Rio Americano Sacramento, Calif. Volume 47, Issue 4 December 18, 2008

iradathe

The student voice

VS

Great Scott! Rio wins tourney, faces Jesuit

Test your holiday knowl-edge

News02 12.18.08

In an economy where jobs are becoming sparser by the day, there are still some things people are not willing to com-promise. For senior Claudette Linzey, it was working in an environment where she faced moral controversy.

After working at Leatherbys Family Creamery at 2333 Arden Way since June, Linzey quit her job because of Leatherbys sup-port of Proposition 8.

I cant work somewhere that openly supports that prop-osition, Linzey said. I think its discriminatory.

The Leatherby family do-nated $25,000 to the campaign Yes on Prop 8 campaign. The proposition, which passed 52.7 percent to 47.3. percent in the Nov. 4 election, amended the state constitution to remove gay marriage.

Co-owner Alan Leatherby told the Mirada Monday that he does not regret supporting the proposition. However, the family was not aware the dona-tion was not going to be anony-mous.

I would not have made it public if I had known, Alan Leatherby said, My family made the donation, not the em-ployees.

Proposition 8 was a contro-versial issue and bringing it into the work place created an extremely uncomfortable situa-tion for some of the employees, according to Linzey.

After the news of Leatherbys donation appeared in the Sac-ramento Bee, the Leatherbys work environment became cha-os. Arguments about personal beliefs broke out between the employees.

People against Proposition 8 protested outside the store. Ac-cording to Alan Leatherby, gay and lesbian websites have sent out an email boycott, trying to convince people not to come to the store. Some costumers, however, said they came in to show their support for Prop 8.

A manager had to always be available to answer the phone, as many calls came in concern-ing Prop 8 by both supporters and dissenters, Linzey said.

Linzey found it annoying to answer the phone when people called concerning politics rather than ice cream.

At least five people called and I couldnt be rude so I had to just let them say how they agree with Leatherbys, Linzey said. They kept saying were glad you support that even though I definitely dont.

Linzey said the donation may be bad for business.

I definitely dont think that

work

should be mixed with politics and especially religion, Linzey said.

As far as business goes, the donation does not seem to have too much of an effect.

So far it hasnt hurt, in the long term it could, Leatherby said.

Some customers complain that by donating to Proposition 8, Leatherbys is supporting in-equality.

Leatherby said this is not the case.

It has nothing to do with hate Leatherby said. We have men and womens bathrooms; are we being discriminatory?

Leatherby said that there are clear differences between men and woman and marriage is a way to define that special rela-tionship. Marriage is a beauti-ful thing, he said.

Linzey said she hopes Prop 8 will be reversed because for her marriage is between two people who love each other.

Homegrown teacher cultivates knowledge

For new teacher Katrina Chapralis, Sacramento isnt all that new of a place.

Growing up in East Sacra-mento, Chapralis attended Sac-ramento High School. Her AP U.S. History teacher, and later her first history professor at UC Davis, inspired her to want to be a history teacher herself. Chapralis moms experiences as a teacher prompted Chap-ralis to want to follow in her footsteps.

She always had great sto-ries, Chapralis said. She was able to make great connections with her students.

After attending UC Davis, Chapralis received her teach-ing credential at Sonoma State. She went on to student teach at Roseville High School and then she was a long-term substitute teacher at Wilson C. Riles Mid-

dle School. Chapralis first impressions

of Rio are mostly positive.Parents are a lot more in-

volved and all of my students work really hard, Chapralis said.

However, shes disappoint-ed that there is a big littering problem on campus thats pretty gross.

Chapralis, who teaches World History, Psychology and AVID, has especially enjoyed teaching AVID.

I can have a different re-lationship with the students, Chapralis said. I get to see them grow a lot.

Chapralis employs pop cul-ture as a way for her World History students to relate to the events theyre learning about.

Laundry lists of names and dates are deathly boring, Chapralis said. I like to use a lot of primary sources, like pictures, movies, speeches and music, which makes history re-

ally relevant. Chapralis approach to teach-

ing is to remain relaxed.

