The Mariner Compass

By Lauren Cashman

Last Saturday the Homer High School Lady Mariner soccer team hosted a dance and fundraiser at the Bidarka. While it was a success, raising over 1,000 dollars for the program, some students questioned the choice of theme, Cowboys and Indians, and the possible racial insensitivity surrounding it.

This question of insensitivity is in no way claiming that the soccer team or any of its members are racist; however, the time period in which this theme takes place in was not a pleasant one for America’s aboriginal people. During the 1800’s, which was the era of “Cowboys and Indians,” the American government placed the Native Americans on reservations, denying them rights as not only citizens of America, but also as independent nations. While none of the students were supporting this mistreatment by dressing up, there are potentially negative connotation that go with turning such a dark time into a light hearted theme.

One circumstance is the manner in which the students treated the theme. One student, when asked about the issue, said that people were not blatantly disrespectful of the Native culture or religion at the dance; and while face painting, which can add to the one dimensional view of Native culture was available, the allusions to this one dimensionality stopped there.

In the Continental U.S. there have been cases of “Cowboy and Indian” themed parties that raised similar concerns; the difference being Native alliances stepped in and, in the case of a University of Denver party, requested formal apologies from the students. Yet, when asked, many students had no issue with the theme, and some were even confused as to why the question was being asked in the first place.

Perhaps the manner in which themes such as these are received are affected by our location. As Alaskans, it is too easy to become secluded from issues such as mistreatment of people based on their race. Perhaps our lack of varying demographics and cultural awareness makes us numb to the sensitivities of social issues. This raises an important question: does our isolation as a community give us immunity to issues such as this?

By Akane Fujimura

“It’s my best sport!” Freshman Chris Bice, who takes part in the track & field team stated. The first track & field meet of this season took place in Anchorage on April 14th with thirty-eight schools participating. For the eight freshmen on the team, it’s also their first meet in their high school career.

Crystal Crane, another freshman, was in the 400 meter relay, the 100 meter relay, and the 200 medley. “I think we got 15, 15 and 16 overall out of at least 24 schools. My first track meet was great and we had lots of fun. I felt like I wanted to do it again right after the meet. ” Chris agreed, “It was really fun. I got scared before the meet, but then I was like ‘it’s going to be fun’ and I think we did pretty well.”

According to Crystal, the meet was high level and people were very competitive. “During the event, I was really focused on passing people,” Crystal said. Chris explained, “High school has a lot more events than middle school and they are more competitive.”

Bill Steyer, the head coach of the track team, thinks that the most important thing that he expects for freshmen is to have a good time as a team. “I also expect them to learn some skills in track & field, various events, learn that track is a hard sport because you really have to push yourself to work hard, and over time you’ll see some success.”

“It’s all about self-improvement,” Steyer added, “Everyone comes in at different levels. The most important thing is that everyone improves. And they are.”

By Carson Duggar

“So who cleared the snow off of the soccer and baseball field?” exclaimed a varsity boys soccer player. “Oh, I heard a rumor it was the Borough who did it…” said an anonymous student. “No, no, no. It was definitely the City of Homer that cleared it” stated another student.

This is completely wrong. According to Homer Principal, Dr. Gee numerous attempts to get the fields plowed, failed. He asked the Borough for help, and they said no. He then asked the City of Homer for help, and they said no, claiming it would cost too much money for them to complete. So who did clear the upper field at Homer High?

Mickey Todd, varsity girls soccer coach, decided to take matters into his own hands. He saw that the school was pitter pattering around with clearing the snow and decided to personally hire a private contractor to make it happen. Knowing that three sports teams’ seasons were in jeopardy, Mickey put his coaching stipend (an undisclosed amount of money) forward to employ a crew to complete the job. 

Athletes took the field for the first time on a sunny Thursday this past week, which marked one of the earliest dates teams have been able to play on the fields in many years, according to Pam Newton.

Dr. Gee stated that he is proposing to the city that they include money to clear the fields in their budget in future years so spring sports teams don’t run into this problem again.

For Mickey the decision was easy: “Because no one else would.”

The upper field at Homer Highschool on 4/18/2012.

By Michael de Moura

Alleviating the absence of all ages concerts, outside of Homer High, takes initiative.  Last month, Homer Council on the Arts invited members of the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra to perform together on April 20th, as part of the gallery concert series.

Concertmaster Sue Biggs, her husband Jack Will, Trina Uvaas, and Aaron Lohmeyer seized the opportunity.  The group chose to play as two duos rather than as a quartet; Trina and Aaron prepared duets for guitar and fiddle, while Jack and Sue plan to perform mostly double fiddle pieces.

