In school, teachers demand strict adherance to the laws they’ve established. We can’t talk back to them, we can’t swear at them, and somehow we’re not even allowed to call them by their first names.

Many teachers ask a double standard. They text and answer phones, they let the occasional unmentionable slip out as students act up, and they certainly get things done on their own time with no penalties. It’s frustrating, but at the same time one must understand the fine line between teacher and student privileges.

Students complain how “it’s not fair” and propose what they deserve. These students rarely get their way, and start to resent their teachers.
Ratemyteachers.com offers an outlet for student complaints, as well as compliments. The site allows free expression towards those oh-so-familiar educators who reign over us every day. Sure, the website describes itself as an “education rating tool,” but it is no more educational than Formspring or Honesty Box, especially in the case of Garfield.

The site itself is made up of ratings, from average easiness, to average clarity. These numbers are compiled to make the overall rating for each teacher, which is displayed next to his or her name, along with a popularity smiley.

These smilies are based on another rating: happy faces for cool teachers, frowny faces for the others, etc. Yes, teachers check their ratings, and some even establish the profiles themselves.

Most interesting about the website is the selection of Garfield staff listed. Our two current principals, Ted Howard and Miguel Castro, fight for ratings, with Castro recently pulling ahead in popularity and overall rating (maybe he should take over?). Andrew Bennett, our lovable philosophy teacher, has fallen low in popularity on the site, while Garfield Headmaster Michael Cunetta remains in good standing. I wasn’t aware we had philosophy at Garfield, but I also don’t know who Teddy Freddy Boretti is, and he made the teacher list as well. 

My friends and I have questioned what the point of such a site could be, and upon perusing, I found none. It is merely a popularity contest hinging on the votes of students. It is like those notes girls used to write, the “lists” that dosed out the newest reviews of cute boys. But it does serve to absorb the suppressed comments, good and bad, of many students.

Another website, teachercomplaints.com, is clearly directed at the more frustrated students. The site is devoid of ratings and is essentially a blog for rants about incompetent teachers. Headlines scream “Why don’t you do some work!!” and “Very unprofessional behavior.”

The latter site is especially popular because of its ability to imply that complaining will have an effect. Posters drone on in their messages, working hard to get the point across, while really all the site can offer is an outlet for frustration. We all know teachers can be insensitive. We all know they can be harsh. When teachers rub you the wrong way, teachercomplaints.com is the Coors Light of the education system.

Teachercomplaints.com, ratemyteachers.com, and (soon enough) ratemyprofessors.com all have one thing in common. They allow us to express our true feelings to the very people who judge our abilities on a daily basis. They allow the apprentice a shot at the boss. Students will leave the site feeling more content, although the site is a placebo with no ultimate purpose.

Maybe we should get a student rating. Oh wait, that’s our grade. It helps decide our college choice and future plans. The grades for teachers probably matter too. Oh wait, they don’t. I applaud the intentions of the site, however until it prohibits me from making myself into a teacher, its credibility rating is a frowny face.

Narcs, or narcotics agents, are a significant deterrent to drug trafficking in schools. James is an archetype of multiple drug related busts in local and high schools. These drug busts are staged over a long period of time, and are targeted at students repetitively dealing and distributing all kinds of drugs in schools and local communities. Officers have picked up drugs including marijuana, heroine, cocaine, meth, ecstacy, and prescription medications, but generally find drugs that are lower on the drug harm scale. Narcotics agents identify drug sellers as high, medium, or low profile suspects, and target them in that order. James was a low profile suspect.

The sting operation involved in a drug bust takes planning and polished execution, but has been successful in obtaining many pounds of narcotics recently. Undercover officers dress as students and take on extended roles as high school purchasers. Throughout the year, they buy various amounts of drugs from sources they receive through word-of-mouth. The typical culmination, after many months, is a full raid through the school and apprehension of all suspects.

Earlier this year, Redmond police completed a seven-month undercover operation as they arrested and charged 11 teenage students within the school walls. Redmond police spokesperson Jim Bove and others involved call this a “wake up call” for the community. “We hope this makes an impact of getting [drugs] out of our schools and city,” says Bove.
The New Milford school district, near Cincinnati, conducted its own drug bust. It paid a private investigator $60,000 to go undercover and act as a high school kid buying drugs. The investigation was so secretive that the principal at the school was not told about the operation until a week before the bust. This and the Redmond drug bust are typical examples of events occurring across the country.

