January 2012 issue

January 2012 Vol. 34 No. 5 Corona del Sol High School Tempe, AZ Visit online at: cdssunrise.com

SUNRISE

newspaper

Read how and why the number of concussions is increasing and how Corona is tackling the situation for our soccer and football players.

page 15

CONCUSSIONS& BRAININJURIES on the field and in the street

Read junior Nathan Samuels story of his traumatic brain injury while skateboarding down a hill, including accounts from witnesses including his brother, and from his own memory...that is, what he can remember.

page 9

New law affecting alcohol consumers and their parents

Sweatpants, sleeping late: Senioritis strikes again

Seniors attracting attention in Corona athletics

Tempe is attempting to cut back on underage drinking by instituting a new provision that prohibits adults (including parents) from providing alcohol to minors.

It’s back on campus, and underclassmen are noticing. Learn what it is, how it’s caused, what symptoms to check for, and how it’s infecting Corona’s graduating class one by one.

Taylor Johnson suffers a knee injury, putting her college career at risk. Athlete of the Issue Justin Butler opens up about his challenges on and off the mat. Avery Moss commits to Nebraska.

more on page 5...

more on page 8...

Sports begins on page 20...

January 2012 • CdS Sunrise

News • 3

Former Corona student is Baseline Killer JACQUI MARZOCCA Managing Editor

Many people have heard of the well-known 2005-06 Baseline Killer, also known as the Baseline Rapist. Little do most people know the killer, Mark Goudeau, attended Corona del Sol. There is some discrepancy as to when exactly he dropped out. Most sources agree that it was during his senior year at Corona, which is pointing to 1981. According to the East Valley Tribune, Goudeau and his brother, Marvin, played on the Corona del Sol football team and were both recruited to Mesa Community College, but Mark Goudeau did not finish high school.

DNA evidence linked Goudeau to the raping of two girls. This later linked him to all the crimes of the Baseline Killer.

Goudeau was convicted for nine counts of first-degree murder, 15 sexual assaults against females and 11 counts of kidnapping. In all, he was charged for 67 offenses. He has recently been sentenced to over 1,200 years in prison, as well as received the death sentence.

Most of the victims were “slender, light-skinned women” according to The Daily Beast.

The women were allegedly shot in the head because they would not appease Goudeau sexually. One man was shot because he stood between Goudeau’s victim and Goudeau.

Evidence against Goudeau included DNA evidence, as well as a bag of jewelry stashed in his closet. A ring in the bag was tied to one victim, while blood found on a mask and shoe was linked to another. Though, fingerprints found at the crime scene and other inconclusive evidence does not match up with Goudeau.

Some of the law enforcement that worked on the case do not agree that Goudeau was linked to all nine murders.

Another suspect, Terry Wayne Smith, was considered for some of the mur-

ders. He came home with blood on his clothes a few times and apparently bragged about killing people.

In more than one instance, he was in the place at the time of the murders.

Smith was arrested for “unrelated charges,” TIMES Publications reporter Shanna Hogan said.

There is speculation that Wayne may have committed some of the crimes that the Baseline Killer was credited for.

Some say that he may have also been an accomplice, but Goudeau denies knowing Smith. DNA results later showed that Smith was not involved.

“Mark Cunningham, a forensic psychologist who frequently testifies for the defense in capital cases, told the jury that Mark Goudeau was born into a dysfunctional, substance-abusing family with a history of crime and philandering,” The Daily Beast also reported.

There is some speculation of Godeau suffered from fetal alcohol syndrom.

Also, crack coccaine wa found in the trunk of his car.

During trial, Goudeau did not apologize to any of the families of the victims, yet showed emotion as he begged for mercy.

Goudeau’s wife of over 20 years, Wendy Carr, continues to maintain his innocence.

According to friends and family of Goudeau, he was well mannered and well loved, which doesn’t match up to the evidence of his violence.

“As for Wendy Goudeau, she says she has no doubt her husband is an innocent man. When the killer was on the loose, Wendy says Mark was protective of her, and did not want her taking walks around the neighborhood for fear that she could be attacked.

Never once, Wendy maintains, did she see any indication that Goudeau was living some sort of double life,” Hogan reported.

An appeal has been placed for Goudeau to be seen in a higher court.

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January 2012 • CdS Sunrise

News • 5

City of Tempe attempts to curb underage alcohol abuse New law introduced to impede underage drinking WILL MORGAN Online Editor-in-Chief

Underage drinking is prolific in high school and college communities, and to counter it, the Tempe government has passed a new ordinance forcing parents or adults who host gatherings

COLIN McCORMICK

where alcohol is served to minors to take a substance-education class or face a $250 fine.

The new “social host” ordinance, which goes into effect in February 2012, was created in an effort to impede or halt adults who provide alcohol to minors. Currently, serving alcohol to anyone under the legal drinking age that is not an immediate family member is a misdemeanor in the state of Arizona, but the city of Tempe is attempting to hold family members liable too.

Bobbie Cassano of the Tempe Coalition told the Arizona Republic, “There is a state law that you can’t contribute to the delinquency of minors, but it’s very hard to enforce.

If the police go in they have to see the action themselves.”

Because this ordinance is not a criminal or civil offense, it will lower the burden of proof, making it easier for police to enforce this law.

“It will affect underage drinking,” said police liaison John Evans. “But how much, I don’t know.” ®

Self-control: an opinion concerning teen drinking TAYLOR BEESE Staff Writer

Ever since my freshman year, I have been hearing stories of underaged drinking at parties. I have always been against drinking under 21. Almost every day on the news there are stories of reckless teenagers dying in car accidents because they were driving intoxicated. Approximately 5,000 people a year die due to drinking underaged. www.Abovetheinfluence.com states that 1,900 people die in car accidents, 1,600 die from being hit by a drunk driver, and 300 commit suicide, either on accident or from depression caused by alcohol.

But this issue does not only involve teenagers. It involves adults as well who are irresponsible with their drinking habits.

I cannot describe how mad it makes me when I hear about parents

giving out alcoholic beverages at parties for their children. The new drinking law in Arizona will now hold parents responsible for the damages due to underaged drinking under their supervision. Any illegal activity a minor might be involved with while under the influence of alcohol will be the responsibility of the parent.

Not only does alcohol have temporary brain-hazing effects such as blurred vision, inability to reason and loss of motor skills, the effects can be long term as well. Alcohol can affect the way we think or act for the rest of our lives because it is changing the wiring in our brains. Studies show that a 30-year-old person could actually have the brain of a 70-year old due to excessive drinking and alcohol abuse.

I’m not saying a drink every once in a while for someone who is of age is not OK. The ability to control your alcohol intake is key to saving your life, and even perhaps someone else’s. ®

Mr. Smith goes to Washington

Competition Government wins state, prepares for D.C. ANGELICA VALENZUELA Staff Writer

Tim Smith’s Competition Government class competes annually in the We the People competition. Students in the competition prepare for a pretend congressional hearing in which the students testify before a panel of volunteer attorneys, civic leaders and educators. On Dec. 3 the CdS team won district at Grand Canyon University. On Jan. 6, the team won the state competition against Hamilton. The team will be attending nationals in Washington, D.C, April 27 through May 1.

“I’m proud of the way everyone came together,” Smith said about his students.

The state competition was roughly about 10 hours. At nationals there will be multiple preliminary rounds and the last round is with the final remaining teams.

The closest CdS has ever come to winning Nationals was in 1988 when the school won 3rd place.

Students in this class had to apply for a spot to get in; only seniors are allowed to be in the class. The class is split into 6 units of four or five people each. Each unit gets a number of questions that they have to study, answer and present at competition. Each unit gets a score and then the scores of all the units are added up for the overall team score.

“It is a great experience, you learn so much,” senior Hirsh Shah said.

Shah is in the Unit 4 group, which was the best performing group for the CdS team in the district competition. Even though the students are split into units they

still have to function as a whole team.

“We are a very cohesive class. It’s fun and there is intellectual stimulation. It is a break from classes with students who only care about music and their cell phones. We actually care about the learning,” senior Courtney Naumann said.

To be in the class you have to be hardworking and show interest in the government. The skills you take out of the class are public speaking, composure and how to deal with high pressure. Librarian Justine Centanni and government teachers Lisa Adams and Smith are the sponsors of We the People.

