September 2013

Issue 1- September 2013 Badger Girls State Badger Boys By Rutvi Shah State By Jeremy Gartland This past summer Monika Ford Politics, leadership, sports, and I had the opportunity to represent and community. Combined, JMM at UW-Oshkosh for a program these things begin to describe the Controversal Bill... page 2 called Badger Girls State. Girls unique experience of Badger Boys The News You missed?... page 3 State is a nationwide leadership and State. A week-long government Sports... page 4 citizenship program for high school simulation sponsored by American Advice to Freshman... page 5 juniors. Delegates have the chance Legion, Badger Boys State (BBS) Entertainment... page 6 to learn about local and state govern- draws high school juniors from ments when they run for offices at across the state to participate in city, county, and state levels. The first what for many is a life-changing few days were overwhelming, but the experience was definitely worth event. it in the end! At city meetings Badger citizens decided how their cities Pulling up to Ripon College, the site of BBS since would function. Badger girls ran for various positions and they intro- its creation, I didn’t recognize duced obnoxious ordinances; for instance, the citizens of Willow Springs campaigns, law-making, and even a single face in the crowd nuclear catastrophes. After a day of made it mandatory for everyone to yell “duck and cover” when “poten- of my peers. What was also tially dangerous males” were present. getting to know my fellow citizens, clear was that no one else did I had the privilege of being elected One of the highlights of the week was attending the Badger Girls State either. Realizing that we were Fair because we got to see performances from some of the most tal- the Mayor of Ludington, and all in the same boat, I began to with it, all of the responsibilities ented young women from the state of Wisconsin. Later that day, we put myself out there and meet of running and leading a fully had the opportunity to personally meet the leaders of Wisconsin as they some new friends, despite not functioning city, from waste attended the BGS Inauguration ceremony. Although we had a busy having a clue as to what I was disposal to city-level ordinances. schedule throughout the week, everyone would always look forward to supposed to be doing. Eventually, Working alongside each other, we the delicious meals offered at Blackhawk Commons. It was painful to the counselors gave us directions successfully overcame the many say goodbye because everyone became attached to each other. The girls to go to our “Cities” and I obstacles that face a city, and in the headed to a strange place called of my city had been extremely supportive and they cheered me on as I process created bonds that will last Ludington. Little did I know that a lifetime. campaigned for a state office. My adventures at Badger Girls State have this city would become the site for created memories and friendships that will last a lifetime! As the week progressed, County and State level governments were developed, with campaign opportunities mostly occurring in the workshops held during the day focusing on leadership, parliamentary procedure, and public speaking. These classes allowed us to meet other citizens outside of our cities and counties, as well as develop some crucial skills necessary in the world of politics. By the end of the week, the 900 citizens from across the state had elected a BBS Governor, who, through his campaigning and public speaking, earned that position. Despite failing in my campaign to become BBS Governor, I gained invaluable skills and experiences that I will cherish for a lifetime. Badger Boys State required me to put myself in uncomfortable situations, such students, they will come from a peer perspective. The third week, the teacher of the Backyard will facilitate an activity while the Link Crew LinkBy Jane Crew Zhang Leaders are trained on the next set of activities. As many of you may know, there have been several major Why Link Crew? According to research, the more smoothly changes to Backyard this year. Rather than having freshman through students can make the transition into high school, the more of them will senior Backyards, most Backyards will consist of just 10th through graduate. By investing in the freshmen, success and graduation rates of 12th grade students, while others will contain only freshmen and be high school will increase. “It’s difficult to recover if you have a tough led by upperclassmen Link Crew leaders. According to Ms. Voss, the 9th grade year - not impossible, but difficult. That’s why schools want to head coordinator of Link Crew, the reason for this big change is that make the transition to high school as successful for as many students as although “[Link Crew] did a great job for Freshman Orientation, it possible,” as Ms. Voss says. became difficult to maintain the same level of energy and connection Link Crew is an international program that was created over because life gets busy. We were trying to get the Link Crew Leaders twenty years ago. It has helped millions of ninth graders transition into and their 9th grade groups together outside of the school day and that’s high school, with the key to its success being peer role models – peers very difficult due to how busy everyone is. We know that many other that work with, speak to, and advise ninth graders to help smooth the schools have a regular scheduled time during the school day for the Link transition. Ninth graders are able to get good advice and tips on how to Crew Leaders to meet with the 9th graders. Our logical opportunity for succeed at Memorial, that was Backyard.” In order to accommodate, twenty-four Backyards and it also gives were broken up and re-assigned into other Backyards. These “empty” upperclassmen Link backyards were then filled with classes of incoming freshmen. Crew leaders an Each of these ninth grade Backyards will be led by four or five opportunity to develop Link Crew Leaders who will have led them through freshmen orientation. leadership skills. In In these Backyards, there will be a three week rotation. For two of the words of Ms. Voss, those three weeks, the Link Crew Leaders will lead activities with their “Students can help freshmen in the Backyard. These activities will provide good lessons to other students and this the ninth graders on success in school, and since they will be led by other is a win-win for all involved.” Badger Boys State Continued... as speaking in front of 450 of my peers, which made me grow as a person and develop my skills as a leader. I left the week with scores of new Controversial Bill for friends from places in Wisconsin that I had Transgender Students never heard of before, and connections with counselors Passed in California that will benefit me in the future. By Sadhana Pittala Perhaps the greatest benefit The Governor of California passed a bill recently allowing from my week at Badger Boys transgender students from elementary school through High State, however, is the knowledge school to choose what bathrooms they use and what gender sports that we all have the ability to play they participate in. California itself is the first state to pass such a an integral part in our political groundbreaking law, although, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington system. I came into the week Sword & Shield Staff and Colorado all have legislation in place for transgender students. believing that the workings of Editors-in-chief However, not everyone supports the new bill. Most of the our government and leadership Idris Boukahil & Monika Ford arguments made against the bill bring up the privacy of other students. were way over my head. That According to Randy Thomasson from savecalifornia.com, the law would there was no way a kid from Arts & Entertainment Editor damage children, and that “This radical bill warps the gender Madison, WI would ever be Cassidy Nelson expectations of children by forcing all California public schools to permit able to have a say in legislation Copy Editor biological boys in girls restrooms, showers, clubs and on girls sports and politics. Badger Boys State Jane Zhang teams and biological girls in boys restrooms, showers, clubs and sports helped me to realize how far from News Editor teams. This is insanity.” the truth I was. If you don’t like David Cao When asked about their opinion of the bill, one Memorial student something the government or Opinions Editor felt that it “would be weird to share a shower with them,” But overall administration is doing, be a part Jeremy Gottleib expressed positive feelings about what the bill does in allowing all of the process to change it. Run Photography Editor students to be treated equally. Similar to those in California, most for office. Protest.Vote. We have Ryan Bruesewtitz students at Memorial support the bill but express concerns over their own the unique opportunity to make Sports Editor privacy and the possibility of the awkward situations that could arise our voice heard without our lives Jeremy Gartland should such a bill be introduced. being threatened, don’t take it for Student Life Editor granted. Sadhana Pittala Student Contributors 2013 Summer Ceramic Idris Boukahil David Cao Workshop at Art Ventures Monika Ford The July, 2013 workshop at Adamah Studios (Dodgeville, WI) was Jeremy Gartland inundated with energetic and creative Memorial students, all questing to Jeremy Gottlieb improve their skills and expand their knowledge in the medium of clay.

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