SEASONAL SPORTS

Rough Start, Hopeful Finish       

By: Ryan Wallen  

            The Colonials lost their first game of the season to cross-town rival Delone Catholic Squires by the score of 14-0. In the first quarter, the Colonials shut down the Squires, and the score was 0-0 by the end of the first. At the start of the second quarter, the Colonials gave up an early 43-yard touchdown run to Delone’s Kodi Reed. On the next drive, the Colonials had a chance to score, but they could not convert. On Delone’s next drive, Tyler Smith ran the ball in for a 12-yard touchdown. Linebacker Brett Riser had fourteen tackles and Jared Hagerman had two forced fumbles. Quarterback Quinn Starner led all rushers with 70 yards on 18 carries. The following week the team will attempt to even the record in a contest between the Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils (1-0) at home.

           

The Colonials took on the heavily-favored Blue Devils of Greencastle-Antrim. The Devils got of to a quick start by scoring an early touchdown, but they missed the extra point. After the first quarter, the Blue Devils started to dominate. They scored two touchdowns and held off New Oxford in the second quarter. Then in the third quarter, Colonial star linebacker, Brett Riser was injured on a goal-line stand which resulted in a touchdown for Greencastle. Riser was able to walk off under his own power, but did not return. Steve Sanders had fifteen tackles and a sack for the Colonials while Joe Murren added another twelve tackles. Starting quarterback, Quinn Starner, completed two passes for twenty-five yards and threw two interceptions in the losing effort. Greencastle running back  Devin Schaeffer ran for 169 yards on twenty carries, had three rushing touchdowns, and threw for one touchdown. The final score ended up being 37-0 in favor of the Blue Devils (2-0).  Looking forward to the third week of the season, the Colonials (0-2), who were underdogs once again, hit the road to face off with the Waynesboro Indians (0-2).

                                                                                                                                   

The Colonials won their first game of the season on September 17^th, 2010, beating out the favored Waynesboro Indians 21-10. The Colonials started off fast by scoring an early touchdown. Waynesboro then stormed back to take a 10-7 lead at the half. After the half, the Colonials then put on the assault, scoring 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to claim their first victory of the season. The winning score was put up by Colonial A-back (running-back) Jarrod Hagerman on a three-yard run. Hagerman also had a 41-yard bolt for a touchdown. The Indians, (0-3), couldn’t stop the Colonial’s running game led by quarterback the fleet-footed Quinn Starner who ran for 97 yards on 20 carries.  There is another chance to even things up as the Colonials return home to face off with one of their old rivals, the Central York Panthers (1-2).

                 The game against CY is one night that the Colonial football team wants to forget-- and fast. The Colonials were blown out by the Panthers of Central York by a convincing 54-0. The Colonials (1-3) couldn’t stop the Panthers (2-2) from dominating the field on both sides of the ball. Colonial quarterback Quinn Starner completed three of five passes for ten yards, and linebacker Brett Riser had eight tackles in the loss. The Colonial offense put up a very disappointing - 9 yards and had not a single first down.  The offense was looking for ways to put up points and would look to turn things around against a tough old Division 1 rival, the Red Lion Lions (3-1).  

            The first half of the season wrapped up with the game against Red Lion, and unfortunately we took our lumps again as the team was blown out 56-6,.   The Lions got off to a quick start by scoring 28 points in the opening quarter.  The Lions dominated both sides of the ball just like the Panthers of Central York did the week prior to the Colonials. The Colonials did improve however by actually putting up 10 first downs instead of the zero that they put up against Central. Quinn Starner threw seventeen passes, completing six of them for 50 yards. Nick Slusser had the lone touchdown for the Colonials coming with 3:27 remaining in the game. The Colonials are hoping that Divisional play will create a different ending story for the season and give us a chance to compete for a playoff berth. Our first test would be against the Northeastern Bobcats (1-4).  


