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Cheers & Jeers: November '08 edition

Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 6:54pm

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Snow
We've had some light flurries, but no real snow yet. We're holding out for the real snow, and we can feel it coming … precipitously and in large quantities! We're all crossing our fingers for a snow day!
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Drama
No, not the "he said, she said" kind. We're talking about "Shakespeare in Hollywood" and Student Productions. "Shakespeare in Hollywood" was enchanting (especially the stage kisses), and we can't wait to see how StudProd plays out!
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Thanksgiving Break
It's that time of year again. Pumpkin pie, turkeys, and pilgrims with large buckles. But we're most thankful for the well-deserved break. Let's just hope that teachers don't assign long projects due the Tuesday after break. ("You don't technically have homework ….")
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Election
Obama won! At least 83 percent of the school is happy about the outcome. As for the other 17 percent … maybe in four years (or maybe not).
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Scientific Genius
Senior Richard Wang was named a regional finalist in the prestigious Siemens Competition in Math, Science, & Technology for his research in biochemistry. As a result of his work, Richard won a $1,000 college scholarship and Uni will receive $2,000 for science and math equipment. Not a bad start to what will surely be a great scientific career.
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All-District Musicians
An amazing 27 Uni students —15 at the high school level and 12 at the junior high level — were chosen as all-district musicians this fall by the Illinois Music Educators Association. The district jazz festival took place Nov. 1 at Illinois Wesleyan, and the district junior/senior festival will be held Saturday at Illinois State. Look for plenty of Uni representation at the all-state festival in January.
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Swimming Superstars Lisa Boyce and Milee Nelson
Props to junior Lisa Boyce and freshman Milee Nelson in qualifying for the IHSA state meet. The Killer Whales as a whole placed an impressive fifth at sectionals, just 16 points behind fourth-place Urbana and 24 behind third-place Danville. Boyce already ranks as one of the best Uni swimmers ever and has a great chance to bring home medals from the state meet this weekend in Evanston.
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Boys Cross Country
Fourth place at state! Boys cross country finished its season with the second-best performance of any Uni boys cross country team — heck, any Uni boys sports team, period — by placing fourth at the Class 1A state finals. Also, a shoutout to senior running superstar Malcolm Taylor, who made all-state this year, placing 17th.
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Fall Sports
Kudos to all athletes who gave their time and energy to fall sports, making it a truly successful season. Among the many accomplishments, the girls volleyball team set a school record for winning percentage (.667) and seniors Rachel Skoza and Annie Machesky set a host of career and season individual records (kills, blocks, digs); the girls cross country team overcame small numbers to advance to sectionals; the boys soccer team battled to the regional semifinals; and super subbie runner Sarah Vaughen won her IESA sectional and placed 18th at state. Great job, everyone — now bring on basketball!
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Real Movies
The "Twilight" movie is coming out on Friday and the new Bond film has swept the nation. Don't be a loser: Get your friends and head out to the midnight showings!

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Hot and Cold
Brrr … It's getting chilly outside. Cold weather is certain to bring ashy skin and chapped lips. But, with Uni's erratic heating system your classrooms are more likely to feel like a tropical rain forest. Dress in layers and hope you don't leave your sweater draped over your desk — it will be taken and donated within a week.
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Peevish Adults
After an e-mail to Assistant Director Sue Kovacs complaining about students, the elevator is closed again, no questions asked. Whether it's student behavior in Siebel Center or on the elevator, it seems like it's impossible for us not to incur the wrath of adults. We know we can be a bit rambunctious and rowdy sometimes, but we're just playing our part.
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Holiday Movies
As the holiday season approaches, some overly happy and very predictable films are starting to come to theaters again. Cross your fingers that your family won't drag you out to Savoy 16 after your Thanksgiving celebration.
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Illness
Don't touch anything. Don't touch the doorknobs, the vending machines, the microwaves … anything. You WILL get sick. It is just that time of season. Whether it be a common cold, the flu, or mono, you will be out of school and regretting it by the time that calc test comes.
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Prox Cards
If we don't use them, then why do we have them, other than to cause INTENSE PROLONGED IRRITATION. We mean, we just love spending our money and waiting in long lines for nothing.
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Siemens
Senior Richard Wang was named a regional finalist in the prestigious Siemens Competition in Math, Science, & Technology for his research in biochemistry. But we here on the OG are greedy and definitely think Richard deserved to win first place in the Nov. 7-8 regional contest at Notre Dame, which would have allowed him to compete for the $100,000 national prize. Instead, the judges gave first place to a senior from Columbia, Mo., for "his research that discovered new information about the intrinsic structure of hypergraphs." Oh, like Richard couldn't do that in his sleep …
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Amanda Palla's Departure
The most successful coach in Uni volleyball history — 69 wins in four years, never a losing season — is expecting her first child and won't be back next season. We're delighted for Amanda and her husband, of course, but we're sad to see her go.




