The Perspective

Words of wisdom from the class of 2010

Amita Gupta — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:49:53 +0000

What should we expect senior year?

Jared Young: First of all, I would like to discount the myth that junior year is harder than senior year.

Patrice Davison: Well, senior sale was a lot of fun, the awful things we made them do…we dressed Ezra up as a maid and made him clean up the SI room…it was really gross.

What were some of your favorite classes?

Leah Edwards: Probably comparative politics with McAndrew—one of the most brilliant teachers UHS has ever had— [it] inspired me to become interested in politics and global issues.

Jared Young: English from junior year because our class with Dr. Glass was so small it was like a family.

Brendan Tobin: I really liked being an SI…one of the most fun things…Dr. Hosmer was my favorite teacher.

What will you miss about UHS?

Derek Graybill: Everything about Robert DiPrima.

Ernesto Barraza: Mr. Brown and Mr. Eichelberger for sure…I’m gonna miss the kids here.

Leah Edwards: I think the culture and the people… [being] surrounded by a lot of intellectuals helps you develop your own intellect and have conversations at a level appealing to you.

Julie Zhang: I’ll miss the people, not the school.

Patrice Davison: I [will] miss my little SI children.

What are you looking forward to in college?

Julie Zhang: Computers that work… [and] super interesting classes like ‘Harry Potter and its Effects on Literature’ or something like that.

James Steinke: I’m looking forward to ‘experimental physics’ as well as reading books like Candide.

Brendan Tobin: I’m really excited to be around adults… [and] to really have control over my education.

What do you hope to accomplish in college?

Derek Graybill: I’m going to start a bridge club at the UofA and hopefully go to the collegiate bridge championships.

Patrice Davison: I’m going to ASU, Barrett…for global studies…I may double major with justice studies.

Ernesto Barraza: I just want to join more clubs…be more active. I’m going to [also] cycle more.

What’s Changing

Laura Van Slyke — Wed, 26 May 2010 01:30:14 +0000

May 26^th, 2010 marks the official end to another year at University High School. As T.S. Elliot once said: “What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” With that said, it seems appropriate to begin ruminating over the upcoming changes sure transpire on campus as we enfold the remains of the 2009-2010 year.

The first change for UHS students lies in the staff. Both Sra. Franco and Mr. Roberts are retiring at the close of the semester. Other staff alterations include Dr. Hosmer’s rumored adoption of Western Civilization classes, Ms. Patrick assuming the role of S.A.B. teacher sponsor from Ms. Roediger and Ms. Stuart and Mr. Wolfe no longer remaining as the band director.

Second, due to the recent passing of Proposition 100 we see a small glisten of hope for the survival of public education in Arizona. Prop. 100 isn’t a full solution to our budget deficiencies, but it is vastly beneficial in aiding the reduction of our monstrous monetary cuts.

Thirdly, students may rejoice at certain changes that will not be occurring next year. The alleged reposition to Palo Verde campus will not transpire, the extinction of the UHS yearbook may not ensue due to the the addition of a seventh period class, and our favorite bicycle riding monitor will, most likely, never leave. That’s the round up of the major adjustments to our campus life next year, luckily there will not be a ground shifting slew of alterations to the University High School front.

Mr. Wolfe moves on

Lindsey Bressler — Sat, 22 May 2010 15:43:19 +0000

Band director Mr. Wolfe, second from right, with students

For the past six years, Mr. Wolfe has been conducting the Rincon/University High School marching band in everything they did. Friday night football games, concerts and band competitions were among his achievements. The Ranger Band has been extremely successful, even though this position came early in Mr. Wolfe’s career. “It was my first job after graduating from the University of Arizona with my master’s degree,” Mr. Wolfe said. Mr. Wolfe says he first became interested in music when “my parents took me to the mall and I saw the marching band before Santa came.”

“In seventh grade,” says Mr. Wolfe, “I started the trumpet and really enjoyed it so I stuck with it.” Ever since, Mr. Wolfe’s life has had something to do with music.

