February 2015

fused Official newsmagazine of Bloomington HS North / Vol. 8, No. 2

Senior photographer Kessler McGarry shares the behind-the-scenes of her self portraits.

photo courtesy of Kessler McGarry

+ IN FOCUS PAGE 04

INSIDE 3

Laverne Cox visits IU

4 4

Take a walk on the wild side

5

Make no regrets

7 7

Track and field begins season with a new coach

8

Should you gift that?

CONTACT US Letters to the editor may be emailed to bhsnfused@gmail.com or dropped off in room 709. Names must be published and letters may be edited for length, clarity, and style.

Giacomo Del Rio

05

Bloomington HS North 3901 N. Kinser Pike Bloomington, Ind. 47404

FUSED STAFF Staffers Sophie Clampitt Bailey Flick Isabel Garcia Jenna Phillips Kat Sylvester

Editor in Chief Maureen Langley Adviser Ryan Gunterman

WHAT’S ONLINE? The latest on northupdate.com: • • • •

Yes, he is a freshman Senior offers advice on academics Granddaughter of Kleindorfer’s Hardware doesn’t plan to own it Electric Catfish plays first show

Find us on social media @bnstudentmedia for more stories, photos, and videos.

Senior Brooke Siedl

05

Coach Justin Helmer

07

IN SHORT+

Laverne Cox visits IU

Ain’t I a Woman?: Laverne Cox from “Orange is the New Black” retells her journey to womanhood

by Isabel Garcia

Laverne Cox / photo by Isabel Garcia

Actress and LGBT advocate Laverne Cox retold her journey of being a transgendered woman of color growing up in Mobile, Alabama.

“Before I knew anything about myself, I knew that I was black,” Cox said.

Cox grew up in a state with a long history of discrimination and oppression, but along with that came a history of retaliation, including Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

“I was bullied practically every single day. I was often chased home by groups of kids who wanted to beat me up. They said I acted like a girl, but girls act all sorts of ways,” Cox said.

Cox’s struggle was not only at school, but home as well. She didn’t feel safe in either place, and in third grade her teacher called her mother and warned her that her son was going to end up in New Orleans in a dress if she didn’t get her to therapy.

“I remember the therapist asked me if I knew the difference between a boy and a girl and I said, ‘There is no difference,’” Cox said.

Although she was coping with dysphoria and pushing down her gender identity, Cox found an outlet through dance at a dance school for low-income families. Studying dance would later help her achieve her goal of becoming an actress and living in New

York City, which she could not have achieved if she had not lived through an event which took an enormous toll on her.

“My grandmother was a remarkable woman.

When she passed away it was a very difficult time,” Cox said. “I went to our medicine cabinet and swallowed a whole bottle of pills; I would do everything I could to make everyone proud.”

After the attempted suicide and the death of her grandmother, Cox went on to apply for the Alabama School of Fine Arts. From there, she got into Indiana University, where she felt extremely out of place until she switched dorms to a more inclusive area.

After completing her freshman and sophomore year at IU, she transferred to Marymount, a private liberal arts college in Manhattan. In Manhattan, she experienced being spooked, which is when someone can look at you and tell you’re transgender.

“Calling a transgender woman a man is an act of violence,” Cox said.

Cox then went on to give awareness on the murder of Islan Nettles, a transgender woman of color, and the very recent death of Leelah Alcorn, a transgender teen.

“Far too often the murders of trans people go unsolved. When a life is taken we know that it matters,” Cox said.

Where is the Love ends fundraiser

Theatre goes to regionals

Prom committee decides details

by Maureen Langley

by Maureen Langley

by Kat Sylvester

After last year’s successful bra drive, Where is the Love has turned to collecting shoes to be sent to the Children’s Shelter of Cebu in the Philippines, and the Indiana Children’s Bureau.

“We thought it was important to not only focus on helping the global community, but our local community as well,” said club president senior Morgan Newman.

Newman said she chose the children’s shelter in the Philippines for no particular reason, but because she thought it would be a good place to donate to after the typhoon in 2013. She picked the Children’s Shelter of Cebu because they responded to her asking for shoes.

“We are mostly looking for children’s shoes to send to the Philippines, but we are accepting a few adult shoes as well,” Newman said.

