Recycling Dilemma: Reduce, reuse, retarded

I may have lived in Oregon, but I am not a hippy. Nor do I agree with anything that has ever stemmed from their little tree-hugging thoughts. In fact, suffice it to say, I would venture a speculation that hippies may cause cancer: cancerous, drum circle, pot-smoking sores on society.

Indeed, their idyllic philosophies on all things American are in sharp contrast to what any educated human being would - and should - believe. But there remains one breadth of their tie-dyed spectrum in which the general population has been duped: paper recycling.

I admit that I turn the lights off when I leave a room. Hell, I'll even recycle a beer can or two. But when it comes to recycling paper, I simply must cease.

It's not that I'm against reusing things to save our environment. I'll reuse a Styrofoam container for leftovers, and plastic cups for beer pong to make them last much more than just a few rounds. If something can be reused in the form it was produced, then by all means, we should reuse it.

But recycling paper? Mother of God, why?

Paper comes from trees, which are one of everybody's favorite things. They give us oxygen, forests, homes for wildlife and something for hippies to hug. Undoubtedly, everything concerning trees is grandiose. Except for the myths.

Hippies want you to believe that we are losing huge forests for the sole purpose of making paper. That we have far less wooded area than we did 100 years ago. And worst of all, it is much better for people, animals and the environment to simply recycle paper.

Sure thing, Cheech, just like it's good for your lungs to smoke weed.

You see, most people believe that when trees are cut down to make paper products, a logging company starts plowing through a forest with no regard for wildlife habitat or the surroundings in general. They believe that beauteous red oaks, maples and oak trees that stood the test of Mother Nature's fury over the past century are being decimated simply for card board boxes.

Like their patchouli oil stinging your nostrils, once more the flower children have clouded your mind with fallacious decay.

Rather than just blindly clear-cutting forests, did you realize that paper companies have specific plots of land where they grow their own trees for the sole fact of harvesting them to make paper? These are called tree farms. Much like pumpkin farms. And nobody complains about pumpkin farms. Moreover, North America has more trees now than we did a century ago; two trees were planted every time one was cut - you do the math.

Ultimately, the hippies praise how recycling paper is so much better for the environment.

I wonder if they factor in the sole process of recycling paper: huge diesel trucks driving all over to pick up the paper, consequently emitting toxic emissions and just adding to the greenhouse effect. Not to mention, the process by which they boil down the paper with huge vats of chemicals, emitting more toxic fumes. And where do all the chemicals go when it's been used? The hippies never seem to mention that part.

So if recycling paper does nothing in the way of saving trees and is potentially worse for the environment than just tossing it in the old landfill, it surely must be cheaper, right?

Damn hippy logic, wrong again.

The only reason that recycled paper is sometimes cheaper for the consumer is because the companies who sell it are given monumental tax breaks. Think about the costs associated with collecting, separating and boiling down all that recycled paper. In all actuality, recycled paper costs well more than using virgin tree pulp.

Oh, dear hippies. All that marijuana may have seeped a little too deep. Do me a favor, please. The only recycling that should involve this newspaper is by handing it to somebody else.

And when all have read what needs to be read, toss it in the trash.

Outdoor Pursuits exercises students’ body, mind

From surfing on the Oregon Coast to snowboarding in Jackson Hole, Wyo., the Outdoor Pursuits program indeed "fosters educational growth through self-awareness, teamwork and risk-taking" as their mission statement boasts. Their low-cost adventures and equipment rentals offer students a healthy contrast to the mundane school week of textbooks, essays and midterms.

Not to mention, taking those who might not otherwise enjoy the warm waters of Stanley Hot Springs -- which they did this past weekend.

Their trips remain extremely affordable due to the program's break-even policy. They're not in it for profit as all money goes toward simply covering costs of the trip.

And with the price of traveling at an all-time high lately, the choice of trips reflects the change.

"In the past we've done these big, epic trips," said Jacob Rothrock, assistant coordinator. "That was great when gas was $2 a gallon, but now transportation costs are so high we're focusing more on local adventures."

The hugely popular trips, however, will remain on the schedule: surfing the Oregon Coast and skiing Jackson Hole. Nevertheless, Outdoor Pursuits remains committed to helping the beginner.

"We're a program that is designed for people that have no experience to go out and learn things," Rothrock said, "because outdoor adventure sports can be intimidating."

The weathered outdoorsman isn't forgotten either. While trips are designed to be easy enough for beginners, they are still challenging for those with experience. Chalk up just one broken finger as the worst injury Rothrock has seen in recent years, and safety is obviously a practiced concern.

Still, as prices force the program to look closer to home, head coordinator John Totten's experience in the area helps keep the program moving. Their budget comes from ASNIC, and although salaried and not paid to go on trips, Rothrock admits that's not why he does it.

