Category Archives: Michael Pepin

Features, Michael Pepin

Media Center experiences changing purpose

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By Michael Pepin

The Media Center is as busy as always, filled with students cramming for a test, chatting with friends, and surfing the web. Ever since FC obtained a rebuilt library four years ago, its purpose has become more of a subject of discussion, as the students seeking books are far outnumbered by those simply seeking a place to hang or surf the web.

“I think that students feel like the library is a safe place to exchange information with their friends and research.  A lot of students come into the library in groups, or as a part of an entire classroom,” said media specialist Pamela Poe.  “The library has become more of a learning commons than anything else.”

Many students, including senior Brian Young, agree with Poe’s statement about the library.

“I use the library for anything from finding books, hanging out with friends, doing homework, studying for a test, checking my email, whatever I need to do.  It’s more than simply a place to checkout books now.” said Young.

In fact, Poe, media assistant Vince Goodman, and a number of students who regularly use the library, believe that the majority of students now come into the library for the computers rather than the books.

“The library has become more of a computer lab than anything, it’s easier to study on a computer than it is with books.  I think that in future years the library might have more computers than books,” said junior Seth Jenkins.

In fact, the library plans to follow through with the BYOD plan (bring your own device plan) to allow the usage of wireless readers and other devices in the library.  In addition, the media center is planning on stocking the library with several ebooks that will be available for checkout as well.

“I mean it’s in the name, they call it the media center now, not the library.  The library is eventually going to get rid of all the books and be just devices like ebook and computers.  It’s already started, I mean how often do you see people coming in to find a good book to read, and how often do you see someone coming in to log onto a computer.  People like the library because it is a computer lab with better access,” said junior Katie Davis.

However Poe has a different opinion on the future of the library.

“People come to the library because there is a greater access to information than anywhere else in the school, and having both forms of research available is why so many students come in.  Some do only use the library for the computers, but there will always be some who come in to discover an amazing book.  If it gets them through the door, then perhaps maybe they will end up picking up a book.  There is just no substitute for holding an actual book and being enthralled in a story, it’s timeless.”

JT Samart, Michael Pepin, Sports, Wrestling

Wrestling team finds success, sends senior Terrence Kennedy to state

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By Michael Pepin and JT  Samart

Update: Nick Ottersbach, Chase Herron and Kolton Popp were all selected to Honorable Mention for Academic All-State in wrestling.  Senior Terrence Kennedy has advanced to state competition by placing third in semi-state, the only one on the team to do so.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_nB8KsSR9o]

Features, Michael Pepin, News

Theater management changes affects students

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By Michael Pepin

Unbeknownst to many, over winter break the Great Escape 16 movie theater franchise was sold to Regal Cinemas.  With this sudden change in ownership, many students and workers are wondering what will change in the movie theater.

“I was surprised when I learned that Great Escape was gone, but I understood that the owners had a good reason to sell it.  I don’t think that Regal will be that different than Great Escape; in fact I think it might be a good change since they are now a larger company,” said senior Gannon Yeaton.

While the majority of people do not think there will be a large change, senior Michael Clark remarks that most people have not realized a lot of the change because they do not come often.

“I was hired a week after Great Escape changed to Regal Theater, around late December and early January.  While a lot of things haven’t changed, the rules and policy are a lot more strict due to the fact that we are now part of a large corporation rather than a family business,” said Clark.

However, some believe that the future changes Regal theater will enact will be beneficial to customers.

“People might miss the Great Escape name, but you have a lot more access to reward benefits.  Regal plays some of the smaller movies that you would not find otherwise, or monthly special feature shows like operas.  Regal also has a lot more wiggle room than Great Escape because they are so big,” said senior Katelyn Rowe.

For the students working at Great Escape, there are many changes that customers would not see.

“Clocking in for work is more complicated now, you have to sign into this computer and the hours are more set in stone than they were before.  Everything is a lot more uptight than it was before, and we even now have secret inspections where the district manager goes to the theater as a customer to evaluate how the service is.  There is a lot more pressure when you are working there now because you know everything is being tracked,” said Rowe.

Regal Theater does not plan on immediately changing the name of the theater due to the fact that they may lose customers and it costs an exorbitant amount.

“I see these changes being better in the future because Great Escape is now a large corporation, they have access to more resources and it makes it a better experience for viewers.  If someone didn’t know that Great Escape had changed hands, then I doubt they would be able to tell.  A movie theater will always be a movie theater, whether it is Regal or Great Escape,” said Clark.