            On Friday, October 8^th, the Colonials notched a much needed win against the Bobcats of Northeastern. The Colonial defense came out shaky, giving up a big run to Bobcat running-back, Aaron Greene, who eventually scored on a 1-yard touchdown plunge. The Colonials had a good chance to score on the following drive, but Quinn Starner was picked off in the end zone.  In the second quarter, the Colonials got started with a 6-yard touchdown run by Starner. On the Bobcats next drive, Greene had another big run this time for a 53-yard score. Norhteastern led at the half by a score of 14-6.  At the start of the third quarter, the Colonials came out firing by marching downfield and scoring on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Starner to Justin Hoffman. On the next Bobcat drive, a bad snap from center caused Colonial safety Dennis Greenholt, to tackle Norhteastern quarterback Nick Small in the endzone for a safety. After the third, the score was 14-14. The Colonials put the icing on the cake by moving quickly down field, topped off with an 11-yard run by our stalwart running back, Jared Hagerman. Quinn Starner led the offensive attack with 79 yards on 19 carries, and completing 8 of 17 passes for 138 yards a touchdown pass three interceptions, and a rushing touchdown. Colonial safety Aaron Yeely nabbed a big interception in the fourth quarter, while Steve Sanders led the Colonials defensive attack with 8 tackles. Also, defensive lineman Gage Bunner forced a fumble while Joe Murren had a fumble recovery. The Colonials are now 2-4 for the season and have a 1-0 record in divisional play. We will take on the Rams of Kennard Dale for at Colonial Stadium for Homecoming.

Coach's Corner: 
An Interview with Coach Muller

By: Ryan Wallen

I recently sat down with the head football coach of the New Oxford Colonials, Mr. Matt Muller. I asked him about how he thought the team was doing so far, and he responded by saying, “The  first two games we played were against two playoff teams from last year-- Delone Catholic and Greencastle. Both are really good teams.” He also said, “The game versus Greencastle where they blew the door off of us, I felt a change in the team's attitude.” He added, “With the win versus Waynesboro, it really helped the team grow into a better unit.”  

I then asked him who he thought had been the key contributors to the team so far.  He replied, “I believe on defense, Steve Sanders who has had a lot of tackles, and Brett Riser who also has a lot of tackles.” “On offense, Jarred Hagerman because he has had two touchdowns for us on the ground, and he has been effective. And on special teams, it has to be Conner Neiman because when he gets the chance to return the ball, his returns are electric and exciting to watch.” 

I followed up by asking him what teams he is the most excited to play. He answered, “Northeastern, because they are our first new division (Division 2) game at home.” “Plus, Northeastern has only had a football team for 2 or 3 years, so I’m excited for those reasons.” 

I also asked him how he planned on keeping the momentum going heading into a tough few weeks. He replied, “We have to keep having good practices and the boys have a different buzz now that they won the game, so I plan on keeping doing what I am doing.”

 I then asked what he thought the teams’ downfall has been so far. Coach Muller answered very quickly:  “Youth. We only have three seniors starting this year on both offense and defense, and I truly think that is our downfall.” 

The final question I asked him was who he thought has been the most improved player so far this year. He replied by saying that all the boys have improved, but the junior safety Austin Johnson is the one who has improved the most. I thanked him for his valuable time and said that I hoped we could have another opportunity to interview him as the schedule turns our attention to our Division 2 opponents. 

An Insider’s View 

of the Girls’ Tennis Team

By: Sarah Rudasill

The New Oxford girls’ tennis team has had a record-breaking season this year on and off the court.  Tennis is a sport that is often misunderstood or assumed to be “easy,” but the girls on the team will tell you differently: it takes a lot of skill to hit the ball with force and keep it in the court.  Outlasting your opponent both mentally and physically in grueling three-and-a-half hour matches can be exhausting.  They also mention returning 80 mile-per-hour serves and working to win crucial break points is incredibly difficult while maintaining a good mental attitude.  Yet the girls on our tennis team have had great success this year in doing all of the above.

Under head coach Travis Martin and assistant coach John Henne, the girls have had the most successful season ever.  As of October 1^st, the team was in third place in the league, their highest ranking in the history of the program.  They have conquered challenging opponents such as Biglerville, Red Lion, and West York during the course of the season.  They have improved their record against dominating teams like Dallastown and Central York by working hard to earn several points in each match. 

One may wonder why this year’s team has found so much success.  The girls say it is because of the team’s close bond and ability to work together through tough situations, on and off the court.  Like freshman Jenna Doron stated, “Everyone always encourages each other, and even though there can be some problems, we always manage to work them out.”  Sophomore Rachel Storm agrees. “We get along very well as a team.  But our success is also due to our hard work during both matches and practices.”  The girls say one of the key elements to a successful tennis season is working hard and having fun doing it.  Rachel phrased it perfectly, stating, “Tennis is just really fun.  We have fun together and make new friends.” 

