Decatur Central High School - Hawkeye Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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74e P Ude % SW Junior Larry Lewis listens to a lecture in Geometry class. The math department held help sessions every Thursday after school. Sophomores show their enthusiasm dur- ing the pep session before the Snow Com- ing game. The Hawks defeated the Speed way Spark plugs with a last minute shot. Junior Debbie Tutsie slides into second. Debbie also played the position of 3rd base on the Softball team. 174 Closing

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Seat Belts Affect Our Futures The Indiana Seat Belt Law, ef- fective on July 1, 1987, is a con- troversial subject. Upon the threat of being told that they have to wear a seat belt or possibly pay a fine, many peo- ple are standing up and defending their rights. In 1985, 661 Hoosiers were killed in car accidents while not wearing seat belts. The number of people injured while not wearing any restraint was 44,841. Com- menting on why Indiana needs a seat belt law, Bob Donovan, Pro- gram Manager for the Division of Traffic Safety stated, They are just dropping like flies out there. This new law is expected not only to decrease the number of in- juries and deaths, but also to help reduce the number of dollars spent each year in connection with car accidents. An estimated 290 lives will be saved and 7,900 injuries prevented each year because of the seat belt law. Also, 146 teenagers in Indiana between the ages of 15 and 19 were killed last year in car accidents, while more than 11,000 were seriously injured. Annually, Indiana pays $1.3 billion toward medical, rehabilita- tion, unemployment, and welfare costs. Something needs to be done and the seat belt law pro- mises to help. Another excuse some people have is the belief that seat belts do not need to be worn when traveling at low speeds or for short distances. This can quickly be proven wrong because more than 80% of all accidents happen- ed at speeds of less than 40 mph. Also recorded is that three out of every four accidents occur within 25 miles of home. Many people hold the fear that if they wear a seat belt they could be trapped in a burning or submerged car. Less than one half of one percent of all injury- producing collisions involve fire or submersion, according to the pamphlet How Many of These Fairy Tales Have You Told? sup- plied by the Division of Traffic Safety, Indiana Department of Highways. The results from a poll con- ducted by Indiana University show that Hoosiers do understand the importance of seat belts. Reached by phone, 81% of those contacted felt that seat belts are preventive health measures. Of these, 66.1% believed that mak- ing a law is the only way to get people to wear their seat belts. Because of the great number of drunk drivers out on the roads to- day, people need to be prepared and take precautions. However, the only precaution that can be taken is to wear a seat belt or not travel in a car. Proving how well a seat belt law can work, Australia released in- jury reduction reports. During the first two years of the law, beginn- ing in 1972, eye injuries were reduced by 30%, facial injuries by 33%. This alone is reason enough for making the law mandatory in the United States. More than 30 countries have some form of seat belt law. Car accidents are one of the most common and grotesque ways to die in American today. By supporting the seat belt law, perhaps the death rate will drop. It takes only a minute to buckle up. So make it click together and save lives. Seat belts 173

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74e PitcU ? Sdcti DC Has Accomplishments Athletically and Academically Call Me Over the Summer! I will! Have a nice summer, :al!ed two voices in the hallway on he last day of school. Trash filled he floor from a mass locker clean- tut and students talked, smiled, ind said goodbye as the 1987 ichool year came to an end. But vhat happened in the previous 10 nonths? There was Homecoming n October along with a flurry of ootball games. Next came the :reation of the Spell Bowl team, an nterscholastic competition among .6 schools. Along with the winter nonths and basketball season, vith Senior Jeff Huffman and unior Bob Anglea leading in the coring, came another new team ailed the Academic Decathlon. This academic team consisted of eight students who took ten tests competitively with other schools. Seniors Gary Farney and Chrysi Lehman won individual medals in this event. Following this, the wrestlers end- ed their season by winning the sec- tional championship for the third time in four years. Senior Jeff Hawkins and Junior Tim Davis competed at Market Square Arena in the State finals. 1986-87 The year ± j%j j u pro- ved to be a successful one for Decatur academic sporting events included. D.C. students expressed by ther achievements that they had pride in their school, showing that The Pride Is Back at Decatur Central! In Graphic Arts, Junior Scott Farrar and Sophomore Jimmy Collins work on homework together. Preparing to shoot the ball Junior Michelle Parrinello avoids the Ben Davis Giants. The Hawks defeated the Giants during County. Closing 175