It was not until this April when Mr. Wolfe discovered he would be leaving the Ranger Band. He told the band his news “after the April concert.” Mr. Wolfe is leaving for Norman, Oklahoma, to attend Oklahoma University and obtain his doctorate in conducting. “With that, I can teach college students to be band directors.” Mr. Wolfe feels that he will extend more influence by acquiring his doctorates. He says 3 percent of his current students continue music. However, when he becomes a teacher who trains aspiring band directors, “there are more people who will teach more students,” he said.

Although Mr. Wolfe is excited about “new experiences and working with college students who are music majors,” he describes the situation of leaving as “bittersweet.” Mr. Wolfe looks back on his time as a band director fondly. His favorite part about directing band was, “working with the students and getting them to enjoy music.” He also appreciated “the different personalities in the group.” One of Mr. Wolfe’s favorite memories was the band’s trip to Carnegie Hall in 2008, he said. He notes that “the kids worked really hard” and that it was great to take “the kids who had never been on a big trip,” or even an airplane. The best part of band for Mr. Wolfe was “a combination of rehearsals and Friday night football,” amongst other things. “The best part is working up to it,” he says.

So where is the band headed without him? Mr. Wolfe is confident in his students. The band is “really strong,” says Mr. Wolfe and there are “great section leaders.” “Ability wise, [the band is doing] really well.” However, Mr. Wolfe says, “everything’s in their hands” when it comes to the future success of the Ranger band. Before he leaves, Mr. Wolfe has a few words of advice for his students: “Do what you love in life. Have fun with what you do, enjoy your work and career and always strive for the highest.”

What Now? Piloting you to aestheticism as the school days dwindle into summer.

Laura Van Slyke — Tue, 18 May 2010 04:45:51 +0000

Listen To:

The New Pornographers “Together”

I’ve been a worshiper of ‘The New Pornographers’ ever since 2008, when “Myriad Harbor” graced the shelves of my itunes. This band holds a nearly synonymous ambiance to that of ‘Peter Bjorn and John’ in the hard-hitting throb and echoing, ubiquitous vocals, and is essential to every established musical assemblage.

Tegan and Sara “Sainthood”

We are all surely familiar with the playful and charismatic music of Tegan and Sara. Deeply relevant, yet reliably nonsensical lyrics espouse themselves with inventive rhythms to create this admirably hip album, which is perfectly applicable to the meaningfully lackadaisical summer mindset.

The National “High Violet”

Attracted to the lingering and relaxed British vocals of “The Smiths”? The National’s new album ‘High Violet’ willingly fits the mold of a perfect surrogate. If you have a contemplative, tranquil and slightly melancholic disposition, this may be the album for you.

Read:

Tony Hoagland “What Narcissism Means To Me”

In the spirit of the upcoming poetry slam, this month I’m recommending Tony Hoagland’s truly ingenious and diverse collection of uproarious short poems. This absolute page-turner has a tendency to captivate, leaping quickly from staid tales of suicide to cunning one-liners about picking flowers. Buy this book. You will love it.

Go To:

“Nurturing Nature”

This shop is ideal for the environmentally conscious reader. Whether you are looking for soap, utensils, baby clothing, candles or lunch boxes, every item in this store is either made from recycled or locally grown material. I you aren’t necessarily inclined to purchase anything, the peaceful atmosphere is reason enough to make a trip down to Williams Center and check out this new and unique boutique.

Veteran UHS Spanish teacher retiring

Josh Yoder — Tue, 18 May 2010 04:43:07 +0000

Retiring Spanish teacher Sandra Franco

Sandra Franco has been a Spanish teacher at University High School for 23 years. Next year, however, you won’t see her on campus. When the academic calendar takes its final breath of hot desert air next week, it will mark the end of a career in the UHS community that Franco says has brought her “great satisfaction.” While at our school, Franco has taught various levels of Spanish, including A.P. Spanish Language and A.P. Spanish Literature. The most challenging part of her job, she said, is “making sure that my lesson plans are just right so that classes run smoothly,” something that is “a little tougher with the A.P. classes.”

