I read your editorial Recycling: It’s Everyone’s Responsibility Let’s Restore the Will (May 2, 2007) with great interest.  As a member of the Environmental Services Councils, Education Task Force, we worked very hard to have a policy in the Falls Church School system that was finally passed about five years ago that says:

RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

The Falls Church City School Board is aware of the increasing stress placed upon our natural environment both locally and globally.  The Board believes that serious attention must be given to how routine behavior impacts the environment and our children's future.  The Board understands that changes in habits in all the locations of human activity, including schools, can help reduce the negative impact which human activity places on the natural environment.  Modeling positive behavior, incorporating discussion of recycling and waste management into the instructional program where practicable, and supporting student activities such as ecology clubs, are important parts of an approach.

As part of a comprehensive approach to recycling and waste management, the Falls Church City Public Schools will:

1.      designate personnel to implement recycling and waste management practices
2.      collect recyclable materials
3.      consider the purchasing of recycled products
4.      discourage the use of non-recyclable, non re-useable, or environmentally hazardous materials and
5.      maintain litter free school grounds and provide for outdoor recycling containers.

The Superintendent is authorized to issue regulations to implement this policy.

Also the Falls Church Lions Club donated over 100 recycling containers to GM about ten years ago.  All of this was in hopes that Recycling would catch on in our school system.  But here is an example where it will take "Student Leadership" to make it work.  The Environmental Services Council and the Falls Church Lions Club are ready to help again, but without the students behind the effort I don't think it will ever happen in our school system.

Barry Buschow, GM Class of 1967

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May 31, 2007

Editor:

I would like to congratulate you on your recent article reminding students and staff about the importance of recycling at GMHS!  Great job!  If you would like any further help or information about recycling, please feel free to contact me.  Thanks,

Kathy Allan

Environmental Programs Specialist and Recycling Coordinator
Department of Environmental Services
City of Falls Church, Virginia
300 Park Avenue
Falls Church, VA 22046

Editor:
Thank You, Faculty

            This year’s junior/senior prom was…well…uncomfortable.  With an exception to the great venue and glamorous decorations, I can easily say that of all the dances George Mason High School has held, this was by far the worst.

            Walking in to the Clarendon Ballroom was like walking into “old Hollywood”, but as soon as my prom group arrived, which was rather late, there was hardly a single person dancing.  When my friends and I got on the dance floor when we heard one of our favorite songs start to play, I found out why no one had been dancing.  The faculty simply wouldn’t let us.

            According to the rules listed on the GMHS website…

“Students are expected to be respectful of each other on the dance floor and responsive to prompts from chaperones. The direction that students are facing while dancing, and whether they are dancing alone, in pairs, or in groups is not cause for concern unless a group is so large as to prevent chaperones from properly supervising the dancing and interactions.  On the other hand, excessive contact, inappropriate touching, groping, and sexual simulations will be cause for time off the dance floor, parent contact, or dismissal from the dance and may result in additional school sanctions.”

            These rules are understandable and can be easily abided.  However, the way the faculty placed themselves in the middle of the dance floor and broke up any group that formed made it extremely difficult to do anything without feeling completely mortified.  The faculty made efforts to break up the dancing because of assumptions that the way we were dancing would turn into any of the various inappropriate actions listed above.  I was at the first meeting to discuss the “dancing issue”, and we (the faculty and the students) all seemed to be in agreement of what was appropriate and what wasn’t.  However, the dancing we seemed to agree on being appropriate was the dancing that was being broken up.  The students are supposed to trust their school’s faculty, but how can we do that if our faculty doesn’t seem to trust us. 

            It was also presumed that because it is a junior/senior prom, the students in attendance would be treated with a little more respect due to our more mature age compared to those that were in attendance at the 2006 Homecoming Dance, when the “dancing issue” originated.  Since I am 18 years old, and a legal adult along with a large portion of our senior class, I was embarrassed and upset because of how awkward I was feeling while I was dancing.  Being an adult, I felt demeaned having teachers stare at me the entire time like I was doing something wrong, when all I was trying to do was dance.

