opinion - waunakee community school district opinion.pdf · landed on the moon. ... it may not be a...

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The Purple Sage April 28, 2010 Page 4 OPINION Joe Meeker, Opinion Editor President Obama’s February and April changes to NASA funding are and were beneficial to the program. Obama has been making numerous plans to change NASA’s funding. In February, he cut Constellation, a plan to send more astronauts to the moon. Recently he added new programs to the plan; but adding new programs cannot really be called compensation because both ideas were helpful to NASA. Although they got rid of Constellation, Obama’s original February plans were helpful to NASA. Deciding to cancel the plan to send astronauts to the moon naturally sparked controversy. In a speech at the University of Buffalo, noted astrophysicist and writer Neil deGrasse Tyson said of Obama’s February plans, “It says, ‘We’re not going to the moon anymore. Maybe we’ll go to Mars one day. I don’t know when, but let’s work on some technology that might enable that someday.’ That worries me.” However, these funding changes were not indecisive or as obstructive to innovation as Tyson would say. Constellation was a bloated program that had already cost NASA $9 billion. It would accomplish next to nothing; we have already landed on the moon. Ending it now would add to NASA’s budget for other programs (in addition to the $6 billion added to Obama’s plan). In his speech, Tyson also said that the plans were destroying the visions of space that the American people had. The plans were not doing that either. Obama’s February reform gives commercial access to low-earth orbit. Letting smaller groups send objects into space around the earth interests these smaller groups in science as effectively as NASA, if not more. As NASA chief Charlie Bolden said about the plan, “ Imagine enabling hundreds, even thousands of people to visit or live in low-Earth orbit, while NASA firmly focuses its gaze on the cosmic horizon beyond Earth.” Obama’s original plans for February were beneficial for NASA. Now, in April, Obama reformed the space program again to make it even better. First, he set a goal for NASA to have astronauts orbit Mars by 2030. Shorter term goals include a heavy-lift rocket with new propulsion technologies by 2015 and a deep-space launch to land on an asteroid by 2025. This new timetable sets goals that can inspire the American people. This shows that NASA has a clear direction, far from the uncertain NASA described in Tyson’s speech. This is not a NASA that repeats things that have already been done some 40 years ago. Under Obama’s plan, NASA will continue to develop new technology and break new space frontiers. As the sun sets on the original Constellation project, a new dawn rises for the space program with President Obama’s plans for manned space flight. The new project shoots for manned missions to Mars, with sights set on orbit of Mars in the mid-2030s. This ambitious plan is the one that Obama introduced as reparations for cancellation of Constellation, which planned to return to the moon. The moon mission was dismissed as wasteful and repetitive; something we already did years ago, old news. What has been forgotten is that NASA has not had men on the moon since 1972. Going to the moon is not like riding a bike. It might be like riding a bike if when you fell off a bike, you exploded in a burst of fire and debris. The fact is that people think that going into Earth orbit is anything compared to landing men on the moon. Low Earth orbit, which is the primary destination of most astronauts these days, is a couple hundred miles up, according to Neil DeGrasse Tyson (astrophysicist and director of the Hayden planetarium). The moon is nearly 25,000 miles (on average) up—a place where only satellites and telescopes venture nowadays. Claiming that you are good with manned missions to other planets because you have been in low earth orbit for 25 years is like saying you are cool with extreme cave diving because you have been dipping your toes in the kiddie pool. The Obama NASA reforms are not necessarily bad, but they depend too much on a research standpoint and past experience. Manned spaceflight is something that requires training a whole new generation of astronauts. NASA has been conditioning them for the international space station, not for Mars’ gravity and conditions. The American people forget: Research is not easy when you are doing real science. You can speculate and speculate, and you can test your hypothesis, but it is not a fast process. Just because right now we know the Equatorial surface gravity of Mars doesn’t mean that we know how to combat the safety issue of landing astronauts safely on a planet with an inconsistent gravity field. Obama plans for the private sector to get involved, too. This decision, unlike cutting Constellation’s funding, is a well-thought out plan from NASA’s business perspective. Unfortunately, manned spaceflight is endeavor where businesspeople are going to carefully hide their developments from the rest of the competition. If you cannot colonize new planets and make it cost- friendly, you can at least keep your discoveries and inventions closely guarded secrets. Not knowing a minor error i n your own research t h a t someone e l s e could have corrected would not just be an inconvenience: It could cost American lives. S o look at the Obama cuts and additions from a practical and scientific standpoint; space exploration is a new frontier, not tried and true waters like most people think. American astronauts will remain what they always have been: the heroes of science. My only hope is that they will be able to continue their important research. Laertes says, “Join The Purple Sage!” Do you want to be a part of an award-winning publicaon? The Purple Sage is looking to fill the following posions for the 2010-2011 school year! Editors Editor in Chief Managing Editor Photography Editor Graphics Editor Copy Editor Managers Adversing Manager Web Page Manager Secon Editors News Opinion Features Entertainment Sports Sage Page For job descripons and applicaons, please see Ms. Rademacher in room 1502. The deadline for applicaons is May 28. No experience necessary! On-the-job training is provided. NASA changes foster innovation Funding reforms hinder research Changes to NASA funding spark debate Jamie Warner Production Assistant Laura Meeker Graphics Artist

