Last week, we printed an article about the stabbing that occurred after school on Wednesday, September 22. Since then, Miss Whipp has kindly agreed to talk to us about the incident which is now under police investigation. Due to the circumstances, she was not able to tell us very much, but told us what happened from the staff's point of view.
We now know that even though a student was quoted in The Toronto Star as saying that "everyone said there was supposed to be a fight," none of the staff, and not many of the students were aware of the conflict until it happened. "If we had heard something," Miss Whipp said, "we would naturally be outside."
However, the staff only found out about the fight after the student ran into the building for safety. At that point, the secretaries and teachers quickly administered first aid, and called for an ambulance.
We asked Miss Whipp why the camera at the front entrance of the school (the only one which was pointed in the general direction of the fight) was missing. She said that it had been stolen over the summer, and would be replaced some time this week. We don't know if it would have made any difference, though, because we don't know the exact camera angle.
Yesterday evening, a panel was held to assure students and parents that the school is still safe, and to answer any questions or concerns that the parents and students have. A more detailed report on the panel will be published next week, along with any new information about the fight.
Miss Whipp would like to remind all students that if they hear about an impending fight, they should immediately report it to the office or to CrimeStoppers at 222-TIPS. "It is our responsibility to look out for each other," she said.
MacNews Staff
We see terrible things happening in the news every day: poverty, war, death, and suffering. I think what probably bothers us more is not just seeing others in need, but believing that there is nothing we can do about it. Often, we'd rather point our fingers at other countries, other governments, or other people and ask why they aren't doing anything. Some of us may even pray to our God for some miracle, some answer. The truth is, the majority of the time, we are the miracle. We are the answer.
Don't wait for big institutions to act. Don't wait for "the big guys" to do the jobs. All of us can make vhanges in little ways every day in our own lives. For example, (and this may sound a little silly, but it is practical), donating change to charity boxes. It may seem like very little, but if you don't give, you won't even make a little difference. Of course many will choose to donate larger sums and goods. I suggest that if you choose to do so, it would be wise for you to make sure the foundation you're giving to is reliable and effective. Furthermore, many places require volunteers. You could join and help out in your free time and make a positive impact in your community. We can even make changes just by our attitutes like improving our family values (judging from many of the problems in our world, many of them spring from family problems), leading others by example, and respecting others regardless of their race, gender or background.
However, sometimes we don't have to actually go out to do good things. They can sometimes approach you. Don't be afraid to be a Good Samaritan and help out people. Just holding the door for someone or saying. "hi," could create a more positive atmosphere for all of us.
Peculiar Display
P.S.: This article is officially "lame but true". Back to top.
"I'm gonna dress you up in my love," "They call me mellow yellow," "I just can't get enough." These are three songs that have been playing mindlessly over and over in my head for the last few months. Actually, people have been singing those songs all the time, further drilling them into everyone's heads. What is the cause of this? The Gap a.k.a. Brainwash Central. Have you seen the kids in the commercial? Staring blankly at the screen, wearing the same three or four colours, telling the world that everyone should dress exactly like them.
According to The Gap, the entire world should be wearing vests cords, and leather. All the time, singing with no emotion. In unity.
A few years ago, many people were upset with Nike for posting Swooshes on everything in our society, stating that they were brainwashing people into buying their products. True, they may have gone overboard with that a bit, but they never came out and actually said "EVERYONE IN VESTS" or cords or leather! Now, that's what I call brainwashing!
Plus, do those "Gap Children Of The Corn" look like they're enjoying themselves? Half of them look like they're in some serious pain, by the awkward positions they're sitting in! The rest of them look like they'd rather be anywhere but in that commercial.
So, when The Gap decides to put video screen à la "1984" in everyone's homes to make sure they're all wearing Gap clothing, don't say I didn't warn you.