Photo courtesy of TIM SMITH

CdS Sunrise • January 2012

6 • Life & Times

Mr. Corona Returns

12 students compete in pageant MASON KULURIS Online Managing Editor

Stationery, Invitation and Paper Boutique

Mr. Corona will be held Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. in the James C. Love Auditorium.

The Junior Class Council is in the charge of running the show.

Voting ballots went out Jan. 9 and 10 and the three contestants from each grade will be, Cole Richwine, Tanner Wilson, and Chris Morton for the freshman class. For the Sophomore class, Blake Jones, Omar Soussi and Tevin Mayfield. Then for Juniors, Sumeet Patwardhan, Chad Roland, and Nathan Samuels.

Finally for the Senior class is Avery Moss, Dong- Hyun (D.H) Kim and Sahil Bissessur. These are subject to change.

“It should go really well, there are a lot of improved aspects,” Junior Class sponsor, Robert Corwin said.

Mr. Corona’s categories will remain the same as before: best-dressed, best talent and best smile. Members of the school including administration members, students and faculty will judge the boys based on the talent show, formal eveningwear and question and answer.

“I’ts going to be a lot of fun,” sophomore Tevin Mayfield said, “I’m hoping to impress everyone with my talent.”

Mr. Corona is one of the biggest fundraisers for Prom and “Student Council is hoping for a good turn out,” Junior Class President Wyatt Larson said. ®

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January 2012 • CdS Sunrise

The Sunrise ...with Percussion teacher Scott Werner

GRADY DOUGLAS News Editor

Q: YOU BROUGHT THE PERCUSSION PROGRAM UP FROM NOTHING INTO THE TOP IN THE STATE. WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE? A: It feels pretty cool. It’s nice to have a real percussion program around. We actually are not only number one, we have the largest program in Arizona.

Q: WHAT WAS THE LAST BIG COMPETITION, AND WHAT IS THE NEXT ONE? A: The last was the WGAZ competition and we took first place. Now, we are getting ready for the WGI championships in Dayton, Ohio April 18-21, and we are competing as a World category.

Q: DID YOU EVER EXPECT TO HAVE SUCH GREAT SUCCESS AT CORONA? A: No, it was never the intention. The motive was really just to inspire kids. Music is different than athletics in that way; we never need to be number one, it’s always nice, but we’re just glad to be out

7

News • 7

there and make great music.

Q: HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND ON PERCUSSION AT CORONA? A: A lot! There is time on marching band, time on steel drum band, time in the classes and ensembles; it’s a lot to take in.

Q: WHAT IS A WORLD CATEGORY? A: The World category is the top category in the competitions; only 12 programs in the country rank World.

Q: WHEN DID YOU FIRST START THE PERCUSSION PROGRAM AT CORONA? A: When I first came to Corona in 1991. However, it started off as just a small class.

Q: SO ALL OF THE OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE PROGRAMS? A: No, all the other schools have classes COLIN MCCORMICK and DV has a smaller program. ®

CdS Sunrise • January 2012

8 • Life & Times

Seniors struggle to conquer senioritis Sierra Crespin Staff Writer

Senioritis is a colloquial term used in the U.S. and Canada to describe the decrease in motivation toward studies displayed by students who are nearing the end of their high school career. It truly is a crippling disease that strikes nearly all seniors in high school no matter their sex, height, race, maturity level, etc.

It naturally, like the chicken pox, takes over a person’s mental, emotional and physical health by the end of their first semester, if not sooner.

“I hate waking up in the morning. I’ve known most of these people for over four years; they should know what I look like,” senior Avery Moss said. “Because I’m a senior I don’t feel like I have to do any work.”

A quick list of symptoms often include the following: an over-excessive wearing of track pants, old comfy T-shirts, athletic shorts, sweatpants, over-sized sweatshirts, a lack of studying, repeated absences, a large decrease in academic performance, procrastination (not just in school) and a generally dismissive attitude toward teachers, parents, administrators and most of all, underclassmen, because seniors are obviously better than everyone else. No exceptions.

“You can tell seniors don’t spend much time preparing for the day,” freshman Brooke Schofield said. “They just seem irritable and annoyed at everything.”

Infected students will often leave their binder (not their backpack, it’s too much to carry) in their car from the time they leave campus until the time they return the next day.

“I took easy classes so I wouldn’t have homework,” senior Katie Koponen photo Illustration by Sierra Crespin said. “The only homework I do have is for math and I wait until the next day to Seniors Marin Cooper and Nicki Sawicki show some diffrent signs of senioritis. Seniors begin do it, like when there’s down time in classes before that one.” displaying symptoms of the condition during the first semester of senior year, if not sooner.

Seniors with senioritis also tend to play pranks on others, sometimes doing things that they would never consider doing. But it’s all right because detention is only real cure is graduation itself. There are only four months left of having these diseased students roaming campus. acceptable after your college applications have been submitted. Right?

Until next year that is. ® Although this illness is quite serious and extremely difficult to get rid of, as the

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Special Feature • 9

January 2012 • CdS Sunrise

COVER STORY:

Junior survives traumatic brain injury story on pages 9-14, featuring input from Sa muels’ doctors, fa mily and witnesses through his near death experience NATHAN SAMUELS Staff Writer

Thursday, Oct. 13th I woke up early, grabbed my bags and the new skateboard I had just bought, called a “Penny Board,” (tiny, plastic-molded boards that were replicas of the first ones ever made) and then headed over to the train station. I was about to take the Coast Liner up to Simi Valley, Calif., from Solana Beach to visit my older brother Luke at college. Luke attends California Lutheran in Thousand Oaks, a pleasant city near Los Angeles about 20 minutes or so inland. It was an awesome train ride with views of the ocean and small beach towns along the way. Once I made it to Los Angeles, however, it wasn’t the best of views I had seen; all city, smog and graffiti. I was glad to step off the train three-and-a-half hours later and hop in the car with my brother to make the drive to Thousand Oaks. I was now two-and-ahalf hours away from the rest of my family completely unaware I was about to endure the experience of a lifetime.

Friday, Oct. 14th I woke up in my brother’s dorm room bed, ready for another day with my brother and his friends. We planned on going skating on the various hills nearby, just as we did the day of my arrival. Our friend, Austin Scates, had also joined us the day before as well, and two of our other friends, Dayne Petera and his girlfriend, Christy Garrison (all Corona graduates), were on their way from Northern Arizona University to hang out with us as well.

The majority of the day consisted of hanging out in the dorms, doing some dishes, grabbing some lunch and skating around. After a brief skate around town, we returned to the dorms waiting for Dayne to show up, and for Luke’s roommate Michael Hooten, or “Hooty,” to return from whatever he was doing.

Hooty was back at the dorm while Dayne was only about 15 minutes away, giving us enough time to go tackle the “big hill across the street.” I had seen the hill from campus and noticed it was pretty steep and not totally fit for my board. But, disregarding these thoughts crossing my mind, I decided I wanted to skate it at least once.

We headed out for the skate and when we got across the street to the bottom of the hill, Dayne and Christy pulled up and we were all excited to finally hang out. We all held on to Dayne’s car while he towed us up the hill on our boards. When we got to the top, there was an awesome view of all the hills and mountains surrounding Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks.

The California weather was great; there was a slight breeze, as it was that time of year, when it is in the middle of the transition from summer to fall. It was awesome to be outside enjoying the weather with friends, as it was still too hot to do so back home. After we all talked and discussed plans for the night while enjoying the view, we decided it was time to go down the hill, and then go grab dinner for the night.

For a while, this was all I remembered, and I still am not sure if I remember what happened next. I can’t tell if the pictures in my head of riding down the hill are real images, images from the day before, or just my imagination coming from what Luke, Hooty and Dayne have told me.

I know I can barely remember starting down the hill after Hooty, while the others jumped in the car because they didn’t want to attempt the hill.

Then it was lights out from that point on.

HOOTY (friend/witness)

Luke was silent, but the look on his face was screaming. He hadn’t seen the fall; I’m glad. Nathan’s body was limp before he even touched the ground. His head had whipped back against the stale concrete. His board was gone, but it didn’t matter. I rushed back to Nathan, unconscious, half his body under a parked car.

