October 14, 2005 -Vol. 34 Issue 3
Editorial: Be a positive force
By Erica Greve, senior
for the Editorial Board

For decades, substance abuse awareness has been a substantial issue nationwide. Schools spent large amounts of funding to bring in programs and speakers to educate students about a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle.

Though programs may inspire most of the student body to “just say ‘no’”, not all high school students are going to take the cue. Such programs work well to reinforce the values a student’s upbringing may have already instilled, but they simply cannot create these values for all students.

The outcome is that teenagers who have already commited themselves to a drug-free lifestyle may become bored of hearing statistics and hypothetical situations that do not pertain to them. At the same time, some of those who do not abstain from drugs and alcohol choose to ignore the information that is intended to motivate them to protect their health and prompt them to reevaluate their decisions.


Cartoon by Haley Huffman

The truth is that the use of alcohol and other drugs cannot be entirely prevented among teens by having them attend a motivational seminar or handing them a pamphlet.

However, these programs are certainly steps in the right direction. Teenagers who wish to make better decisions or solidify their choice to abstain from drug use may benefit from hearing a speaker who is a role model that can provide a strong, positive message to take care of themselves and carefully evaluate their decisions.

Teenagers need to take it upon themselves to carry drug and substance prevention a step further.

By hanging out with drug-free friends, even some of the time, individuals will reduce the number of instances where they have alcohol or other drugs available to them. They will develop positive, constructive means by which to have fun and enjoy one another’s company.

Participation in such activities allows teenagers to establish friends who emphasize sobriety, support each other, and honestly care about the well being of each individual; values that may be passed along to other teens.

Teens need regulated areas as safe havens (PRO)
By Haley Terflinger, senior
Sports Editor

Whenever students are going out on a Friday or Saturday night, or during school breaks, they have two main choices: go to someone’s house or go out to a local hang out available to people their age.

I think that it would be very beneficial to students if they had a stable, rule-based environment to hang out at on the weekends and during the holiday vacations when students are out of school.

Take the Fire Escape Coffee House, for example. It is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. to people of high school and college age. They offer a generally positive social atmosphere, Christian concerts, pool tables, ping-pong games, and music from their radio station among other things. The Coffee House is basically just a place for teens and college students to hang out in a safe environment.

Strict rules exist about tobacco products and alcohol on the premisis. Even for students of age, the Coffee House does not allow it and people cannot smoke directly around the entrance, let alone inside.

These kinds of rules keep kids who do not drink or smoke from experiencing peer pressure to start or to “just try it.” Not only that, but it also prevents kids who do drink or smoke, or even take drugs, from getting themselves into trouble. It shows them that they can still have fun in a more stable and legal setting with people around their age.

I think it would be a good idea to provide kids with a non-Christian place as well, however. I say this only because of the fact that some people are turned off, because they feel that they have to turn religious in order to fit in. I also think that increased local hang outs would help even more so, because there are students who do not have cars, can not get rides, or simply can not afford the gas on some nights.

Also, even if parents just encouraged their kids to get together and go to the movies, Wal-Mart, or to another similar place, students could be steered away from bad influences. Each location has a no smoking/drinking/drugs policy.

Our parents and community should take a more active role in where our kids are going and what they are doing on the weekends and during vacation. While many students know what is right and wrong, legal or illegal, it is sometimes hard to remember this in the face of peer pressure. Regulated areas provide a haven for students from negative or illegal influences. This can help students make a responsible choice to not drink or do drugs.

Students able to make their own decisions (CON)
By Jordan Young, senior
Sports Editor

Teenagers today are surrounded by rules and regulations. School and local regulated businesses are places where most students feel confined. However, students should be trusted to find their own actitivies under their own supervision without making poor choices.

Several options are available to students so that they can make up for the hours of time spent being watched over by authority figures.

For fun, my friends and I used to cruise Chanute, at least that was until gas prices skyrocketed to nearly three dollars a gallon. Ever since the hurricanes Katrina and Rita have hit, the prices of barrels of oil have jumped dramatically. Some students are avoiding the gas prices by having all the riders in the car share the price of the gas.

Some students find it relaxing to hunt and fish, which helps get them away from the hassles of school and work. While fishing or hunting, students can gather their thoughts and become less stressed out. Negative influences that can convince them to try drugs or alcohol can be avoided while hunting or fishing.

Others find physical sports like basketball and football between friends is an excellent way to stay in shape and pass some time, too. Most kids around here have been playing physical sports since they were able to walk.

Although illegal, some students look towards alcohol for a sense of amusement. Poor choices such as this can cause parents to be worried, but most students know better than to try this. Those students who attend parties should make the responsible choice to not consume alcohol. They can still have a good time and will be safer, as well. The highest death rate among students are from alcoholic related situations. This fact alone should cause many students, if not all, to stray away from alchohol consumption.

There can be non-alcoholic parties that students can have fun at and not consume alcohol as well. While school dances are one opportunity, students could also have fun at their own houses playing video games and card games.

Students can also have fun working on a projects together, like the senior van we bought and fixed up.

Some organizations provide other options, from contests to community service. Friends can have fun doing these together.

Many of these options are fun and time consuming activities that students can participate in outside of school instead of turning to drugs and alcohol.

Review: Corpse Bride, entertaining option
By Jesse Lundine,senior
Feature Co-Editor

Instead of going out drinking and partaking in selfcorrupting activities, teens can plan a constructive evening and attend the movies.

A new movie out that is worth seeing is Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride. The movie is similar to The Nightmare Before Christmas, as all the characters are in an animated stick figure form.

Voices for the main characters in the movie are Johnny Depp as Victor and Emily Watson as Victoria. Victor and Victoria think that they are doomed for life when they are put into an arranged marriage, but they actually end up liking each other. The night before the wedding, the plot takes a jagged turn into many surprising, yet entertaining plot twists.

Watching Victor tie together loose ends from the past and work his problems out with this future wife keeps viewers intrigued with the cute comedy. The movie is delightful with dark setups and shadowy atmospheres.

Fans of Tim Burton will not be disappointed, as this film follows the footsteps of his previous works. Most of Burton’s films have a dark overcast that can make people think they are a Halloween movie, but his films can be enjoyed year around. While Corpse Bride is rated PG, teens can enjoy the kooky and mysterious plot.

Cub Voices
What do you think of the things high school students do on weekends?


Randi Barnett, fr., “None of my friends party. We just have sleepovers and watch movies.”
 

Jennifer Combes, so., “I don’t really care, because it’s not me. As long as I am not the one getting messed up.”
 


Troy Johnston, jr., “It is their decision, because they can do what they want with their lives.”
 

Ryan Olson, sr., “It is fine, because they are having fun and nobody is getting hurt.”
 


Teri Shaughnessy, teacher., “As long as they are not doing anything illegal and morally wrong, it is probably no different from what I did on the weekends as a student.”

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