When the threats arose to stop playing today’s top music that we were all used to, I was outraged along with my peers.  This was supposed to be our prom, it is called the junior/senior prom…isn’t it?  When the music I was accustomed and partial to came to a stop, so did my dancing.  I don’t like dancing to music my parents listened to at their prom.  I’d rather listen to today’s music, music I like.

            I had thought that, being a senior, my last prom would be amazing and unforgettable.  The time and money spent preparing for that night along with the usual school spirit encouraging us to look forward to prom, only fueled my anticipation that it would be one night I will never forget.  Well, I will never forget my last dance, but not in the way I would have liked. 

            So, finally, I would like to thank the faculty for an unforgettable evening, I swear, I will never forget it.

Editor,

I enjoyed reading the article titled, “Leaving the Classroom to Discover What Is Out There.”

I am Mrs. Herrington, the International Relations teacher at George Mason. I absolutely agree with taking advantage of the local resources that we have available to us. I have tried to do my part in accomplishing that goal.

I have taken my International Relations class on field trips to the World Bank, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the U.S. State Department and the Pentagon. At both the State Department and Pentagon, the students met with top policy makers and had the opportunity to ask them questions about their respective fields. These topics included Iraq, Iran, Israel, North Korea and Sudan. They even had the opportunity to listen to the current Acting Secretary of the Army speak about the U.S. role in Iraq.

In addition, we have had the privilege to host numerous guest speakers. For instance, we learned about the political currents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from Mr. John Katunga, an OSI Policy Scholar. Mr. Peter Gantz explained his position as a Peacekeeping Associate with Refugees International. William K. Davis, as the Director of the United Nations Information Center, explained the role of the UN in current foreign affairs. Furthermore, Tom Sheehy, as the staff director of the Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation of the Committee on International Relations in the U.S. House of Representatives taught us about the role of congress in fighting the “war on terror”. And lastly, Joanna Lewis, a Senior International Fellow at the Pew Center on Global Climate Change spoke to us about Global Warming and the impact the international community has on this issue.

Once again, I agree that we have a unique gift with our proximity to our nation’s capital and all it has to offer. I will continue to try to expand my classroom to include these opportunities. 

Thank you,
Holly Herrington

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Dear Editor,

Congratulations to Lasso Online for reaching the 250,000 milestone—a momentous achievement.  The decision to transform Lasso into an online paper turned out to be a good one.  It’s wonderful to see that Lasso Online has become such a success.  Thank you so much for your continued dedication and effort.

Although it’s been five years since I graduated from Mason, I still check Lasso on a regular basis.  In fact, I read it more often than I read the online version of my college newspaper, the Earlham Word.  While acknowledging my own biases, I believe that the Lasso Online far surpasses the Earlham Word in content, layout, and journalistic quality.  Keep up the good work!

Sincerely,

Juliana Pearson
GMHS ‘02

Dear Editor:

I have a few observations about the Ted Peetz’s thoughtful commentary regarding the BCS.

Although his preference is for a playoff, that option is not likely unless the college presidents who control the situation have a complete change of heart.  So let’s compare the BCS to the system that was in place previously.  Football rankings were the subjective judgment of sportswriters and coaches.  While I agree that both these groups possess expertise, they also are subject to human bias and subjectivity.  They systematically rewarded the large schools with strong football traditions.  While no attempt was made to quantify strength of schedule, some conferences were considered stronger than others.  Independents, other than Notre Dame, were routinely dismissed.  In 1969 Texas was crowned champion while unbeaten Penn State was ignored. 

The previous poll system was not immune to disagreements and controversy regarding final ranking. The seventies saw different teams ranked #1 by competing polls in 70, 73, 74, and 78.  More recently, the writers and coaches disagreed in 90 (Colorado, Georgia Tech), 91 (Miami, Washington), and 97 (Michigan, Nebraska).   I believe that the addition of objective data to subjective opinion was on the whole a positive step.  Look at how colleges have added stronger opponents to their schedules to improve their BCS position.   This has been good for the game. 