Luke beat me there, landing by Nathan’s side, quietly speaking to his younger brother, or to himself. I couldn’t tell.

Austin was out of Christy’s car before it stopped, already dialing 911. I took the phone from him and backed away from the scene. I thought about Luke, always seeming a better version of my older brother back home. Now I saw him kneeling beside his younger brother, a better brother than I could be, but unconscious, vomiting, only 16 years old. The crowd around Nathan was small. Austin

and Dayne, friends from back home, Christy, and three witnesses in the wrong place at the wrong time. They looked over Nathan from their own safe distance, while Luke held him.

“What’s your emergency?” I never thought I’d be hearing that voice again. I let the operator know everything she needed to know, and in moments I heard sirens in the distance. I thanked the operator, let the phone go, and ran back to Nathan. I knelt with him and grabbed his hand. There was a haphazard chorus surrounding us.

“Nate, open your eyes!”

“Nay, wake up!”

“Nathan, say my name buddy.”

I kept Nate’s hand, and held my other up to quiet the others. Some of them stopped, and things slowed down a bit. I lowered my head to Nathan. The smell of vomit next to him: Why is he here? This could have happened to anyone, or better, to no one. But why would it happen to Nate? I leaned closer to him and spoke quietly, without urgency.

“Nathan, it’s Hooten. Listen buddy, I’m not asking you to move. Don’t open your eyes. You don’t have to

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talk if you don’t want to, but Nathan, do me a favor. Just squeeze my hand once, Nay.” Everything was quiet, thick, underwater for a moment, while I held Nathan’s hand, resting on his chest. A moment of hesitation, then pressure from his hand.

That was perfect. Everyone knew, for now, Nate was responding. And I knew at this point that once this was over he’d be Nathan again.

Silence fell when the ambulance approached. The paramedics asked their questions, and Nate fought them weakly while they lifted him to the stretcher. Nathan was pulling out in the ambulance, unconscious. The siren lights spat glares into our eyes while we tried to keep them dry. The hospital was close by, and we went straight there.

We arrived at the hospital, and from there the night was a blur of the few sterile emotions that hospitals allow. Luke sat at the desk to fill out paperwork that we were told was “necessary.”

continued on page 10...

10 • Special Feature continued from page 9...

My mind wouldn’t stop working, so I dropped to the ground, slumped against the wall at Luke’s feet.

I would have sat there all night if I could have, but news came and news left, and when a doctor told Luke to prepare for the worst, he turned around and walked out into the dark.

I hadn’t heard the doctor’s words, so I stayed where I was, waiting out each long, terrible moment, flooded by unforgiving lights from the hospital ceiling. Then I stood up and walked out to wait for Luke.

I was standing under a tree when I saw Luke again, scared for Nathan. I looked at Luke in that moment, and the thought of it was a brick to the head. Here was my best friend, standing right in front of me.

His younger brother was strapped to a hospital bed, fighting death. A breeze swept by us and dropped more leaves to the ground. It was fall. The ground was littered with fallen leaves. We sat under a tree and tried to talk for a moment. We couldn’t, so we just sat silently under the tree. Nathan will be OK.

CdS Sunrise • January 2012 had been traveling at about 20-25 miles per hour when he fell off his 15-inch board, hit the ground, rolled for about 20 feet hitting his head the whole way.

When I turned my attention back to Nathan he had started to move a bit so I started to say his name in hopes of keeping him conscious until the ambulance arrived. Unfortunately, the reason he was moving around was not because he was coming back to consciousness but because he was about to throw up everything contained in his stomach. This is the only time you’re allowed to yak and bleed all over me by the way, Nay, so don’t get any ideas…

Eventually the ambulance arrived after what had seemed like hours. The paramedics wasted no time in getting me out of the way and setting Nathan up on a stretcher. Being the stubborn little (expletive) he is, Nathan felt it necessary to put up a fight (as he was half conscious, I may add) when his neck was being stabilized and he kept telling the paramedics to knock it off. After he was in the back of the ambulance, one of the paramedics told me I wasn’t allowed to ride along with Nathan. I didn’t waste a second and booked it back to school to grab my car and speed over to the hospital.

Rushing to the hospital

Luke Samuels

Nathan throws up a peace sign in his hospital bed. Photo was taken on Luke’s cell phone.

Luke (older brother) As I rushed out of the car before it had come to a complete stop, the horror that had been running through my mind since I was at the top of the hill unfolded before my eyes. My little brother had actually fallen off his board. No helmet, unconscious and, to top it off, wedged facedown underneath the tire of a white Rav4. I can’t accurately describe the way I felt other than complete numbness. I searched around for a sympathetic gaze or a glint of hope in anyone’s eyes but couldn’t find one anywhere.

Naturally, I would have resorted to immediately losing my composure and proceed to break down immediately. However, instead of resorting to freaking the hell out, I asked my roommate, Hooty, to get a hold of the ambulance, which he did immediately.

As we came to find out later, it was good that we had called as soon as we did or the outcome of the situation could have been much worse. As Hooty was on the phone with the 911 operator, I was dragging Nathan out from underneath the car attempting to keep his neck stabilized when it finally hit me how serious the situation was becoming. Nathan was out cold, with his bloodied head in my lap and road-rashcovered body sprawled out in front of the car. As I turned my head to look around for Hooty in hopes of an encouraging nod that the ambulance was on its way, I noticed three guys standing on the side of the road who had witnessed Nathan’s fall. Letting my curiosity get the best of me, I asked how bad it looked and the only response I received was the shaking of their heads followed by “Really, really bad.”

According to these guys, as well as Hooty, Nathan

Upon arrival, I was directed to sit and wait patiently by a very, we’ll say stingy, ER nurse who also asked I attempt to fill out Nathan’s medical information to the best of my knowledge. At this point you’re probably asking where the heck our parents were. It turns out I was unable to get a hold of either of my parents because they were enjoying a nice evening with our younger siblings at Sea World… So after filling out the paperwork there was nothing left to do but wait. I doubt I need to explain how difficult that was, especially because I wasn’t allowed to get back and see Nathan until he was “stabilized.”

After sitting, pacing, praying, wishing and a bit of crying, I was finally approached by a small Asian man whose first words to me were, “You need to prepare for the worst. Have you been able to contact your parents yet?” As you can imagine, I was not at all happy to receive this news and began to quietly yell expletives not appropriate for this publication. The doctor seemed a bit taken aback and said I would need to wait to see Nathan until he felt the time was appropriate. By this point I wasn’t about to wait any longer to see Nathan, so I politely demanded that I was able to see my brother, immediately. To

Not knowing whether I’d ever be able to go home and spend time with him again was the biggest eye-opening experience of my life.

-Luke

my amazement the doctor agreed and escorted me back to the holding room where Nathan was being evaluated. The sight when I walked into the room was horrific. There were tubes down his throat, nose and other unfortunate places as well as a number of beeping machines, one of which displayed his racing heart rate. This was the toughest experience of my life. I was directed to hold my brother’s arm down while the nurse inserted an IV with medicine that would hopefully help subdue Nathan into a coma.

Since he was being so resistant they eventually had

to strap him to the stretcher to prevent him from ripping out the tube that was stuffed down his throat.

Once Nathan was somewhat stable — according to the nurses, that is— the doctor advised me to attempt to get a hold of my parents once more. So I stepped out and tried, once again, to make the hardest phone call of my life. This time I was successful and was happily greeted by the voice of my mother on the other end. I tried my best to spin the situation to her in the least dramatic way possible. However, as a mother, I can only imagine that hearing the words “Crash, ambulance, hospital” and the phrase “you need to be here” all used in the same sentence are by no means any reason to stay calm.

My mom telling me to go and tell Nathan that the whole family loved him very much and to stay strong until they got there only slapped me with another huge reality check. So, I continued to sit as Nathan was being wheeled off to undergo more brain scans to determine the severity of the situation in addition to whether surgery was going to be necessary.

I don’t remember how long I sat outside waiting for either the doctor to come out and speak to me or my family to arrive from San Diego, but I can tell you I’ve never had such a lump in my stomach. The thoughts running through my head were taking me places I never wanted to imagine and the only thing I wanted was to hear that my little brother was going to be OK.

