The Mariner Compass

By SIERRA DELOACH

Millions saw the performance Miley Cyrus gave at the VMA’s on Aug. 25, and the reaction was very negative. Most viewers described the dance as vulgar, or even disgusting. It was nearly immediately that sexist comments exploded on the internet, saying that she belonged at home, or in the kitchen, even that women in general don’t belong on stage.  One tweet post-VMA’s from an anonymous tweeter said “Miley, I understand you can’t stop but you really need to.” MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski claimed Miley has confidence issues, is deeply troubled, and accused her of having an eating disorder. And while it’s true that her performance was quite raunchy, it was neither her song nor her idea of choreography.

Thicke’s song “Blurred Lines,” the object of scrutiny in this case, talks about consent being a gray area, and that when a women says no she really means yes. The video, in particular, objectified women to an offending point. At the VMA performance, Miley seemed to objectify Thicke, almost as if in retaliation to the video. This portrayal upset many viewers, and an uprising of sexist comments and slang were shot at, strangely enough, only 20-year-old Miley and not 36-year-old (married) Robin Thicke.

The objectification of women, however, is so much more than a few crude music videos. Somehow, even in this day and age, there is a certain population of people that seem to think women are to be used and thrown away. And still, in corporate work zones, women working 40-44 hours a week make roughly 84.6% of what men with similar hours make, and only 78.3% in a 60 hour work week compared to men with the same hours. In 2011, women held only 6.4% of the seats in the House of Representatives, a total of 29.

Another factor adding to the blatant objectification of women is the idea that if women dress a certain way, they are asking to be harassed or raped, or that consent is really more of a vague idea. Particularly in the last three decades, there has been an unsettling amount of rape cases in the US, like the 2012 case in Ohio, when two high school football players raped a drunken 16-year-old at a party. In the six months after the incident, next to nothing was said about the victim, and quite a large part of the internet community believed the boys should be let off with a warning, because they were talented players and the loss of them on the team would be a shame. Even though they were not the victims, the boys received sympathy for sexual conduct without consent, and the victim was told that she was overreacting.

So really, was Miley’s performance just a silly, desperate move for publicity, or a subtle lesson on objectivity and sexism in America?

by LOGAN REVEIL

The Mariner Theatre  hosted ‘Quixotic’, an interdisciplinary ensemble that has performed around the world. The group was on stage the 17th and 18th of October.

Quixotic blends dance, music, acrobatics, and special effects all into one performance.  On the website for Quixotic, the creator, Anthony Magliano says,”I want Quixotic audiences to feel the same thing I feel every single day. I want them to be challenged, to feel a little unsettled, to feel like it’s a little bit dangerous…”

Students and teachers alike were amazed by the performance. “It blew my mind,” said Ms. Tetor. “I especially liked their use of both contemporary and classical styles,” said senior Brittney Bordner. Personally, I found the combination of color, light, music, and motion electrifying. By the end of the performance, I felt like a frayed rope, as if someone had thrown me on a roller coaster and forgotten about the seatbelt.

One student, Brett Marrow, questioned whether or not the Mariner Theatre was a large enough venue for such a show. “I just don’t think that Homer is the right place.” Student and stage assistant, Axel Gillam, disagreed, saying that they brought some of their own equipment including a projector, sound system, and speakers. When asked about the lack of equipment, he said, “No, I don’t think it hindered the performance.”

The reason such a professional-grade show made an appearance in Homer, was because Quixotic co-founder, Mica Thomas, is a Homer High alumni.

By NAHOA JETTE

America’s favorite pastime is no longer baseball. Disturbing, but true, baseball has taken the backseat of professional sports in America.

According to the article “Is America’s Pastime Dying a Slow Death?,” Major League Baseball television ratings have plummeted by as much as 50 percent since 1990. These are alarming numbers due to the fact that baseball was once the undeniable sport of this nation.

Baseball was born in the 19th century and was able to expand rapidly through the progression of this country (and the world) during the 20th century. With the help of technology, media, and society’s lust for competition, baseball became lodged into the hearts and minds of Americans across the nation.

Towards the end of the century though, while football was gaining momentum in its fan base, baseball was beginning its downhill spiral to where it is today in relation to other professional sports. According to “The Reason Why Football Is King,” in 2010, a regular season NFL game between two mediocre teams outscored a playoff MLB game by a 7.2 percent television rating to 6.5 percent, respectively.

This decline of interest in baseball isn’t just limited to the U.S. In other countries, where soccer, which is largely considered “boring” to Americans, dominates any other sport by far, and baseball has no following what-so-ever. The Olympic Games have even discarded the sport because of the lack of participating nations.