Tennis is a very unique sport for several reasons.  It is the only sport where you can lose more points than your opponent but still win the match.  It also gives players the priceless opportunity to totally “start over” the match if it is not going their way.  Since tennis utilizes a three-set scoring system, if a player loses the first set, they can start fresh and come back to conquer the next two!  Another reason why tennis differs from other sports is that it is a huge mental game.  During the course of a tennis match, players make dozens of mistakes.  The best tennis players are the ones that can shake off those mistakes and focus on winning the next point rather than getting angry after missing a shot. 

Jenna Doron pointed out another exclusive attribute of tennis: it is one of only a couple sports where a player decides their spot on the team.  Players challenge each other to determine their order on the team rather than having a coach choose who plays.  “It is also a team sport, but you play individually and can move up as the season moves on,” Jenna stated.  Five singles matches and two doubles matches are played, each worth one varsity point.  Players compete individually but come together collectively for the team to win.

Looking into future seasons, it appears the girls are destined to get even better.  The team is young with only one senior, and the junior varsity team remained undefeated for the entire season.  That demonstrates the Colonials’ depth on the roster, and as players continue to develop, the team will only improve.

Co-captains Sarah Rudasill (sophomore) and Erin Luckenbaugh (senior) play numbers one and two, respectively, in varsity singles. They also pair up together as a force in number one varsity doubles.  Sophomore Emily Groft dominates in the number three spot, junior Jordan Mlsna conquers in the number four position, and junior Sam Brzenk rounds out the top five for singles.  Emily and Jordan team up together as the number two varsity doubles team. 

well everyone always incourages each other and even though there can be problems we always seem to work them out\

The success of the team on the court does not stop there: the girls give back to the community multiple times throughout the season under Coach Martin’s philosophy of making the community a better place.  The team raised money and participated in the American Heart Association’s annual heartwalk in Gettysburg.  They also coach Jr. Tennis, a program that teaches younger kids basic tennis fundamentals each week. 

Overall, the girls are incredibly happy with their achievements this season and plan to continue their hard work during training in the offseason.  Although no one knows what the future holds, one thing we know for sure: their strong work ethic and desire to play will carry them far in their tennis careers.  

Cross Country

By: Bryce Culp

                                               

            Cross Country takes endurance, stamina, ability, and effort. It takes a lot of training to get ready for XC. Cross Country is growing in popularity as each year more runners become  interested in one of the world's most ancient sports. 

Our cross country program extends into the middle school team.  The coach of cross country is Mr. Frantz who also coaches wrestling. He teaches social studies in the high school. He says that the team runs three miles at the minimum each practice. Frantz says that the high school team this year is the biggest group of XC runners that New Oxford has had. The furthest distance our team travels is about two hours away. 

A question most people ask is if there is a difference between cross country and track & field. Coach Frantz said that there is a difference in that "in high school cross country, the team runs a 5K (3.2 miles), while in track, there are many different types of running events that you can do going from something like high jump, jumping hurdles, running relays, mile runs, and more. The nature of the running is just more diversified."  When Coach Frantz was asked what he thinks invites teenagers to run, he said that "the camaraderie that comes with  being on a team and going through training and competitions together is very important. The experience of belonging to something as a team helps that team become more like family as the season rolls along." So if you love to run as a way to boost your fitness, consider joining our cross country team for next season. You can  get the information in Mr. Frantz’s room. 

The girls had a great season with a 10-2 record  and the guys' record was 5-7.  Kaylee Kubisak turned in a stellar performance coming in 11th in districts, thus qualifying for states.  Stay tuned for more about Kaylee's upcoming meet. 

Is Cheerleading a Sport?

                                                                    By: Keely Moore

                                              

Just like every other sport, cheerleading takes strength, flexibility, conditioning, endurance, and stamina. Many people criticize cheerleading and think that all we do is lead the rally cries of fans. Over the years, it has grown into something much more competitive. 

Although the cheerleaders’ main job is to get the crowd rowdy, they also focus on stunting, tumbling, cheering, and dancing. So if dancing and gymnastics are considered sports, why isn’t cheerleading?  Cheerleading is defined as "a sport that uses organized routines that usually range from 1 minute to 3 minutes, made from elements of tumbles, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games, and matches and/or compete at cheerleading competitions."  However, while eighty percent of schools in the United States participate in cheerleading, only fifteen percent have chosen to kick it up a notch and build cheerleading into a competitive sport. 


Cheerleading was started by a man named Johnny Campbell in 1898 when he led on a Minnesota University football game with chants. In 1948, Lawrence Herkimer created the National Cheerleaders Association.  In our lifetime,  ESPN's first broadcast of cheerleading competition was in 1983 at the National High School Cheerleading Competition. But even then, it had still not been widely recognized as an official sport. 


