T h e

Tiger Hi-LineVolume 48 Edition 2 http://hi-lineonline.shorturl.com 1015 Division Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613

David BergstromStaff Writer

With homecoming on the horizon, Student Senate President Nirmeen Fahmy and the other members of the Student Senate have been busy gear-ing up for the big event, but Fahmy and the Senate have many more events in store for 2007-2008.

“We are working on homecoming right now. After that we would like to have a food drive, but we are not sure if we will be doing that. We would also like to have a 5K run or walk like we had last year, and we might also hold a Toys for Tots, but we are not sure,” Student Senate President Nirmeen Fahmy said.

Are you changing any events this year?

“Instead of having the Student Sen-ate do the 5K run, we will try to get all the students involved in the run. [We are] not sure how we will do that, but we will work hard,” Fahmy said.

Where will homecoming be held, and when will it take place?

“We will be hosting homecoming at Orchard Hill this year on Sept. 29. We hope to have some activities planned and going on after homecoming,” Fahmy said.

Who is involved in homecoming?Well, just this week we separated

the Student Senate into five different groups each taking on a separate proj-ect,” Fahmy said.

As the student body president, what would you like to do to make the envi-ronment for the students better?

“I would really like to make it easy for those who want to get a hold of me to just do so. You can come to me anytime you need to say anything you would like. Call me, email me or just stop me in the hallways and say some-thing. I will then think it over and re-lay the message to the faculty,” Fahmy said.

When you signed up to be a candi-date for president last year, what was going through your mind?

“Actually the guidance office told me I should sign up. It was all going so fast; I didn’t really have time to think about what to do besides being there for students. I just mainly focused on winning,” Fahmy said.

How are you going to make our school seem better or more fun than other local schools?

“A lot of people are just trying to help out with the school spirit and get it up. Lots of schools have school spirit,

Students looking for a fun way to get involved and really make a difference might want to check out the FRIENDS program at Cedar Falls High School.

FRIENDS was founded several years ago by the counseling staff. The goal is to get mentors for kids who don’t have positive role models. Lincoln and North Cedar are the elementaries that participate in FRIENDS.

Also, for the first time ever, the high school will be pairing up FRIENDS with high school students with special needs.

“The purpose is not to be a tutor.

You could work on school work or you could play a game or play basketball,” said Thresa Ruggles, CFHS counselor and leader of FRIENDS.

Ruggles has had personal experience being a mentor to children. In her sec-ond year at UNI, Ruggles participated in a program much like FRIENDS.

“I still have the thank you notes I got from little kids,” she said.

Seniors with at least one release period can take part in FRIENDS this fall, and juniors with a release period can join in the spring.

Participants meet with their “buddy” at their school at a set time each week. To match up older and younger kids, the counselors from both schools look

at interests and compatibility.According to past participants,

FRIENDS is a great way to give back to the community, but it makes you feel great about yourself too.

“I think it’s great to help little kids. It’s a good way to give back to soci-ety,” senior Nicole Britzman said.

According counselors, FRIENDS teaches students about responsibility, commitment and relationship skills.

“I do see the value for high school students, you grow so much through that kind of relationship,” Ruggles said.

Applications are available in the guidance office, and they are due Sept. 28.

Presidential Plans Fahmy previews homecoming, other upcoming school events

but just not as much, and some have more than we do, so it is nice that there are people who are trying to help get it up,” Fahmy said.

What has been the hardest thing for you so far?

“Well, I haven’t been president for very long, so it’s hard to say what has been the hardest. We haven’t done very much, but so far setting up homecom-ing,” Fahmy said.

Who have you been working with?“Vice President Haley, Treasurer

Joe Fagerston, Secretary Chelsey Jehle and the Student Senate have split up into groups,” Fahmy said.

Considering you are the president of the student body this year, do you plan on taking this year’s experience and continuing it to a leadership role after high school?

“I honestly have no idea where I will end up in the future, just playing it by ear. One thing I can say is that this year will give me a better aspect of what I do want to get involved in after high school,” Fahmy said.

Who has inspired you through the years?

“My brother graduated from Ce-dar Falls six years ago and a lot of the teachers know him. He also is there for me. If I ever need him, I can just call him and he will be positive and just encourage me and tell me I can do it,” Fahmy said.