My family arrives

In a frenzy, my family finally arrived at the hospital. There wasn’t much else we could do but wait in silence to hear back on Nathan’s condition. Fortunately, after the second CT scan, the doctor had the first bit of good information of the night. Nathan’s brain bleeding had not gotten any worse and they were going to move him out of the ER to intensive care. This is where he would spend the rest of his time in the hospital, three days in a medically induced coma and the rest in a haze attempting to heal and return to the Nathan we all know and love today.

Seeing the little brother I grew up with strapped to a stretcher, blood dripping from his ears, not knowing whether I’d ever be able to go home and spend time with him again was the biggest eye-opening experience of my life.

Dad

Our family was in Del Mar, Calif., enjoying fall break this October. Nathan wanted to visit his brother, Luke who is attending California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. His mother and I agreed that a couple-day trip to visit Luke at Cal Lu was a good idea. Nathan rode the Amtrak from Del Mar to LA with his backpack and skateboard.

We received numerous updates from Nate and Luke via text messages (what else?) keeping us informed of their whereabouts and fun. Life was good as Susan (my wife) and I were enjoying our youngest children (Rachel and Josh) while the older brothers bonded and Nathan could explore college life.

Nathan is a fairly accomplished skate boarder and is sponsored by skateboard companies. He appears on web sites and has skated in competitions at a national level. Skating is a way of life for many young people and a necessary mode of transportation for kids on college campuses across the US. This trip to visit his brother was no exception as the plan was to break-in a new style board that Nathan had just purchased in Del Mar.

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January 2012 • CdS Sunrise The dreaded phone call came on the evening of Oct. 14. It was early evening as Susan, Rachel, Josh and I had just watched the sun set over the ocean, a daily ritual for us while at the beach. Luke called from the accident site to inform us that Nathan had crashed on his board at a high rate of speed while descending down a steep hill. Luke was very distraught and we knew this was a serious accident. Further discussion with Luke revealed that Nathan had been airborne for 20-30 feet, landed on the back of his head and then proceeded to slam forcefully into a parked car.

We quickly (and somewhat frantically) packed up our car for the two-hour drive to Thousand Oaks from Del Mar. As you may imagine, this was a very stressful drive. Susan called the emergency department to acquire any possible updates and any positive news on Nathan’s condition…there was no positive news. Many prayers were said and requested from friends and family as we made our way up the freeway toward LA. Luke did the right thing by immediately dialing 911. The paramedics arrived and assessed Nathan, who was unconscious and posturing (exaggerated, rigid, non-controlled movements). He was also actively vomiting at the accident scene. These are all serious signs that Nathan had a potentially life-threatening closed head injury or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). He was quickly transported to Los Robles Medical Center. Upon arrival to the emergency department, Nathan remained combative (another sign of head injury) and was also still vomiting and was inand-out of the conscious state. The emergency physician administered a drug called Versed (a quick acting anesthetic) to render Nathan fully unconscious so that he could intubate him (plastic tube place into the

Special Feature • 11 windpipe) to control Nathan’s breathing and to protect his airway. He was further assessed by the trauma surgeon and his team for any additional injuries as IVs and CT scans were performed on Nathan’s head, chest, abdomen and extremities to reveal any further trauma. Nathan suffered only bumps, bruises and road rash with no other fractures or internal injuries to his body.

Nathan was then directly admitted to the ICU. He was placed on a ventilator and a drug called Propofol to place Nathan into a medically induced coma. This is done to help relax an agitated patient (common in head injuries) and to help reduce brain swelling in the cranium.

As you may have figured out by now, Nathan was not wearing a helmet.

One of the worst nightmares a parent can experience is walking into an ICU and seeing your child lying in a bed, hooked up to a ventilator with tubes

“.. There is no other time quite like the instant when you ask yourself if your child will live or die.”

-Nathan’s dad

and IVs placed in every vein and orifice of his body.

This is a very revealing moment and there is no other time quite like the instant when you ask yourself if your child will live or die.

The first thing I requested was the report from the CT scan…it was not good news. Nathan had fractured his skull along the parietal and occipital suture line (where the skull fuses along the side and back of

the skull). He had also suffered a contra-coup type injury (French term for rebound). This occurs when you strike the back of your head with such force that your brain rebounds to the front of your skull and smashes into the inside of the skull causing an effusion (swelling). The life threatening circumstances were bleeding of the brain tissue and swelling into the skull.

The night was long as I listened to every breath of the ventilator, prayed to God and waited for the next CT scan to divulge Nathan’s fate. That night, when I was alone in Nathan’s room in the ICU, I wondered if my son was going to die or be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. It was a very long night.

The early morning CT scan revealed only a minor increase in the swelling of his brain so no invasive surgery was required at this point. He continued on the ventilator in a medically induced coma for three days. On the third day, Nathan extubated himself (pulled the tube from his windpipe). There were physician orders to remove the tube and take Nathan off the ventilator that same day, so Nathan just expedited the process.

Nate seemed to rest more peacefully now that he was off the ventilator. Gradually, as his condition improved, the IVs and tubes were removed one at a time. He began to speak and eat real food for the first time in days. Nate’s first questions were, what happened and where’s my cell phone? Gradually, Nathan was cleared to walk with assistance, shower with help and watch TV. He did not want to watch TV as Nathan was experiencing blurred and double vision.

Nathan was released from Los Robles hospital six days from the incident. He and his mother flew home and the rest of us drove back to Tempe.

continued on page 13...

January 2012 • CdS Sunrise continued from page 11...

Sunday night, Oct. 16th I had woken up, but I hardly remember anything. That night, I remember trying to watch the TV but it just comes back to me as noise and nothing else.

I do not remember seeing my family at all that night, but I know that they were all there. I believe I really wanted some Coke, for some weird reason, and they finally brought it to me. Well, that Coke taught me a lesson, because I vomited a few minutes after drinking it. These are the first images I remember after waking up from the coma.

Monday, Oct. 17th - Thursday, Oct. 19th

Special Feature • 13 after traumatic brain injuries). The doctor dilated my eyes, and for some reason my vision seemed to progress back to normal after the dilation. The only symptom that I did not experience was headaches, which is great! I have not had one headache since the accident, not one.

By Thanksgiving weekend, I was able to go on hikes, attend Fine Gentlemen’s Club (FGC) meetings, and do other activities and start to return to my normal self. My post-accident MRIs came back and all has healed well, the only thing is a portion of the frontal left side of my brain is scar tissue, which means it is virtually dead brain. It seems scary, but doctors have not determined the function of that part of the brain, and I haven’t noticed anything different…yet.

Returning to normal life

Now, I would say I am back to 98 percent. The two percent accounts for the loss of my sense of smell, but I have acquired a new sense that I will not reveal.

Anyways, I can’t smell a thing and it does mess with some of my taste factor.

Some food tastes different and the entire flavor is not there like it used to be. Another effect is that I seem to have a slight short-term memory problem, but it is very minor. As long as I think hard about what I am trying to remember, it usually seems to come back to me. All of this seems depressing, but it’s really not. Out of all of the possible outcomes, effects, mental and personality differences that could have been a result, I am very thankful for only ending up with these minor effects.

According to Neurologist Scott Elton, my follow-up doctor in Arizona, the outcome could have been much worse.

“Despite having hemorrhages, brain swelling, and a fracture, you were actually functioning quite normally when you were first examined. Had things progressed such that the hemorrhages or swelling had worsened the outcome may have been worse, including death,” Elton said.

The time it took from the scene of the accident, to the ER and finally examined by the neurologist was 45 minutes, and this was a big advantage to me.

“The two biggest advantages you had were the speed with which you were brought to the ER,” Elton said. In trauma, the ‘golden hour’ is considered the time period in which physicians have the greatest likelihood of creating a positive outcome, and secondly, that you were brought to a trauma center, where the medical personnel and resources are built around rapidly assessing and treating individuals with your type of injuries.”

