Freshmen Margaret Morrell and Hannah Purcell cut their cake. Photo by Paulina Rendon.

For hundreds of years, scientists have attempted to explain how the world came to be. In the early 1900s, a German scientist named Alfred Wegener came up with one of the most popular theories for the world being as it is today; the theory of Pangaea.

Pangaea is the idea that all the continents in the world used to be connected as one land mass and later broke apart to become separate land masses because of continental drift caused by the plates moving under the Earth’s crust. This year marks the hundredth anniversary of the Alfred’s theory of continental drift, and Gini Greenlaw and her Honors Earth Science students threw a party in his honor.

“We had the idea of having a hundredth anniversary party for the theory of plate tectonics and continental drifts,” Greenlaw’s student teacher, Mel Lawlor said. “Each student was able to plan how they wanted to represent it and they brought in cakes and other different kinds of treats.”

Many students baked cakes that depicted the giant land mass Alfred believed the world used to be. Other students brought soda or other drinks.

“We baked four different cakes and layered them on each other to make represent the different layers of the earth,” freshman Hannah Purcell said.

Purcell and her partner, freshman Margaret Morrell created the four-layered rainbow cake to represent the Earth and the different layers of crust.

“The four different cakes were different colors to describe each layer,” Morrell said.

Riots in Egypt killed over 70 people. Photo from Wikimedia Commons and Jerry Jackson.

According to Al- Ahram, a reputable Egyptian news source, 74 people died and hundreds were injured in Port Said, Egypt during a riot at a soccer game yesterday. The soccer game between teams Al-Ahly and Al-Masry was part of the Egyptian Soccer clubs cup. People don’t know exactly why those young people died (many were just teenagers), but claims are that the Port Saidian police let the event happen and did not interfere. The Egyptian government said it will be investigating to find out more about the riot.

People commentating on this incident on Egyptian news sites are also blaming the Egyptian military for not providing protection for the spectators. The riot started at the end of the soccer game when Al-Masry’s (the winning team) spectators attacked the Al-Ahly fans. Many Egyptians claim that the massacre was planned and is part of a plan to unleash chaos on the Egyptian streets. Also according to Al-Ahram, the Port Saidian governor has resigned and the Egyptian Clubs soccer cup has been canceled indefinitely.

The forensics team competed in the VHSL district compeition. Image via vhsl.org

On Tuesday January 31st, the HHS forensics team took part in the VHSL district competition in Waynesboro, Virginia. The meet was held at Waynesboro High School. To continue on to regional competition, students had to place in the top 3 of their category.

Freshman Mia Karr placed first in impromptu speaking. In that category, students must compose speeches based on random topics they are given such as shopping or Pippa Middleton.

“I was really excited. Before, I was just hoping I would place in the top three. It was unexpected,” Karr said.

In the end, Seniors Lindsey Carpenter and Ama Ansah, Freshman Mia Karr, and Sophomore Tyler Edwards all placed first in their categories.  Senior Allison McKenzie and Sophomore Daelyn McCleave placed second in their categories. Sophomores Deb Halpern and Ellen Upton placed third in Humorous Duo Interpretation while Freshman Anna Dick placed third in Serious Dramatic interpretation. All these students will be going to regional competition on February 25th.

“I’m really excited. I don’t know what to expect because I’m not sure how the competition will increase,” Karr said.

McKenzie is also stoked for the next competition. “I’m super pumped,” McKenzie said. “I’m really proud of my team.”

Paterno was head coach for 46 years. Photo courtesy of espn.com

In the late hours of last night, rumors were going around on social networks saying that  legendary coach Joe Paterno had died at the age of 85.  I was in shock.  I knew that over the past month he had been diagnosed with lung cancer, but I had no idea it was this bad already.  The rumors were proven to be untrue when his son tweeted that his father had not passed away, and his family released a statement saing that he was in serious condition and his family had gathered at his bedside in the hospital. It was sad to see these rumors last night. When his death finally did come later this morning, it was unfortunate that his memory could be tarnished by the mysterious role that Joe Pa did or did not play in the Jerry Sandusky Penn State child abuse situation.
Paterno had been at Penn State for the last 61 years.  For the first 15 of those years, he was an assistant coach to his old college coach Rip Engle before getting the head job where he has been the last 46 years.  In those 46 years of coaching, he has lead the university to 409 career wins, the most wins of all time by any college level coach.  Such records and tenures as a head coach will never be reached again.  No longer do schools keep coaches after a few losing seasons.

Amid the Penn State sexual abuse scandal, Joe Pa was put in the spotlight which in the end led to his firing in late November.  The University basically cleaned house as they also fired the Athletic Director, President and many more people. When this news broke, people went crazy, riots erupted on campus and many former players showed their support of Paterno by cutting ties with Penn State.  A few weeks after this happened, the Paterno family came out and said that Joe had been diagnosed with a form of lung cancer.  Now, two months after his firing, Joe has passed away.