In 2003, it was officially declared a sport by the NCAA.  In colleges and high schools across our country, there are no signs of any let up.  In fact, the sport of cheerleading is about to go global with its addition to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games to held in London, England. 


I asked 33 students (all of them non-cheerleaders) about whether they perceive cheerleading as a sport.  Thirty said it was a sport, and three people said it was not.

Every one has their own opinion about cheerleading, and some may think it’s a sport, while others disagree. But it takes just as much as dedication as any other sport because cheerleaders put in just as much effort as any athlete would--because that is what we are--athletes. 

Major League Baseball Postseason Predictions

By: Ryan Wallen

The end of baseball’s regular season has come to an end and the postseason is looming over the entire sports world. 

For the American League Divisional Series (ALDS), the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays will face off against the AL West champion Texas Rangers for a chance to go to the American League Championship Series (ALCS). I believe the underdog Texas Rangers will pull off the upset to advance. In the other ALDS matchup the AL Central champion, the Minnesota Twins will take on the AL Wild Card Team, the 27-time, and defending World Series Champions, the New York Yankees. The Yankees should win this series with no problem to advance to the ALCS to face off with the Texas Rangers. The ALDS is a best of five series, so the first team to win three games in the series moves on to the ALCS, and the winner of the ALCS, which is a best of seven series, will move on to the World Series to face the National League Champion. 

And speaking of the National League, in the National League Divisional Series (NLDS) the defending National League and NL East Champion Philadelphia Phillies will be facing off with the NL Central Champion Reds of Cincinnati, Ohio. I believe the Phillies are going to win the Series and move on to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) to face off against the NL Wild Card Champion Atlanta Braves of the NL West Champion San Francisco Giants. I predict that the Braves will win this series for their long-time and Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox. In the ALCS, I think that the Yankees will advance to their second straight World Series to face off against the Philadelphia Phillies who will beat the Atlanta Braves in seven tough and grueling games. 

In the World Series I predict that the Phillies will give it their all to get another title, but the Yankees pitching will push through and beat the Phillies in seven games for their second straight World Series title. 

Predictions are always dangerous, but they are a game in and of itself, made even more fun if you get on a winning streak.  So, baseball fans of young and old alike, who do you think will win?

Roy Halladay 
Throws Second No-hitter 

in Postseason History!

By: Ryan Wallen

            Philadelphia Phillies ace, Roy Halladay, made history on October 6^th, 2010 by throwing only the second no-hitter in Major League Baseball Postseason history. Halladay was making his first postseason start of his career after languishing for 12 disappointing seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. He had already thrown a perfect game May 29^th, 2010 against the Florida Marlins. (A perfect game means a pitcher retires all 27 batters without giving up a hit or a walk; a no-hitter is going a whole game without giving up a hit). 

This season, Halladay went 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA (Earned Run Average) and recorded 219 strikeouts. Halladay has been the Phillies ace since coming over from Toronto. This second no-hitter of the season just proves how good of a pitcher he really is. The no-hitter came in Game 1 of the National League Divisional Series against the always dangerous Cincinnati Reds, who led the NL in batting average. 

The Phillies of course won the game 4-0. 

Halladay is the second person to ever throw a no-hitter in the postseason. The first one to accomplish this feat was Don Larsen, who threw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series for the New York Yankees. He also became the first pitcher since Nolan Ryan in 1973 to throw two no-hitters in a season. 

I am not the only sportswriter who believes that Roy Halladay will win the NL Cy Young award this season which is given to the best pitcher in the National League. I also would say that with the kind of stellar pitching by Halladay and friends and an amazing line-up built on power and speed, the Phillies are going to go deep into the playoffs and possibly contend for a World Series title.  

Move over, Reggie, Mr. Doctober is coming to town. 

                                                

Little League World Series Recap


By: Ryan Wallen

            Japan has emerged victorious in the LLWS by taking the crown over United States represented Waipahu, Hawaii by the score of 4-1 on August 29^th, 2010. The Hawaiian squad, who had won the LLWS title in 2008, was looking for their second title in three years, but the Japanese team had something to say about that.

In the title game played in Williamsport, PA, Japan’s Konan Tomori led the way with a home run and three RBI’s to boost his team to an outstanding victory. This was the first time since 2004 that an international team has won the title. Hawaii put up a fight though. After losing the first game in the tournament’s group round, they stormed back to win their next four elimination games to advance to the title game against Japan, who had gone undefeated throughout the tournament.