(Everyone in the nude) Stoopid Head
All those who attend JAM (John A. Macdonald) last year know that there was a security camera located above the main enterance of the school facing Pharmacy Ave. This camera was stolen over the summer, and we here at MacNews can't help but see the irony in it. We are also curious to see the tape of the camera being removed. The camera would be recording as usual and then start vibrating until the picture cut out. If you have any knowledge about the theft of the camera, call 333-SPIT.
Smutton
In wake of the school stabbing and Scarborough Bedroom Rapist, Mac students are starting to feel Toronto isn't all that safe. Well don't worry. Of the G7 nations (Canada, America, Japan, England, Germany, France, & Italy), Canada has the lowest crime rate.
You may be thinking, so what if Canada has the lowest crime rate of the G7, Toronto is still dangerous! It's not! Last year, only 64 people were murdered. That's a little over one a week. In New York on the other hand, 64 people were murdered last month. That's one every twelve hours.
So as you can obviously see, Toronto is still perty safe in comparison to the rest of the world.
Crazy Canuck
Picture day. Ahhh, the joys of checking your hair twenty times, making sure your eyeliner is not smudged, ensuring your eye shadow matches that new tank top that you bought the night before. The joys. All we can say is, "Thank God it's over!"
We hate picture day (possibly stemming from a childhood trauma), and we always will. In fact, we pitied all you, poor, naive suckers (we're talking to the females here, because we don't really know what the guys do) who crowded up the bathroom just to use the mirror (Thanks, by the way, for blocking and harassing everyone who simply wanted to use the freaking stall. This is, after all, what WASHROOMS are FOR!!). This, ladies and gentlemen, is f-----g moronic!! It's a tiny, itty, bitty, black and white picture. No one is going to look through the yearbook, and gasp in horror, "OHMIGOD!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE WORE BLUE EYE SHADOW WITH A PINK SHIRT!!!" Think about it! You can slather on the foundation, weigh your hair down with gel and mousse, apply twelve inches of lipstick, but no matter how perfect you try to make yourself, you will NEVER be happy with how the picture turns out. Never!! So, then stop bothering with it. If it's your graduation picture, alright we'll cut you some slack. But all you other people, give it up, for crying out loud!! Good god, NO ONE CARES!!!
For future reference, why not just be yourself? Why not just wear something comfortable, clean, and try to just look presentable? In the end, it's not about who has the most "attractive" picture, its about a student I.D. card (whop-dee-do!), and a yearbook picture, so that your friends can look back at your picture one day in the future and say, "Oh, there's (your name here). S/He was a good friend. S/He was a confident, supportive person, and I was lucky to have known Her/Him."
And if you know that your friends won't say that, that they'll look at your face and hair to pass judgement, then we suggest that you join some clubs and make some new friends.
Melo and Dramatic
It is common to find that the senior students at Macdonald C.I. have trouble getting enough sleep. They say 'homework' is what kept them up the previous night. It is not easy for an individual to balance their extra-curricular activities with homework and still have some sort of social life. However, all it takes is a little organization to balance one's life.
A good way to get into a routine is to make sure that you are rested when you run your errands. That might mean that you need to take a nap before starting your homework. It is good for your brain to take a ten to fifteen minute nap at about five in the afternoon. Try it!
I wake up in the morning and complete whatever homework I have not finished the night before. I find that I am more productive in the morning than in the night without the distractions in my house.
Each person has their own method for keeping on task in what they have to do. Try various things, making sure that you are comfortable and rested while doing your tasks. Go with what works until it stops working.
It is important to remember that if you don't work hard, you'll find that it'll be hard to find work.
Optimus
Greetings fellow Black Scots. As a student here at Mac, I'm sure that you probably have the same problem as I do. Passing class time constructively and efficiently. So now I present to you. . .
I realize that I have done more than 9 points but. . . but, oh hell those damn communists made me do it!!!!!!!!
SURLY
Hunger is a great pain. . . and today I was forced to go hungry!