“Jack plays everything from bluegrass to rock and roll,” said Sue Biggs, a classically trained violinist.  After they first met as bandmates in the Spur Highway Spankers, Sue and Jack began working on duets for fiddle and guitar.  Apart from orchestral performances, they have continued collaborating and fusing their musical characteristics over the past fifteen years.  Harmonized vocal parts included in performances at Concert on the Lawn, restaurants and lounges, like Alice’s or Veronica’s, distinguish this duo from orchestral affiliation.   

Whether performing lively traditional duets or “lament” filled dirges, Aaron and Trina make music that “almost brings tears to your eyes,” said Sue.  Although Aaron is not a member of the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra, he plays clarinet and sax in the same pit orchestra as Trina.  “We play Irish, Appalachian, and Scottish tunes; Aaron does a great job of drawing from his jazz background and throwing some nice jazz chords into his accompaniment,” Trina commented. Since they started working together last Spring, their array of influences have brought them to the Summer Music Fest, Farm Fest, Veronica’s and now Homer’s gallery concert.

The two duos’ concert is at 7:00 p.m. this Friday at the Homer Council on the Arts building.  Tickets are available online at Homerart.org or at the door.

By Lauren Cashman

After Dr. Gee introduced Senator Murkowski, she immediately asked if she could stand amongst the audience, rather than on the stage where the podium and both the Alaskan and American flags stood, saying it was more comfortable. She then proceeded to ask the students, “can you hear me fine without a microphone?”

Upon hearing a resounding yes from the students, Murkowski began to explain her purpose for visiting Homer High School. Eight years ago, Sen. Murkowski decided she wanted to visit all of the schools in Alaska. Murkowski said that she wanted to ensure that there was a connection between the students and the Capitol. “The best way to represent is to understand what the issues are.”

This daunting task eventually found her here in Homer, Alaska. During the hour meeting with students, Murkowski answered questions on issues such as the Samantha Koenig murder, suicide in Alaska and the healthcare bill. Senior Alaine Miller said that it was interesting to hear her views on Alaska’s issues. She thought that the Senator was both “…passionate and well informed.”

Sophomore Brittany Bordner said that the Senator was “honest… she was understandable yet professional.” Murkowski kept the discussion semi informal and engaged her audience, taking the darker questions alongside a casual, friendly atmosphere.

One of the main topics that she spoke passionately about was the idea of expanding Alaska’s resources responsibly, mainly speaking on ANWAR and plans to retrieve the resources there without harming the natural habitat. In closing she said “I live here because… I like to be outdoors. I have no interest in messing this place (Alaska) up, for me or for my kids.”

When the hour drew to a close, Student Body President and Vice President Traven Apiki and Kirsten Swanson presented Murkowski with a bag of Mariner Coffee, and she in turn gave the school an American flag that had flown over the Capitol.

While passing the flag to Apiki, she smiled and said that there was a story behind the flag; admitting that there was a special person whose job it is in the capital to raise a flag up the pole, let it fly for a few minutes, and then zip it back down and package it up for occasions such as these. In addition to the flag, Murkowski gave the school a book, Two Old Women, saying that she “…never leave(s) a school without leaving a book.”

From Left: Brittney Bordner, Shannon Reid, Kirsten Swanson, Traven Apiki, Senator Lisa Murkowski, Dr. Gee, Theo Noomah, Lauren Cashman, and Katherine Dolma

by Jacob Mayforth
The Hunger Games is far and away the best movie I have seen in years. It pulls off atmosphere the way Beethoven pulls off a symphony, masterfully. Every wave of the baton, every pulse pounding second that passed in the theater was a second I spent in pure anxiety. I had no idea what was going to come next, since I went into this movie without any prior experience to the Hunger Games.

I have never read the books, I have never researched it on Wikipedia, and nobody has cared to explain to me the plot, yet this movie makes the intense story behind the Hunger Games accessible to anybody.

The entire time I was engrossed in the A+ performance from all the characters. To me it didn’t seem like a movie, it seemed like real life. The main character of Katniss Everdeen was compelling, believable, and tragic. She pulled the movie along with all the speed, power and intensity of a freight train powered by a thousand angry gorillas.

Although the movie did not walk on its cinematography, the stunning visuals were present and believable, but the moment when the movie shines is when the characters leave the giant cities, grand halls, and crowds of people and move into the dense forest to begin the games. There the atmosphere becomes claustrophobic and the terrifying feeling of being hunted comes over the audience.

The feeling and emotion of the movie is thick and ripe as young adults attempt to find friendship, love, and escape as they try to survive the Hunger Games. To not see this movie would be blasphemy. Find the time. Pay the money. Go see it.

