governing a state where it ellie kleinhans kleinhans ellie But John Kerry, Democratic presidential is their major resource. Lately, all the rage in American politics nominee of 2004, hunts deer. So what is But then why do most critics base their has been about Sarah Palin, John McCain’s the difference? hate on her experience and capabilities? vice presidential nominee. Many people in Then there is the concern that Palin will And while I am the only one of the Saga this school hate her, but I personally think not be able to do her job as Vice President, staff to say this, I strongly believe that she’s great. because after all she has 5 children and one Sarah Palin will do great things for this She is the Governor of Alaska, a mother grandkid on the way. If she has been able to country. Maybe those who oppose her are of a soldier, a wife of a union worker and juggle her family and a state and the Race just jealous that Obama couldn’t fi nd such most importantly an all-American woman. for the White House, don’t you think she a great running mate. So why is she constantly criticized? can handle being VP? Should the drinking age be lowered? As the summer wound down, talk about are leading this movement arguing that that a lower drinking age will do nothing lowering the drinking age from 21 to lowering the drinking age will decrease to stop binge drinking, just increase more 18 escalated. the number of deaths related to binge accidents on the roads. Presidents of over 100 colleges and drinking. The Mothers Against Drunk Here is what students have to say: universities all over the United States Driving (MADD) refute this belief saying “I’m going to have to say no. If 18-year- “Yes, because kids would feel more olds were buying booze that would mean responsibility with the privilege and would that they would most likely be buying become safer and more responsible,” for even younger kids like 14-year-olds -junior Alec Christian or something,” -senior Connor Reagan “I think that kids drink to rebel. If it wasn’t illegal to drink at the age of 18 and was more an act of normalcy, I don’t think kids would drink as much—meaning fewer accidents and what not,” -senior Amanda Barbeau e. kleinhans/saga Photo Submitted e. kleinhans/saga the viking saga opinionseptember 22, 2008 3 Need to Say to have one skill: communication. to try to “help” the problem. Instead of Communication is not that comlicated involving another party in a fi ght, it is of an issue. According to dictionary.com, better to just solve the problem between the it is simply “the exchange of thoughts, respective groups. messages, or information, as by speech, So the next time a problem exists between signals, writing, or behavior.” friends or anyone else, face the problem So then why does the simple matter head on. It takes less time to just solve the of communication cause so much drama? problem than to worry about it. The famous Because for some reason, when problems phrase by Shakespere, “Cowards die many exist, the logical solution of speaking with times before their death, the valiant never the respective person is used as a last resort. taste of death but once,” is true in this Instead, there is a messenger or a scapegoat situation as it is in any. If you just face the or a facebook page. But why? problem, you won’t have to worry about The answer is because people do not know it anymore. how to deal with confl ict. Whenever In high school it is important to remember a problem exists, it is important what you do here refl ects the real world. emily newton So solve confl ict. Solve problems. And it is Confl ict is all around us. No matter that everything gets resolved. Sit how we look at, we must admit that hoped that the world can follow this lead. down. Address the issue. Solve our society is full of confl ict and not Now that we’ve said what necessarily solution. the problem. And that is it. It’s High school is a microcosm of society.