Drug busts in schools are not a new method, either. In 1985, an ABC afternoon special titled “High School Narc” featured a 22-year-old police officer posing as a student in order to find the identity of a drug-supplier at a high school. The show seemed to be a warning to distributers everywhere that dealing drugs does not pay. John O’Connor, a writer for the NY times, thinks it might be the opposite. “It’s a lesson for pot-smokers about being wary of amiable strangers looking to buy drugs,” he says.

Garfield students have their own opinions about narcs. Sophomore Madison Hall says, “It’s a violation of our privacy. We’re kids; we should be able to have fun without someone watching over us for drugs.” Many students find the operations invasive because they keep all students in the dark, unknowing.

Former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper has a firm view on the issue of fighting drugs. “The drug war stops real cops from doing real police work,” he says. He believes that instead of focusing on drugs, police should focus their attentions on more dangerous and destructive crimes. He is only one of many drug-war fighters in Seattle.

Narcotics agents tend to be touchy subject. When asked about them, Officer Benny Radford declined to comment, stating simply, “Nobody wants to talk about narcs.” All areas of narcotics operations generally are tender and rely on complete secrecy. In fact, if the operation is successful, the narc’s identity should remain a secret to all but those involved.
The strange thing was James didn’t know how it happened. One minute he was selling and life was good, and the next he was preparing to face a judge. He never even have had any idea that one of his buyers was a narc. The idea made him shiver; he had always felt security in the people he surrounded himself with. He thought about it as he fumbled with the cold metal around his wrists.

*Name changed to protect anonymity.

Pants parties? Maybe. There must be something better, what will you do tonight? You hang out patiently until, from across the room, your friend announces an interesting function taking place nearby. Your friends all elect to go and you follow reluctantly. Attending house parties can be daunting. There are big kids, unfamiliar animals, and often small rooms. Going to parties takes practice; there are things you can do and things you can’t. In my humble experience with these matters, I have deemed it necessary to delineate a few key pointers.

First of all, bring a snack. This is always a key point. In the midst of a fun party, it’s easy to forget to eat. In order to retain your energy, bring a travel-size snack along. You will not only stay ready for action, but you will also have a conversation starter.

“Hey can I have a chip?”
 
“Yeah, sure.”

“Thanks.”

Conversations and fine dining are always great.
Second on my list is, of course, introduce yourself. In many cultures, a friendly hello is highly expected when you go in someone’s house, or maybe a gift to give to your host as a nice gesture. Most hosts appreciate a good platter of jambalaya. Remember as well, hosts, it’s important to know your guests. The biggest reason people get their houses messed up is because they don’t know anybody inside. Embarrassing and frustrating. Just remember what I always say, “Don’t be a party pooper. Be a friendly fart!”

Give your date a tour of the house. Whether old or young, many girls tend not to know their way around a house. Show them the upstairs, or perhaps the hallway nearby. They’ll be impressed by your instincts and basic knowledge of the house. Don’t have a date? Don’t worry. Busy yourself in the foyer. When a nice girl comes along, ask her for a back massage. Giving back massages is like cleaning; for some reason girls just enjoy doing it. Don’t ask me why. When you’ve secured a comfortable position with your date, ask her to try other positions with you.
Enjoy the little things. Let’s be real honest, some parties are simply not as fun as they should be. I suggest amusing yourself in various ways. Try redecorating furniture or rearranging things in the house. Hosts especially love waking up to items placed in their refrigerator and mom’s bedroom.

Dance. Seriously. It’ll give you exercise. Utilize wall space and chairs. A party without a dance party is known as a dude-fest. This is not advisable. When dancing, it is a fact that the lower the girl bends, the more fat she burns. Guys, be sure to remind your date of this before entering the party.

Take a lap. This is an important one for all those inclined to cause disagreements at a party. If you feel your temper rising or things start to get heated, take a lap. A simple jog around the house is enough to lessen the tension. Fighting with a lover? Let down in the bedroom? Circle the block, the fresh air does wonders.

Save time to help clean up! Self-explanatory. I dream of a world where everybody cleans up at parties. Hosts, if someone cleans up your house, they probably either have nothing to do or they have OCD. Either way, they are the homie.

Don’t be afraid of a good party. Something exciting is bound to happen. Maybe someone will hook up and forget the door’s open, or put the toilet seat in the kitchen. Maybe a fight will occur or the cops will show up. No matter what, you have to be ready. Follow these tips to be successful and I personally guarantee your dreams will come true. And that’s an Andy B. guarantee. 