Nirmeen Fahmy, Student Senate President

Homecoming 2007

Dress Up Days:Mon - backwards dayTues - hillbillies, pajamasWed - dress to impressThurs- movie characterFri - spirit day

Coronation:Sept. 27 8 p.m at Hauser Stadium

Homecoming Dance:Sept. 29 9 p.m. - midnightat Orchard Hill Churchtickets are $4 before and $5 at the door

Homecoming Game:Sept. 24 at the UNI Domeagainst Linn-Marr

Friends provides opportunity for community involvement

Megan PatteeStaff Writer

With her work at the Artapalooza on Saturday, Sept. 15 is junior Honor Heindl. She sold out of almost all of the photography that she brought to this event on Main Street in Cedar Falls.

Nadia Honary PhotoArt Attack

our viewour view

Tiger Hi-Line

T h e OPInIOnOPInIOn

Write the Tiger Hi-LineThe Tiger Hi-Line is a weekly publication of the journalism classes of

Cedar Falls High School, 1015 Division St., Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. Each edition is published on Wenesdays during the school year in The Insider and Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier, 501 Commercial St., Waterloo, Iowa 50701.

Columns and letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Hi-Line or Cedar Falls Schools. The Hi-Line editorial staff view is presented weekly in the editorial labeled as Our View.

Reader opinions on any topic are welcome and should be sent to the Tiger Hi-Line staff or delivered to room 208. All letters must be signed. Let-ters must be submitted by 3 p.m. on Thursday for publication the following Wednesday. Letters may not exceed 300 words and may be edited to meet space limitations. Include address and phone number for verification.

Editorial StaffEditor-in-Chief: Briana McGeough

News Editors: Olivia Schares and Kellie PetersenOpinion Editors: Andrea Huber and Torie Jochims

Sports Editor: Jacqueline JordanFeature Editors: Honor Heindl and Briana McGeough

On-Line Editors: Ellen Wrede and Olivia ScharesEntertainment Editor: Kristen Hammer

Photography Editor: Honor Heindl

The Physical Plant and Equipment Levy has once again been supported by the Cedar Falls community, and because of the community support of this initiative, students can expect to see good things in the near future.

PPEL’s approval this year is bringing in additional revenue, opening the doors for more opportunities in our school’s gen-eral funds as well as facility improvement projects.

The rate increase of 67 cents to $1.34 per thousand this year was approved by 70 percent of those who voted on the matter. This extra revenue will allow savings from the general fund that can be directed to other district improvements.

The Cedar Falls community has benefitted from PPEL in the past; revenue from it has funded landscaping, technology upgrades and architectural improvements for the high school as well as many more improvements and additions to schools distrcit wide.

PPEL funds are crucial to maintaining our privileged learn-ing environment, making the renewal and rate increase a very welcome one. We wish to thank all who voted in favor of the increase for the PPEL funding. The Cedar Falls community has once again shown its support for funding Iowa’s future.

PPEL increase will bring needed improvements

America itself is at an energy peak. Should we continue to meet energy needs by b u i l d i n g dirty, un-necessa ry $1.3 billion coal burn-ing plants or should we take our en-vironment, health and future gen-eration into c o n s i d e r -ation?

The answer should be obvious. While our cities urge new technolo-gies, lifetime locals fight to stick with older energy ways.

Cancer, asthma and autism are just a few and basic harmful health effects that come from the proposed coal burn-ing plant.

It is unfair to the future generations of children, while they would be my kids, to shorten their lives with the CO2 emissions in our polluted air. The pro-posed plant will create twice as much pollution as half the cars in Iowa right here in our local area.

Instead of the coal plant, I would like to see plants using renewable sources such as wind power, solar power or biomass energy being built around our area. It would be more health efficient and obviously better for the environ-ment.

With global warming becoming a real threat, we don’t need any more contributors causing things like this.

Although health effects is a main issue, it’s not the only reason the coal plant is a bad idea. Building the plant may involve taking coal from moun-taintops and other natural environments that should be left alone.

But the proposed plant wouldn’t just take from the environment but also

farmland from a local resident named Merle Bell. Bell’s family has owned this land for over 150 years, and he has no intention on giving up his property that he promised his father he would keep to give to LS Power.

As students, there are many things we can do to resist the proposed plant. Attending local rallies and signing pe-titions are a few ways we can help out in the community.

Also, going to and speaking at pub-lic hearings shows the entire communi-ty that even young students care about this issue.

If the proposed plant is built, we can still do things in our future that reduce our risk of pollution in the air such as biking more, without using the pro-posed bike path that will go around the plant.