I was sitting in the caf like the innocent angel that I am when I saw a large number of people carrying plates of fries which contained what looked like. . . well, KFC fries. I quickly stood in the line up, and I must add here that at this point I could clearly see that the fries were "more so crispy" than the usual fries.
I was filled with excitement because it was almost my turn and there seemed to be just enough fries left for me. But then. . . Tony (our caf man) disappeared to get more fries. But the new batch of fries was the usual flat kind of fries we always have. He dumped the flat fries on top of my dear crispies and. . . . and he then proceeded to mix the two. I asked him what had happened to the KFC--like fries. He gave me the evil dog look (you would know what I'm talking about if you saw the season premiere of The Simpsons) and then he said, "What fries? I don't know what fries you are talking about."
I have fone hungry ever since. If you have any information as to what exactly the story behind the selective distribution of these special fries is please let me know. . . I think I'm going to faint!
Braindead 2000
September 21st left I and many others broke as the release of the latest albums of Nine Inch Nails and Our Lady Peace went head-to-head in one of the biggest release dates of the year.
While different on the surface both albums have similarities that run skin deep. In The Fragile, Trent Reznor's music genius shines through two discs of beauty, power and rollercoaster like crescendo sounds. While the loud, power tracks like first single We're in this together become the big hits, it's the softer songs and piano ballads that will truly let you sit there and listen to this album. Unlike The Downward Spiral, The Fragile is a much more listening album, great for a dark fall evening.
While sonically OLP's release Hapiness Is Not A Fish You Can Catch may seem like a polar opposite, it too is a reinvention of the artist. While the radio singles are obvious (One Man Army and Lying Awake sound like Superman's Dead and Clumsy 2, respectively) songs like Stealing Babies and Thief become the non-radio songs that will capture the hearts of OLP fans who bother to listen to the rest of the album.
Ninch Inch Nails - The Fragile
**** 1/2
Our Lady Peace - Hapines Is Not A Fish You Can Catch
****
Nookie Monster (formerly Jaded and Elated)
Constantly tired, frusturated, and STRESSED. This is how I'm feeling. It seems like I never have time to finish my homework, even if I start right when I get home which never happens. The last three years in high school didn't really matter. You come home, and if you feel like it you do your homework, if you don't feel like it then the hell with it. However, this year the marks count. Universities are getting tougher and tougher to get into. All the happy go lucky friends that I have been going to school with for the last three to six years are all STRESSED out. Stress seems to be the word of choice for OAC students this year. Walking down the hall the past two weeks, stress is a word that I am constantly hearing. "Man I'm stressed," or "My God I can't deal with all this stress." Personally the stress really hadn't been getting to me, but when your friends keep on talking about stress to you, it starts getting to you. Finally, yesterday I understood what my friends were talking about. I had just finished my homework for one subject and was about to begin homework on another subject. Before I started I noticed a pamphlet about Ryerson University on my desk, so I said to myself that I'd just take a look at the program I want to go into. Well I looked at the requirements and it depressed me! I put the pamphlet down and just started thinking for an hour. I was thinking, "what if I don't get into my program?" "What if I don't get in anywhere?" "What am I doing with my life?" That is what we have to put aside. We are worrying too much about our future at a time when we should just have some fun. The reason we don't finish our homework is because we spend too much time worrying about other things and not enough time focusing on our work. So to all the other OAC students who are in the same boat as me, just relax, have some funs, and take it ease.
Kidz
I am only in grade nine and maybe this is just because I hate the subject, but those three postables out in the yard have to go. And SOON!!!!!!!
One problem is the climate. I understand if it's cold outside, it will also be cold inside. That is understandable. But when it is below zero degrees outside and the air conditioning is on, it is fffrrreeezzzzzziiinnnggg!!! Now can someone explain that?
Also, just the thought of being in a portable in the winter and having to trudge through the snow in the school's backyard is not too fun.
I am sorry if I have offended anyone on this subject, but all I want to say is, please try to do something about the portables.
^$*&^$*sk8ter boy#$@@E^&(