In the championship title game, Japan had a 2-0 lead, but in the fifth inning Hawaii threatened to make a comeback. With runners on 2^nd and 3^rd and only one out, Ogasawara's wild pitch gave Hawaii their only run of the game. he regained control and snuffed out the potential rally by getting the next two batters to  popup and ground out. While Ogasawara mowed down opposing batters, Japan tacked on two more insurance runs to clinch the LLWS crown.

This was Japan’s seventh overall title and the first one since 2003. After the game, Japan received their gold medals and were given bags to collect some of the dirt off the field.

Before the title game, the 3^rd place game pitted Chinese Taipei against the U.S. team from Pearland, Texas. Chinese Taipei destroyed the United States runner-up by mercy rule, 14-2. Taipei had nine runs in the top of the first inning to seal the game before it even got started.

 

 Championships By Country

United States-32

Japan-7

Mexico-3

Republic of China-8

Chinese Taipei-9

South Korea-2

Venezula-2

Curacco-1

                                                                                 Japan Does their 2010 Victory Lap

                                                                          
                                                                                           http://www.sportsnewscaster.com/

FEATURES

                                 Is the War Over?

                    By: Elizabeth Brokenshire

                        

"Tonight I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over," Obama declared inside the doors of the Oval Office on Tuesday, August 31, 2010. In his 17 minute address to the nation, President Barack Obama sent a message that travelled around the entire world. As soon as it was over, many people reacted with varying opinions and feelings.  For the families of the soldiers coming home, the speech was a welcome sign after so many of their family members were on their 3^rd or 4^th deployment. As for the soldiers, “They’re leaving as heroes, and walking home with pride filled in their hearts,” said Col. John Norris, the head of the brigade. For those who don’t play a role in the combat mission, they are still in shock and in disbelief over the sudden departure.  Lastly, the families of over 4,400 lost soldiers, Obama stated, "As President, I have signed a letter of condolence  to the family of each American who gives their life in these wars." 94,000 troops have left Iraq since Obama’s inauguration, after his announcement America still has 50,000 troops still stationed in Iraq and these service members won’t be out until the end of 2011 for counterterrorism training.   

The Iraq adventure has seriously weakened the U.S economy by the loss of trillions of dollars.  At the website Cost of War, we can view the escalating war debt we are incurring second by second --  the amount is staggering.   Although American-led combat missions in Iraq may have ceased, we are still at war in Afghanistan, where 98,000 troops are stationed.; furthermore, our country is attempting to rebound from its prolonged economic recession and unemployment crisis.

From the Oval Office, President Obama praised his predecessor, President George Bush and his love and commitment towards the country:  “This afternoon, I spoke to former President George W. Bush.  It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset.  Yet no one can doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security.  As I’ve said, there were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it.  And all of us are united in appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hopes for Iraqis’ future.”

As you can see, this war has impacted our country in many ways; therefore, President Obama decided the Iraq war must end and has called for Americans to look forward to the next problems that await our country: putting down extremists in Afghanistan that may foster groups like Al-Quaeda and turning our attention to domestic problems at home. 

The damage to our country we need to repair. Obama now wants to focus his job of presidency to the middle class.  He said:

“Now, that effort must begin within our own borders.  Throughout our history, America has been willing to bear the burden of promoting liberty and human dignity overseas, understanding its links to our own liberty and security.  But we have also understood that our nation’s strength and influence abroad must be firmly anchored in our prosperity at home.  And the bedrock of that prosperity must be a growing middle class.

Unfortunately, over the last decade, we’ve not done what’s necessary to shore up the foundations of our own prosperity.  We spent a trillion dollars at war, often financed by borrowing from overseas.  This, in turn, has short-changed investments in our own people, and contributed to record deficits.  For too long, we have put off tough decisions on everything from our manufacturing base to our energy policy to education reform.  As a result, too many middle-class families find themselves working harder for less, while our nation’s long-term competitiveness is put at risk. And so at this moment, as we wind down the war in Iraq, we must tackle those challenges at home with as much energy, and grit, and sense of common purpose as our men and women in uniform who have served abroad.  They have met every test that they faced.  Now, it’s our turn.  Now, it’s our responsibility to honor them by coming together, all of us, and working to secure the dream that so many generations have fought for -- the dream that a better life awaits anyone who is willing to work for it and reach for it. Our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work.  To strengthen our middle class, we must give all our children the education they deserve, and all our workers the skills that they need to compete in a global economy.  We must jumpstart industries that create jobs, and end our dependence on foreign oil.  We must unleash the innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines, and nurture the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs.  This will be difficult.  But in the days to come, it must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as President.”