“When I was younger, things were a lot different for me. I couldn’t get any support for being gay. People would send me nasty texts and make insensitive comments. Even teachers didn’t know how to deal with me,“ says King, a senior at Garfield.

“I don’t want other kids to have the same problems finding resources as I had. GSA makes Garfield more open about talking, and overall more accepting.“

GSAs, or Gay-Straight Alliances, are a network of nationwide organizations based on the promotion of safety, tolerance and understanding among members of the community of all sexual orientations and gender identities. It offers a safe environment — members have no qualms about attending and offering their ideas.

“It’s really accepting and everyone is friendly,” says freshman Amanda Macfadden. “There is a lot of support; the majority of straight members means there are many allies.”

GSA has many chapters in high schools across the nation; these groups work collectively as a whole and also individually at each school. The club is welcome to all, both straight and LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) youth.

Some students hold the opinion that, while it’s open to everybody, the club specifically targets gay people for its demographic. This opinion tends to hold no weight with members of GSA. On the contrary, many members are heterosexual and yet still open in meetings. Junior Audrey Spaeth’s reasons for attending are clear.

“I’m straight, but I have a lot of friends and family members who are gay. I want to support them; I want to know how to support them,“ Spaeth says. She finds GSA to be a great proponent of a human rights issue that normally doesn’t get enough advocation.

GSA seems to have a found a leader in Hanna King, who plays a large role in the operations of it and other groups. She is a facilitator during meetings, and leads multiple groups in their attempts to promote awareness and offer help. During the ’08/’09 school year, she represented Garfield GSA in Washington D.C., as she lobbied Senators Maria Cantwell and Patti Murray and Representative Jim McDermott in support of anti-bullying legislation. This legislation would help in many ways to decrease spiteful attacks and exclusion.

What King and other members have in common is the resignation they hold in their purpose. Nothing gets accomplished by sitting around. The ability to speak out gives them an opportunity to create change.

Legislators cannot ignore such passion from a young group of people with belief in their cause. GSA began as a club, hosting a body of ideas and open minds, but became a perceivable message. The meetings begin as voices and ideas, but develop into real application.

“I like GSA…because I’m proud of the different functions we serve, the programming we’ve accomplished, and the improvements of Garfield’s school climate and rhetoric,“ says King.

The club itself, advised by staff member Rosie Moore and district-appointed Ebon Craig Williams, has many functions throughout the year.

At the beginning of the year the group compiles the Safe Staff List, which allows students to speak more openly. It is a list of any and all teachers willing to openly welcome students to talk to them about issues concerning sexuality and identity. The list is a written guarantee that the staff member will be tolerant and accepting and keep conversations confidential.

“It’s not necessarily that the students look up specific names,“ says Moore. “It’s more that the Safe Staff List makes the whole room feel safer for students to be open. The teachers are very supportive.”

Many Garfield students participate in the Day of Silence. A national event with hundreds of thousands of participants, the Day of Silence sets a goal for those willing to maintain a daylong vow of silence. This represents the silencing of LGBTQ youth about their identities because of marginalization or harassment. Garfield GSA plays a role encouraging people to participate, passing out rainbow ribbons, and handing out speaking cards for those participating to give to their teachers.

“I think it’s a great event because not only is it challenging but anyone in the school can easily participate,” says Spaeth. “It seems that a lot of people in our school support our cause, even if they don’t have the time or the motivation to come to our meetings.”

GSA also puts on District-Wide Staff Training. Each May, they plan and facilitate a district-wide training around dealing with LGBTQ students and harassment in the classroom, for teachers. This event, a three-hour workshop with a youth panel and a dinner, reaches a full capacity of people every year. Students do all of the teaching, which allows youth to be fully involved, and give input as to what they want.

For support in classrooms, GSA holds a Freshman Forum every year. Members appear in all biology and physical science classrooms for a two-hour of discussion with freshman. The discussion is peer-facilitated, and students are encouraged to talk about their experiences and share their opinions about gender, sexuality, and harassment at Garfield. This year’s forum was revamped; the classes were presented with a brand new movie called “Straightlaced: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up,“ featuring high school students of all genders and orientations talking about their experiences.

Perhaps it’s the variety of events that allows Garfield’s GSA to boast such a large attendance. The Garfield chapter of the club holds the highest amount of members in a five-state region, with about 100 people on the mailing list for info and announcements, and an impressive estimated forty members at each meeting. Most other high schools in Seattle contain GSAs, with the exception of Cleveland, however many of them do not top ten members.

“It’s tougher for people in other states; some can’t even join or start a GSA club at their schools,” says Macfadden.

