ncssm I the stentorian
news
february 2005 ■ 7
January Speeches and the Next Four Years
Emme Johnson
J anuary does not spring to
mind as a politically
important month. It is
overshadowed by the heat of
summer and fall campaigning
and the tension of the
November elections. However,
this past January marked two
very important political
events, the inauguration of the
President of the United States,
George W. Bush, and the inau
guration of the governor of
North Carolina,
Michael F. Easley.
Both of these men
were re-elected to
their respective
offices in November,
so these events were
not so much of inau
gurations of some
thing new, but recon-
firmations and state
ments of goals for the
next four years.
Governor Easley used his
inaugural speech to delineate
his agenda for his next term.
The governor was sworn in by
the Chief Justice of the North
Carolina Supreme Court, I.
Beverly Lake, on Saturday,
January 15, 2005, five days
prior to Bush’s inauguration.
The main focus of Governor
Easley’s speech was his con
tinuation of supporting educa
tion. During the past four
years, the governor has been a
strong advocate for education,
initiating programs such as
More at Four and the
Education First Task Force. In
his speech, Easley recognized
that North Carolina’s citizens
are living in troubled times,
particularly in the economic
realm, but declared that the
solution to the problems is to
“educate our people to navi
gate this sea of change and set
ihose in search of talented
people and creathra minds
know that they need look no
farther than within the her
ders of INorth Carolina!.
|mbl
all
a new and better course,”
to strengthen North
Carolina’s economy for the
future.
Easley not only mentioned
the necessity of gaining
knowledge fi"om education,
but also the importance of cre
ativity and skill-building. Even
when showing his support for
troops in Iraq, the governor
brought the focus back to edu
cation by stating that the best
way the citizens of North
Carolina can thank and respect
these individuals who are put
ting their lives on the line, is to
ensure that a strong
education system,
resulting in strong
economy, representing
traditional America
values, is in place to
provide a solid founda
tion for the troops.
Governor Easley
also stated that a quali
ty education
needs to be
available to
throughout the state,
so that “those in
search of talented
people and creative
minds know that they
need look no farther
than within the bor
ders of [North
Carolina].” He con
cluded with the asser
tion that greatness is
within reach of all North
Carolinians and all we must do
is take advantage of opportuni
ties to achieve it.
Five days later in front of
the United States Capitol,
before a crowd of 500,000,
President Bush was sworn in
by the Chief Justice of the
United States Supreme Court,
William H. Rehnquist. In his
speech. Bush focused on the
spread and protection of
democracy, both at home and
abroad. He stated,
“We have seen our vulnera
IR bis speoch, Bush focused
oufhe spread aud protec-
dou of democracy, both at
home aud abroad.
mill. H
bility - and we have seen its
deepest source. For as long as
whole regions of the world
simmer in resentment and
tyranny - prone to ideologies
that feed hatred and excuse
murder - violence will gath
er... There is only one force of
history that can break the reign
of hatred and resentment.. .and
that is the force of human free
dom.” ■
Bush used this statement
as a jumping off point to
declare that the only way
America can remain strong is
to work for liberty in the rest
of the world. Following this
opening. Bush outlined his
policies and plans to achieve
this goal in the next four years.
These efforts include the sup
port of democracy in nations
throughout the world without
infringing upon their native
culture, the support equal
treatment of humans through
out the world, improving the
quality and image
of life in the United
States through
strong education,
increased home and
business owner
ship, and the
widening of retire
ment savings and
health insurance.
Bush also stat
ed that the citizens
of America must be unified
and value the life we see in one
another. He closed saying,
“Renewed in our strength -
tested, but not weary - we are
ready for the greatest achieve
ments in the history of free
dom,” and invoking God’s
blessing over the nation.
Both of these speeches gave
a good indication of what the
future holds for North
Carolina and the United States
during these next four years
and a way to test whether these
officials will ultimately
accomplish what they have set
out to do.