Señora Franco remembers a rough start to her teaching career. “As I look back and I think about how I first started out with teaching,” she said, “I almost quit. After three years I almost quit teaching.” Perseverance pays off, however. After twenty more years of working in education, she is pleased with the results. “To look back and to feel great satisfaction, knowing that I have been able to present lessons and teach and [that] students have been able to accomplish so much… that has been the satisfaction for me.” For Franco, the rewards of her labor are also evident when she hears of the work her students pursue with their Spanish skills. “Since I’m a Mormon, (I’m LDS), [when] I hear of students going on missions to Spanish-speaking countries… that is the most important part of my teaching.”

Life in the classroom has its ups and downs, its good days and bad days. Franco can recall “lots of times when we all laughed in class, when something funny happened,” but she also remembers one incident, “at least twelve years ago,” with a student. “I was checking during a test…to make sure no one was cheating, and, when I looked at his table…there were two test papers instead of one, and I asked him why there were two papers, and he said that he had just got his friend’s paper and he was writing all the answers on her paper.”

UHS senior Emma Wohl said she appreciates how, in the A.P. language class, “I really got a sense of how I would need to use [Spanish] and in what circumstances I would need to use it in. [The class] made me want to go on with Spanish more than any other class I did.”

Now that she is retiring, Franco plans to spend more time with family, including her mother and her three grandchildren. She also intends to continue with College Board A.P. workshops. As she prepares to leave UHS, we thank her for all her time and effort she has put in to the Spanish program and the school as a whole.

What Now?

Laura Van Slyke — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 03:15:09 +0000

Archeology

Listen to:

Archeology- “Memorial”

If there were a soundtrack that perfectly exemplified a mixture of walking through a field of ankle-high grass and waking up on a Saturday morning, this would be it. A calm yet interested progression of beats accompanied by meditative and engaging harmonies will carry you peacefully through each song. ‘Archeology’ is a relatively new band and bears a resemblance to a harmonized, more upbeat, folk version of ‘Bright Eyes’- ideal for maintaining serenity in the weeks building up to what promises to be a taxing AP and finals season.

First Aid Kit- “The Big Black and the Blue”

With vocals as odd and engaging as those of ‘Imogen Heap’ and as magnificently drawn out as those of ‘Beirut’, ‘First Aid Kit’ is purely a band of beauty. The somewhat illegibility of the emotion-filled lyrics manufactures a near spiritual, engaging, pleasing effect. The songs of this album hold a strong similitude to the ‘Big Pink’ cover of ‘These Arms of Mine’ in the airy, resounding effect which tickles your ears upon contact.

Said the Whale- “Bear Bones”

In the continuation of what seems to be a forming trend in this months column- ‘Said the Whale’ is another harmonious, calming, near-folk band you simply must listen to. The acoustic sitting-in-the-back-of-a-truck feeling will calm your nerves as it blooms nascent visions of summer in your mind.

Aqueduct- “Or Give Me Death”

For the more angsty listener, the beautifully whiny vocals of David Terry practically coin the term “Indie Pop” in the cool, indolently expressed passion. The heartbreaking lyricism and hard hitting, synthetically created beats have proved addictive. An added bonus- the song “As You Wish” is based on the beloved, nineties classic movie “The Princess Bride”.

Go to:

Sabine’s Café

Cozied up right next to Antigone book store on 4^th Avenue is a hip, native, energetic coffee joint- perfect for studying, chatting, or simply a delicious non-fat latte. I highly recommend stopping by and supporting a local business, while at the same time dabbling in some good coffee and an eclectic environment.

Changes in the air for SAB

Lindsey Bressler — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 01:45:27 +0000

The Student Activities Board for the 2009-10 school year.