Meetings for GSA occur weekly (Wednesday’s at lunch in Ms. Manuel’s room) and topics differ. They plan events, practice facilitation, and sometimes host guest speakers. Many groups in the community, such as Seattle Public Libraries, look to GSA for queer youth input about programming. They also discuss national issues and local functions.

Practical applications of GSA’s work occur often. Last year, the Westboro Baptist Church made a visit to Garfield, arousing discontent and prompting a counter-demonstration. The church’s extreme goal was apparent: to dissuade students and community members from any homosexual behavior or acceptance. Their demonstrations of hate, however, did more to underscore the unity of Garfield than to promote their cause. As soon as King found out the church was coming, she and others organized a large group of students to peacefully counter-protest. Newspapers took notice, and on the day of the event hundreds of Garfield students and community members poured out onto the streets to protest. The church’s message fell short amongst the purple, as Garfield and GSA stood up together.

Like members of GSA, Constance McMillen knows the value of standing up for something. A high-school senior in Mississippi, McMillen recently made a simple request to attend her high school’s prom, wearing a tux, with her girlfriend. Instead of allowing it, the school decided to cancel the prom for everybody. The aftershock of the schools response was huge. Voices across the nation spoke up.

“I’m really proud of her,“ says Jenny*, an anonymous student. “All she did was ask for her rights as a normal person, and people picked up her fight. It stands for something stronger; the fight for simple civil rights.“

If McMillen had a GSA at her school, maybe things would have been different. The Gay-Straight Alliance provides an output for many who feel trapped. It is a safe community and somewhere for people to always feel welcome.

If for no other reason, stop by for the free bagels. Noah’s Bagels, in coalition with the school board, provides them every week.. “It’s totally the best part,” King says.

This party drug, commonly known as Ecstacy, recently has invited itself on to the tongues of more and more teenagers in the USA. Kids who are just trying to have a good time see the drug as an easy solution. But what’s really in it? Blinded by peer pressure and the allure of such a happy drug, some fail to ask themselves questions about MDMA.

MDMA has a variety of nicknames. It is widely called “yop” or “yoppers” and “molly,” but it is a pure form of Ecstacy, so it is also sometimes referred to as E, X, or XTC. Don’t get caught up by the true name, Methylenedioxymethamphetamine; it’s impossible to pronounce, and is rarely the term used.

The original intentions of MDMA were positive and beneficial to society; it was invented in 1912 by the Merck Company to stop abnormal bleeding. MDMA was a compound that resulted from a few synthesis experiments. At first, the potential of the drug was undiscovered. In fact it lay relatively under the radar for about 60 years.

Such profound effects, however, could not be ignored for long. and in the ’70s, with the rage around drugs, the hippie generation quickly developed an infatuation with Ecstacy
Jeanine Fuertes, a researcher at Bryn Mawr college, insists that, though the drug is far less harmful than many other popularized drugs, things can go bad quickly with too much use. “When one continues to take Ecstasy in order to relive the best moments of his or her life, suddenly the ‘real’ world starts to look depressing and unappealing. Just like all of the other illegal drugs out there, Ecstasy can distort the reality to which users must undoubtedly return,” says Fuertes.

The reasons people use MDMA are clear. One doesn’t have to look far to get an idea of how it makes users feel, in fact the name Ecstacy describes it all. “It just makes you the happiest you’ll ever be in your life. You feel this intense emotion and it’s just so focused that you feel great,” says Gregory*, an occasional user. Other feelings include improved confidence, diminished aggression, feelings of intimacy, increased energy and alertness, and a greater appreciation for music. “Music just sounds really good. I recommend ‘Elements of Life,’” he jokes.

Yopping, like nearly all drugs, has harmful effects as well as the good ones. Users can generally look forward to a bad hangover in the hours after it wears off. “I just woke up feeling like s***. It went from the greatest feeling ever to a terrible morning after.” says Bobby* a one-time MDMA user. In addition, it’s very possible for the effects to go awry during the trip.

“Since it’s such an intense emotion, and your whole body is in that zone, if something bad happens then your whole trip could go bad,” says Gregory. A bad trip is nothing to be scoffed at, either. Feelings of fright and panic can occur, along with severe anxiety.

Temporary effects during consumption are not the only issues many people have with MDMA. After taking the drug, users may experience depression, dizziness, irritability, and aggression, among others.

