Students enjoy international breakfast. College football fans demand playoff system. Kevin Goodlett works hard at Montage. INTERNATIONAL WEEK / FEATURES/ PAGE 5 FOOTBALL / SPORTS / PAGE 7 MONTAGE / FEATURES / PAGE 5 TheThe StSt.. ClairionClairion Volume 10, Issue 3 - January 2009 - Upper St. Clair High School Pittsburgh, PA 15241 All the news that fits...And then some! Obama creates his dream team By: Marni Schreiber country has fallen into. his time off, Summers said somebody who has what you News Editor Geithner explains that that he had “spent the last need most in this job: which is a “We’re going to need to several years thinking about deep love of the United States of President-Elect Obama has not change a whole bunch of a range of the issues from America” (www. news.bbc.co). had much time to rest since his aspects of our financial sys- globalization to the financial Clinton has recently said that enormous election victory over tem. We should not have a crisis to American health- “The American people have Senator John McCain on system that’s this fragile, care and energy policy. I’m demanded not just a new direc- November 4. Since then, Obama that causes this much risk to glad to be in a position tion at home, but a new effort to has been busy making appoint- the economy” where I can use some of that renew America’s standing in the ments and decisions that could (www.time.com). thinking to help shape public world as a force for positive affect his entire term as presi- In addition to the Treasury policy” (www.boston.com). change” (www. news.bbc.co). dent. Secretary, the position of The position of Secretary There have been many other One of Obama’s most impor- National Economic Council of State, of course, is also of appointments made by Obama to tant choices, due to the current Director will also be vitally extreme importance. And make his perfect team. Most economic crisis, is his Secretary important. Obama has cho- Obama has chosen none notably, the appointment of of the Treasury. With many men sen the controversial other than Hillary Clinton to Governor Janet Napolitano (D- under consideration, Obama Lawrence Summers, the for- take this esteemed position. Arizona) as Homeland Security President-elect Barack Obama and vice-president elect finally decided on the president mer Treasury Secretary Joe Biden arrive to announce more cabinet nominees on Of course, Clinton is Secretary, Governor Bill of the Federal Reserve Bank of under Clinton. Monday, December 15, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois. Lisa extremely qualified and Richardson (D-New Mexico) as New York, Timothy Geithner. Summers is more than Jackson, left, former head of New Jersey’s environmen- deserving of this position. Commerce Secretary, and Robert Obama hopes that Geithner qualified for the position tal agency, is Obama’s choice as EPA administrator. Current Secretary of State, Gates, a left over of the Bush Carol Browner is to lead a White House council on ener- and his team will be able to help and has already been advis- gy and climate. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune/MCT) Condoleezza Rice, explains Administration, as Defense settle the economic crisis the ing Obama on the crisis. Of of Clinton: “I know her to be Secretary. Upper St. Clair students travel to aid children in the Dominican Republic STAND “stands against” By: JP Gooderham would have no opportunities of beef jerky and he ran off genocide Editor-in-Chief to succeed in life. I know I with it and shared it with his have to take advantages of friends. They all smiled and By: Greg Schlosser And to reach some of In the fall of 2008, a group the opportunities I have been ate it. It was really nice see- Sports Editor these goals, STAND has of Upper St. Clair students, given as a result of being ing how happy they were to some different means of teachers, and parents traveled born into a family in a place have something to eat.” Every other Thursday, raising money. For exam- to the Dominican Republic like Upper St. Clair.” Gaudio states: “My students from all grades ple, STAND has an event once again. Kids Helping Bartusiak expresses a simi- favorite thing about the trip gather in room 127 to raise called STAND FAST, Kids spent a week in the lar feeling: “We’re all so was interacting with the peo- money and discuss what which encourages students island nation providing serv- grateful for what we have ple. It is really refreshing to needs to be done to end to give up something for ices ranging from medical now. I’m thankful for having see that the people’s attitude genocide in the world. the day (like ice cream or support to transporting sup- a Dad, because in [the about life was so positive. These students focus on coffee), and donate the plies to the island’s Even though the people the areas of Darfur, Iraq, money to stopping geno- inhabitants, plagued by have so little, they are still Sri Lanka, Somalia, and cide around the world. the many problems that very willing to give to the Democratic Republic of Also, STAND plans to have widespread poverty you.” Congo. a Darfur Dance in the entails. He also believes that “STAND is a club that spring and has bake sales Senior Alexa the trip taught him that tries to raise awareness of at points during the year. Bartusiak notes, “I “helping others really instances of genocide Even though students decided to go because makes you happy. A lot of throughout the world and join STAND to stop geno- my best friends went on what I do for fun in my to raise money for the vic- cide, some have other rea- the trip last year, and community doesn’t give tims of genocide,” stated sons to support STAND as told me it would change me the same satisfaction.” Vice President of the club well. For example, member my life. I wanted to He clarifies, “I was guilty experience what they of this too, but a lot of us Sam Humbert. Christina Hlutkowsky said was the best week USCHS students enjoy the beauty of the Dominican have always lived in this STAND is “entirely stu- joined because “it’s a good of their lives and better countryside. Photo courtesy of Lisa Volpatti type of lifestyle. I learned dent-run, led by a cause and I am helping people’s lives, even if that there is another side Leadership Team of college people that are less fortu- just in a small way.” Dominican Republic], fathers to the coin. The trip really and high school students nate than me.” While the group certainly don’t really stick around, so opens your eyes to how lucky around the country who are “I joined because [stop- gave a lot of needed assis- going down there with my you are, but the feeling of dedicated to ending geno- ping genocide] is impor- tance to those they visited in Dad made it a really special helping others is very gen- cide. Through daily emails, tant to me and I want to the Dominican Republic, the experience.” She also feels uine. It gives you a new out- weekly conference calls, make a difference,” said students believe they took that “becoming friends with look on life.” and once a semester strate- Humbert. away many positive ideas all the locals was really Chrissy Rojcewicz, a sen- gy retreats in Washington, Despite having a serious from the experience. Brian amazing considering they ior, notes that “The students D.C., the STAND tone, STAND has a lighter Gaudio, a senior, explains, “I don’t speak English, so some who went on the trip definite- Leadership Team develops, side as food and fun often took away a lot from the trip. of us became really good ly had a noticeable change in implements, and delivers make its way into the meet- I realized from the trip that I Spanish speakers through attitude after returning.” campaigns and materials to ings. For example, STAND was lucky to be born in the talking with them. It was Kids Helping Kids will chapters all over the just had an end-of-year United States. I could have great seeing how happy we return to the Dominican world”party to celebrate their just as easily been born in the made the people there. One Republic in the spring of (www.standnow.org). first semester success. Dominican Republic, and I day my dad gave a boy a bag 2009. Page 2 Opinions January 2009 Panther Desk of the Editor Predilections S tudents should get active in What is your New Years fighting global warming Resolution? By: JP Gooderham ural part of life, global warming who have tried to challenge the ther own homes nor have a sig- Editor-in-Chief advocates see an underlying consensus that heat-trapping nificant voice in politics, we motive driving the argument. pollution is drastically altering may still take steps to limit our The earth is undergoing an David Laurie, founder of Stop our atmosphere. The company contribution to the problem. As unprecedented change in cli- spends millions to support Turner notes, we may advise our mate. While scientists, policy- groups such as the Competitive parents to use less heat in our makers, and the general public Enterprise Institute that aggres- homes, or our teenage drivers often disagree over the cause of sively pressure lawmakers to may strive to carpool or find this change, that fact is undeni- oppose emission limits” other means of travel.