Where is the Love plans to end the drive near the end of February. In the meantime shoes can be donated in the box in the main office.

North’s theatre troupe won the regional competition for “The Crucible,” and preformed at the state competition Jan. 23-25 at the University of Indianapolis. Before leaving, the troupe preformed “The Crucible” Thursday Jan. 22 in the auditorium.

“The Crucible” was originally preformed Nov. 13-15 and directed by Andi Dema while director Francesca Sobrer was on a leave of absence. The play is set in Massachusetts in 1690s during the Salem witch trials.

It’s about a slave and some townspeople that get tried for witchcraft.

“Thespian Troupe 414 fared pretty well at State Conference. While we did not place in the top three, we were one of 12 schools selected out of 30 to present at state,” Sobrer said in an email.

Sobrer also said in her email that the conference had more attendees than previous years. Over 400 students were competing for awards.

Members of the prom committee have been working on deciding a theme, booking a venue, and planning since early January.

“Usually people focus on the music, not what it looks like. We want it to look really nice,” said junior Alexis Prall, prom committee and two-year student council member.

The committee has decided the theme will be “Enchanted Forest,” which varies from last year’s “Jazz Age” themed prom that was held at Franklin Hall at IU. The committee is making decorations one of their top priorities because they want prom to be a “movie-like experience.”

Prom will be May 2 at Franklin Hall. Plans for this year’s prom include professional photographers, flowers,and interesting lighting.

fused 03 Feb. 2015

+A&E

In f cus:

KESSLER MCGARRY

BY ISABEL GARCIA

What was your inspiration for this project?

I saw someone who had done the black smudging on their face. I thought that it was cool and made the eyes stand out. I thought it looked really awesome. I was inspired by that, but then I wanted to do it all by myself. I took these all myself, and that was kind of cool for me to do a project totally independent.

What did you do the smudges with?

It was eyeshadow, eyeliner and water. I just mixed it together and put it on my face.

How did you setup your equipment?

I have two softbox lights that I had set up on tripods and I had my camera on a tripod. I got a little shutter remote from Best Buy that day and I just sat down. I have a basement studio. I sat down there and took them, by myself, which was fun. It was cool.

Do you see anything that you wish you could have changed or are they perfect?

I do really like them. I felt really comfortable because I was just all by myself, so I could be in my element. If I made a weird face I wasn’t embarrassed. I’m really proud of them. They (tell) what’s kind of going on in my head. I like them a lot.

How is the way that you are posed connected to the way that you think?

I’m not totally sure what I think they’re about. I feel like it’s trying to cloud what’s actually going on inside your thoughts. You kind of try to cover it up, but with the black smudges and the messy hair, it’s dirty all around. You can see the poses are kind of animalistic looking, I feel. With my hands in my mouth and stuff. That’s the vibe I get. I don’t know if I’m really sure. I saw what I looked like and I did what a person who looked like that would be like.

How long have you been taking photos?

I started in eighth grade. I took a photography class, but really freshman year was the first time I did serious (work). I started taking it really seriously probably my junior year and this year.

photos courtesy of Kessler McGarry 04 fused Feb. 2015

FEATURES+

SHOW US YOUR INK

SENIOR KAYLEE FOWLER Location: A fairy on her ankle.

Meaning: “My religion is pagan, so magic and the earth is sentimental to my religion. The fairy represents the magic aspect of my religion. The tree represents the earth which is the greatest element of my religion.”

Giacomo Del Rio has been a tattoo artist for nine years. / photo by Isabel Garcia

Make no regrets

Local tattoo artist Giacomo Del Rio gives advice on tattoo care and maintenance.

by Isabel Garcia Giacomo Del Rio has been a tattoo artist for close to nine years. Currently, he works at Skinquake, a tattoo parlor on sixth street.

Often when tattooing 18-year-olds getting their first tattoos, he sees men get their last names inked across their backs. Women usually get ledgering across their wrists.

Getting a first tattoo can be tricky, because sometimes people don’t know much about posttattoo maintenance and care. Common mistakes are picking at a tattoo, scratching it, and soaking it in water.

“The most common reaction is not keeping the tattoo clean,” Del Rio said.

People getting their first ink should consider certain types of tattoos and designs to make sure they don’t regret it.