Generally the biggest scare, however, is the possibility of brain damage. Some don’t believe in any connection between the drug and brain cells, but George Ricaurte, a scientist at Johns Hopkins, disagrees. After 15 years of research, he is not only convinced that it can damage serotonin synapses and nerve fibres, but it can also replace the longer, thicker strands of serotonin with shorter, spidery ones. For those who don’t know, Serotonin is the neurotransmitter in the brain that produces the “feel good” chemical. Without it, these feelings have the potential to go haywire, resulting in such disorders as schizophrenia and types of addiction. Simply put, continued consumption can lead to brain damage.

Opinions about MDMA certainly range the spectrum. Some condemn the drug, while others applaud its simple effects. Humans will continue to ask questions and try new things, and the appeal of the drug will not be lost on everybody. But at some point, everyone must make their own decision.

Four hours had passed. Josie’s mind, formerly a torrent of vibrant emotions, had cooled down. One of her friends lay passed out on her couch, while another sat glumly next to her. The euphoria she felt now seemed a distant emotion. It was time for the next day.

Magic: The Gathering has more than a gathering of followers. Played by two or more people, this card game combines creatures, spells, sorcery and quick thinking to establish a victor. Equipped with a deck, one can challenge any takers in an attempt to reduce the opponent’s life points from 20 to zero. But don’t be fooled by the seemingly simple set up. There is complexity deeply rooted within the game; the thousands of cards and abilities available amount to an extremely diverse and unique game.

Magic is often subjected to disdain and categorized with the likes of Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh, the same all-too-familiar childhood games that everybody thought died out in the 1990s.

However, this one did not. In fact, Magic has recently encountered a rise in popularity. Garfield itself contains a number of Magic players, and is host to a weekly Magic Club. Those who can swallow their pride and play the game find that, well, it’s fun.

“It started out with the pictures on the cards,” says senior Wilson Platt. “They originally drew me into the game. As I got older, the intricacies of the game kept me playing. No two games are alike.”

The decks range in color, with each color representing the theme of the deck. For example, Red represents fire while  blue represents water. Each of these themes carries with it unique abilities, such as rejuvenation of health or brute strength.

The colors, although separate in the abilities they contain, are also capable of being mixed and matched, with two or three colors per deck. In this way, limitless combinations can be drawn and each game is different

Some players take it to the next level and enter tournaments. Travis Woo, a 2008 Garfield graduate, has entered tournaments to win cash prizes and competed on the Magic Pro Tour. Others compete to earn booster packs, which generally include 15 cards.

“I play in tournaments and bet my booster packs, and when I win I can go home and make my deck even stronger!” says junior Julien Kos.

Typically players will bet three booster packs and play multiple games. Booster packs come cheap, but many find themselves buying huge amounts as they add up. Comparable to gambling, these “high stakes” tournaments are not for everybody.

“Most of the time, at least when I’ve competed, it’s mostly just to advance on to bigger tournaments. The more you win, the better of people you play,” says Platt. Magic players can thus gain money, valuable cards, and experience.

People unfamiliar with the game, however, question the integrity of it as a whole.

“Magic … what the f*** is Magic?” says senior Joseph Lucia.

It is true that, while it seems to go hand-to-hand with the widespread Pokemon, many people still do not know about Magic or all it has to offer. They may have never heard of it growing up, or just chalked it off as a waste of time. The origins of most avid players infatuation with the game stem back to childhood days. Kids that grew up buying playing cards generally familiarized themselves with the various games. By the time Magic became popular again, these same kids were already good and able to jump right back into it.

“I used to be one of those people, thinking Magic was strictly for basement-dwellers, until somebody taught me how to play,” says junior Eli Zavatsky. “Me and Eli (Higham) played in his basement one day, and the next day we brought it to school and a bunch of people wanted to play. That’s when we decided to start Magic Club.”

Magic Club, or Magic: The Gathering: Gathering (yes, twice), holds weekly meetings in Spang’s room. The atmosphere is intense. Battles line the tables and conversation is sparse, other than the clash of verbal spell casting.

All ranges of experience are welcome, and each deck has its own advantages and disadvantages. This makes nobody undefeatable, and gives opportunities to all newcomers.

If you haven’t gotten with the program yet, Magic is cool. You can win money, gain good experience and have fun with your friends.

Many a spare hour can be spent in the clutches of a zombie deck, or fighting off a flying bird or Minotaur Warrior. Magic brings a variety of people together and forms bonds between friends. And it is only growing, so skeptics, beware.

In the great words of Tala Vertan, Makindi shieldmate, “Quit pontificating, mage. Only on the battlefield can we repay all the Order has given us.”