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Show Page 11 April 28, 1999 brooksinfowest.com The Eight High School Slayings Causes Questioning of Youth Paul Graves other 'cliques' or kids. These cliques have a similar viewpoint scientifichotmail. com that is shared among its mem'It could never happen in bers and beliefs and morals also my town is a statement that universally shared. This latest school shooting you might say. However, people in Littleton, Col. probably said was executed by a group called the same thing before Tuesday, the "Trench Coat Mafia." This' Apr. 20. group's members talked GerPeople in Notus, Idaho man to each other, wore probably said the same thing swastikas, listened to gothic and before Friday,. Apr. 16, and pei techno music, and wore gothic pie in Springfield, Ore. probably clothing. said the same thing before May There are beliefs linked to 21, 1998. racism, because the group tarWhat America has On its geted minorities and those who hands is an epidemic of violence were handicapped. Apr. 20 is in today's high schools, where also Adolf Hitler's birthday, and some kids feel that this is an some authorities believe that answer to the question. Howevthis is a good reason that a suicide er, many Americans know that "racially-motivatethis is not an answer to the ques- mission," was taken out on this tion. day. The problem may not be In high schools across the the speaking of German, the country, many kids form their swastikas, the music, nor the own 'cliques' and don't go out clothing. The problem lies of their way to associate with inside of the home of the stu By d, LDS By dent. In Springfield, Ore., a boy allegedly opened fire at his high school of where he was suspended. Two were fatally shot and more than twen- ty people were injured. There were also two more fatalities involved with this shooting. Those two victims were the suspect's parents. Two days before that in Fayetteville, Tenn., an student allegedly opened fire in a parking lot at his high school, killing a classmate that was dating his Less than a month before that in Edinboro, Pa., a science teacher was shot to death at an eighth-grad- e graduation dance. The is currently awaiting trial. Exactly one month before that in Jonesboro, Ark., four girls and a teacher were fatally shot and 10 were wounded at a middle school when two boys, 11 and 13, opened fire from the woods. Another plead guilty but mentally ill when three students are killed and five others are injured at Heath High School in West Paducah, Ky in Dec. of 1997. Two months prior, a boy is accused of killing his mother, shooting nine students and killing two of them in Pearl, Miss. He was sentenced to life in prison. The string of high school slayings has reached a number of eight within the last year and a half. These kids have different reasons for what they do. Some may be racially motivated, some may be due to problems at home and school, some may be due to relationship troubles, and some may be due to mental illness. Some possible solutions to this problem are simple. Parents have to communicate with their children. The kids lose that bond with their parents and find ways to receive attention. They draw away from their families and depending on the type of child, they either do better on their own or do worse. The kids in school also have to grasp a little respect for one another. That means avoiding the teasing, the the tormenting, and picking-on- , the bullying that some kids receive in today's classrooms. The words that kids say can hurt other kids, and leave scars on those who are teased. Pres. Clinton delivered speech after the ColumbilH High School incident, and when asked if this was an epidemic, he said, "I wouldn't want to use that word. What I would like to know is whether we can learn enough from this, which in its dimensions apparently, is much greater than even the others were, and see what else we can do." Institute of Religion Ends the Semester With a Swim Jane Clark janeclark hotmail com From dances to food days to firesides, the LDS Institute of Religion is a popular place to go for fun. This year the Institute has sponsored many successful activities. Friday, the annual "Tightwad Ball" was held at the Institute from 8:30 until 11:30 p.m." It was a well attended dance, perhaps because it didn't cost much to attend. In fact, couples were urged to spend as little money as possible. The catch to this dance was that whoever got asked had to pay. Tickets were $3, and couples had the option of paying an extra $1 for a dinner, which consisted of a hot dog, chips, and a drink. The men were also able to purchase corsages made of fake daisies for their dates. As couples entered the dance, they were surrounded by creative decorations, such as a clothesline with old jeans, flannel shirts, and socks hanging from it. "There were a lot of people more than I've at the dance seen at most of the school dances. The music was really good too," said sophomore Katie Paice, a member of the Inner Chapter Presidency for Lambda Delta Sigma rush and jledge. "I could tell that the council jut a lot of work into preparing or this dance. I had a lot of :un, and I'm glad I went," 'reshman Christy Baker said. Sunday, the Institute held Their its annual graduation. theme for this school year was 'Remembering without ceas1 ing," which was taken from rhessalonians 1:3. The keynote speaker for the evening was Chieko Okazaki, who has written several LDS Classifieds. books. Her talk was on unanThe singing swered prayers. group. Inspiration, sang, along with the Institute choir. Finally, about 150 students received Institute graduatheir two-yeAlso, that tion certificates. council Institute the evening, 0 school year for the was announced. Each Sunday, throughout the school year, a fireside has been held at 7 p.m. in the Institute. A wide variety of speakers have been featured. ar 1999-200- "This has been a fun year with a lot of fun activities. I've enjoyed the closeness of the students. Its great to see everyone get involved and have fun," said John Angus, Institute of Religion council president. April 30, the Institute will be having their last food day. Also, the closing social, a swim ming party, will be held on May 6 at the Sand Hollow Aquatics Center beginning at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend. . . y runners, former student body officers. Looking for Wanted: APs, ZLs, Eagle Scouts, over $11,000 last summer. For information, earned associates First summer employment? year cross-countr- call 688-748- 6. and benefits while gaming Have you found that perfect summer job? One that offers great pay earn 13 weeks, internship credits, tuition, valuable work experience? Earn over $11,000 avg. in for environment! a in Looking while great working books, a tropical vacation, Products! Cali Charlie, at to Scriptures Living and represent ambitious, outgoing people 688-748- Earn up to $6,000 per month ence Required, part-tim- e, $12,000 To buy a classified ad, call The Dixie Sun at 25 words. 652-781- 8. full-tim- e.' Processing MIP refunds. No ExperiAll Classifieds are $4-5- per insertion up to i tf' |