THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 25, 1996 TAG: 9610230183
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TEENS AT LARGE
SOURCE: BY KAREEMA MITCHELL, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 56 lines
Wednesday a week ago, 9 p.m., did you know what your teen-agers were doing? While most teen-agers were finishing homework, watching television, getting those last 30 minutes in on the phone, about 50 Cox High School government students gathered to party as they watched the presidential debate.
While many teen-agers would scoff at the notion of watching a presidential debate, much less making a party of it, these students felt it was an enjoyable experience.
``It was good that we could get together and do something both educational and fun,'' said 17-year-old senior Andrea Bussey.
The party took place in the school's student activities room, a small room that proved to be a little uncomfortable for the unexpectedly large crowd.
It was decorated with political banners made by the students. The posters were imaginative and politically diverse. One poster was a sample ballot with four blanks beside the presidential options - Clinton/Gore, Dole/Kemp, Perot/Choate and NONE OF THE ABOVE.
The NONE OF THE ABOVE slot was checked.
You'd probably wonder who was crazy enough to host a party for 50 rambunctious, politically charged teens. Gary Leagan, Cox government teacher and Social Studies Department head, was daring enough to try.
``I wasn't expecting more than about 25 people to show, but it turns out that 50 people are here,'' Leagan said.
``So I am very surprised. I think it was the food that brought them,'' he said with a laugh.
John Koubaroulis, 17, said the debate party was ``a unique opportunity to bring together students who are concerned about politics.'' Koubaroulis, who is SCA president, is an aspiring politician and plans to run for the real thing one day.
While the debate continued on the television, best friends Kyle Florhe and Jim Everett were having a debate of their own about who was the better candidate. ``What makes you think that you can change my mind about Dole? I don't like him!'' argued Florhe. ``I changed her mind,'' Everett said, pointing a finger at an unsuspecting student.
Meanwhile, some just used the time to catch up with their friends on the latest gossip, study for the next government class or just to ``pig out.''
``I don't think they learned a lot,'' Leagan said. ``But they had fun and that's important.''
Many teen-agers wouldn't want to spend more time at school than they have to but these students did. In retrospect, Leagan said, ``I just think that this party was very symbolic of the type of citizens Cox students are.
``They're interested, involved and aware. Cox students really are very special.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kareema Mitchell is a senior at Cox High School. by CNB