Smallville Torch — Season One

KWAN CRUSHES FREEDOM OF SPEECH

by Lana Lang

It’s the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. It’s one of the defining freedoms of our great country. It’s freedom of speech. And Principal James Kwan just crushed it.

Last Tuesday, SHS’s principal James Kwan suspended Torcheditor in chief Chloe Sullivan because she wrote an article entitled “Smallville: Mutant Capital of the World.” Kwan’s reasoning was that “Miss Sullivan was not reporting on relevant school events and was passing the Torch off as her own personal tabloid.” Unfortunately for Smallville, Chloe’s “speculations” are a lot closer to hard news than they are to “tabloid” journalism.

If our high schools are incubating microcosms meant to prepare us for “real-world America,” then our administration is playing the part of a leader slightly to the right of Joseph Stalin and Adolph Hitler. The Torch is our press. Students don’t have to read it if they don’t want to. That’s also one of our freedoms. If SHS’s administration fails to act as a responsible example of authority in line with the government of the United States of America, what message does that send us as students learning how to be productive citizens?

We here at the Torch choose to exercise another right guaranteed to us in Amendment One of the Constitution. We hereby petition our administration to redress the grievance of removing Chloe Sullivan from her post as editor in chief of the Torch. We want her back. It’s our right to demand it. It’s your responsibility to do something about it.

DEDICATION

by Pete Ross

In the last edition of the Torch, I wrote about respect and the lack of it in these parts. This time, I’m writing about something that I really admire and that I have seen quite a bit of lately–and that’s dedication.

You can tell when you’re around people who are really into something and give it their all, and when you see the final product, it’s really good. A good example of dedication around here is Smallville’s star quarterback, Whitney Fordman. He has stuck with football all through his high school career, and despite some injuries in his sophomore year, he keeps on playing. Now, he’s got college scouts looking at him, and his prospects look good for getting into the school of his choice on a full scholarship. If Whitney stays dedicated to his game like this, there’s no telling where he’ll be in 10 years–maybe a Metropolis Shark, maybe a Bludhaven Wing. Either way, his dedication to the game will have gotten him there.

In the past few months, I’ve observed another friend who is very dedicated to a cause, so much so that it consumes a good amount of her time. I’m talking about our editor here at the Torch, Chloe Sullivan. Despite her demanding responsibilities, Chloe has a “life” and time to hang out, even though you can tell that in the back of her head, the wheels are still turning in regard to her chosen work. She takes something and makes it the best it can possibly be. And you know what? She has succeeded with flying colors, and her dedication has yielded amazing results. She has received awards, people respect her (well, the people who matter, at least) and there is no doubt in my mind that Chloe will be able to get a scholarship to the university of her choice. It’s all because she tries really hard, and even when things look down for her, she should know that EVERYTHING will pay off in the end.

I just hope that everyone who spends so much time on the things they love realizes the great benefits that come later on. It’s important to stick with what you enjoy doing, and, hopefully, your dedication will lead to happiness and personal reward. Not only that, it’ll make some of your friends think you’ve got a good head on your shoulders.

WE WANT YOUR BLOOD

There will be a blood drive benefiting the American Red Cross starting next week. Donors and volunteers are needed. A booth will be set up during fourth period Physical Education in the big gymnasium and in the cafeteria during lunch. Cookies and fruit juice will be provided. To give blood, you must be over 110 pounds and in good health. Let the volunteers know if you are allergic to iodine, tape or natural latex rubber. Just a note: Your body replaces the blood plasma (the liquid part) you donate within hours and the cells within a couple of weeks. See Lana Lang to set up your appointment.