I make fun of myself a lot, Chapralis said. Thats a good teaching style.

Prop 8 donation churns conscience

Meryl Balalis Mirada Staff

College. The most stress-ful word for high school se-niors. On top of the normal college applications worries, this years seniors also have the plunging economy to con-sider.

Despite the hard times, the number of early admission applicants does not seem to have decreased. In fact, they have increased.

According to the New York Times writer Tamar Lewin, the number of early admission applicants at Wesleyan Uni-versity has risen by 40 percent from last year. Many other private colleges have had at least a 10 percent rise in early admission applicants this year as well.

Applying early decision is convenient because the schools usually get back to you by December; however, some require a binding con-tract, meaning you promise to attend that college if you are accepted early.

Unfortunately, the cur-rent economic situation has made attending a private col-lege less practical. Applicants might tend to lean towards public universities rather than private.

We have noticed they have decreased in numbers, counselor Christine Brown-field said.

Private schools do have scholarships and financial aid to give out.

In recent years the schools have been trying to be more generous with helping with tuition Brownfield said.

The weak economy has also made applying to public colleges intimidating. With less funding for the Califor-nia State Universities, they are being forced to cut many deserving students for lack of room.

The CSUs cutting so many applicants is very intimidat-ing, senior Megan Valsecchi said.

College applications are competitive. Although the economy could be making it worse, it is not stopping ap-plicants from applying.

Meryl BalalisMirada Staff

Soft economy increasesearly apps

Kate FinegoldMirada Staff

Claudette Linzey, 12

Chapralis assists freshman Brittany Dunning in her fifth period World History class. Chapralis teaching style is a hands-on ap-proach, using pop culture connections and a relaxed tone.

Alex Kleemann/Mirada Staff

Leatherbys personal $25,000 gift prompts employee to quit her job

Should people boycott a business over how owners spend profits?Although it is a legal right, diminishing a businesss income and livelihood, while convincing others to do the same, seems to be more of a personal attack.-Joey Samuels, 12Its Leatherbys right to spend their money on what-ever causes they choose, but its also my right to not spend my money there. I dont have to indirectly fund a cause I dont support.-Lauren Saria, 12A person is right in boycot-ting in a business when he or she believes that the business is doing something morally wrong. There is a dif-ference between a company that donates to a political party one may not like and a business that acts in ways that may not be illegal but are nevertheless wrong. Protesting a loggin company for destroying the environ-ment of boycotting a fast food restaurant for buying meat from animals that were cruelly treated makes more sense than doing the same to a business that you simply do not agree with.-Justin Davidoff, 12

News 0312.18.08

Every kid or teenager wants that perfect holiday with many presents and great moments, but not everyone is able to have it that way.

There could be many reasons for not having the ideal holiday, but most of it is attributed to the current economic crisis af-fecting families everywhere, es-pecially those who werent too well off to begin with.

The Toy Drive, which is set up by AVID and CIVITAS, wrapped and delivered toys to around 675 children of Howe

Avenue Elementary School in order to brighten their holiday season and help those kids who may not receive any toys.

All students were asked, if able, to bring in gifts for the children during their third pe-riod class.

There was a contest to see which class could collect the most toys, said Gina Costello, AVID teacher.

As of Thursday, Dec. 11, Gary Blenners class is leading with 47 toys, she said. Janis Guissis class is in second with 36 toys. Gabby De Lasses class is close in third with 34 toys. Also, Jennie Scotts class has do-nated $130 to aid in buying toys and other gifts.

The AVID classes bring pres-ents every year to Howe Avenue and give them to students from Kindergarten to fifth grade.

The CIVITAS classes adopt-ed three kindergarten classes to donate toys to. This years CIVITAS Toy Drive was orga-nized by Will Hawley as his CI-VITAS senior project.

I wanted to help the kids, Hawley said about why he chose this for his senior project.

Each CIVITAS student was recommended to bring at least one toy in to benefit the toy drive.

CIVITAS classes have gone over and personally delivered the gifts, presents, and toys.

Different toys were request-