A lot of changes are happening at University High School this spring. Two University High teachers have retired: Sra. Franco and Mr. Roberts, and the entire campus was shaken by the news of a possible move to Palo Verde. The Student Activities Board is no exception to this dramatic change. Both teacher sponsors Suellen Roediger, the Club Sponsor, and Sarah Stuart, the Senior Club Sponsor, have chosen not return as sponsors next year. Out of Ms. Roediger’s eight years at UHS, she has spent six of them sponsoring the Student Activities Board. In addition, Ms. Roediger says, “I was in Site Council for one year.” However, Ms. Roediger says, “I didn’t like working on Site Council because I didn’t get to work one on one [with the students].” Ms. Stuart has been working for SAB “for the last three years” as a Senior Sponsor. She praises the students, who are both “well-behaved” and “self-directed”. Ms. Roediger says that the “students are awesome” and “each student group brought something new.”

So why are these two leaving SAB? “I decided I’ve kind of had my run. Three years is a good amount of time to commit to something,” says Ms. Stuart. Ms. Roediger explains that, “Responsibilities are very demanding and are getting more demanding.” These responsibilities come from the growing number of incoming students. As University High’s student body grows, so does the amount of work to grade. This is challenging to both Ms. Stuart and Ms. Roediger. “Most teachers only have 2 preps [classes to prepare for] so it’s been quite a challenge,” admits Ms. Roediger. Currently, Ms. Roediger teaches three different courses: Western Civilization, AP Art History and AP Studio Art. Ms. Stuart teaches Western Civilization, along with Ms. Roediger, and AP United States History with Dr. Hosmer, which are some of the largest classes UHS offers. Put simply, Ms. Stuart would “rather dedicate her time to the classroom.” Both teachers agree that district restrictions and rule changes added the most stress to their experience as SAB sponsors. Ms. Stuart emphasizes the seniors’ situation. “Now more than ever it’s important the [senior] classes have more guidance and money,” she says. “The senior class pays for certain graduation expenses, contribute to honors night and fully funds the proms,” explains Mrs. Stuart. Because University High holds graduation in Centennial Hall, there’s an added expense. Stuart adds that, “With the District cuts the Senior Class may have to share in the future even more of the burden.”

Future SAB President Katie Marascio is hopeful about SAB’s future. However, she says that both Ms. Roediger and Ms. Stuart, “have been doing such a wonderful job,” and admits that, “it’s going to be a challenge to adjust to being President,” as well as adjusting to a new advisor. She says she has learned to “get things done on time” and “listen” from both Ms. Roediger and Ms. Stuart. Despite the changes, Marascio emphasizes that, “it’s going to be by no means less exciting or fun.” When asked what her favorite event was to plan, Marascio looks to the future and says, “I think Prom will be my favorite thing to do.” In addition to being the most fun event to plan, Marascio believes it will also be the most challenging because, “it has that significance, it has that hype. It’s that special something for all the seniors who are leaving.” There is talk about next year’s venue, but that information is top-secret for now. Marascio does not believe there will be a significant difference in leadership from the current President, Aubrie Brewster. She says, “I think Aubrie did a really good job because she was really flexible. There was a good balance between helping teachers and doing community service. I like the amount we’re doing.” Marascio also adds that, “As the years happen [SAB] gets more fun and casual. We’re more of a closer-knit bunch and a family.” Although changes are happening, Marascio says that members may have to “put in a little more” and “pick up the slack,” but “it will be the same level of awesome.” Also if anyone has a younger sibling who’s an incoming freshman, Marascio encourages them to run for an SAB position in BOOST.