        While Americans may have differing opinions on the war in Iraq , it appears that we have given this country an opportunity to change its history and become a more open and more civilized nation.  Much more needs to be done, but the sacrifices will be mainly among the Iraqi people themselves as they struggle to maintain their form of representative government that meets the needs of the majority of its citizens.  As Americans know too well from past wars, freedom is never free.

High School Bullying

By: Tom Wagner

In today’s society bullying has become a huge problem that affects more than just the victim.  Bullies hurt their victims either physically or verbally, and by causing such injury affect an individual’s personal self-esteem, academic focus, and social relationships.  Some people are so used to being bullied they live in a constant fear and expectation that sooner or later, they will be a target for more bullying, the effects of which may last a life time.

Boys have always had problems with bullying, whether it is because of social status, the way they act, or the way they look.  However, now girls are starting to become a problem.  Girls mostly bully other girls but guys will usually girls and guys.  Girls tend to verbally bully other girls and post rude and embarrassing things on the internet, known as cyber bullying. 

Seventeen year old Alexis Pilkington had it all.  She was a popular person with a soccer scholarship to Dowling College on Long Island.  None of this stopped people from posting rude and thoughtless comments about her on FormSpringMe.com and Facebook.  Facebook and FormSpringMe.com have both apologized to the Pilkington family and say they hope to stop those who exploit the system.  The cyber bullying has continued on pages dedicated to mourn the girl’s death.  Her parents feel as if the bullying hasn’t affected their daughter’s decision.  Fifteen states have passed laws making it illegal to harass or intimidate people through the use of an electronic device and a bill is going through Congress that will make cyber bullying illegal in all fifty states.

The best way to stop cyber bullying is to tell parents.  When a school tries to get involved they are usually sued because they exceed their authority and break a student’s first amendment rights.

I spoke with Mr. Trostle in our Guidance Department to ask him about the problem of bullying in our school.  He says bullying is still a problem but it is harder to see because most of it goes on outside of school.  There are still incidents but not nearly as many as there used to be.  Our school takes caution to prevent bullying by using anti-bully posters.  These posters are located in every classroom and can be found posted on walls around the school.  We also bring up the topic of bullying in many of our social clubs and groups.  According to Mr. Trostle if you see someone being bullied you should report it and get a teacher especially if the situation threatens to become violent but always be wary to get involved.

The best way to stop bullying is to ignore the bully.  Most of the time a bully enjoys the reaction he gets from hurting someone so when he sees no reaction he will eventually move on.  Another way to fix bullying is to tell two adults.  Telling two adults is critical because if one ignores you the other person might do something about the problem.  Try to comfort anyone who is being bullied.

Key Ways to Help Stop Bullying

   Ignore the bully and walk away.

    Do not get angry.

Do not get physically violent.

    Make yourself look confident.

    Get involved in other activities.

   Talk about it.

Find your real friends.

Will the Tea Party’s Victories Hurt the GOP?
By: Sarah Rudasill

The widely acclaimed grassroots Tea Party has swept the nation in a series of stunning upsets by conservative candidates in 2010 Senate, House, and gubernational primaries.  The Tea Party backed candidates representing its core values and aided them in ousting several well-established but liberal-leaning Republican candidates.  The Tea Party’s platform stands for a small government in which spending is slashed, debt and deficit spending are eliminated, and the Constitution is strictly followed.  According to the Tea Party’s website, it “calls awareness to any issue that challenges the security, sovereignty, or domestic tranquility of our beloved nation.”   These challenges include universal healthcare, stimulus packages, and government regulation of business. 

As conservatives across the country claim victory, many Democrats and political strategists say this outcome could ultimately hurt Republicans’ chances in seizing control of the House and Senate in November.  Since the Tea Party emerged and swept the nation in 2009, Democrats have hoped that its very conservative stance isolates liberal-leaning Republicans, making moderate Democrat nominees more appealing.  As the country debates the impact of the Tea Party and its possible implications, here is a look at some prominent conservative candidates that have succeeded in winning against their opponents in primaries:

1.       Marco Rubio (R-FL) – Rubio is officially heralded as the original Tea Party candidate.  He ousted Gov. Charlie Crist of the Republican Party when Crist was thought to dominate the election and keep his Senate seat. 

2.       Rand Paul (R-KY) – Paul pushed Secretary of State Trey Grayson out of the way and claimed victory in the Republican primary in Kentucky.  Grayson, who had the support of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, was easily defeated in an election that demonstrated the Tea Party’s power.

