Lightning Strike’s ‘April Fools’ issue disrespectful

The past issue of our school’s newspaper, The Lightning Strike, was full (more than usual) of insults and lack of respect for any ideas that do not correspond with the editors’ beliefs. All this mockery was spewed under the cover of “April Fools Day.”

I have had the privilege of attending Dr. Michael Krop for my four years of high school, and the only problem I ever had with the school is its negligence toward the disgraceful articles and comics The Lightning Strike has printed over the years. These articles and comics have been, to say the least, disrespectful, insulting and have shown how foolish people can really be. The attacks have focused mostly on conservative ideas but have also gone as far as to undermine the sacrifices of our courageous troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Well, for The Lightning Strike’s information: you would not be able to write those outrageous articles if it wasn’t for the sacrifices of our troops. You would think that those involved in the media would appreciate our troops’ sacrifices the most. The Lightning Strike has time and time again attacked conservative positions on issues like abortion and gay rights, mocking people of faith for theirs stands and arguments on these positions by poking fun at the Holy Bible.

The last issue contained the comic “Conservative Views On Death.” To sum it up for you in a few words, conservatives are (according to The Lightning Strike) unreasonable, assault-rifle wielding people who would rather see American troops and Iraqi and Sudanese civilians die INSTEAD of “non-human” fetuses and “vegetables.”

So once you become mentally disabled and cannot move, you are stripped of your humanity and become equivalent, in value of life, to a vegetable? Or because a fetus has not fully developed it is not considered human life? That comic, while trying to be amusing, de-humanized living members of the human community, an example of how, in order to “justify” their ideas, The Lightning Strike has insulted and degraded people and/or their ideas. To disagree and object is one thing, but to disrespect and offend is a whole other ball game.

The “April Fools Day” edition of The Lightning Strike was just a self-evident example of what I’ve seen them do for the past four years of my high school life, using humor and sarcasm as a shield to hide their insults. I hope in the future The Lightning Strike will be more responsible about what they write and how they write it. After all, the pen is mightier than the sword.



DAVID PORTILLO

SENIOR

Re ‘Heavy backpacks weigh students down’

The school board should buy more textbooks. Although many teachers already have classroom sets, sometimes you are still stuck with hauling textbooks to school.

But if a class set cannot be bought, teachers should plan ahead and tell students when they will need their books. This way, the heavy load would be eliminated for at least one day of the week.

As an alternative to both of these solutions, students should be encouraged to use rolling bags, which can help prevent back problems.

JOANNE NIEGO

SOPHOMORE

Re ‘Drug smell looms in halls’

I agree with the “Drug smell looms in halls” article. The smell of marijuana is sickening to me personally, but now I know that I’m not the only one. It is ridiculous that kids are able to smoke day after day especially when everyone knows where it takes place—the stairway in the science wing. Aren’t there cameras in the stairway? Are they serving any purpose? I don’t know about the rest of the student population, but I for one am sick of feeling as though I could get “high” just from walking up and down the stairs.

REBECCA STELLA

SOPHOMORE

Re ‘WLTN devoid of valuable news’

Although I have never been interested enough to pay attention to our WLTN Lightning News, I do believe it has gotten better. However, I agree with Enzinna in that WLTN’s productions are lacking a “so-what factor.” I have never found a production to be relevant. This is a shame as the staff has the technology most schools can only dream about, and I believe it is being severely under-used.

However, after the newspaper’s latest publication, I started watching the news again to see if anything had changed; I believe it has and is slowly working its way up to becoming a better production.

I commend Ms. Enzinna for her article and the WTLN News for listening to it.

LINDSEY YOUNG

SOPHOMORE

The article that appeared in The Lightning Strike, “WLTN devoid of valuable news,” expressed a strong point of view in regards to the television production program at Krop. Much of the commentary was based on outward appearances. The information was presented in a biased manner and did not share many important facts.

The advanced television production students are responsible for news programming. Prior to this year, only six out of fifty-one students were trained in the area of news gathering, news writing, and news programming. The majority of enrollment was based on misinformation and elective dumping. The difficulty in train- ing students with minimal to no skills with an inoperable control room and a production studio floor that is used as a storage space places certain insurmountable obstacles to quality production. Additionally, a two-hour time span to gather news, write stories, video-tape, edit, computer render, and air via DVD instead of the ability to use live format also lends to poor quality programming (and oft times no programming at all). Constant struggles to obtain equipment from the sole Audio-visual Technician (who is forced to function in two different job capacities, be in five places at one time, keep equipment functioning at an optimum, and deal with all audio-visual requests for the building) are more impediments.

Krop never has and will never have good television news production until the following criteria are met: a working control room and studio, committed students who are enrolled in the course by using the same screening process as other journalism classes, adequate staffing–-two teachers or one teacher and one Audio-visual Specialists that solely works with television production classes–-class populations that do not exceed 20 students per class, and timely servicing and maintenance of equipment.

As the advisor, one may feel I have little of which to be satisfied or proud, but surprisingly I do. I feel very good about the way many of my students (often on their own time) have provided valuable service to the educators and support staff in this building by videotaping and editing staff projects. Additionally, I am proud of the students who took time to learn what is possible to learn in the control room. Also, I am proud of the way my students have received accolades from the surrounding community for their production prowess for documentary video. Moreover, I am proud of the way Ms. Baglos, Ms. Hickman, Ms. Major, Ms. Marrero, and Mr. Thompson have worked to support me and our program (many times against all odds) to the best of their abilities.

So, Lightning Strike, as you “dream of articles you could run if you were a daily paper,” I dream of an operable, digital production suite staffed with educators and students that live and breathe television production.

CERESTA SMITH

TV PRODUCTION ADVISER