Ms. Roediger reveals that Ms. Patrick will take her place as the sponsor. Of Ms. Patrick, Ms. Roediger says, “she’s already gained experience given her time here.” Also, “she’s young and can provide a new insight.” Only time will tell the direction that SAB heads in. However, both Ms. Roediger and Ms. Stuart look back on their time as SAB sponsors fondly. “It’s a lot of fun,” says Ms. Stuart. When asked what her favorite memory of SAB was, Ms. Roediger had a hard time picking just one. “Every year was a good one,” she says. Finally, she decided that her favorite part was, “working with a different elected body of students each year.” “What I love most,” says Ms. Stuart “is when it all comes together. When the Prom is successful or when a fundraiser raises more money than expected. I’ve been to three more Senior Proms than I ever thought I would.”

‘These students can compete with anybody’

Amita Gupta — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:52:32 +0000

“These students can compete with anybody,” said UHS counselor Ms. Cook of this year’s seniors. With admissions growing increasingly competitive — Brown University received over 30, 000 applications for 1485 spots — and scholarships harder to find, our students have done extremely well. Many seniors have received ample financial aid and acceptances into prestigious universities such as “Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, MIT, Stanford, Chicago and NYU,” according to UHS Economics teacher Ms. Gray.

However, this should come as no surprise. Last year’s 181 seniors made up only 5.5% of the 3322 TUSD ’09 seniors. Yet, they accounted for an impressive share of acceptances both in-state and out of state. The Senior Survey — with a participation rate of around 75% — on TUSDStats records such information. Last year, our seniors made up 19.5% of the 843 TUSD students admitted to the University of Arizona, 26.1% of the 241 TUSD students admitted to Arizona State University, and 11.1% of the 327 TUSD students admitted to Northern Arizona University. Notably, this hard-working crew also provided 100% of the 5 TUSD students admitted to the University of Chicago, and large percentages at many other colleges as well.

Just as impressive is the financial aspect of the acceptances. According to Ms. Gray, “typically 80% of our students stay in state.” The incentives are huge. UHS ’09 seniors received nearly 40% of the 18 million dollars of scholarships awarded to TUSD students. This year’s awards should be just as striking: of the 20 Flinn scholarships, four have already been offered to UHS students. This scholarship provides a “total dollar value [exceeding] $54,000- on top of the cash value of tuition provided by universities” and is regarded as the most prestigious in Arizona.

Although we applaud their achievements, we will miss our friends. Some will settle in cities in faraway states, spreading from Providence, Rhode Island to Columbia, Missouri, to Claremont, California. Others will stay in Arizona. Either way, the campus will seem empty without them. Senior Sasi Aradyula comments: “I love the idea of going to a new city and entering a new stage in my life, but this excitement is bittersweet. I will miss the school that has allowed me to reach this point in life, and the great friends I have made over the years!”

More information:

TUSD senior survey: http://tusdstats.tusd.k12.az.us/paweb/aggD/SenSurv/SenSurvFront.aspx

Flinn Scholars:www.flinnscholars.com

The budget: a disaster in our midst

Sam Williams — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 23:52:01 +0000

A week ago I had an interview with the interim Principal Elizabeth Moll at University High School to discuss our current budget situation. To sum it up, it didn’t look good for the kids at UHS. For starters the UHS Budget Committee had to deal with balancing the budget this year, luckily there were no major teacher cuts. Unfortunately our teacher supply budget is slowly dwindling (ask your parents to bring in supplies kids!) and our school is starting to cut to bare bones where there isn’t very much else to cut. There is more unfortunate news, if the one-cent sales tax in Arizona isn’t passed TUSD could face cuts of up to $50 million in cuts and there are still even more cuts that could take place.

This is very bad news. As a member of the UHS Site Council and UHS Budget Committee, I can assure you that the following is a fact, there is nowhere left to cut. What this potentially means is that there are fewer AP offerings, fewer teachers, no budget for fine arts which translates into cutting fine arts if not eliminating it completely. Many aspects of our school will be demolished if the sales tax does not go through. I asked Ms. Moll in our interview about the prospects for UHS without a sales tax (which would bring in $1 billion a year into the education budget) and she admitted our prospects looked dim.