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Page 1: OPINION - Waunakee Community School District opinion.pdf · landed on the moon. ... It may not be a Ben Folds concert or a fancy night out to dinner, ... Opinion Editor OLIVIA KNIER

The Purple Sage April 28, 2010Page 4

OPINIONJoe Meeker, Opinion Editor

President Obama’s Febr uar y and Apr i l changes to NASA funding are and were beneficial to the program.

O b a m a h a s b e e n m a k i n g n u m e r o u s plans to change NASA’s funding. In February, he cut Constellation, a plan to send more astronauts to the moon. Recently he added new programs to the plan; but adding new programs cannot really be called compensation because both ideas were helpful to NASA.

Although they got rid of Constellation, Obama’s original February plans were helpful to NASA. Deciding to cancel the plan to send astronauts to the moon naturally sparked controversy. In a speech a t the University of Buffalo, noted astrophysicist and writer Neil deGrasse Tyson said of Obama’s February plans, “It says, ‘We’re not going to the moon anymore. Maybe we’ll go to Mars one day. I don’t know when, but let’s work on some technology that might enable that someday.’ That worries me.”

H o w e v e r , t h e s e funding changes were not indecisive or as obstructive to innovation as Tyson would say. Constel lat ion was a bloated program that had already cost NASA $9 bi l l ion. I t would accompl ish next to nothing; we have already landed on the moon.

Ending it now would add to NASA’s budget for other programs (in addition to the $6 billion added to Obama’s plan).

In his speech, Tyson also said that the plans were destroying the visions of space that the American people had. The plans were not doing that either. Obama’s February reform gives commercial access to low-earth orbit. Letting smaller groups send objects into space around the earth interests these smaller groups in science as effectively as NASA, if not more.

As NASA chief Charlie Bolden said about the plan, “Imagine e n a b l i n g hundreds, even t h o u s a n d s o f people to visit or live in low-Earth orbit, w h i l e N A SA f i r m l y focuses its gaze on the cosmic horizon beyond Earth.” Obama’s original plans for February were beneficial for NASA.

Now, in April, Obama reformed the space program again to make it e v e n

b e t t e r . First, he set a goal for NASA to have astronauts orbit Mars by 2030. Shorter term goals include a heavy-lift rocket with new propulsion technologies by 2015

and a deep-space launch to land on an asteroid by 2025. This new timetable sets goals that can inspire the American people. This shows that NASA has a clear direction, far from the uncertain NASA

described in Tyson’s speech. This is not a NASA that repeats things that have already been done some 40 years ago. Under Obama’s plan, NASA will continue to develop new technology and break new space

frontiers.

As the sun sets on the original Constellation project, a new dawn rises for the space program with President Obama’s plans for

manned space flight. The new project shoots for manned missions to Mars, with sights set on orbit of Mars in the mid-2030s. This ambitious plan is the one that Obama introduced as reparations f o r c a n c e l l a t i o n o f Constellation, which planned to return to the moon.

The moon m i s s i o n

w a s d i s m i s s e d a s wasteful and repetitive; something we already did years ago, old news. What has been forgotten is that NASA has not had men on the moon since 1972.

Going to the moon is not like riding a bike.