I don’t believe that the cancer killed Joe, I think that it was Penn State football. When the termination went down, the school fired him by phone. They sent a carrier with a message to his house just off campus with a number for Paterno to call.  Is this the way that someone who was the focal point of the school, who lived and breathed Penn State football for the past 61 years should have been fired? This broke the heart of a man who gave his all to a school for the majority of his life.  While I watch stars such a Mike Ditka, Lou Holtz, Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit, Nick Saban and Coach K on ESPN this morning, they all believe the same thing.  Musburger is one of the hosts of College Football Live and covered many Penn State games and knew Paterno well.  While talking to Paterno one day, he said that he asked him why it was taking him so long to step down?  Paterno replied with an answer that just jerks at your emotions. Paterno said he was afraid to retire after legendary coach Bear Bryant at Alabama died very soon after retirement. He also said that he didn’t like to golf and he wasn’t a fisherman; his one hobby was football and that is what kept him going.

Everyone who spoke of Joe Pa also called him a father figure.  People who went to Penn State almost had a certain type of swagger when they came out.  This was a coach who over his years put nearly 300 players into the NFL.  Penn State was always a winning program and Joe Pa taught his players how to become men at such a crucial age.

”My first thoughts about Joe are not as a coach because he was well beyond that. He was an educator and a teacher. He taught lessons, some about football, mostly about life. He taught us how to treat others and how to conduct life. He did it with his life,” said former Penn State linebacker Matt Millen in a interview with Fox Sports.

I can’t sit here and say that whatever happened in the sex scandal and whether his role was right or wrong, because at this time we still don’t know the details. However, it does hurt to see a legend die in such a way even when he wasn’t the man behind the actions. Joseph Vincent Paterno will go down in my book as the best college coach of all time. The memories of his smile and his high-water pants will always be around.  He is a true definition of a man who lived and was loyal to a university which is something that is hard to find today since everything is about money. The statue in front of Beaver Stadium will always hold a memory of a soldier, a player, coach and a father.  R.I.P Joe Pa 1926-2012.

“[I do Forensics because] I like public speaking. I like drama- its similar, but a little less time consuming,” freshman and new team member Harmison said.

The Forensics and debate teams combined took home a trophy for second place large school of the tournament, and second place large school for the whole season.Walton enjoys forensics not just because of the meets, but because of the students as well.

“[I like] getting to interact with some really cool kids that I wouldn’t get to interact with otherwise,” Walton added. Forensics team members practice once a week with the coaches or captains.
Team captain Lindsey Carpenter was ecstatic about the team taking home so many awards.
“It feels so good [to win],” co-captain Lindsey Carpenter said, “I’ve been waiting the whole year for this. I’m really glad I finished off this part of the season and start districts with a good rank and a good feel for my piece.”

The team will begin competing in the Virginia High School League Forensics competitions later this January.

Republican candidates meet at a debate earlier this year. Photo courtesy of the Atlantic Wire

The New Hampshire Polls open today, and before long, reality will come crashing through a day full of lofty expectations.
Mitt Romney will unquestionably win New Hampshire. Despite the recent slew of attacks against Romney’s character, business ethics, and patriotism, he has too many supporters to place second. Despite the apparent lack of competition, the real question is who will come in second.
For Ron Paul, a favorable showing will put him up as the only possible contender against Mitt Romney able to run a national campaign (Though his libertarian ideals will never win him the nomination). For Jon Huntsman, failing to place second will mean that his entire campaign effort in New Hampshire will be for nothing, and he will have to drop out. Rick Santorum failing to place second forces him to fall back to South Carolina, where Romney has been gaining surprisingly fast in the polls. Failure to get a first place finish in South Carolina will force him to drop out. Newt Gingrich isn’t truly competing in the race anymore, he’s just trying to destroy Romney’s credibility. And as for Rick Perry, well, he should just drop out and save himself the trouble.
Though it’s do or die time for many candidates, arguably the most desperate is Jon Huntsman. After focusing all of his campaign funds on New Hampshire, failing to succeed dooms him in further primaries. Recent debate performances and some very charismatic remarks have Huntsman finally gaining his “anti-Romney boom,” but the question is whether or not it will be sufficient.
Today brings with it stress, frayed hairs, and the end of the road for many of the Republican candidates. Only time will tell who they will be.

Mitt Romney won a close victory in the Iowa Caucus by only eight votes. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Naysayers who criticize the power of a single vote, stand aside.