There is some good news however, if the 1-cent sales tax goes through our lives here at UHS will remain relatively unchanged. A little less money for supplies, larger freshman class sizes but in general, at least for upper classman, our school is remaining relatively the same. Also Ms. Moll who has been a great help this year as interim Principal in helping with our budget and in general running our school is going to apply for the position next year for permanent principal. If she is rehired this would mean stability and continuity through the next year when we might need it most.

Now to this reporter, with the current budget situation and the political climate in Arizona, the one cent sales tax seems very unlikely and my glass seems to be looking half empty a lot more as the May 18 special election draws near. What that might mean for UHS is: no fine arts, fewer AP offerings, humongous class sizes and decreased standards; in essence the complete breakdown of what makes UHS what it is. Parents and others can speculate all they want about how UHS is the jewel of TUSD and it won’t be touched, but what they don’t understand is that it already has and there is not much left. There is something that the reader sitting at the computer right now reading this article can do. There is something that every single person in Arizona can do. Any person, who cares at all about education and what it means for America’s future, can do this one thing. That one thing is tell your relatives, your friends, your acquaintances, your coworkers, even strangers, to vote for Proposition 100. If they don’t, our future goes down the toilet.

Samuel Williams

Sophomore reporter/editorial writer,

member of UHS Site Council, SAB, and Band

For questions please email samster712@yahoo.com

The Library Times

Laura Van Slyke — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 05:34:59 +0000

Students on the Rincon/University High School campus have been hard-pressed to ignore the recent budget cuts applied to our school library. Due to the nation-wide recession, TUSD has been curbing every department in an effort to rub two funding nickels together. The hacks made to our library’s budget have been drastic: six of the seven library staff were fired, the newspaper subscriptions went from six to one, the budget for book purchases went from $7 per student to nonexistent, and the researching database for the computers was cut entirely. Besides the monetary setbacks, among the most damaging revisions to our library this year has been the hour reductions, which render our primary place of resource virtually inaccessible. Last year the library was open to students beginning at 7:30 a.m. , continuing through the entire school day, and closing at 5 p.m. This year, the library opens at 8 a.m.., is shut off from lunchtime walk-ins, and closes at 3:15 p.m., a mere half-hour after the final bell. The library is no longer a place for students to study, for clubs or groups to meet, a focused environment stocked with updated resources and reference books, or a base of computer access for students to use as a safety net from the complexities of life. The maintenance of a functioning library is vital not only to uphold the integrity of our school, but to sustain its academic opportunity and provide an equalizing place of refuge for both University and Rincon High School students.

Most student concerns about the recent library cuts lie in the inability to work at lunchtime and after school. Mrs. Sepich, the school librarian since 2000, said restricting lunch hours “wasn’t to exclude the lunch crowd, it was to make it fair for teachers. Fourth period was always such a frustration for them, because they were never able to bring their classes in.” She also said that condensing the before/ after school hours is just the “best of all the bad alternatives.” Due to the legal issues related to the length of a teacher’s work day, if Mrs. Sepich came to school early for the before-school crowd, she would need to leave before the end of sixth period, and if she came late to expand the after school hours, she would curtail library access for all first periods. The library simply doesn’t have the staff to maintain the prior extended hours.

In addition to limiting the accessibility of the library, there have been other detrimental effects caused by the budget diminutions; the cuts have also affected the actual contents within the library. According to Mrs. Sepich, one huge problem is the inability to update the library collection to include recent fiction, periodicals, new science materials, and other current reference works. There is also no budget for technology. “Of our 21 computers, really about seven of them work. They all technically work, but not in any real sense. Seven work in a reasonable time for you to be able to come in and actually produce something,” she said.

What can students do to help? Tax credit donations are greatly appreciated, along with letters to our legislators voicing concern as to the scarcity of TUSD funding. Also, encourage your parents to vote for Proposition 100, to be proposed to voters on May 18th, which would increase the state sales tax by one cent for three years and pitch an estimated 950 million tax-generated dollars towards K-12 education, health and human services and public safety.