I also question the self interest of the sportswriters and coaches whose opinions are now only part of the final rankings.  I don’t remember their lobbying for a playoff with any of the current intensity as long as they were in charge.

Finally, let’s consider a playoff.  While I personally would love an extra few weeks of college football, perhaps interest in the regular season would be reduced.  How many people discuss college basketball until March rolls around.  Under the BCS system every weekend is important in football and general interest heightened.  Fans engage in ‘what if’ discussions endlessly.   If a playoff system is not an option as college presidents maintain, what should replace the BCS?  Do we give it back to the ‘kingmakers?”

Eileen Backofen

Miss Bracken,

I enjoyed reading your article on your appreciation of country music.  My son is a freshman at Terre Haute (IN) South High School.  He has a pretty wide taste in music, which includes various country songs and artists. 

Like you, I started to really appreciate country music as a high school student 1980 and 1981.  Before high school back then, it just wasn't cool to even appear to like country music.  It's interesting that you mentioned George Strait in your article, because one of the songs that really helped get me hooked on country at that time was "Unwound," which is an early George Strait classic.

Ultimately, I became a big Merle Haggard fan.  I like him because I really enjoyed the low tones of his voice, as well as the fact that he was a singer-songwriter.  I realize that you may have never listened to much of Merle's stuff, but you should give it a try.  Try listening to some of his 80s stuff, such as "Someday When Things Are Good," "That's The Way Love Goes," or "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink."  If George Strait is too twangy for your liking, then Merle will be "off the charts" twangy.  But you like Garth, who is also very twangy and has a cry in the voice like Merle (although Garth has too much cry in his voice, in my opinion).

I might also suggest that you give a listen to The Bellamy Brothers Greatest Hits.  It's a great collection of "Tears" and "Cheers."

Timothy R. Hayes
Attorney at Law
Terre Haute, IN

Dear Editor,
Today quite a few cowboys, cowgirls and robbers roamed the halls- however; this was not a Western jailbreak- the long anticipated Homecoming Spirit week has started. It’s always fun to see your friends dress up, and to chide the more fashionable students for their “lack of spirit,” but is there something we’re missing behind the bandannas and spandex?

Weeks before anything was planned or announced, students were already talking about Homecoming; the girls about the dresses they need to buy, and the guys about the girls they need to ask. Friends plan fun parties afterwards, and everyone gets pumped for the football game. But, even with the red and black war paint on, what makes us all have this often mentioned “school spirit”? As obvious as it might sound, George Mason high school is a community of thinkers, learners, and the unique.

During Spirit Week the school seems more united, more excited to be a part of something big, but for the rest of the year, does the fact that we are all a community even cross our minds? To be frankly honest, I usually don’t think twice about smiling at people or asking someone if they need help with carrying their things on the way to my classes. But .  .  . if we really think about it, being an accepting, open group is what George Mason should be all about. During the long, tedious class conversations, we get swamped with terms like “respect, “community,” “cooperating for success”-- you get the picture. However, if we want to make a change in the environment we are forced by law to spend about 56 hours a week in, we have to do something ourselves. Yes, making George Mason a place where seniors can help out Greats and Freshmen, people always have someone to sit with at lunch, and attending every game possible and screaming your lungs out is a daunting task.

But, I think we’re off to a good start. Hopefully this Spirit Week we won’t focus only on who is asking who to the dance, or who looks hotter in their pirate gear. This year might be the year where spirit week never really stops--where grades have class pride, people come to events and have fun, and the school is excited until the bell on the last day rings. I hope that this week you have lots of fun and show your school spirit, but also think about what it means to be a Mustang year round. So get ready for Disney Day, and GO MASON!

Ana Petillo

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