As a new semester begins, students notice the hall passes have changed.
The new hall passes are only valid for semester two of the 2014-2015 school year. The new passes are white instead of maroon and clearly state “Semester 2” on them.
The old hall passes will no longer be accepted, and teachers have already been given the newer ones to allow students to use.
The Brunswick Blue Devils visited the James G. Tyree Gym to face off against the Stow Bulldogs in an exhibition wrestling match. The dual meet took place on January 22. The Bulldogs were looking to bounce back after only taking 15th overall at the Bill Dies Tournament last weekend.
The match began in the lightweights and a 106-pound intense duel between Logan Reiheld of Stow and Joe Cacuzza of Brunswick started the meet off. Reiheld emerged victorious in an 8-6 decision, making the team score 3-0 in favor of Stow.
The following match was at 113 pounds, John Koneval versus DJ Skiba. Skiba was able to take the win in comfortable fashion, taking the score to 8-1 before his first period pin in 1:32, giving Brunswick the 6-3 overall lead.
Next up was Luke Black facing Branton Lantz at 120. Black was victorious in a 4-1 win, tying the team score up at 6-6.
Then it was 126, Justin George and his counterpart Thomas Castenoda were locked in a close one until Castenoda was able to secure the 11-7 victory. The team score became 6-9.
Anthony Valore, returning from earning eighth place at the Bill Dies Tournament, was looking to keep his momentum going facing off against Josh Heil. The match was one sided from the start. Heil took the score to 17-4 before he pinned Valore with 15 seconds left in the second period, increasing the Blue Devil’s lead to 15-6.
The middleweights started in a 138-pound match with Billy Muncy and Nick Kuissis. Kuissis was in control the entire match, finishing Muncy off by way of pin with 59 seconds left in the second period. Brunswick’s team score grew to 21-6.
Joey Andrassy and Austin Fallon had their skirmish at the 145-pound weight class. Andrassy, who took sixth at the Bill Dies Tournament, and his counterpart were unable to score any points in the first period. The nail-biting match ended in favor of Andrassy 2-1. Stow was back on the board, chipping away at the lead making the team score 21-9.
At 152, Logan Emery wrestled Cade Bonds. Bonds won the match by major decision 15-5. Turning the score into 25-9.
Bill Dies Tournament 160-pound fifth place wrestler Nick Planicka was up against Frank Tusick. In a tight one, Tusick was victorious in a 3-1 win, again increasing Brunswick’s total score to 28-9.
170-pound Travis Bodjanac grappled with Brandon Bryant. Bryant walked away with the easy win by pin in 1:31. The team score then became 34-9.
The heavyweight classes began in a quick, 182-pound pin by Mike Bekney who defeated Kiyal Izaldine in 45 seconds. Making the team score an incredible 40-9 in favor of Brunswick.
The 195-pound weight class, with Aaron Naples, granted Brunswick with a free six team points due to forfeit. Team scores 46-9.
Brian Baranowski was defeated at the 220 pound weight class by Collin Sustersic 5-2. Making Brunswick’s lead 49-9.
Even with the insurmountable 40 point lead, heavyweight Jared Tatgenhorst seemed unfazed. He hastily pinned Mike Fontana in 1:42, bringing the final team score to 49-15 in favor of Brunswick.
On Jan. 23rd beginning promptly at 9:06pm, President Barack Obama made his way down the aisle of the Capitol building, thus beginning The State of the Union.
The State of The Union Address is an annual, formal speech made by the president to Congress as well as the rest of the viewing nation. Within this one-and-a-half to two-hour address, the president takes careful time to note the progress made by the country in the past year as well as the aspirations for the upcoming year.
2015 marks the second-to-last State of the Union for President Obama but despite the end of his second term as president coming to a close, he has shown no less enthusiasm about where he intends to lead the country.
Topics in this year’s address included relations with Cuba, cybersecurity and the war on terror. Though, it was President Obama’s proposal of free community college that has sparked the interest of many young people.
“Two out of three jobs require some higher education,” said President Obama.
With the average fees for attending a public university averaging around twenty-thousand dollars, the threat of student debt has discouraged many from obtaining a higher education. Regardless of the impact a four-year degree could make on a person’s job outlook, the financial risk has proven too great for some families.
Obama’s initial proposal included that free community college would be guaranteed to citizens wishing to obtain a higher education. In short, a person’s income should not make a person feel limited.
The counterarguments to the president’s proposal have been incredibly abundant. Questions are already being raised about where the funding for these free colleges will come from. Above all, it seems Congress is in disapproval of the notion and are unlikely to pass it but the necessity for change is, at least, being acknowledged.
Knowledge of the past always helps to prevent ignorance about the future. When Brown v. The Board of Education, a case that challenged the lawfulness of segregated schools, passed in 1954, African-Americans were given easier access to public education and greater opportunities for succeeding in life. To parallel this case with recent debate, the access to free community college can give those who cannot afford to go to college greater opportunities to succeed professionally.
The new discrimination in the education system, it seems, is based on income. Free education, while not the only option for low-income students, will make higher education an option for low-income high school graduates.
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING--Anyone can call the tip line: 1-844-723-3764 or email safehs@smfschools.org 