Del Rio often discourages people from getting white ink tattoos, tattoos without outlines, and tattoos without any black in them. If not done properly, white ink tattoos can look like scarring and turn brown in the sunlight.

“If someone comes in with an idea that I think they might regret, I try to talk them out of it, espe-

cially if they’re younger. But if it’s what they want, I’ll do it unless it’s something ridiculous,” Del Rio said.

The Stick n’ Poke tattoo has been rising to popularity among young people as a type of do-ityourself tattoo.

“You could be in jail and get one of those and it could be fine and look good, but it’s never going to look as good as a professional tattoo. I just did a hand poked tattoo today, and he knew what it was going to look like. I don’t normally do that,” Del Rio said.

When a customer requests a custom tattoo, Del Rio asks that they bring in reference material. He said that a customer could describe their idea, but his drawing could look totally different from what they imagined.

“If they bring in reference for me, I can draw based on that but still have it be a custom design.

I won’t trace what they bring in, but it will be of use in getting a final result,” Del Rio said.

Del Rio said he often tattoos 18-year-olds, but instead of asking their age, he asks if they are still in high school.

SENIOR BROOKE SIEDL Location: “Family is my strength” on her shoulder.

Meaning: “I just wanted it. It was a spontaneous, spur of the moment type of thing.”

SENIOR COLLIN LYNCH Location: Seven bars on his upper arm.

Meaning: It represents the seven deadly sins. “The meaning is personal. I wanted something to remind me of who I was and who I am now.”

fused 05 Feb. 2015

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Track begins season with new coach

SPORTS+

Girls cross country coach Justin Helmer steps in as the new head coach for track and field.

by Sophie Clampitt At the end of the last track and field season, Ernie Clark, previously the boys head coach for 12 years, gave up his position to coach IU’s track team. Kristen Mitchell, previously the girls head coach, also left to focus on her job at Saint Charles.

Soon after Justin Helmer stepped up to coach both track teams. Helmer also coaches the girls cross country team.

“To say that the track season will be worse, is false. To say that it will be better, is also false because nobody knows what the track season will be like,” Helmer said.

Helmer said when dealing with change, there will be people who resist, and others will accept it.

Junior sprinter Jaela Campbell said that Clark was goofy and outgoing, but Helmer is more down to earth.

Helmer’s plans for the season differs from what Clark and Mitchell have done in the past. He plans to merge the separate teams into one. Helmer said he expects athletes to be committed to improving themselves and the team.

“Mitchell and Clark were good, but of course I will make it my own,” Helmer said.

The boys team has a strong group of returning runners, but the girls team consists of more underclassmen. Helmer expects success because of the high number of returning athletes. However, because the girls team has younger runners, he expects depth may be an issue.

“I think this year will be more competitive.

I can’t wait to see all of the girls reach new levels,” junior distance runner Ella Flynn said.

Returning athletes also have high expectations of Helmer. According to Flynn, they think this season will be more intense, and they’ll be running high mileage. She also thinks there will be better outcomes than previous seasons.

“Saying that athletes are going to miss coach Clark is an understatement. He was a great coach and friend, but I know Helmer won’t disappoint,” Campbell said. “He’s a great coach and he knows what he’s doing. I think the other athletes will see that too.”

Junior sprinter Jaela Campbell sprints up the hill by lower Cascades. / photo by Sophie Clampitt

“To say that the track season will be worse, is false. To say that it will be better is also false because no one knows what the track season will be like.”

Justin Helmer / photo by Sophie Clampitt

fused 07 Feb. 2015

fl w Go with the

SHOULD YOU GIFT THAT?

Advice from a flowchart.

by Kat Sylvester + Maureen Langley

Who is it for?

FAMILY

LOVER

PAL

How long have you been together?

Is it for their birthday?

Is it food?

Three days and I love him

Yes I’M 13 AND CAN’T COOK.

At least three months Yes

Can they easily cook it themselves?

Yes

Is it a teddy bear and chocolates?

Yes

No

PICKLED BOLOGNA IS A GREAT GIFT

No

Yes

Have they been wanting it?

Is it fancy?

NO

YES

Yes Is it gross?

08 fused Feb. 2015

Did they get you a birthday present?

No

DON’T

No

No

Yes

No

DO YOU EVEN GIFT?

GIFT IT