Yesterday, Mitt Romney defeats Rick Santorum in one of the most disputed Iowa caucus elections in history, winning 30,015 votes to Santorum’s 30,007. Though Santorum’s recent surge in the polls gave him a chance to win Iowa’s caucus, many voters believe that Santorum will be unable to continue his success on a national level.

Iowa’s caucus was also a success for Rep. Ron Paul, who polled in at 21%, behind the 25% of Romney and Santorum. However, the success of these three candidates wasn’t shared by all the challengers. Rick Perry placed 5th with 10% of the vote. Perry returned to Texas after the caucus, saying he would “determine if there was a path forward” for his campaign. Michelle Bachman, and early straw poll winner, came in at only 5%.

New Gingrich, who held a decisive lead in the polls only a few weeks ago, gathered 13% of the vote after a slew of negative campaign ads from Romney sent his campaign spiraling down just as fast as it surged up. Gingrich twice referred to Romney as a “liar” on the CBS morning show, and criticized Romney’s use of campaign ads, while promising to run a positive campaign himself.

Jon Hunstman, who chose not to Campaign in Iowa, garnered 1% of the vote. Hunstman chose instead to focus on New Hampshire, which will be holding primaries on January 9th.

Students enjoy a pizza party in celebration of their volunteer efforts. Photo by Nahla Aboutabl.

The diversity at Harrisonburg High School results in the many languages that are spoken by students and their parents. So naturally, when Parent’s-Teacher conference day came, many students volunteered to translate for those parents who don’t speak or understand English. The students were assigned to public schools in the Harrisonburg area and went around to different rooms where they were needed. Principal Tracey Shaver held a pizza party on December 5 in appreciation of the volunteer students. The appreciation ceremony was held during all three lunches that day.

Students that volunteered helped interpret what teachers said to parents about their children. Languages that were needed were Spanish, Arabic, Russian,Kurdish, and Ukrainian. One student who volunteered, junior Noura Abdullah, did so to help families who knew Arabic but didn’t understand English.

“I went to Smithland middle school, and Skyline and Spots Wood elementary schools. It was fun and I helped interpret for anyone who needed help understanding English. I would go again,” Abdullah said.

Interpreting isn’t always easy though, and sometimes volunteers have to really be careful what they say so that they’re not misunderstood.

“There was actually one man who thought I was racist because he didn’t hear me correctly. That was terrifying,” Abdullah said.

Junior Vera Shindyapin also went to help out her community. She helped interpret English to Russian.

“I interpreted for a lot of families, but I also helped show people around the schools I was at,” Shindyapin said. She volunteered at Smithland Elementary and Skyline Middle School.

“I had a lot of fun and I would definitely do it again. Interpreting and volunteering helps build your resume and it’s really good for your community,” Shindyapin said.

HHS principle Tracey Shaver was attended all three lunch ceremonies to congratulate students on volunteering.

“Those student worked hard to meet the needs of our community. There are so many cultures here in the city and quite often parents are not familiar with English, so to be able to interpret for those families is really a positive thing,” Shaver said.

Jeremy Aldrich, the Harrisonburg City Public School System Foreign Language Coordinator, also attended the ceremony.

“Interpreting is really good for the families. These students did a great job in using their language skills to benefit others. Interpretation is a valuable skill to have and with the proper training, it can be used to help others,” Aldrich said.
Yolanda Blake, a home school liaison, contacted many students who were bilingual to ask if they could volunteer on Parent-Teacher conference day. She also trained students so that they could do their best when interpreting.

“The training orientation is informal, but it helps students understand the basics of interpretation. I tell students that everything they interpret is confidential and that they should be respectful when at the conferences” Blake said.

Many students attended the ceremonies and were glad to have helped their communities and their schools. Schools in the area were very appreciative of the volunteers and sent emails to Blake to thank her for the volunteer interpretation program.

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One Virginia Tech policeman and the gunman were killed on Thursday. Photo by Jack Burden

Violence returned to Virginia Tech last Thursday when two people were shot dead: a campus police officer and the gunman himself. The school that felt the effects of the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history had recovered well since 2007.  However, Virginia Tech, as well as the rest of Virginia, is still suffering from the effects of yesterdays suicide shooter.

“I was scared to death,” said Bailey Swayne a sophomore at Harrisonburg High School. “I was on the bus when I first found out, and my first thoughts were ‘I need to call my sister’”.

Thankfully after a brief conversation, he found his sister safe and locked up in her room, but the thought of the 2007 incident along side this current one is pushing many people into a sense of distrust for the security of Virginia Tech.

“I think that the security there need to be improved, because next time my sister may not be as lucky,” said Swayne.

Another effected student here at Harrisonburg High School is senior Catlin Kelly.

Overall we need to be supportive of our family here in school, and recognize the painful memories they are going through.