AKRON, OHIO 44306 JANUARY 23, 2007 Singer Lily Allen

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!Staff Editorials ‘Michelle’s Law’ unfairly targets teenage drivers One of the most anticipated events of one’s teenage years, being able to drive, is no longer as simple as it once was. With the passage of the discriminatory Ohio House Bill 343, nicknamed “Michelle’s Law,” drivers under 17 can have only one passenger in a car unless in the presence of a parent. Understandably, inexperienced teenagers have restrictions that adults do not, but these additions to Ohio’s current laws go too far. The bill gained momentum after a push from Ray and Debbie Sanderbeck of Medina, whose daughter Michelle was killed in a car accident in March, 2006. Michelle, a 15year-old sophomore at Medina High School, was one of four passengers in a car that lost control and hit a wall. The bill was signed Jan. 4 by former Gov. Bob Taft. Another limitation is the curfew between 1 and 6 A.M. for drivers under 18. Michelle’s law will cause police to unfairly profile drivers who look underage, putting them under the microscope when they are bound to make errors. Besides the discriminatory nature of the law, there are other issues. A clause makes allowances for Notre Dame fails to deliver for the ninth year 2 Sorry, no parking spots left! For the ninth consecutive time the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have lost their bowl game. This year it was an embarrassing 41-14 loss to Louisiana State at the Sugar Bowl. The losing streak only continues to bring the realization to Notre Dame fans all across the country that the team is not what it once was. The Irish went 10-2 during the regular season, but with only one win over a ranked opponent, Penn State, at home. However, against other ranked opponents, they got thumped 47-21 by 11th-ranked Michigan at home and manhandled “There ... all better!” emergencies and for teens coming from work, but because there is no definition of an emergency, stories are easy to fabricate and difficult to check. Car pools to and from school are convenient ways for teenagers without cars or drivers licenses to commute with a minimum of hassle. Transportation will become a major issue for students and their parents now that many will be unable to get rides with friends. Besides simply going to school, many teens drive to and from athletic events and activities together. High school parking lots, already packed, will need to organize systems that distribute limited parking spaces to an increasing number You see, officer, there was this gorilla ... Easy on the bumps! Shut up! You’re gonna get us caught! of drivers. The law complicates the way teens get to school, which will undoubtedly have negative side effects. Lastly, an amendment states that anyone 18 or under convicted of a moving violation loses all driving privileges for at least six months, except when in the presence of a parent. The Ohio General Assembly apparently has forgotten that teenage drivers are the least experienced and will make mistakes on the road. The former law, which required underage traffic offenders to appear in juvenile court, was more than enough. A reduction in accidents would be ideal, but a poorly planned crackdown on teenage drivers is not the answer. at third-ranked USC, 44-24. In the last two seasons, Notre Dame has lost to USC twice, Michigan once, Ohio State once and now LSU, all top 10 teams. Despite this abysmal showing, Notre Dame remains a media darling, with an exclusive contract with NBC Sports. The team continues to land lucrative bowl games no matter how poorly it does. Notre Dame undoubtedly has one of the biggest fan bases in the country. But the time has come to stop giving the university undue preferential treatment. Editorial cartoon by Kevin Contrera Copyright © 2007 • CSPA Gold Medalist • NSPA All-American • Quill & Scroll Int’l First Place • NOSPA Golden Flash • GLIPA Buckeye Online: www.my.highschool journalism.org/oh/akron/hoban e-mail: hobanvisor@yahoo.com Voice: 330-773-6658 ext. 249 Fax: 330-773-9100 School site: www.hoban.org The Visor subscribes to the ASNE/ MCT Campus high school news service and to APStylebook.com. Signed letters for publication are welcome. Mailbox is in the main office. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus of the editorial board. Signed opinion represents the views of the writer only. Editor-in-chief Dwayne Yates News Editor Andrew Bluebond Sports Editor Pat Justice Features Editor Maureen Bulgrin Activities Editor Nicole Beck Exchange Editor Brian Krinsky Cartoonist Kevin Contrera Staff Reporters Katie Alto, Kathleen Davey, Zrinka Dzeba, Adam Gale, Matt Green, Matt Jordan, Jennifer Joseph, Josephine Landenberger, Andrew Licking, Mike Rohrbach, Ben Spoonster-Wessel Adviser Brother Joseph LeBon ON THE COVER: ! British singer Lily Allen is among seven persons chosen by the Visor as ones to watch in 2007. Story on pages 6-7. THE VISOR JANUARY 23, 2007