When extra money is made, however, it is simply poured right back into the program, be it a challenge course on campus or maintaining rental equipment. Since not everybody can make the trips, Outdoor Pursuits still encourages the community to get outside with their rental shop. Offering anything from backpacks to cross-country skis, snowboards to kayaks, prices are kept exceptionally low, especially when compared to rental rates at local ski resorts.

For a list of rental products and prices, see www.nic.edu/op.

For those seeking adventure a lot closer to home, Outdoor Pursuits constructed the Challenge Course behind the SUB. A series of ropes traversing between platforms and trees culminates to a zip line, all above a series of ground-level activities.

Jessica Thompson, assistant coordinator, has worked on the project since its inception this Spring.

"It's going to be an ever-growing thing," she said. "We're hoping for one new element each year in the ropes course, but we're constantly adding to the low-element activity."

Built in May, the course has catered to sports teams, faculty groups, birthday parties and the National Guard. With varying package sizes and options, they all focus on team-building exercises. For more info, including pricing, see the Outdoor Pursuits website.

"Because we're part of Outdoor Pursuits," Thompson adds, "we can take any activity they offer - be it kayaking, backpacking or snowshoeing -- and put a team-building emphasis on it."

While the fall term is coming to a close, Rothrock is preparing for the final two trips of the year: backpacking through the Utah Desert over Thanksgiving break and avalanche Level 1 training in early December.

The spring schedule will not be released until next semester, and only one trip will be available over winter break -- the hugely popular Jackson Hole. There are 20 spots available for that trip, although Rothrock admits "We can always add."

With the mercury dropping further each day, Rothrock's favorite trips are approaching with fervor: backcountry skiing.

"I love the skiing trips because of the work it takes to get up hill," he said. "It makes it more rewarding when you come back down the hill. I like to work for it."

To sign up for the Jackson Hole trip, visit www.moguls.com/nictrip09.

En Garde: Students poking, prodding through newest PE class

Christianson Gym is starting to resemble the closing scenes of Shakespeare's Hamlet as much as it is a wrestling showcase. Amid cutlery long associated with epic battles of the storied rich and famous, students are wielding sabers, masks and protective vests whilst sword-fighting under basketball hoops.

Indeed, fencing isn't North Idaho's stereotypical PE class, but its popularity is growing, thanks to the efforts of instructor Noah Buntain.

In a school obsessed with wrestling and a town with football, Buntain's class of 16 is proving that even nontraditional sports can succeed.

"A lot of kids come to fencing because they're not attracted to other sports," he said. "Traditional sports just didn't do it for them so they find fencing attractive."

Born in Kansas and raised in Iowa - not exactly hotspots for the sport - it wasn't until his sophomore year at Northwestern University that he garnered the craft. A bachelor's degree in English and three years on the club team later, Buntain and his girlfriend packed up and headed west.

Much to his chagrin, however, an English degree wasn't enough to land the type of job that he desired. Either overqualified or under, he spent one year working a mundane job before returning to college and building his portfolio.

Meanwhile, his yearn for fencing grew. Fencing clubs at the time were sporadic, to say the least, but during Art on the Green one year he stumbled upon two fencers in the park.

After learning about Coeur d'Alene's fencing club, Coeur d'Escrime (means "heart of fencing"), Buntain expanded the organization from five members meeting once a week to 30 meeting three.

Once the club was set up, a class at NIC would follow. But it wasn't easy.

"I thought about getting a course here for a couple of years," he said. "People had suggested it to me, but I knew it was a long process, and I just dragged my feet for a while."

Then he talked with Paul Monzarto, division chair of the physical education department.

"It's not a hard process," adds Buntain. "It's just a long one. Paul and I got it started last October, and it came to fruition this fall."

Sixteen people jam-packed the class instantly when fall registration opened last spring. There was a waiting list over the summer, and the current roster lies at 14.

Pre-nursing major Beth de Tar, 23, Post Falls, underestimated the rigors of the course before signing up: "It's very aggressive," she said, "so it's taken a while to get used to. It's a lot faster and more athletic than I thought it would be."

Many still think of fencing as an elitist sport. Yet Buntain, while at Northwestern, watched the sport grow from the East Coast through Ohio State, Notre Dame, Northwestern and onto the Midwest.

There are even club teams at UI, WSU, Montana and most Seattle-area schools.

"That was the old stereotype, this private school kind of thing," Buntain said. "But it's moving down into public schools and into the high schools."

And finally, NIC.

Sophomore Rachel Waldo, pre-med, was excited for the chance to sword fight.

"I just wanted to take a fun class to get all the stress out," she said. "And what better way to do that then to stab people. I'm a killing machine now."

The class has proven so popular that next semester will have two sections for Buntain to teach twice as many people. For information on the club: coeurdescrime.com