Sustaining a concussion in the near from falling if it were to happen. future would definitely include many I was then discharged from the negative effects. hospital less than a week after the “Certainly concern over brain funcaccident, and spent the next night tioning and the efficiency with which in a hotel. Once we got to the room the brain processes information would in the hotel my mom lost our key, be raised,” Elton said. As you suffered so I had to half consciously have a physical damage to your brain, any furconversation with a maid in comther damage (and it is really unknown plete Spanish and she let us in. I to what extent physical damage occurs then flew home to Arizona the next in concussions - which are slowing beday. ing retermed mild TBI [mTBI]) could It was great to be home and I TYLER MYRMAN potentially producing life changing and felt better as I was picked up from Nate Samuels performing an angel hop. Samuels has been skateboarding since sixth grade. long-term effects.” the airport by my girlfriend, KendTBIs are the most common injury in all Rasmussen, a wonderful woman, young males, and Elton does a great job in explaining why. and my dad (he’s great too.)

“One of my favorite reminders of the demographics of TBI in young adults Now the month-and-a-half after I was home was one of the more different is the movie King Kong. Any of them, from the 1930 version to the latest. In and difficult times of my life, and it is hard to explain. I always seemed to have particular, the end of the movies, when King Kong is up on the Empire State this weird feeling in my head, everything was abnormally bright, and whatever I looked at seemed like a movie. I believe this was because everything was so out of Building, with Ann Darrow hanging on, swatting at planes. What do we have? A focus, and I had to really concentrate on everything. My vision was terrible for at young male, trying to impress someone, up on high, doing something he shouldn’t least a month. It progressed from totally blurry and everyone having two heads, be, and about to fall. Why is this reminiscent of TBI demographics -- because to somewhat clear; if I covered one eye I did not have double vision. The doctor TBI, particularly in young adults, is dominated by males, usually not wearing a did not let me return to school for another week, which was a good thing, because helmet, and falling off of something (either moving or stable). And not infrethere was no way I was going to be able to manage school yet. I returned the quently doing something they know they shouldn’t be doing -- no helmet, going Monday of Halloween for half days, and I did half days the next two weeks. Even too fast, etc.”

Dr. Norman Saba, my pediatrician, explains some statistics with TBI’s. half days were hard for me; it was hard to focus and my vision was still messed “Most will recover close to if not totally in cases of mild TBI, and in moderate up. On top of that I was tired most of the time, and I forgot everything I did in injuries (yours) almost 66 percent will have permanent disabilities whereas in school by the end of the day. Up until winter break I had two or more doctors severe appointments a week, which caused me to miss even more school. Even though TBI 100% will be left with some type of disability. The disabilities vary with I missed so much school, all my teachers were very helpful and understanding, type of TBI as does the prognosis,” Saba said. which took tons of stress off the whole situation. I appreciate that, so a big thanks to all of you guys. My vision finally returned to normal by Thanksgiving, after continued on page 14... a neuro-ophthalmologist appointment (a doctor that specializes in eye problems As time passed in the hospital, I felt like I had accepted what had happened, but had not really fathomed the seriousness of the situation simply because I didn’t remember anything that happened. I started to ease back into a more conscious state of mind and actually remember why I was there. Before this, apparently every time I woke up I asked what had happened, as well as apologized many times. One of the more interesting questions I asked my mom (which I don’t remember), was if I had died… Apparently she just laughed and said, “No Nathan, you did not die.”

I was on some serious drugs to kill the pain so I suppose that gives me an excuse for all the weird questions. My dad also shared with me that when they gave me morphine and I fell asleep, I was laughing, smiling, and making incoherent noises throughout my sleep. I’d love to know what was going on in that dream, but I guess I’ll never know!

I also remember the nurses making me go on walks, and these walks were not my favorite; I had terrible vision, it was blurry, there was two of everybody, and I just felt weird. I just had to keep my balance and move along. I remember seeing my brothers and sisters in the waiting room as I walked by, and they were laughing. My older sister, Lauren, had even flown out to be there from North Carolina! It was great to see them, and see them relieved and happy, but I later found out that they were laughing because the nurse had a leash around me preventing me

Discharged from the hospital

14 • Special Feature

CdS Sunrise • January 2012 continued from page 13...

“You had a very rapid recovery with respect to the nature of your injuries and were very fortunate. Your return to relatively normal function was faster than most who had an injury like yours,” Saba said.

Quick shout-out to...

I realized after this whole incident that put me “out of commission” for a bit sure did put Dad, Mom especially (she’s still worried), Luke, Lauren, Rachel, Josh, Kendall, the boys and girls at the accident, my friends, other families, teachers, assorted nurses, and many others through a lot of hell, and I’d like to apologize. Not only that, I would like to thank you all for your support, care, love, help, patience, prayers, dinners, cards, gifts, encouragements, concerns, understanding, and everything else you guys have done for me! It made my whole recovery process that much easier and less stressful. It also made me realize how much all of these people really do love and care about me; it means a lot. I really hope I do show these people how much I care and appreciate them as well.

Before this incident, it was always something I would hear about and only think about. But now that it has actually happened, it made me realize how short life is and how fragile it can be. I hope now that you have heard my story you realize this without going through anything like it. Trust me, knowing your loved ones are extremely stressed praying for you to hang onto your life is one of the worst feelings. Enjoy life while you can because death is inevitable; be careful, and stay positive with everything and towards everyone. Maybe wear a helmet too…

Special thank you to Luke, Hooty and Dad for sharing your perceptions of my story. ®

The hill Nathan fell down (above.)

Photo courtsey of LUKE SAMUELS

January 2012 • CdS Sunrise

Special Feature • 15

COVER STORY:

CONCUSSIONS AT CORONA School, AIA taking measures to help athletes prevent injury

though TIME reports that only 42 percent of high schools in America have certified athletic trainers, like Mason. The baseline test is not mandatory, but proves to be off to a successful start, with about 300-400 tests conducted thus far on camt’s a serious epidemic hitting the nation harder than ever before, literally. pus. The test has been mostly given to contact sports although it is the ultimate Concussions are provoking headaches and dizziness and causing long-term goal for all athletes to be tested. health risks and in rare cases, death, for young athletes throughout the counThe test is simple and provides excellent information in the event of an injury. try. Students are starting young, competing at a high level and not taking nearly “We are looking at the scores of this baseline data, when an injury does occur, enough recovery time to properly heal from injuries. TIME Magazine reports and then we’re comparing both to see the significance of the injury, to see if they that from 2005 to 2008, 41 percent of athletes who suffered concussions in 100 have returned to where they were before the concussion,” Mason said. high schools across the country returned to play too soon, disregarding guidelines For junior varsity OL/DL Aaron Simons, the baseline test helped him get set out by the American Academy of Neurology. back on the field. Having taken it prior to his massive collision in practice, the test The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevenwas available for him to retake making sure that his tion defines a concussion on it’s website as “type transition off the bench would be a safe one. of traumatic brain injury, or TBI (Traumatic “I was told that I got absolutely mollyBrain Injury), caused by a bump, blow, or jolt whopped by this kid Josh Riedel,” Simons said. to the head that can change the way your “I got hit in the head and l don’t remember brain normally works.” much of it until about halfway to the hosAt Corona, certified Athletic Trainer pital when my mom was like ‘You all right Scott Mason, partnered with St. Joseph’s bud?’ and I said ‘I don’t know what you’re Hospital and Medical Center, AXON talking about.’ Then she told me I got a consports and the AIA (Arizona Interscholascussion.” tic Association) to put programs and tests Although suffering from brutal dizziness in place, creating an efficient system for athand headaches, Simons pleaded to be alletes to perform at optimal level by taking lowed back on the field, and bitterly underproper recovery time and being aware of the stood why he wasn’t allowed to suit up again risk and symptoms prior to a concussion. until he was fully recovered.

One of the first steps taken has been done “That was a big discussion my mom and the so by the AIA. The educational course, entitled doctors had, that I want to get back on the field as Brainbook, was developed in coordination with the fast as possible. The doctors wanted a whole week Photo by PATRICK BUCK, Illustration by LILLY BERKLEY B.R.A.I.N.S Clinic of the Barrow Neurological Instiof symptoms being gone from my body. They were tute and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. It is gone in about a week, so I sat out two weeks,” Simons now mandated by the AIA Executive Board to educate student athletes about said. “I love the sport, I like playing, and it was a big game, it was DV, so I wanted concussions, and students must present proof of completing the program and to play. It’s a violent sport, it’s going to happen where people get hit, but don’t hit passing the test at the end before they are even allowed to try-out for a sport. with your head. That’s a rule.”