Whether it be because of the longevity of the game, or the lack of excitement, baseball is indeed losing interest. MLB.com states that the total attendance of the regular season of 2013 was down almost 1 million from the previous year. If one were to look at a graph of attendance numbers from the past decade, one would see a discernible decline.

These realizations should sadden America. Baseball was the foundation of sport entertainment in this country and to throw it away for a more “exciting” show isn’t just. While football attracts views because of its fast-paced violence, baseball was right alongside this nation through much of its history. Baseball paved the path of racial equality in sports when Jackie Robinson signed a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Dimaggio, Gehrig, Mantle, Clemente-were all once idolized by the American people. How could people forget the classics that were once so very near and dear to our hearts?

Baseball must regain a foothold in the sports world. Whether it be shortening the season, reducing ticket prices, or implementing a way to quicken the pace of the game; baseball needs to be revived in this country. In a perfect world, younger generations would see value in this sport, and would become fans without altering the game at all. Then baseball could become infused in the lives of future generations, thus continuing the legacy of this great game.

By ANNIE WORSFOLD

On Oct. 14, students and staff from Homer High, Flex, Seldovia, and other schools gathered in the Mariner Theatre to watch the performing arts team, Quixotic. The show was described to be a completely new experience unlike anything the viewers had ever seen, and they weren’t let down. The show combined performances of musicians, dancers, aerialists, special effects and more. For such a small town and theatre, this was definitely a surprise for many of the onlookers.

The reason Homer managed to score such an unbelievable act has to do with one of the artistic directors being a Homer High graduate and resident throughout his childhood. Without the enthusiasm of Mica Thomas the likelihood that this group would have ever been brought to Homer is slim.

Although the performance was an abridged version created to fit within the borders of a school assembly, two more performances in their entirety were available on Thursday and Friday nights- for a price. While this assembly was a school event free for students and staff, when the act became available to the town it was not such an easy price. Tickets were available from Homer Council on the Arts; $40 general admission, $20 youth and seniors.

Even after the short assembly, the amazed reactions of the viewers continued long after the show was over. The performance was nothing less than “exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical”; the definition of the group’s title.

By SAM DRAVES

Schools need to add more technology in the education learning process. All around the country, districts have placed iPads in the classroom as an educational tool, so why doesn’t Homer?

Teachers ranging from elementary to the high school level have expressed the improvements the device is making in their students’ education. In an article on apple.com, one teacher stated that it allowed students to choose their learning pace. The teacher admits that she did not know how to incorporate it into learning, but her problem was quickly solved. This school did not use random apps either; they used a rubric with different categories such as quality, relativity to the topic, and its ability to provide the teacher with feedback.

According to apple, the iPad has over ten hours of battery, which would eliminate the need for a plug-in while working. Since this device is electronic, it would slash the amount of paper used in schools. Through iTunesU as well as iTunes there are apps for textbooks, speeches, and more.  The catalog includes over 500,000 free educational audio and video materials said techcrunch.com. Students own devices such as smartphones, iPads, iPods and other tools similar to it, and the district could encourage them to bring it in for themselves. Therefore, the district would not need to supply as many in each room if a student brings his or hers to each class.

Mr. Putney, a Homer High school teacher said, “It would be wise for the district to invest in readers.”

The Homer High School bookkeeper, Mrs. Larson, approved the idea of using iPads. Last year, the high school spent a few thousand dollars on textbooks. Around 150 new textbooks of different varieties were purchased; depending on the type of textbook, the price can range anywhere from $75-350. Since brand new books are very expensive, 175 of the new books are actually used ones purchased through Amazon.com with prices that slash the price dramatically. The condition is fairly exceptional with a shocking price range from $38-80. Yearly, five to eight books are lost and replaced, and to save money, schools often share books with each other based on how many classes of the same subject are offered.

Students in the fifth and sixth grade at West Homer Elementary currently use Apple tablets in their classrooms. When elementary school teacher, Mrs. Putney, was asked if she believed the devices improved the way kids learn, she responded, “Absolutely! IPod use in my classroom has increased motivation and student engagement. The kids love a reason to use the iPods/iPad. If technology is involved they are often more interested and excited in the learning they are doing.”

Many people may argue that such devices are distractions. Books, phones and the use of computers have the potential to be distractions too, yet they are still permitted in classrooms. In the elementary schools, kids sign a contract that has the expectations clearly stated. Mrs. Putney also discussed the consequences for the misuse of the iPads: “Students who use the devices improperly go back to paper/pencil work. Time is precious. If the technology is not being used to enhance learning, increase motivation, and create higher levels of student engagement then they are replaced with more traditional paper/pencil work.” Why keep learning at the current level, when we can go above and beyond?