Our future, our children’s future and our children’s children’s future doesn’t have to be buried with emissions from a coal stack.

The NFC North, which was not ex-actly an elite division last year, outside of Chicago, is turning out to have a new look. The four teams: Packers, Vi-kings, Bears and Lions have combined records of 6-2.

The Chi-cago Bears, who were the favorites for the divi-sion title again this year, have a l r e a d y f o u n d t h e m -selves at the bot-tom of the standings after ultimately winning the NFC title just a year ago.

Offense is their key problem. QB Rex Grossman has been on the

hot seat ever since he was a starter.With injuries to their starting safety

and defensive tackle, the defense is go-ing to be questionable each week.

The Green Bay Packers are looking just as good as anyone as they edged

one over the Eagles two weeks ago. T h e

Packers had an impre s -sive 8-8 s e a s o n last year and are l ook ing about the same this year. The only dif-ference is in the running game.

With Ahman Green gone, rookie HB Brandon Jackson has stepped in.

The Detroit Lions took a gamble last April drafting their fourth wide receiv-er over their last five first-round picks. They’re hoping Calvin Johnson will make the difference in their already ex-tremely talented receiving corp.

QB John Kitna is predicting them to win 10 games this year.

Having already won two games, they’re off to a good start. HB Kevin Jones is out for about six weeks but the team is finding a way to win without

him. They should be even better when Jones comes back.

Only the Lions’ in-experience with win-ning could be there downfall this season.

The Minnesota Vikings seem the most improved and most balanced team this year with some good performances from their rookie HB Adrian Peterson, and

a defense with 10 sacks and five interceptions in the last two games.

The two possible best teams, Min-nesota and Detroit, played a sloppy game with 10 total turnovers and went to overtime last Sunday resulting in a Lions win, 17-20.

Predicted NFC North Standings

1. Green Bay Packers2. Detroit Lions3. Minnesota Vikings4. Chicago Bears

NFC North off to improved start

New coal plant proposalwill harm environment

The Minnesota Vikings seem the most improved and most balanced team

this year

—Andrew KunkleStaff Writer

Katie DexterStaff Writer

Andrew KunkleStaff Writer

Volume 47 Edition 24 http://hi-lineonline.shorturl.com 1015 Division Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613

Tiger Hi-Line SPORTSSPORTST h e

Football (3-0)beat Dubuque Wahlert 21-7Next Up: Waterloo East 9/21 (Away 7:30 p.m.)Men’s Cross Countryfinished first at Rich Engel ClassicNext Up: Mason City Invite, 9/20 Women’s Cross Countryfinished first at Rich Engel ClassicNext Up: Mason City Invite, 9/20Women’s Swimming6th out of seven finalists at Iowa City InviteNext up: Diving away, CR Kennedy Invite 9/22/07Next Up: Dub. Wahlert 9/22 (Away 7:30 p.m.)VolleyballNext Up: Tiger Invite 9/22 (9 a.m.)Men’s GolfNext Up: MVC Divisional 9/21 (CR Prairie 7:30 p.m.)

Tigersin Action

1.Why do you think you were picked for this week’s athlete of the week, and how do you feel to be cho-sen? I was probably picked because I’ve had a successful two years of diving, and I’m expecting to do well this year as well. I am very excited. I’ve always wanted to be athlete of the week.2.What do you do to better yourself in diving? I went to diving camp this past sum-mer. I practice during the off season, lift and do other diving workouts. 3.What more information would you tell others about diving? A lot because most people don’t know much about diving. It’s a very fun, but mentally tough sport.

Bethany OlsonJunior Diver

Junior diver Bethany Olson started out young from her sister. Olson practices during her diving season one hour before school and two hours after school every day.

Athleteof

the WeekAlex EntzStaff Writer

Coming off a season that featured dominating seniors and a sense of team unity not felt in years, the Tigers are fighting for a state tournament berth.

“We haven’t coped very well with the loss of the seniors. We need people to step up and fill their shoes,” Coach Jerry Slykhuis said.

“We’ve been playing pretty good …not as well as we’d like, though,” se-nior Barry Firman said.

Firman has been one of the team leaders to step up in the absence of last year’s seniors, shooting a best 18-hole round of 69 this year.

Despite Slykhuis’ reservations, there are two sophomores who have been making an impact on the golf.

“Tyler Brewer and Matt Glenn have both had a big impact,” Slykhuis said. “They’ve really stepped up.”