Mirii-Tef m Madness
Ying Liu
H ow would you like
to visit China with
your Asian teach
ers? Or go to Disney
World with your favorite
physics teacher? If math
is more your thing, you
can explore origami, infin
ity and randomness. If you
like English you can read
Shakespeare.
Mini-Term is the
time of year where busy
science-and-mather’s can
explore an interest or just
have fun.
Trips are always a
favorite, and this year is
no different. There are
trips to Italy, France,
Germany, Greece, and
China. Students have pre
pared for months for these
trips and have learned a
little about the food and
language.
For those students
who prefer nature over
hotels, there is a trip to
Belize where students can
camp under the stars and
explore ecological sys
tems.
Other trips inside
the country include a trip
to Disney World with Dr.
Kolena. Groups are also
going to Washington D.C.
to tour the Russian
Embassy and the
Holocaust Museum. In
addition, there is a trip to
New York which will
allow students to learn
accounting.
While some stu
dents opt for a trip, many
will stayon campus. If
students wish to use Mini-
Term for academic class
es, there are many options.
For math lovers, there are
classes about origami,
sets, infinity and random
ness, and surreal numbers.
For science lovers, there is
an ecology class, an
organic chemistry class,
and a class about the
human genome and dis
ease.
Other students can
also enjoy literature and
culture. There are classes
where students can read
Shakespeare with Dr.
Miller and Mr.
Woodmansee or
Metamorphosis with Ms.
Moose. Students are also
learning about Irish cul
ture, Esperanto, local
Native Americans, and
Themes of French Films.
There are also
many independent studies
occurring on campus. As
in the past, a group of stu
dents are making a movie,
similar to a modern day
Medea. Caroline Saul and
Heidi Scronce are examin
ing the effects of exercise
on concentration by taking
SATs.
Another group is
watching films from, vari
ous decades and dis
cussing their impacts on
society. Senior Ryan
Mclinko is creating a com
puter simulation of the
Seize of khe-san from the
Vietnam War. Margaret
Wu and Lynn Tran are
studying fashion and mar
keting through the ages.
Juniors Calvin
Young and Emme
Johnston are playing the
violin and cello and will
be performing at a recital
for their final project.
Other seniors and juniors
will be experiencing life
in a commune.
Whatever your
choice for Mini-Term, it
will be great just to stop
classes and to relax. After
all, even if you’re taking
organic chemistry, it will
be better than six classes
and double labs.
2nd Bryan Fire
Kristoph Kleiner and Ying
Liu
O n January 9th, 2005
around 7:45pm,
more than 200 stu
dents reluctantly evacuated
BBR (Bryan, Beall,
Reynolds) thinking that it
was just another fire drill.
Unfortunately, this time it
was a real fire.
Three students from 2nd
Bryan had set fire to a toilet.
According to Harry Tucker,
the students sprayed their
Itoilet with
flamma-
b 1 e
spray
and set
it on
fire.
This
eventu
ally set
off the
fire
alarm in
their room.
The students were found
by an SLI and a security offi
cer. They noticed that the
background of one of their
computers had a picture of a
flaming toilet. All of the stu
dents confessed to the fire
and were put on emergency
suspension.
According to the Durham
Herald Sun, the students
were arrested and charged
with a class E felony. They
were later released to their
parents, and a trial date was
scheduled.
No one was hurt that day,
and the fire alarms worked as
hoped. However, Harry
Tucker warns that .the stu
dents could have set them
selves on fire or burned down
their room or even the'build-
ing. He concedes that the
students Jiad no criminal
intent and that it was proba
bly all a prank or a fun exper
iment.
AcGorilipg to the Herald
Sop, Hie studeofs were
arrested with a class E
felony.
Harry
Tucker
does
n o t
know
of any
event
i k e
this in
the
past.
Although the only damage
caused was a burnt toilet
seat, he says, “It can never be
emphasized enough; Fire
safety is the number one con
cern among residential set
tings. All students and staff
should report anyone that
endangers lives or property.”