"Senior Service"

By Cayenna Anderson

These days, it seems like all one hears during our morning announcements is Mr. Gutzler over the intercom talking about senior service projects. Even with these constant reminders, there are only ten out of one hundred seniors that have completed their projects.

Mr. Gutzler said that if he can tell students anything on this subject, it’s to plan ahead! He added that currently there are numerous students rushing around trying to find a project and get his approval [that all it does] is add to the stress of being a senior.

Jody Weinfurter, one of the ninety who has yet to complete her project, said, “I’m lazy! I have it all done but I just need to turn it in. I think that that’s how it is for most people.”

To whoever is not familiar with senior service projects, they are a graduation requirement in which a student volunteers for a non-profit organization for a total of thirty hours. The supervisor of the project then evaluates the student’s efforts and the student goes on to write an essay that talks about his or her experience with their project.

For all of the seniors out there that are still struggling to find a project, opportunities are all around. Many students do things such as help coach a middle school sports team, or volunteer at the public library. However, if a student just can’t seem to find a project on their own, particularly one who wants to graduate with their class, they are urged to take the voyage to Mr. Gutzler’s room for ideas and advice.

By Gabriel Selbig

With glum and melancholy feelings, the underclassmen of Homer High head into the annual testing week. For freshmen, this will be their seventh and final year taking the Standard Based Assessments. For sophomores, the High School Graduation Qualifying Exams may sound a little more worrisome. However, the majority of juniors and seniors happily welcome this school week, as they await the joyous occasion of sleeping-in a few extra hours on testing days.

Numerous 9th and 10th graders enthusiastically claimed the standardized tests to be “meaningless” or “lame”. “The worst part is sitting in that chair for three hours each morning”, declared sophomore, Tayla Cabana. “We don’t even get any class credit for all this.”

As half the school prepares to push through the three days of testing, language arts teacher, Mrs. Borland attempts to provide good reasoning for such exams. “It provides a good baseline”, she explains. “Everyone’s tests are measured in the same criteria. When teachers look back at the scores, we can see what needs to be emphasized in the classroom.”

But why are we tested only in reading, writing, and math when so many in the school thrive in vo-tech wing classes? With little hesitation, she enlightens, “My minor in college was ceramics. There’s a surprising amount of math involved in such a class. It’s just as if you’re in mechanics class, you have to read, write, and understand manuals.”

Both SBAs and HSGQEs measure the school’s adequate yearly progress along with students’ academic progress, but passing all three sections of the HSGQE is a requirement to receive a diploma. This well known fact has many sophomores running scared.

Sam Reinert, now in his junior year, describes the exams as “good to make sure you’re getting enough out of high school to function in the real world.” He went on to explain how the infamous SAT test is much more stiff and extensive, but holds greater significance. When asked how he felt about sleeping-in this week, he inhaled pompously and replied, “So stoked.”

With one more fine night of sleep left as preparation, the younger half of Homer High await three consecutive testing days. Many question why, while others simply dread, but the annual standardized tests do hold meaning for both student and school.

By Akane Fujimura

“I have to think of a conclusion for my speech. Tomorrow is the due date,” Casey Farrell said in Mrs. Webb’s language class. Mrs. Webb required all of her language arts students to complete this project called TED Talk.

“The point of TED Talks is to spread ideas,” Traven Apiki stated. TED is an organization that stands for Technology Entertainment and Design. The event TEDxHomer is independently organized by a group called TEDxYouth@Homer. This year Traven is one of the teenagers organizing it. They’ll have TED Talks during that event on July 26th.

TED Talks will be made by a speech and some visuals. The theme is “Let’s Play!” which can cover anything from snow machining to basketball. “You can even write about something completely different, stuff like math if they can talk about how it’s playful,” Traven said.

As Traven said, he wants this event to be very big and a lot of people to join in this year. To make it so, he approached Mrs. Webb with the idea because part of TED talk is giving a speech. Mrs. Webb is making all of her students do this TED talk in her class as a project. “It all fit in all of her curriculum standards for Alaska and what they need to do. Cooperate with other people, write a speech, give a speech, and just everything that is centered around language arts is incorporated in to this TED Talk,” Traven explained as the reason to why Mrs. Webb made it a requirement.

Nykkole Poindexter, taking Mrs. Webb’s class, gave her impression about her TED Talk, about costuming. “I’m pretty excited to present the project and it’s a kind of fun assignment. I hope Mrs. Webb will choose mine in her top ten she liked.” Those top ten groups will be picked by Mrs. Webb and will be judged by TEDxYouth@Homer people, including Traven, and they will choose the winner of this contest. The winner will be giving a live presentation across six different continents. As Nykkole said, she has prepared well for her TED Talk with a very good video, well written speech, and most of all she’ll personally be “dressed up in a costume!”