It might be like riding a bike if when you fell off a bike, you exploded in a

burst of fire and debris.The fac t i s tha t

people th ink that going into Earth orbit is anything compared to landing men on the moon. Low Earth orbit, which is the primary destination of most astronauts

these days, is a couple hundred m i l e s u p ,

according to Neil DeGrasse Tyson

(as t rophys ic i s t and director of the Hayden planetarium). The moon is nearly 25,000 miles (on average) up—a place where only satellites and telescopes venture nowadays. Claiming that you are good with manned missions to other planets because you have been in low

earth orbit f o r 2 5 y e a r s i s

like saying y o u a r e

cool with

extreme cave diving because you have been dipping your toes in the kiddie pool.

The Obama NA SA r e f o r m s a r e n o t necessarily bad, but they depend too much on a research standpoint and past experience. Manned spaceflight is something that requires training a whole new generation of astronauts.

N A S A h a s b e e n conditioning them for the international space

station, not for Mars’ gravity and conditions.

The American people forget: Research is not easy when you are doing real science. You can speculate and speculate, and you can test your hypothesis, but it is not a fast process.

Just because r ight n o w w e k n o w t h e Equatorial surface gravity of Mars doesn’t mean that we know how to combat the safety issue of landing astronauts safely on a planet with an inconsistent gravity field.

O b a m a p l a n s f o r the private sector to get involved, too. This decision, unlike cutting Constellation’s funding, is a well-thought out plan from NASA’s business perspective.

Unfortunately, manned spaceflight is endeavor where businesspeople are going to carefully hide their developments from the rest of the compet i t ion . I f you cannot colonize new planets and make it cost-friendly, you can at least keep your discoveries and inventions closely guarded secrets. Not knowing a minor error i n your own

research t h a t

someone e l s e

could have corrected would

not just be an inconvenience: It

could cost American lives.

S o l o o k

a t t h e O b a m a

cuts and additions from a practical and

scientific standpoint; space exploration is a new frontier, not tried and true waters like most people think.

American astronauts will remain what they always have been: the heroes of science. My only hope is that they will be able to continue their important research.

Laertes says, “Join The Purple Sage!”Do you want to be a part of an award-winning publicati on?The Purple Sage is looking to fi ll the following positi ons for the 2010-2011 school year!

EditorsEditor in ChiefManaging EditorPhotography EditorGraphics EditorCopy Editor

ManagersAdverti sing ManagerWeb Page Manager

Secti on EditorsNewsOpinionFeaturesEntertainmentSportsSage Page

For job descripti ons and applicati ons, please see Ms. Rademacher in room 1502.

The deadline for applicati ons is May 28.

No experience necessary! On-the-job training is provided.

NASA changes foster innovation Funding reforms hinder research

Changes to NASA funding spark debateJamie WarnerProduction Assistant

Laura MeekerGraphics Artist

Page 2: OPINION - Waunakee Community School District opinion.pdf · landed on the moon. ... It may not be a Ben Folds concert or a fancy night out to dinner, ... Opinion Editor OLIVIA KNIER

WEDNESDAY SOCIETY speaksTH

E QuotableUOTE

There is always that one Friday night that it is just impossible to find something to do. No one is having a party, there are not any theater events around and the best band is out of town—what is there to do? SafeRides.

It may not be a Ben Folds concert or a fancy night out to dinner, but it is a chance to help others be safe while hanging out with friends. The Sierra Bongiovani and Michele Koster Memorial Safe Ride Program was set up in August of 2008 by David and Rose Bongiovani to make sure that their daughter’s death in a drunk driving accident was not in vain. WKOW quotes Rose as saying, “We had to do something … Something good had to come out of this.”

Every Friday and Saturday night, a team of one driver, one navigator and two dispatchers give four hours (from 10 p.m. to 2

a.m.) to take calls and give rides to those unable to safely drive themselves home. The program, which is entirely confidential, is one of the most meaningful events for which a high school student could volunteer to take part.

With summer approaching, the need for volunteers is even more pressing because of vacations taking regular volunteers away. As Sierra and Michele’s close friends graduate and go on to college, there are fewer and fewer partaking in SafeRides.

At some point in time, everyone will be affected by drunk driving; have to face the realities and dangers. With a program like SafeRides around that can be run from anyone’s living room, the ability to help save lives is in the hands of the Waunakee student body.

Feel like volunteering yet? For more information on volunteering for SafeRides, gather up three friends and head to the office for volunteer forms or call 608-444-2669.

Or if you need a safe, confidential ride on a Friday or Saturday night, call 608-444-9198. The work you do might just save the life of someone you know.