By HALEY BOND

Students at Homer High gather in the art room to participate in PhotoVoice, a program that provides opportunities to stand up and speak up in the community through conceptual photography (http://www.photovoice.org/).  The activity allows students to learn about a prominent issue in Homer- irresponsible consumption of alcohol- bringing attention to the problem in a creative frame.

Each week, peers are provided a word such as “belonging” or “loss” to snap and discuss with the class the following FOL meeting, which includes activities such as picture taking practice, obtaining peer consent, and coming up with good conversation icebreakers.

“Students get along very well in this class, it’s a comfortable environment,” remarked Brett Merrow, a participant in PhotoVoice. Individuals are assured their confidentiality and opinions will be respected throughout the group.

Meetings take place every Thursday during FOL in Ms. Tetor’s art room, and are instructed by Tara Schmidt. They encourage students to express their true emotions through the project and work with others to spread awareness of the alcohol abuse problem. The ultimate goal is to further educate the community of problems that need to be addressed. PhotoVoice is a small step towards success, starting from the initial source and building understanding.

By LOGAN REVEIL

A poll of about 50 Homer High students was taken by the Mariner Compass this week. The survey asked students whether or not they should be allowed to use cell phones in class.

According to an article in the Homer News, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School district is considering changing its policy on cell phone use in class. In brief, the new policy acknowledges that “these devices serve an important purpose in facilitating communication between the student and his or her family, as well as serving as tools to access electronic information.”

But district policy aside, what do students think about this subject? According to our survey, 87 percent of respondents said that cell phones should be allowed in class. In addition, 80 percent had used a cell phone in class before and 96 percent said that they would use their phones responsibly in class. The question of whether the current school policy (not district policy) was too strict met morecontroversy though. There the split was 2620 with the minority being satisfied with the current policy.

Some students followed the same reasoning as the school district, saying that their phones were necessary for communicating with parents and teachers. Others argued that education should not only tolerate technology, but embrace it as well. As one individual put it,”The classrooms should be filled with this new technology and incorporate it in learning.”

Regardless of what they thought, it seemed that many students were very passionate about the subject. Here in its entirety, is one of the more spirited comments: “From my experience, cell phone use in class does not significantly hamper education. The detriments of the slight distraction they pose are far outweighed by their benefits. Free use of cell phones allows for sometimes necessary communication between students and parents, bosses, or other students. Electronic devices can make a boring class bearable by playing music or providing distraction for antsy hands. The biggest benefit of allowing cell phone use in school is the large morale boost that such a policy would give students. It would make school seem like less of an oppressive, joykilling, mandatory education machine, and more like a free congregation of unrestricted learning where students take responsibility for their education.”

By DANIEL RIOS

Have you ever wondered why and how Homer came to be?  I wanted to learn more about the history of Homer, so I did some research and here is what I found out.

Homer is not that old compared to, let’s say Boston, but even though Homer’s history is not as long as Boston’s, it does not mean that it’s not loaded with that fascinating, exciting and rich “Last Frontier” color that you just won’t see anywhere else.

Before white settlers came to Alaska there were thousands of native tribes living in Alaska and scientist have realized, and discovered that there have been traces of Pacific Eskimos and Dena’ina Indian settlements all around the Homer area. During the 1800s the abundance of coal and sea otters around Homer attracted many Russian traders and by 1889 American companies were mining and shipping coal via Alaska’s first rail road. The track ran 7.38 miles from shafts and tunnels located near Coal Creek above old town Homer (now where the Bunnell Street Gallery is located) to a large pier built near the end of the 4.5 mile Spit. From here the coal was loaded onto waiting ships. This continued until about World War II.

When coal started to boom into a big industry the miners needed a place to stay. The miners set up a town settlement on the Homer Spit. They said before the 1964 earthquake the Spit was wide enough to hold trees all along its sides. The Settlement was called “Green Timbers.”

Homer Pennock, the man from which this lovely town was named, landed on the Homer Spit in April of 1896. Pennock and his crew of 50 men and one woman walked a shore with high hopes of searching for and finding mounds of gold. Their dreams were severely crushed fairly quickly when they discovered that there was no gold in the sandy beaches of Homer. With that in mind the settlers stayed and built a town inland from the spit and called it Homer. Pennock soon after discovering that there was no gold, left the new born town for the riches of the Klondike.