Comments
Growing up?
I've noticed a trend recently of Uni students claiming about recent events (money thefts, elevator closure) that "the adults are overreacting" or "we're just being kids." Frankly, it almost makes me ashamed to be a Uni student, to think that I have such brilliant classmates, but they just can't seem to take responsibility for their own actions.
Brilliance and mental
Brilliance and mental capacity does not necessitate behavioral maturity. There are biological and physiological factors that affect behavior in adults and adolescents alike. Specifically, the prefrontal cortex, which is related to control of pleasure, pain, anger, rage, panic, aggression (fight-flight-freeze responses), and basic sexual responses, is not fully developed until around age 25.
Just because it is not fully
Just because it is not fully developed does not mean it is not functional. It is a best a mitigating circumstance, and at worst an attempt to excuse bad behavior.
Isn't it rather elitist to
Isn't it rather elitist to think humans can fully control their behavior? While intellect and maturity play a part, biology is the driving factor in behavior.
In addition, there is no correlation between intellect and good behavior. If Uni students behave above average, it's not because they're smarter, it's because there is a social incentive to behave.
Actually, I don't see what
Actually, I don't see what elitism has to do with this at all. Isn't it rather irresponsible to think that humans have no control over their behavior, or so little that it has no effect?
Elitism is the belief or
Elitism is the belief or attitude that those individuals who are considered members of the elite — a select group of people with outstanding personal abilities, intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or other distinctive attributes — are those whose views on a matter are to be taken the most seriously or carry the most weight; whose views and/or actions are most likely to be constructive to society as a whole; or whose extraordinary skills, abilities or wisdom render them especially fit to govern.
You're argument is essentially that those people that constitute the elite — who posses outstanding personal abilities, intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or other distinctive attributes — should have superior behavior to others. Judgment values on behavior are highly connected with justifying whose opinions are the most important, and who should be part of the "ruling class." Think of the terms "civilized" versus "savage."
Regardless, I never said that humans had "no control over their behavior." What I said was that biology is the driving force in behavior. Humans naturally adapt to "socially acceptable" behavior as a means of "survival." Humans have a more developed brain than other animals and therefore have more deviation from their "natural" behavior. Mothers are able to identify their babies by scent. Is this really a function of our intellect? Likewise, a mother's protection of her young, even at her own peril, can hardly be classified as "intellectual decision." Can you really say you have always been able to control your emotions and your behaviors? Have you ever felt burdened and stressed from homework? Have you ever been disappointed and embarrassed by a bad test grade? Have you ever been filled with irrational an inconsolable rage, if only for a moment?
All of us have impulses,
All of us have impulses, stress, etc.... Part of maturing is learning to not act on impulses to steal, cheat, that sort of thing. I guess I don't really see your point. Are you defending theft because we are somehow "too young to control ourselves"?
Not at all. First of all,
Not at all. First of all, theft was not part of this conversation and was not part of the article, so I'm not sure how you conflated what I said into an endorsement of theft. Second, I never made the argument that young people are excused to do bad things because they're young. Third, it's socially beneficial not to steal so we learn at a young age not to do it.
Totally forgot about the
Totally forgot about the article! I was reading what the original comment had said (something about money theft and elevator closure) so I got this article mixed up with one (I think there's one on here) about thefts! And I was also kind of kidding. No hard feelings I hope! I sort of lost track of the point of the discussion on here a long time ago... so I will take my leave now..
May I request that comments
May I request that comments not be posted anonymously?
Does it really matter who
Does it really matter who posts the comment? The point they present should be what is looked at, not who they are. The point is to facilitate discussion, and if people don't feel comfortable with putting their name next to their comment, why should they have to?
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