Help keep Waunakee Teens Safe:Volunteer for Waunakee

SafeRide Program

—Eleanor Roosevelt

If life were predictable it would cease

to be life, and be without

flavor.

The Purple SageApril 28, 2010 Page 5

OPINION

EDITORIAL POLICIES

ALEX KUEHNEditor in Chief

CASSIE VENSKEManaging Editor

KATIE SCHEUERNews Editor

JOE MEEKEROpinion Editor

OLIVIA KNIERFeatures Editor

THE PURPLE SAGEEditorial Staff

The Purple Sage is written and produced entirely by Waunakee Community High School students. Opinions in The Purple Sage are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the newspaper staff or the school district. Students, staff, and members of the community are welcome to submit Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 250 words or less and must be signed. Letters may be delivered to room 1502, or sent to our mailing or email address. The Purple Sage is published monthly and is printed by South Central Publishing. The Purple Sage is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Kettle Moraine Press Association. Subscriptions to The Purple Sage are avaliable for $20 per year. Mail subscription requests or other requests to our mailing address or e-mail address.

SIERRA GILLESPIEEntertainment Editor

CATIE ANDERSONSports Editor

KELSEY RUDISILLPhotography Editor

KELSEY RUDISILLSARA VINCENTSage Page Editors

JAMIE WARNERProduction Assistant

LUKE THERINGCopy Editor

BRIAN LENZWeb Page Manager

LAURA MEEKERGraphics Artist

TAMMY RADEMACHERAdviser

Contact us by e-mail: [email protected]

The Purple Sage Waunakee Community High School

301 Community DriveWaunakee, WI 53597

LAERTESGnome

For the senior class, high school will soon be ending. For the major i t y o f my classmates, this is an exciting and anticipated part of their lives.

I , on the o ther hand, am dreading high school graduation. This is partly because I still do not know where I will be attending college and partly because I hate change. However, a big part of the reason that I am dreading graduation is because I love Waunakee High School. I honestly would not mind a couple more years at WHS. People always tell me how weird that is and ask me why I find high school so appealing. For those people who do not understand my logic, I composed a list of the seven things I love about high school.

7. Nice routine

Although many people are getting sick of the same thing everyday, I personally love having a scheduled routine.

I like having school start and end at the same time every day and always knowing what to expect at school. I know it sounds dull, but once I get used to a routine, I do not like it to change. I feel like I have the high school routine down pat. 6. No major choices

O n c e a g a i n , t h i s sounds dull, but I like not having to make major life-changing choices. In high school, the biggest choice I have made is whether or not to continue Spanish. However, now there are huge decisions about colleges and majors that must be made. There is always the horrific question, “What are you going to do with your life?” These questions are stressful, and I prefer not to deal with them; I would rather just stay in high school forever. 5. School cookies

I absolutely love the school cookies. There is currently a rumor going around that they are 700 calories, but I do not believe it. As a freshman I ate two to three a day, and I would

p r o b a b l y be dead if they were indeed near 1,000 calories each. As a senior, I have cut down to one a day. Nonetheless, those cookies always make my day. 4. Pasta bar

This kind of goes along with the school cookies, but I love pasta bar. I do not think I have ever missed pasta bar in my high school career. Enough said. Pasta bar makes Mondays bearable. 3. Athletics

Athletics at Waunakee High

School are second to none. I think, at times, we take all our

conference championships for granted. We do not realize that no other school in the Badger North wins as many conference awards. Waunakee’s facilities and coaching staff are top notch. In

addition, there is nothing like playing high school sports. The support you

get from the community is outstanding, and it is great

representing your community. It is always annoying when people look beyond high school sports into their collegiate play. Unless you are going Division 1, the support you get at Waunakee is better than at any Division 2 or Division 3 school. For the majority of athletes, the best playing days will be in high school. 2. Faculty

The faculty at WHS rocks! When I left the middle school, I did not think anyone would compare with Mr. Nesbitt, but I was wrong. I have so much respect for many of the teachers I have had. They

are not only good teachers, but so cool and funny. This sheer coolness extends to the librarians and principals. Who does not love the librarians? And as long as you obey the basic rules, our principals rock. 1. 2010 class

The number one reason I love WHS is the 2010 class. I feel like I have one of the most connected, fun and kind classes that WHS has ever had. I love getting to know different people in my grade because they are usually really entertaining and fun to be around. The people in my grade make school fun everyday. The 2010 class is what makes me love WHS the most, and it is what I will miss the most when I leave.