Question 31 an attack on America’s poor As students fill out applications for federal student aid, they may give little thought to question 31 about drug convictions. For most of us, a simple check in the no box gets the job done, and we move on. For others, it is the difference between receiving a higher education or not. Students with drug-related convictions are ineligible for federal student aid, and sadly, they are often the ones most in need. A strong correlation exists between poverty and crime, and drug convictions are no exception. Over the years, sociologists have struggled to find a correlation between drug use and poverty. While some attribute that to an inability to obtain accurate information, others argue there simply isn’t one. Confused? You might be if you didn’t catch the subtle difference in wording. Impoverished Americans may or may not be more likely to use drugs, but they are certainly more likely to be convicted. When the “crack boom” hit in the 1980s, President Reagan set the precedent that would ultimately doom the War on Drugs. He pushed for mandatory minimum sentences for crack cocaine users New stem cell discovery holds promise With all the scientific progress in stem cell research, the morality of destroying live embryos has always been a major issue. However, a recent discovery by Dr. Anthony Atala of Wake Forest University may have broken the impasse of morality and science. Atala reports that he has discovered a new class of stem cells harvested from amniotic fluid and the placenta, both currently discarded as waste after birth. This class could be harvested without the destruction of embryos. Atala has concluded that these new stem cells may actually be superior to embryonic stem cells. He found that unlike embryonic cells, amniotic cells did not grow out of control and lead to tumors. While Atala and his team still have a lot of research to do before they discover the full potential of these new cells, this advance in stem cell research is exceptionally promising. and an attack on inner-city drug use. Because crack was considerably cheaper than powder cocaine, it hit poorer communities hardest. And so it began, the War would be fought in the poorest neighborhoods, though they may not have been any more likely to be using drugs. Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush all failed to change the minimum sentencing requirements and the locus of the War. For over 20 years, the poor have been convicted more often and have served longer prison terms than wealthier people who have broken the same laws. While this by no means proves a government conspiracy against the poor, it does reveal a sad reality about America’s financial aid policies. Question 31 is a remnant of the failed War on Drugs. Like mandatory minimums, exclusion from financial aid is probably not a deterrent against crime. Instead, it promotes crime by denying young men and women a chance at higher education. Of course, it is easy to say drug users and dealers have no right to federal student aid. The argument seems convincing now, but 20 years down the line we won’t be any I am irritated by those who criticize this study as being inferior to embryonic stem cell research (ESCR). My initial response was “well duh!” ESCR, while still a relatively new field, has had the time to be tested by scientists globally. It has simply been around longer; therefore it is more advanced. I have also heard the opinion that scientists have already begun to exploit the value of embryonic stem cells and should concentrate on furthering that field rather than searching for a better alternative. “We have already studied embryonic stem cells,” they say, “and are aware of their usefulness. Stop clouding science with morality.” I can’t understand this attitude that likens amniotic stem cell research to beating a dead horse. I don’t get how we can possibly hope to keep the two separated. Everyone, no matter how liberal or conservative, has some set of moral principles, some lines that can’t be crossed. In a society where !Opinion & Commentary by Andrew Bluebond further along than we are today. According the Center on Crime, Communities and Culture, making higher education more available to the poor is America’s best chance at reducing violent crime and federal welfare expenditures. So giving America’s poor, including drug users, a chance at a college degree isn’t just the thing right to do, it is a sound investment. The Office of National Drug Control Policy reports that the federal government spent about $19 billion on the War on Drugs in 2003. By contrast, only $12.7 billion in Pell Grants was given for the 2003-04 school year. While countless economists have called U.S. drug policy a failure, few are arguing that more education for America’s poor will not reduce crime. I don’t know about you, but I am ready to stop funding two wars at this point. I already have the first step planned out: Scratch question 31. by Maureen Bulgrin technology is opening new medical possibilities every day, how can we keep our values and our morals from affecting scientific advances? Here we have a chance to skew that line that some are unwilling to cross. The benefit of stem cell research is incomprehensible. But at what price? True, the ability to eliminate diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s is an incredibly hopeful prospect. Still, how many embryos must be destroyed to achieve this goal? If Atala and his team have discovered a way to uphold the sanctity of human life in both respects, we should invest more resources into advancing this study rather than criticizing it for its novelty. THE VISOR JANUARY 23, 2007 3
Page 1: Singer Lily Allen ARCHBISHOP HOBAN
Page 5 and 6: Hoban chips in to help art teacher
Page 7 and 8: llen Import ANDREW BLUEBOND ber one
Page 9 and 10: Trailers lead viewers to believe
Page 11 and 12: Seniors all place at recent Bill Di

AKRON, OHIO 44306 JANUARY 23, 2007 Singer Lily Allen

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