In order to condition his players to a rigorous season of nine- to 18-hole days Slykhuis outlined his regimen.

“We are working hard in practice. We hit the driving range and are work-ing hard on our short game,” Slykhuis said.

Firman added that he played every day and hit a lot balls over the summer in order to prepare to step into the role

Sara Strever and Jakob Zierer

Staff Writers

The CFHS men’s and women’s cross country teams made a clean sweep at the Rich Engel Classic on Thursday, Sept. 13, winning the fresh/soph, JV and varsity events.

Not only were the team efforts high, but the Tigers number one mens’ varsity runner, senior Alex Mark, cap-tured the top time with a 16.22 time.

Mark has high hopes for the rest of the season, as well.

“I expect that if we want to be a top three team at State, we need to win our Districts or come close,” Mark said.

After their first place finish at

of varsity team leader.The Tigers are currently ranked

fourth of seven teams in their confer-ence.

While Coach Rich Strike was hesi-tant to call this year’s team one of the deeper teams, Slykhuis didn’t falter.

“It’s probably one of the better teams,” Slykhuis said.

With a best 18-hole round of 300, the Tigers are not, by any means, shooting poorly, but their goal remains to take it higher.

“Our goal is to make it to State, and to be in the top five at State,” Firman said. “We won’t the way we’re play-ing, but if we get our act together, we might.”

Slykhuis was a little more to the point.

“Our goal is to be in the top three in Districts in order to qualify for State,” Slykhuis said.

After this year there will be more big shoes to fill as Firman prepares to leave for either the UNI or Iowa men’s golf team. Strike seemed confident that the sophomores and freshman could step up, though he wouldn’t be specific.

“It all depends on who puts the time in,” Strike said.

So, the Tigers swing on, moving ever closer to their ultimate goal—a berth at the state tournament.

Golfers prepare for postseason

Setting It Up For VictorySenior Abby Conrad sets up a return at the volleyball game with Iowa City West on Tuesday, Sept. 11. The Tigers went on to beat Iowa City 3-0.

Honor Heindl Photo

the Rich Engel Classic, coach Bob Schmidt and the womenís cross coun-try team seem well on their way to reaching their goal of top 10 finish at the state meet later this fall.

Taking stock of the other three meets this season (second place at CR Prairie on Aug. 28, first place at Pella on Sept.1 and third place at Marshall-town on Sept. 6), Schmidt said, “I feel pretty pleased. Times were dropping and three top finishes.”

Schmidt said he is happy with the progress the team has made toward his goal of going to the state meet.

“The team is much improved over the year ago,” he said.

Sarah Larsen, one of the captains, returns after a long break and has the

same opinion. “I think the first three meets went

pretty good. I think we can be one of the best teams in the state,” she said.

Districts are going to be held at Ce-dar Falls this year. Head coach Troy Becker and Athletic Director Gary Koenen are in charge.

“We have a great reputation for hosting an outstanding cross country meet. Our parents and volunteers are second to none,” Becker said.

According to Becker, cross country is offers life skills like no other sport.

“I really like how this team gets along with each other and how they’ve come together as a team,” Becker said.

Mark also said he believes the

men’s team has blended well.“Everyone is into something dif-

ferent, but we all love running. It’s always fun to find out your team-mates’ interests, their strengths and their weaknesses. Learning about a team can only make it stronger,” Mark said.

Mark also appreciates the individu-al aspects of cross country.

“You really get the chance to find out about yourself. It’s the only sport I can think of where personal satis-faction is above winning. If you ran your hardest and left with nothing, it wouldn’t matter if you won or got last. It was a successful race,” Mark said.

Districts will be on Oct. 18 at Bird-sall Park.

Tigers dominate at Rich Engel

OPInIOn Tiger Hi-Line FEATUREFEATURET h e

Teacher finishes Ironman triathlonRunning, and Biking, and Swimming, Oh my!

Celebrating a finish after his epic trek in Madison, Jeff Hartman is greeted by family and friends.

Submitted Photo

Paul StrikeStaff Writer

On a calm Sunday morning when we were all just waking up, Jeff Hart-man was swimming in Lake Monona for his first leg of the Ironman Wiscon-sin triathlon. Hartman, a chemistry teacher and the men’s assistant cross country coach, was competing in his second Ironman Wisconsin.

Ironman triathlons are among the hardest endurance challenges known to man. The race starts with a 2.4 mile swim in Lake Monona, a 112 mile bike ride and finishes with a 26.2 mile run ending at the state capitol steps in Madison.