Even though people may think it is odd that I like high school so much, I hope they can see some valid points in my list. Reality is, however, that high school is ending for the seniors, and I still need to figure out where I am going to college.

Crystal ZieglerColumnist

Who needs college? I have high school

Page 3: OPINION - Waunakee Community School District opinion.pdf · landed on the moon. ... It may not be a Ben Folds concert or a fancy night out to dinner, ... Opinion Editor OLIVIA KNIER

The Purple Sage April 28, 2010Page 6

OPINION

“Do you tan or

” use a tanning bed?

Photo poll by Joe Meeker and Sara Vincent

“My friends call me albino, so tan-ning isn’t really my thing.”Sarah MinerGrade 9

“Tanning beds arescary.”Deanna ZieglerGrade 10

“I’m a boat man and a tan man. Me me, I’m a tan man.”Alex HessefortGrade 12

“I tan because I like to feel like a bronzegod.”Sergei CapaulGrade 9

“I use a tanning bed, even though it’s not that good for you.”Pat HarrisonAdministrative Assistant

With spring break over and prom a thing of the past, the only thing left on our minds is summer.

Our lovely season brings lazy days, late nights and, of course, lots of sun! But many teens cannot wait for June and have chosen an alternative method of attaining that “perfect glow.”

Prior to prom or spring break in Cancun, many h a d c h o s e n the hazardous t a n n i n g b e d . While their goal was to only avoid the Edward Cullen look in their dress or get a “safe tan” (there is no such thing as a safe tan) before heading down to where the real rays are, they achieved something far worse than a pale prom.

Two million people are diagnosed annually with skin cancer. What accounts for such high numbers? Lack of sunscreen, genetics and the easiest to avoid: tanning salons. High pressure tanning lamps contain 12 times the amount of UVA compared to that of a natural tan. That means a 20-minute tanning session (the highest that should ever be practiced), is equivalent to sitting in the sun for four hours.

Overexposure to ultraviolet light is bad for any age, but for teens it only gets worse. Tanning beds used during youth increases the risk of melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, by 75 percent. Nearly 10,000 people die annually from skin cancer,

approximately three-fourths of those from melanoma. Increased exposure to tanning beds increases the risk of developing skin cancer, and when practiced in high school, those chances are even higher.

Tanning beds are not healthy and never have been, but recently studies have emerged showing even scarier statistics. The Archives

of Dermatology recently reported that as many as a third of young people who use indoor tanning facilities are addicted. Now being classified with drug or alcohol addiction, tanorexia, or the addiction to tanning, is a new threat.

What may have started as an innocent way to glow before the big dance has quickly turned into a drug. Tanning actually activates

the same parts of the brain triggered by drug dependence. You may be saying to yourself,

“I’ll just go once, to get a nice base!” But follow that up with, “Do I want to spend the rest of my life having cancerous

cells frozen off?” and see if you still decide to lay under the lights.

Admittedly, looking tan is nice; that bronze

c o l o r i s b e a u t i f u l compared to our pasty

winter skin. B u t i s

putting our p h y s i c a l and mental h e a l t h o n

the line really worth it? Stay out

of the bed, and instead try an alternative; bronzers and spray tans can look great if used correctly.

And if you are still not convinced to avoid tanning beds, try this fact:

Excessive tanning actually makes your skin age faster. So now, you are going to end up as a cancerous, wrinkly addict. Fun, right?

Thumbs up! Thumbs down...• Breaking ground on the community garden; The edible schoolyard is becoming a reality.• Cheese Curds. Great plain, better fried.• 5 1/2 weeks of school left. Just about a month until sweet, sweet freedom.• Playing baseball at Miller Park.• “Once on This Island.” Good entertainment, reasonable ticket prices!

• Not being able to get anything done. Partially procrastination, mostly schedule.• KFC Double Down. Really, KFC? Did we really need our bread replaced with fried chicken?• Not enough volunteers for the Waunakee SafeRides Program. Your help is needed to keep the program going!• Purple Sage Senior staff departures.

Tanning makes you look good, but is it worth the risk? Take a look at the dangers of excessive bronzing

Are you addicted to tanning?

Lily VanderbloemenColumnist