Javier Cardenas, a neurologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital and director of the Corona insists a safe return to his/her respective sport is the school’s primary B.R.A.I.N.S. program, explains why creating a program like this was so impor- goal, so as not to add to the whopping 16 percent of athletes nationally who suftant and how it was developed. fered concussions and returned to the field the same day, as reported by TIME. “The education that’s available currently through the CDC for the coaches is Many have noticed the NFL changing up the technology of their helmets to great education. It’s also available for the parents. But there is nothing directed at better support the head and protect the brain. Turns out the pros aren’t the only the athletes. What the states require is you handing a piece of paper to your parent one’s suiting up a little safer. saying ‘you acknowledge you know the danger of concussion’ and then you sign Every year, Corona’s football program adds about 20 to 30 Schutt DNA heloff and you’re done. As a student, that’s not education,” Cardenas said. “About mets, one of the most advanced helmets on the market right now within the a year and a half ago, the Arizona Interscholastic Association and the Arizona school’s price range. Since obtaining new coach Tom Joseph, Corona has also Cardinals came to my institution because I run a program called B.R.A.I.N.S. invested in helmets that are custom fit to the player, doing away with the “one size They said, ‘Will you go educate all the schools about concussions? We’ll buy you fits all” type protection. a van and you can go throughout the state.’ But that isn’r practical.”

“Helmets are good for 10 years and we have them tested each year by SunInstead, Cardenas worked with Arizona State University to create the online valco to make sure there are no cracks or defects,” assistant football coach Tim class that has come to be known as Brainbook.

Kelly said.

“It’s interactive, it has a Facebook-like interface, even though there is no social Girls soccer is also taking steps to reduce risk in the high-speed contact sport. networking, it’s multi-media, we included professional physicians and role models Girls soccer coach Matt Smith said, “My wife has suffered over 25 concussions from the Arizona Cardinals and from the (Phoenix) Mercury. And lastly, there are so its kind of a personal vendetta for me,” explaining why taking these precausome athlete peers talking about concussions,” he said. tions mean a lot to him, while protecting the long-term health of this players.

Since the start of the program in August, 80,000 tests have been completed.

“We have purchased FULL90 headgear for each of our girls and require them Cardenas is recognizing great success and receiving positive feed back, as middle to wear them for all training and games, both on the varsity and JV levels,” Smith schools are beginning to use the tool for health education. Cardenas also says that said. “There are lots of people who argue about the effectiveness of the headgear, they are trying to take the program nationally, tailoring it for each area. but we have seen less than two concussions per season over the last two years in “We are seeing a shift, and the intent of Brainbook is to create a culture shift, the program, which is about 40 athletes each year.” so that people are not afraid to report, that they are looking out for themselves The steps Corona is taking to reduce concussion and brain injury risk is provand their peers, and they take the correct measures to sit out so they don’t suffer ing its effectiveness on campus with every practice and game, as athletes are perthe injury or a second injury,” Cardenas said. “I link it to dehydration. When I forming at a safer level than ever before. was a high school athlete, if you ran off the field to get water, you were a sissy.

“It’s better to miss one game than the whole season,” the U.S. Department of You didn’t need it. But you know, people died. But that culture has shifted in the Health and Human Services states on their website. sports world. So that’s what I hope will happen.”

Simons concludes with the idea the athletes need to be patient in a difficult, After team players have completed the Brainbook program, they are recom- sometimes long-term process of recovery. mended to take the baseline concussion test at school, administered by Mason.

“I was angry (I couldn’t play), but I understood why,” Simons said. “You don’t Having a certified athletic trainer on-site is crucial to assist injured athletes, mess around when stuff comes to your brain.”  PRESLIE HIRSCH Editor-in-Chief

I

January 2012 • CdS Sunrise

Life & Times • 17

Top 10 things to do under $10 STEPHANIE DAYTON Opinions Editor

1.

Play Frisbee in the park 2.

$3 Movie Ticket

The Tempe Pollack Cinema (off of East Elliot Road and South McClintock Road) offers movies for exactly $3 and offers $2 Tuesdays (they only take cash!).

Buy a Frisbee, or two, at the dollar store (which has Toy Story, Barbie, Disney princess and cartoon character Frisbees) and find a wide open area nearby!

3.

4.

Picnic with friends

Make your lunches at home to save money and go to a comfortable grassy area and maybe even play some frisbee.

Go on a hiking expidition

It’s Arizona, the weather is great almost every day of the year. Find a trail (Hayden Butte and Tempe Town Lake, South Mountain, Desert Classic Trail Javeline Loop, Pima Loop etc.) or just walk around your neighborhood.

5.

Nerf Gun War

Buy a simple Nerf gun (or if you know someone who has one, borrow it), gather some friends and select your battlefield.

6.

PHOTOS BY DEBORAH HUARD

Tye dye clothing

Arts and crafts stores carry many different options when it comes to tye dye kits. You don’t need to buy a new shirt just to tye dye it. Use an old one to give it a new look.

7.

8.

Frozen Yogurt There are many local frozen yogurt or gelato shops around and it makes for a great treat.

9.

Ga me Night

Gather some of your old classic board games (or if you simply don’t have or like board games then gather some of your favorite videogames) and call up some friends and spend the night competing.

Drive-In Movie

Grab a group of friends and drive down to Century Glendale 9 Drive-in near the intersection of North 55th Ave and West Montebello Ave. Not only is it easy on the wallet, but it makes for a great time. Check out movie times at http:// www.fandango.com/glendaledrivein_aaceb/theaterpage

10.

Goodwill Hunting

Going to Goodwill offers you the chance to find new clothes, shoes, accessories, games, books, music and almost anything you might need. The Goodwill offers a variety of different cheap and unique items to make your day that much better. ®

New words added to dictionary DEVIKA SHARAN Online Content Editor

Every so often Merriam-Webster Dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary add new words to both their printed and online dictionaries.

Most new words added have to do with trending words that are used among people everywhere. For example, “LOL” and “OMG” have both been added because of the overuse. Here is just a sampling of some words recently added: Ambo (noun): an ambulance; (also, in Australia) a member of an ambulance crew [first recorded in 1974].

Bromance: a close nonsexual friendship between men.

Buttload: It’s a word meaning a lot of something. “Taylor Swift has a buttload of fans all across the world.”

Cougar (noun): a middle-aged woman seeking a romantic relationship with a younger man.

Cyberbullying (noun): the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature.

Fist bump (noun): a gesture in which two people bump their fists together (as in greeting or celebration).

Homie (noun): slang (orig. and chief-

ly in African-American use). A person from one’s home town or neighborhood; a member of one’s peer group or gang; a homeboy or homegirl. In later use also: a member of the hip-hop subculture. Also as a form of address.

Jeggings (plural noun): tight-fitting stretch trousers for women, styled to resemble a pair of denim jeans.

Kegerator (noun): a refrigerator that holds a keg (as for beer).

Kewl (adj.): representing an affected or exaggerated pronunciation of cool adjective, especially in the language of electronic communications [1990].

Mankini: a one- piece bathing suit for men, with a T-back (think Borat).

Planking (verb): a game or activity in which participants lie facedown in unusual locations.

Retweet (verb): (on the social networking service Twitter) repost or forward (a message posted by another user).

Sexting (noun): the sending of sexually explicit photographs or messages via mobile phone.

Textitis (noun): pain (as in thumbs, hands, or forearms) from frequent texting Woot: exclaim, informal (especially in electronic communication) used to express elation, enthusiasm or triumph. ®

18 • Life & Times

CdS Sunrise • January 2012

coronadelsol

Fast Fact

ASADA NJUGUNA Life & Times Editor

Every main stage play takes place in the auditorium, but no one ever seems to notice the name above the double door entry. James C. Love was the very first principal for the first few years of Corona’s history.

What about the gymnasium? Many sports and activities such as dances and pep assemblies are held in the Sammy Duane gymnasium on the Larry Hughes court.

Sammy Duane was the first boys basketball coach at Corona. He drove Corona to four state championships during his time here.

“Sammy Duane is the father of our current coach Sammy Duane Jr.” athletics

director Dan Nero said.

Larry Hughes was the first girls basketball coach and won two state championships. He also coached football and boys golf and led them both to a state championship.