Hartman’s last Ironman in 2004 helped him immensely in his prepara-tions before and during the race.

“I was familiar with the course and all of the activity leading up to the race. It also helped me know what to expect in the later stages of the race,” Hartman said.

Hartman has been in training for the race for a year. “I try to swim two-three times a week, bike at least three days a week and run two-three days a week.”

Right before the gun was fired, Hartman’s experience gave him a cool head. “I was actually pretty calm be-

fore the race and looking forward to get started,” Hartman said.

The race started at 7 a.m. with the swim. “The swim start is always a little rough. There are 2,200 people all start-ing at once, so there is a lot of kicking, bumping and grabbing until the field gets spread out a little,” Hartman said.

Out of the three parts of the triath-lon, Hartman said he felt the swim was his best event. “I got out toward the front early, so the last two miles of my swim went smoothly. I was just enjoy-ing the experience.”

Hartman finished the swim in 1:02:48, the bike in 6:23:43 and the run in 5:32:11. His overall time, 13 hours 16 minutes was almost an hour and a half faster than last time..

When Hartman crossed the finish line, he had a lot of things still running through his mind. “It was a mixture of emotions: relief, pride in my accom-plishment, thankful for all of the people that were there to cheer me on, humbled by some of the great things I saw other people doing along the way.”

Hartman had a lot of support from his family from the beginning of his training to the end of the race.

“My wife (Jennifer) and my kids (Savannah, Jacob and Luke) have been incredibly supportive the whole time. Whenever I’d get back from a work-

out, they’d always ask how far I’d gone. Their encouragement kept me training and their confidence in me re-ally helped when I was getting nervous before the race.”

The family also has a little bit of a tradition at the end of the race.

“Last time Jack and Savannah

crossed the finish line with me, this year my two-year old son Luke ran across the finish line with me.”

Head men’s cross country coach Troy Becker took eight members of the team with him to Madison to support Hartman.

“Having them to cheer me on re-

ally motivated me at times when I re-ally needed it. Several times during the marathon I was tired and walking and when they started chanting my name I got pumped up and would start running for another mile. I will never forget those guys for the support they gave me.”

Rachel ConnellyStaff Writer

Hotline, the student run TV show,

began its new season on Sept. 12. Hotline has been run by the ALPHA

students from Cedar Falls High School and both junior highs since January of 1986.

It is aired Wednesdays during the school year at 4 p.m. on the Cedar Falls Channel, channel 15 on CFU Cable. The studio is located in City Hall in Cedar Falls.

“It’s an educational program and opportunity and a real world and work-ing experience,” ALPHA teacher Jew-ell Hays said.

“It’s student run and directed,” AL-

PHA teacher Tim Kangas said. The students involved enjoy it. "Hosting is really fun. You get to talk to interesting people and meet interest-ing people," senior Briana McGeough said.

The students also run everything be-hind the camera.

McGeough likes being a camera person. "You get to capture people's conversations on film. It's artistic," McGeough said.

Hays and Kangas also get a lot out of it. The best thing that comes from Hotline is "watching the kids be suc-cessful and grow," Hays said. Hotline’s also beneficial for the viewers.

“It’s real world problem solving,” Kangas said.

“It lets the community know of dif-ferent things. It's a big picture that reaches in lots of ways," Hays said. The show covers a "wide variety of topics," McGeough said.

These days it focuses on community events, but it wasn't always that way. It used to be a number to call in for home-work questions.

The students can take what they learn from this program on from there. Students have gone on and majored in broadcasting in college. "They're more involved and aware of the community. They see TV in a while different light," Hays said.

McGeough said she used to want to be a film maker, but she's drifted past that now, and she'd like to major in

communications, but not TV. A lot of work goes into each show.

"It depends on what the show is and the people running it. It can run smoothly if enough time is put in advance," Hays said.

However, if it's done at the last min-ute, "The stress level rises," Hays said. McGeough said she recalls putting 40 hours into one show that was taped entirely in advance.

There are a lot of things planned for this fall, including Girls and Boys Na-tion, the children’s theaters in the area, All State music, and the Fire Igniters program.

“If there’s something going on in the Cedar Valley, we’ve pretty much done a show on it,” McGeough said.

ALPHA students jumpstart new season of Hotline

[4 p.m.]

Hotline 411

[ch. 15]

[Wednesdays]

[alphastudents]