3.       Sharron Angle (R-CO) – The very conservative Tea Party candidate won her primary in a landslide, but her stance on issues such as Social Security will hurt her against incumbent Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. 

4.       Mike Lee (R-UT) – In one of the largest victories for fiscal conservatives, Lee defeated incumbent Sen. Robert Bennett on the Republican ballot and then proceeded to win the primary against businessman Tim Bridgewater. 

5.       Joe Miller (R-AK) – Miller handed down a stunning victory over incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski, but Democrats have claimed this outcome has put the Senate seat within their grasp.  The latest poll has shown that Miller leads by only a few points. 

One of the greatest wins for the Tea Party came in the Republican primary in Delaware, where conservative Christine O’Donnell defeated veteran lawmaker Mike Castle for the Senate seat.  Castle, a former governor, was the longest serving House member in Delaware history.  O’Donnell, who was endorsed by Tea Party leader Sarah Palin, beat Castle by a large margin to take the primary.  While the Tea Party is celebrating, Democrats are stating they now have a great opportunity. 

Nathan Gonzales of Rothenberg Political Report backed Democrats, saying, “This is an instant game-changer.  This is a clear case where a Tea Party victory has hurt Republican chances in the general election.”  Chris Coons, O’Donnell’s Democratic challenger, has agreed, stating, “The Republican Party is purging itself of moderate voices and embracing the radical.”  He went on to encourage Castle’s supporters to support him in the November election, calling himself “a way to continue Delaware’s tradition of electing moderate, independent voices.” 

So the history-making question is still left unanswered: Will the Tea Party destroy the GOP’s chances in November?  Democratic strategist Robert Shrum at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service says most definitely.  “The Tea Party will prove to be the best thing that’s happened to Barack Obama and the Democrats,” Shrum stated.

 Ed Rodgers, a White House staffer to Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, completely disagrees.  “The Tea Party is a big problem for President Obama and his party this year.  Think of the Tea Partiers as the tip of an iceberg.  The ones we see on cable news channels are only a thin, visible slice of the opposition.  The much larger, submerged part is the roughly two-thirds of the electorate who think America is headed in the wrong direction, disapprove of Congress, and believe the President is handling the economy poorly.  The Democrats are about to hit the whole iceberg,” Rodgers said. 

The answer lies within the outcomes in November.  There currently is no accurate way to measure the impact of the Tea Party until the results of the elections are announced.  Only then will the country be able to determine whether the grassroots organization has made a positive or negative impact on the GOP.  After the November election, our country will also be able to gauge how the Tea Party will affect the crucial 2012 Presidential election.  As much as Republicans and Democrats alike have a strong desire to know the Tea Party’s implications, the only thing we can do is wait and see.  

Fall Elections Forecasting

By: David Malkin

            With the Fall elections looming in the near future. I would love to turn your attention to the U.S. Congressional primary race. With Democrats enacting some controversial legislation such as health care, Republicans are hoping to counteract the current majority in both houses and are expected to pick up more seats in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. The current held seats are 256 Democrats and 178 Republicans in the House of Representatives. 58 Democrats hold the Senate and 40 Republicans are in the minority in the Senate. However, the projected 38 or more extra seats in the House and 7 extra seats in the Senate will still leave Democrats with a weak majority in the Senate and an almost definite loss in the House. According to most polls, the Democrats are down 41 points to 51 points overall to the Republicans which means in general if a Republican runs against a Democrat the Republican is the expected winner.

            Gallup Polls are also saying that Republicans have the additional enthusiasm advantage at 47% for Republicans to 28% for Democrats.  According to a recent report put out by Fox news on Monday September 20, 2010 Republicans only need 39 seats in the House and 10 in the Senate to gain the majority. In general the mid election numbers are not looking very good for Democrats.

            Upon a close examination of the two party’s online stores, Republicans seem to be excited for this election season, with much more election-related merchandise. 25 relating to the election for Republicans compared to 3 for Democrats. You can visit and compare the websites for yourself at for the Republican Party website or their merchandise store . You can also visit the website for the Democrat Party  as well as their merchandise store .

            Although the November 2010 election looks like a shoe-in for Republicans, Tea Party candidates could hinder their progress by bombarding states with low populations with controversial political ads for their biggest Tea-Party candidates (see article above). An example of this is in Delaware where dark horse Tea-party candidate Christie O’Donnell upset Republican candidate Michael Castle in the Republican primary race, setting off some infighting within the Republican Party who view Castle as a better overall candidate but who lost out as a result of Tea Party “money-bombs.”
          