The Hascal Henshaw Stadium, home to football games and graduation named after our first district administrator.

“The process of naming these areas is left up to site administration who work with district administration to honor retired employees that have had a lengthy career at Corona,” Nero said.

These people dedicated their time to Corona and left a huge impact on the schoo and faculties. The accomplishments were only the gateway to the rest on Corona success. ®

PHOTOS BY: DEBORAH HUARD

January 2012 • CdS Sunrise

Opinions • 19

Controversy surrounds gay marriage PRESLIE HIRSCH Editor-in-Chief

Controversial issues have been the building blocks of revolution since the beginning of America, and, needless to say, nothing has changed. Social issues tend to have a way of existing without raising political concern until they are brought to the surface by passionate constituents.

Gay marriage rights first were catapulted into the spotlight in 1993 when Hawaii essentially stated that for gay couples to be denied being wed, there has to be a very good reason. Congress proposed, then President Bill Clinton signed, the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, which denies traditional marriage rights, such as joint tax filing and Social Security benefits to same-sex couples.

Presently, 27 states have passed constitutional bans on gay marriage while 10 have ruled it acceptable. According to Time Magazine online, polls demonstrate that an overall majority of Americans oppose gay marriage; this is what puzzles me.

Being open-minded and being able to understand opposite views is important when you have opinions on controversial issues. But, I can’t say I think there are any valid arguments to oppose gay marriage, and I’ll explain why.

Some religions will protest that being wed is for the sole purpose of having children. If we follow this rule, then we must also deny the right to be married to men and women who are unable to reproduce, older women who can no longer bear children and couples who don’t desire or can’t afford children, right?

Other religious groups say that if two people of the same sex get married, it diminishes the value of marriage. But if we’re talking about making marriage less sacred, Kim Kardashian’s 72-day marriage, Brittney Spears 56 hour marriage and J-Lo’s four-month marriage do a fine job of making marriage seem meaningless.

These are just a couple of well-known examples, not accounting for the countless annulments and divorces that happen every single day in America. Speaking of which, if two people of the same-sex being wed makes marriage less holy, so does divorce, right? If we outlaw same sex marriage we ought to out law divorce; both are detrimental to the marriage system.

Some people are afraid of the gay population, also referred to (but hardly

admitted) being homophobic. Younger communities feel this way because seeing two people of the same sex showing affection makes them uncomfortable. But, the way I look at it…just don’t look. You can’t really complain about something that nobody is forcing you to watch. Additionally, people commonly think that if they are around someone that is gay, that person will start to like them. It’s important to realize that just because someone likes girls, they don’t like every girl, and vice versa. Just like being straight, human attraction is based on several things, and obviously doesn’t happen with every interaction. Let’s not be so selfcentered and think everyone who likes our gender will like us.

Similarly to homophobia, parents sometimes fear that if their children are around homosexuals, they too will turn gay. It is unclear how sexual orientation is determined, whether it be genetically or through experiences. But, it certainly is not a disease or transmittable, and that’s a fact. Parents also worry that this will open students up to experiences and ideas that differ from what they teach at home or preach in the family church. Heaven forbid children grow up to be tolerant; that would just be awful. Acceptance of everyone’s differences, that would make a safer, more peaceful community, and we certainly don’t want that.

Many argue that the dictionary defines marriage as “the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.” or compare it to Adam and Eve. If we all abide by the theory that things shouldn’t change and we should follow traditional definitions and practices, slavery would still be in effect, you’d have to be a white, male land-owner to vote in elections, women would have no rights and our 10-year old children would be working in sweat shops. And if we were living our lives through the Old Testament, men would be stoning their cheating wives. And I can’t buy the argument that that’s why we have a new testament, because then why are we still listening to parts of the old one?

But frankly I don’t want to get into a religious debate or argue the politics.

This is undeniably a human rights issue. The heart wants what the heart wants, and you can’t control the person you fall in love with so why should we place restrictions on it? So let’s cut the intolerance and go back to classic kindergarten teachings: only worry about yourself. ®

Two men walk down a beach in Carlsbad, California holding hands. California is among one of the states that does not allow gay marriage.

LILLY BERKLEY

Sunrise Staff

1001 E. Knox Road • Tempe, AZ • 85284 Editor-in-Chief | Preslie Hirsch Online Editor-in-Chief | Will Morgan Managing Editor | Jacqui Marzocca Online Managing Editor | Mason Kuluris Opinions Editor Stephanie Dayton Life & Times Editor Asada Njuguna Sports Editor Audrey Wheeless Photo Editor Lilly Berkley News Editor Grady Douglas Copy Editor Josh Ambre Adviser Kris Urban

Online Content Editor Devika Sharan Online Sports Omar Soussi Business Manager Cassidy Kamerman Cartoonist Cassidy Kamerman, Alyssa Gerwig Staff Taylor Beese, Patrick Buck, Elizabeth Cheney, Sierra Crespin, Luke Frampton, Deborah Huard, Colin McCormick, Nadine Salameh, Nathan Samuels and Angelica Valenzuela

The Sunrise is an open forum for student expression and welcomes letters on all matters. The staff reserves the right to edit as required. All materials submitted for publication must be signed.

Views and opinions contained herein are those of the author and not considered to be the opinions of the staff, adviser, administration or the Tempe Union High School District. Unsigned editorials reflect the views of the editorial board. Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

www.cdssunrise.com Front page photos by Patrick Buck and Colin McCormick; front page design by Preslie Hirsch

20 • Sports

CdS Sunrise • January 2012

Injury may affect college track career Audrey wheeliss Sports Editor

For many students in high school, sports are everything. It can be their ticket to playing in college, and from there, even becoming a professional athlete. When these individuals play at such a competitive level, unfortunately injuries are not unheard of; they’re even common. For senior Taylor Johnson, this is all too familiar.

Johnson has been playing soccer since she was 4 years old and has been playing for Corona all four years. She has run track since sixth grade and has run for three years at Corona on the varsity team.

“In soccer I’m a forward and for track I run the 100, 200, 4x100 and 4x400,” Johnson said.

Johnson has qualified for state every year in track. Her junior year she placed 11th in the 200, seventh in the 4x1, and fourth in the 4x4. The 4x4 is comprised of the top four mid-distance girls on the team and the 4x1 includes the four fastest girls on the team.

As talented in two sports as Johnson is, she was set back her sophomore year.

“I tore my ACL in the first (soccer) scrimmage against Hamilton sophomore year; it was a seven-month recovery,” Johnson said. “I continued to stay on the team for soccer but did not do track.”

Johnson continued, “I came back Sierra Crespin stronger after my ACL for both sports.”

Taylor Johnson, who tore her ACL in the socNow as her senior year has begun, cer season opener, poses on the track.

Johnson has been taking the sports more seriously as she begins to think about her future. She has decided to pursue track instead of soccer in college.

“I enjoy track more,” Johnson said. “You learn to get sick of it (soccer). I’ve only been doing track since sixth grade so it’s more fresh.”

This works to Johnson’s advantage because Chandler-Gilbert Community College is the only school that has looked at her for soccer. However, Johnson’s track record has received major attention from many well-known schools: Soka University of America, Whittier College, University of Redlands and Brown University have all contacted her.

“I’m waiting for more offers and haven’t contacted anyone yet because it isn’t track season,” Johnson said. “It’s a later sport so you kind of wait to see what you get. I’ll sign by March or April and I will verbally commit in the middle of the track season so they know.”

Brown University is an Ivy League school and is the most impressive out of the schools that have contacted Johnson.

“My family wants me to go to Brown and get a track scholarship,” Johnson said. “Another reason I’m waiting is to see is if I want to run in college. I’m scared I would get tired of it and not have enough free time. The distance makes an

impact on my decision and moving from my family.”

Johnson has also considered the option of staying in state and walking on.

“If I stayed in state I would definitely go to ASU,” Johnson said. “It’s close to home and the team is really good. I think I’d have a pretty good chance as a walk on.”

However, all of this glory only took place up “It really depends on the until a couple weeks ago.

High school athletes, such college coach if they can see as Johnson, get the unique past the injury.” experience of getting to go -Taylor Johnson through the process of deciding where they want to play. However, not all athletes get to finish that process. On Dec. 1, Johnson was injured in the first soccer game of the season against Desert Vista.