Michael Pepin, Uncategorized

Football season starts early for eager athletes

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By Michael Pepin

Football season is months away, and yet the members of the football team are already training for the far off games with early conditioning.  Conditioning started around Thanksgiving for most of the team, who use their PE elective, Advanced Personal Conditioning (APC), in order to train during school hours.  For the rest of the team who have no room in their schedule, they come to football coach Brian Glesing Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays after school to avoid falling behind the rest of the team.  For many, such as junior Nick Uhl, conditioning begins when football season ends.

“The sooner you start getting better, the greater results. “If you take a long break, then you get out of shape and it takes a lot of effort to get back in shape and you lose a lot possible improvement,” said Uhl. “The training never really ends in Football.”

Staying in shape is the main goal of conditioning, so that players can be at optimal performance by the time the football season rolls around.

“Our goal is to keep playing as long as we can next season and win more games.  We were 2-8 this year which wasn’t good.  Football is so competitive that it is year round.  The team needs to be constantly building in order to succeed,” said Glesing.

The majority of the team takes APC  rather than coming after school to train.  In this class, they follow a rigid schedule of exercises designed to heighten their performance.  They begin stretches and form running exercises, and then move onto speed improvement activites and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, move to the weight room to lift.  They follow a specific program of sets and reps in certain exercises, but they always do the bench press and the squat.

“APC is a way to get faster and stronger while at the same time staying in shape for Football so we can do well.  It also brings the team together because everyone does it,” said junior Even Rue.

No one is technically required to attend or participate in the football conditioning, but it is highly recommended.

“It’s easy to tell if you aren’t doing conditioning because you get passed up by all the players who do.  It hurts the whole team when one person decides not to train or put forth the amount of effort he is capable of.  Also you have to run laps to make up for the work you missed when season begins,” said junior Brandon Stout.

There are no individualized workouts for players in conditioning, everyone goes through the same hardships, but this is why Rue claims that it brings the team together.

“Sometimes you never really want to be there, but you know its for the best and you go anyway.  I am for conditioning because it makes the whole team better,” said Stout, who agrees with Evan Rue that it brings the team together.

The football players will have an assessment of their progress in March this year and hope to beat their previous scores.  With the new season slowly approaching, every member on the football team is determined to make this season their best yet.

“I think it’s a great program…you are constantly working towards improvements and have the ability to track progress on a regular basis.  It also benefits the players themselves…it really begins to pay off when next season begins,” said Glesing.

Michael Pepin

Chess team prepares for future tournament

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By Michael Pepin

Every Monday and Tuesday after school, the members of the chess team hone their skills with the other members of the chess team week after week.

“We come every week so that we can play chess and practice for the tournament at the end of the season.  I like chess because it is a game that is not dependent on luck or chance; everything that happens is entirely on you, so success is greater because you know it wasn’t all hinged on the roll of a die or a card,” said senior Brian Young.

Young has been a member of the chess team ever since his freshman year, and has worked his way over the years to his place as first board of the chess team.

The scholastic tournament is the driving force for many of the members of the chess team, as it is an opportunity to put to use all the strategies and skills they have acquired over the past year with the chess team.

“We hope to win the tournament at the end of the year, where we play against a bunch of other students.  It is one of our top goals to win the tournament,” said junior Sam Glesing, who has been a member of the team for three years.

The chess tournament is between 20 different chess teams, as they battle for the title.

“It consists of five rounds and is held on two afternoons.  Each player has to play the clock and is given one hour for each game.  It is held in Atherton High School,” said German teacher and chess team sponsor Noel McRae.

Many members look up to past club members such as FC alumnus Chris Harbeson, who is considered one of the best players to compete on the chess team.

“I want to become a better tactician in chess through the chess team.  The team this year lacks the skill that one of its senior members, Chris, possessed, but there is a lot of potential with many members and we are almost on his skill level,” said Glesing.

Though the current chess team is competent, McRae said they will need hard work to attain their first place goal.

“The current team is in a good position to place second in their division. While the team is pretty good this year, players need to study the game to become outstanding, and I have a few players now who are willing to invest the time and effort needed to truly advance their game.  Players always get to a point where merely playing will cease to improve their game.  They’ll need to study the games of professional players, to get insight on truly effective strategy,” said McRae.