           With the election fast approaching, it is important that we pay close attention to the people who control the reins of our democracy. While some of us may not yet have the right to vote, the representatives, senators, mayors, and governors will be the ones in charge of passing key legislation that affects our lives in a big way.  The safeguard to a healthy democracy is vigilance. An educated citizenry is key to making an informed choice when we go into the voting booth.

Illegal Pet Trafficking                                                                           

By: David Malkin

Throughout the world, illegal movement of exotic animals goes on every day unidentified by the rest of us. Illegal animal movement is the systematic capture and smuggling of live or dead animals. Those who engage in this illegal activity for the same reason that most crimes are committed: greed.  One example would be for-profit trafficking of bush meat primarily from Africa and Asia. The most commonly traded animals are exotic birds. Anywhere between two million and five million exotic birds are smuggled every year. A large macaw could fetch almost one million dollars in some parts of Spain.

            The poaching normally occurs in central to South America and in Southeast Asia, and the hunters are paid a fraction of the money that the smugglers make for the animal. The animals are then prepped for smuggling and are normally smuggled into Spain because of the large market for exotic animals. 70%-90% of animals die on they way into the countries that they are smuggled to. Smugglers do not treat the animals properly such as they neglect them of water, food and fresh air. Scientists working for the rescue group Common Dreams reported “toucans with their beaks taped shut, parrots stuffed into stockings, birds that are drugged or whose eyes are perforated so that they will not sing in reaction to the light are just some of the passengers in these cruel flights."

People kill animals for food in more then 60 countries, in these countries wild and endangered animals account for one fifth of the animal protein that number is growing due to increased levels of poverty. The animals are also killed for leather, furs, and feathers to make into ornaments and clothing. Also most collections include wildlife specimens for museums and for private individuals.

             Animal trafficking is third behind drugs and arms trafficking, yet it is much less known to authorities according to Oscar Moctezuma director of Naturalia. "Trafficking in species is mostly tolerated by society, and that means that the perpetrator is not pursued by the authorities as much as drugs or arms traffickers," says Oscar Moctezuma. All birds regardless of species are harvested and sold for profit.

             TRAFFIC international does undercover research to determine the strength and depth of organized crime trafficking and farming wild and exotic animals around the world. TRAFFIC is a joint project between WWF and IUCN.  The problems these organizations face is they have a core dedicated group of supporters but due to the fact that this issue is underrated and overshadowed by drug and illicit weapon trafficking, they do not feel that they have a large amount of public support.

            Not all smugglers are successful, in 2002 a man attempted to smuggle 50 orchids, and four birds into a Californian airport. After the authorities discovered the other animals they also found 2 monkeys that the man had tried to smuggle in his pants. The monkeys aged three months and four months old were taken to the Los Angles zoo. The man was forced to serve six months in prison, rather then the usual sentence because he was suffering from full blown AIDS.

The Floods in Pakistan

By: Joey Letteriello

While it has not been in the forefront of the news, the flooding in Pakistan has led to a widespread humanitarian crisis affecting 14 million people in a very politically fragile part of the world. 

Thousands of houses have been lost, miles and miles of land have been turned into a lake. The floods in Pakistan have been going on since July 26^th, 2010 and the country is  still dealing with the effects of the catastrophe.  Millions of people remain homeless and are left with little food and water. Thousands have already died according to the UN with more casualties  expected to occur and creating the kinds of conditions that lead to epidemic. 

Towns all the way from North Pakistan to Southern Pakistan along the Indus River have been affected in some way, towns closer to the river have been heavily flooded and towns further away got little to no flooding. The minister of Pakistan said, "The flood is at its peak right now, and we expect the waters following to start to recede once these torrents have passed." 

30,000 troops and dozen of helicopters from the Pakistan military, and a U.S ship with extra helicopters and 1,000 marines have been used as a relief effort for the floods. Until the floods recede, the people affected will be living in shelters or tents and given food by donation and from the military until they can start to rebuild again.

Maurizio Giuliano, a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)has  said,"This disaster is worse than the tsunami, the 2005 Pakistan earthquake, and the Haiti earthquake." 

Flood victims have attacked government officials due to their President, Asif Ali Zardari, going on with his tour in Europe when their country was in need of help. Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan's prime minister, who is left alone while the President is on his tour said the floods would set them back years.

If you wish to help the people and towns affected by the floods in Pakistan you can visit Oxfam and give a donation to a worthy cause.