Johnson returned to school the next day on crutches, crying in pain. She explained that she would be going to the doctor to get her diagnosis and that if she could recover from her injury fast enough and run track, then she would get her surgery after the track season.

“My doctor diagnosed it on Dec. 5 as cartilage damage and a partially torn ACL,” Johnson said. “I am getting surgery on Jan. 11. They are reconstructing my ACL with a cadaver part and inserting two titanium screws.”

Over time Johnson’s DNA will take over the replacement and it will essentially become hers. The situation has been hard for Johnson and the injury dramatically alters her future.

“I’m probably not going to do anything in sports; I’ll be done with my physical therapy in July and that’ll be too late to train,” Johnson said. “Unless I miss it, then I’ll walk on somewhere but as of now, no. I’d walk on at the college I go to unless someone recruited me.”

Johnson continued, “Since I’m not doing it my senior year and the coaches won’t see my times. It really depends on the college coach if they can see past the injury.”

Unfortunately when a team loses a key player, the team is also affected.

“It’s gonna hurt,” head track coach Tim Kelly said. “We were looking at winning the state relay with her.4x4 should have placed in the top three in state so without her it will be harder for the team. She’s still needed out there even if she can’t run; we will miss her leadership as a senior.” Kelly continued.

“We always say athletics is a second chance and as a senior when you can’t complete you feel like you give up that chance,” he said.

Any athlete can sympathize what it feels like to get injured. Though, not everyone knows what it’s like to give up an entire future over that injury. Despite the disappointment, Johnson is trying to stay positive.

“I’m upset that my senior year was taken away from me and I only got to do two years of high school sports,” Johnson said. “I have a long road ahead of me; six months of recovery is a long time. I just wonder, why me, why twice? But I am grateful that I have the opportunity to get it fixed. It’s not that end of the world and I’m grateful I am able to fix my problem.”

Johnson concluded with a piece of advice for fellow athletes.

“Don’t be scared to play, because it could happen to anyone.”®

CdS Sunrise• January 2012

22 • Sports

Moss commits to Nebraska PRESLIE HIRSCH Editor-in-Chief

PRESLIE HIRSCH

Many high school athletes spend years of their educational career putting in countless hours of sweat and effort, preparing themselves for the next level: collegiate athletics. Though, not many stumble upon a sport they’ve never played before their junior year and end up with nine full-ride offers to multiple Division I schools. But standing at 6-foot-2, weighing 240 pounds and playing defensive end in the All-American Bowl on Jan. 3, senior Avery Moss is nothing less than a success story.

“Half-way though my junior year was my first time going out there on varsity and stuff, and I guess I’ve done pretty well since,” Moss said.

Many coaches and recruiters agree.

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“Avery is an outstanding prospect and a potential AllAmerican. He looks like a basketball player playing football at times but has what it takes to become a remarkable passrushing end,” Tom Lemming, pro football recruiter and scout said on the All American Bowl website. “(He) has huge hands, loves physical contact, shows a great burst, and just needs to add weight and strength and then look out.”

Moss committed to Nebraska in the fourth quarter of the bowl game, with his father and now fellow teammate and Corona alumni, Todd Peat, standing by. Many speculate Moss’s decision was greatly influenced by close friend Peat.

Although Moss says Peat was the reason he began playing football, in addition to being “one of the only sports you can hit people legally,” he denies Peat swayed his decision.

“Education, the character of the coaches I want to be playing for and the environment (were factors in my decision),” Moss said. “My family had a big influence, that’s what it came down to. Whether or not they (the school) were going to be engaged with my family. My dad is (supportive), but my mom doesn’t want me to get hurt.”

In addition to family, Moss’ decision was greatly weighed by educational opportunities, and “that’s why it came down to Nebraska and Purdue,” Moss said.

“I am going to major in psychology and major in business,” Moss said. “I want to be an Industrial Organization psychologist, psychology in the business world.”

Moss continued, “Nebraska leads the NCAA in Academic All Americans and that stuck out to me.”

He claims to have made his decision about a week before the bowl game, but speculation about the highly anticipated choice flooded the media outlets long before.

“Before that I’d say some people already knew, and the reporters are always trying to squeeze the juice out of you,” Moss said. “I am so glad it’s over with. It’s been hell (the recruitment process). If my kid is an athlete, I am going to feel sorry for him in the recruitment process. I’m going to tell him to commit early because it gets crazy.”

It has not yet been determined whether Moss will have playing time or redshirt as a freshman Cornhusker, but he is open to both options.

“I know they have a lot of people in my position that are going to be seniors, so I could just redshirt and take that year off and start my four years after that, or I could take the competition head up,” Moss said.

Moss is more than ready for the competition of a Division I football program and is grateful for the opportunity he has been given to say the least. “(College competition will be) 10 times harder than what I experienced in this All American Bowl,” Moss said.

“In the next level, motivation will be that I’m getting a free education, and thankful.” ®

January 2012 • CdS Sunrise

Sports • 23

® OF THE

athlete issue: Justin Butler OMAR SOUSSI Online Sports Editor

At 5-foot 11-inches tall, competing in the 160 lb. division, senior Justin Butler has a compelling story of becoming a wrestler, and overcoming challenges “My mom works at Aprende Middle School and when I was in fifth grade, my mom took me into the wrestling practice at Aprende’s gym and let me watch,” Butler said.

This was a difficult time for Butler because his parents were going through a divorce.

“If anything, the divorce helped my wrestling

“I was about to quit because I felt I could get farther in my job than in wrestling.”

-Justin Butler

because my mom and dad were constantly motivating me to do better,” Butler said.

Some students at Corona may not know what it’s like to have only one parent living with them; Butler has dealt with it since elementary school.

“My dad and mom got a divorce and he moved to Oklahoma,” Butler said.

After the spilt, one of the challenges he dealt with was not seeing his father, sending his relationship with his dad downhill.

“I just stopped talking to him. At first I talked to him everyday, and then it slowed down,” Butler said.

“But I still have respect for him.”

With trouble at home and on his mind, he never let it distract him while on the mat.

This will be Butler’s seventh year wrestling, and third year being on varsity. However, he was about to put an end to wrestling career this year for his job of a year and a half of Taco Bell. His job is important to him for several reasons, one being he gives his mother some of his paychecks to help around the house.

“I was about to quit because I felt I could get farther in my job than in wrestling,” Butler said.

Butler was ready to walk away from wrestling if it wasn’t for one person who had stood by him all his life: his mom.

“My mom said I should finish off my last year, so then I just went for it,” Butler said. “And when I got my first match in, I decided to stick with it.”

While he has no college scholarship offers, he already decided where he will attend college.

“I’m planning to go to Mesa Community College,” Butler said.

“And when I got my first match in, I decided to stick with it.”

-Justin Butler

Butler is having a great season, having seven wins and just one loss(as of press time) ; acting as one of the leaders of the team.

“He is a leader in experience, and we look forward to taking advantage of that as we work with the younger kids and help them understand what they need to need to get to through their career at Corona del Sol,” head coach Jim Martinez said.

Butler isn’t the biggest, or maybe not the strongest, but he’s certainly one of the best at what he does.

“If you’re talking about never giving up, Justin is the best hands down,” senior teammate Jason Landrum said.

“I’ve seen progress since his sophomore year,” Martinez said.

Butler placed fifth in state last year and looks forward to placing this year. ®

24 • Sports

CdS Sunrise • January 2012

Winter sports pictures

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5.

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1. Junior Victoria Haun fights for posession of ball with senior team mate Nicolete Newcomb against Hamilton, Corona lost 2-1 (Colin McCormick). 2. Varsity boy’s basketball team chants before game, Corona won 52-44 (Lilly Berkley). 3. Sophomore Vicky Sanford shoots a free throw after she was fouled by a Mountain Pointe player, Corona won 26-25 (Dave Sharan). 4. Junior Dylan Conboy runs past Hamilton opponent, Hamilton won 2-0 (Sierra Crespin). 5. Senior Avery Moss dunks on Desert Vista, Corona won 64-57 (Lilly Berkley). 6. Sophmore Zach Walton pins his opponent in his 132 lb. weight class match against Red Mountain (Patrick Buck).