Current Events

New glass wall raises questions

Kenney Whitbey
September 27, 2013

As students wandered through the halls during the first week of school, meeting up with friends, discussing schedules, and catching up on things, most couldn’t help but notice the glass encasing of the f-lab. What had previously been an open computer lab, much like the many porches around West Linn high school, now stood with panels of glass surrounding it, with access through only two glass doors on either side.

“It’s a conversation we have been having for a few years (to put up the glass) so I think everybody has been on the same page about it,” Wind Lothamer, Technology Fine Arts Dept. Chair, said.

The glass encasing is meant to lower the outside sound and other distractions from passing students. This will help the f-lab become more of a classroom for classes like yearbook and AP Computer Science.

“You can actually have a class in there and not be interrupted all the time,” Lothamer said. “You don’t have random people walking into your class.”

Some students like the design that the glass encasing adds.

“I think they are new and cool looking,” Ashwin Krishnamoorthy, sophomore, said.

The glass encasing will hopefully serve its purpose to improve classroom quality and help students and teachers focus on their studies.

Donate to wlhsNOW

$1030

$2000

Contributed

Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of West Linn High School. Your contribution will allow us to continue to produce quality content by purchasing equipment, software, and continuing to host our website on School Newspapers Online (SNO). Additionally, donations will go towards paying for the physical editions of our Amplifier. Donations of $20 dollars (as of Oct. 15, 2025) or more will receive a subscription to our Amplifier, which will be mailed to the donator's address (donations made with the intention of purchasing a subscription CANNOT be anonymous).

About the Contributor

Kenney Whitbey, Co-Editor-in-Chief

As an editor of the Amplifier, Kenney Whitbey, senior, has a deep passion for journalism. “I need journalism like I need food and water,” Whitbey said. The most memorable article he has written was about a local West Linn student who went to Africa to volunteer. However, Whitbey has a lot more on his plate than just writing for the WLHS newspaper. He is also involved in National Honor Society, Link Crew and class council. During school hours, Whitbey enjoys biology because it is applicable to life, which, for him, makes it an interesting class. But what he is looking forward to most about this year are all of the senior traditions and activities like prom and graduation. After high school, he hopes to attend a university in California, although he is looking into several different colleges along the West Coast. This high school senior is involved in many activities in and outside of the school. While Whitbey said his strengths lie in sarcasm, Madden and ping-pong, another passion of his is sports—whether he is playing in his own game or is one of the screaming fans in CenturyLink Field cheering on the Seattle Seahawks. Whitbey is a cornerback and receiver for the high school football team. In addition to football, he is also a midfielder for the WLHS lacrosse team. Other sport interests of Whitbey’s include intermural basketball, beach volleyball and badminton. Another important aspect of Whitbey’s life is his family. His parents are the most influential people in his life because he believes that they have pushed him in the right direction and prepared him for the future. Whitbey has two siblings; his brother is a freshman and his sister, seventh grader. Also part of the family is a chocolate lab and mini dachshund. Along with sports and family, Whitbey like to travel. Over the summer, he traveled to San Diego and Los Angeles for a week; however, if he could travel to anywhere in the world he would choose to visit Spain because of the laidback culture, food and history. Whether it is sports, clubs, school or travel, Whitbey is enjoying his senior year and is excited and prepared for the future.