In 1919 a school was established and so were a few churches strengthening the social fabric of the town. Then in 1920 roads and telephone poles were added, securing the towns stability. When coal started to die down in 1902 a new industry rose from the fiery ashes this industry was fishing. In the 1920s an intense but short lived herring and fur trading company started and then faded quite quickly providing a slight but powerful economic boost thus the salmon fishing industry was born and many canneries were started in homer and in Seldovia. In the 1940s the town grew stronger but dwindled in size 1950. With salmon sky rocketing the town’s economy, the fishing of other sea creatures along with salmon started doubling and almost tripling the economy.

But with great things sometimes tragic and even devastating things follow. The 1964 earthquake was a perfect example of this. The Salmon industry was at the top of its game when that faithful morning on March 27, Friday of 1964 a terrible earthquake hit Alaska. Homer was completely shaken by this horrific incident the Homer Spit had sunk a couple of feet and the canneries that were placed in Seldovia were destroyed forcing the people from Seldovia to Homer. This was final push to making Homer a first class city. This was announced a couple of day later after the earthquake had hit.

Homer’s history may not be as action packed as any other city but it is our little town filled with people and big stories. Homer may not be perfect in any means but it is where most of us grew up made friends and lost them. It is really where the land ends and the sea begins.

By BRETT MERROW

Big Brother’s Big Sister’s has been a continuous exercise in positive influence on our youth all throughout Homer. It provides a safe, solid environment for children to learn and grow through mentoring with a caring friend, or Big, who can give them the nurture and encouragement they need to dream big and go far.

Homer High recently offered F.O.L’s for students wanting to participate or even be a big brother or sister to a child. Community-based mentoring is easy, and can change children’s lives through simple, enjoyable activities. These can be anything from sharing a pizza with your “Little,” or taking a walk in the park. As well as being a wonderful experience for the Little’s, this also counts as volunteer hours at Homer High School, of which 40 are required to graduate by district policy. This means it is beneficial to everyone involved in the program.

The University of Colorado at Boulder has named BBBS a “BluePrint for Violence Prevention,” which is a program developed for identifying organizations with the most violence-preventing potential. Forbes has also named Big Brothers Big Sisters as one of the top ten most efficient charities for focusing its resources on its mission.

According to the Big Brothers Big Sisters website, their goal as an organization is to provide a way for at-risk youth to achieve: “Higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships; to increase avoidance of risky or ill-willed behaviors, and to promote educational success.”

The organization has been helping children across America since 1901, when it started as the first New York Children’s Court.  It has always aimed towards the youth of our country; providing them the help they need.

Anyone wanting to get involved with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Alaska has plenty of opportunities. You can be a big, volunteer, or donate.  Even something as simple as $1 will help; this is a non-profit program. In fact, one easy way to help is by donating clothes. There is a BBBS donation bin located in the parking lot of Safeway and Ulmers. Any and all help will have a positive impact, and the smallest gift will go towards someone great.

By HALEY BOND and SIERRA DELOACH

HOMER, Alaska — Homer High School likes to think of itself as bully-free, but every school will have some bullies, regardless of the measures taken against bullying. It’s true that not much is reported here, and what is reported is taken care of. The biggest problem our school faces is including every type of person in activities, especially those outside the average student’s circle of friends.

There is more to bullying than meets the eye. It’s generally depicted as a pack against a single victim, though more often than not it’s one-on-one, and 64 percent of students in the U.S. will not report, according to the National Bullying Prevention Center. “I think that a lot of kids feel that if they tell somebody, it’ll get worse,” Homer High counselor Linda Hampson said.

Here at Homer High, it rarely gets to a point where faculty intervenes, because many students will take care of it themselves. Monica Stockburger explains that many freshman come to HHS with certain behaviors that are unintentionally hurtful, and many upperclassmen will take the time to straighten it out, when they see it.

Both Stockburger and Principal Waclawski agreed that most of the time, the student isn’t aware that they’re bullying.

Most people concur that the main types of bullying here are feuds between friends and ex-boyfriends or girlfriends, problems with individuality, and feeling rejected. They believe that many students just don’t feel accepted here.

“I would hope that everyone in school would feel welcome and accepted for who they are,” nurse Sharon Gorman expressed.

Gorman revealed that the problem she sees most regularly is depression, and that she sees a student on almost a weekly basis to talk about it. She encourages all students to seek counseling or other help for any such issues.

Victims can suffer from a myriad of side effects of bullying, such as lack of sleep and appetite, trouble focusing on school or other work, little to no interest in any activities within the school or community, and increased risk of severe anxiety or depression. According to a study by the National Education Association, over 160 thousand students miss school every day to avoid being bullied. “It’s like monsters in the dark,” Hampson added.