Exploring the intricacies of sexual education programs in Indiana and at East | pgs 20-25 Why and how students do or do not participate in the Pledge of Allegiance | pgs 30-31 Students discuss their relationship with their grandparents and fear of not living up to their legacy | pgs 36-37 The story behind the infamous sculpture in The Commons and its legacy on Columbus | pgs 44-45
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in loving memory Bailey Wyatt Bowling
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Cost of
Clubs
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Bailey Wyatt Bowling, 16, of Columbus, died unexpectedly on May 2.
Opinion | Lauren Schumacher Contributing Writers | Shelby Gordon, Soren Fox, Natalie Ryan, Thomas Voils
Students | Abigail Larken
Editor in Chief | Kennedi Satterfield Content | Natalie Ryan
Contributing Writers | Klayton Brummett, Julie Connor, Caleb Davidson, Delaney Jackson, Reilly Jones, Brooke Williams
Copy Editors | Nicole Knechtel, Eli Newell, Abigale Smith
Cover | Karli Reynolds
Contributing Designers | Emily Hales, Graham Johnson Kayla Jones, Reagan Perkins, Aliza Presto, Leo Saldivar Audrey Tian, Brooke Williams
Contributing Writers | Yetla Reyna
Ads & Recreation | Julie Connor General Organization | Amanda Heideman
Feature | Natalie Glaid Contributing Writers | Alayna Leonard, Katherine Richardson, Dustin Rodgers, Courtney Schnur, Grace Staggs
Sports | Natalie Ryan Contributing Writers | Caleb Davidson, Soren Fox
Design | Reilly Jones
Photography | Brooke Williams Contributing Photographers | Eric Cardoso Kenzie Hempstead, Camden Newell, Julia Claire Randle Dustin Rodgers, Kim Schneckenberger
Adviser | Scott Duncan cehsnews.com | Maggie Lewis
A & E | Corbin Parmer Contributing Writers | Julie Connor, Natalie Glaid, Natalie Ryan, Alex Schumacher
find us on social media | cehsnews
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WHAT TO REMEMBER
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FROM THE 2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR
20-25 cover design by Emily Hales • obituary photo provided • back cover by Reilly Jones • back cover photos by Bre Burton
Bailey was a sophomore at East High School where he was an offensive lineman on the football team. He also loved computers and gaming. Bailey was employed by Snappy Tomato Pizza. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Ben Bowling maternal grandfather, Ronald Hardy; and aunt, Veronica Dehner. Survivors include his loving parents, Richard and Cherry Bowling of Columbus; siblings, Samantha Hardy, Joshua Ruble and Jacob Ruble all of Columbus; paternal grandparents, Alan Lucas of Columbus, and Linda and Mark Snyder of Danville; maternal grandparents, Robert and Linda Carmichael of Columbus; nephew, Landon Hardy; and niece, Harmonee Hardy. Also surviving are several aunts, uncles and cousins. Students are encouraged to share memories of Bailey by stopping by the counseling center. There is a paper available for students and staff to write them down over the next few weeks. These memories will be collected and given to the Bowling family.
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Oracle Staff Seniors
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OPINION
OPINION
Posting for Likes or Liking Yourself
Spicing it Up How Competition Has Brought Life Back to Cooking
How Social Media Influences Body Positivity
by Lauren Schumacher
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by Shelby Gordon positivity should be an internal thing, where one feels confident in the body that they were given. From celebrity pop culture, to fashion, to music and art, social media clearly influences the way teens perceive different topics. Without social media, teens would not be up to date with the new fads and trends. Body positivity falls within this realm as well. Without videos depicting fitness techniques or even makeup tutorials, teenagers would not spend so much time comparing themselves to others and trying to fix themselves. Furthermore, the advanced non-invasive procedures and Photoshop prominent in the fashion industry and popular with celebrities can set unrealistic standards. Body positivity is no longer something that is an internal goal being achieved for personal growth. Now body positivity takes precedence over social media. The more likes and comments one receives makes them “body positive”. However, the amount of likes or comments you get does not build up inner body confidence. The amount of heart eye emojis commented by others below one’s picture should not be the moment that one decides they are content with how they perceive their body. This idea shouldn’t be used as an excuse to tear others down to make one’s self feel better. Body positivity is about body empowerment and making yourself happy
and healthy in your own skin without the approval of others. Too many times, I have scrolled through instagram or have clicked on a Snapchat where there are half naked photos of women with body positivity tagged in the description. Many women tend to think that body positivity is fitting a certain standard or looking a certain way when it’s all about being happy, confident and healthy with yourself despite what social media outlets perceive body positivity to be. When you have the intention to “fix” something you hate about yourself, it negatively impacts the way you feel about yourself and does not promote body positivity either. Body positivity is more than just posting a picture on social media half naked, or fitting a standard, and it is more than trying to change the things you hate about yourself. Body positivity is a goal that is constantly trying to be reached, it is awareness of who you are and what your body is. It is being confident without needing validation from others. It should be seen as an internal emotion rather than a physical one that is flaunted around for the whole world to see. In order to be body positive, women, and even men, should start from within. It should be seen as something that does not put others down for the way they look. Body positivity should be seen as something more than just what you put on social media.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Oracle, Columbus East High School, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.
May 12, 2017
photo by Julia Claire Randle • graphic by Brooke Williams
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Body positivity can mean lots of different things to many people depending on the goals they have set for their bodies. According to Psychology Today, 35.1 percent of women define body positivity as “being okay with flaws”, 29.3 percent define it as “loving yourself”, 21.1 percent describe it as “being confident” and 14.5 percent define it as “appreciating your body”. Although body positivity is supposed to be positive, there are many negative misconceptions that follow it, especially when social media is involved. For one, when posting a body positive picture, some feel as if they are simply not good enough to look a certain way or think negatively of themselves due to standards they think are being set. Other ways body positivity can be misconstrued is when one posts a half naked picture of themselves, portraying it as being body positive. However, being positive is not a loophole to rack up likes for wanting people to see parts of yourself that are not meant for everyone to see. This idea of body positive should not be looking for validation from others to be confident and happy with your body, especially through outlets such as Instagram, Snapchat and even Facebook. Body
gredient. The sports-like commentary and intensely competitive stadium atmosphere took “Iron Chef” to the top of the Food Network charts, beating out instructional cooking shows like “Emeril Live”, “Good Eats” and “FoodNation with Bobby Flay”. Five years later, they launched their first original shows: “Iron Chef America” and “The Next Food Network Star”. When “Chopped” aired in 2009, a new template was created for nearly every popular cooking show today: four contestants with a three round elimination. Today, instructional cooking shows are rarely seen and are aired in the early morning and afternoon while competitive cooking shows take the top spots on the network. Food Network has a monopoly on competitive cooking shows and its success is obvious. The 20 most viewed shows on the network in 2000 brought in a
median of only 250,000 viewers per episode compared to the 1.1 million viewers per episode in 2014, according to Nielsen. While cooking is still the center of these shows, the drama is what drives them. If anyone denies this, please tell me why there’s only one ice cream machine in the “Chopped” kitchen when there are four contestants. Competitive cooking shows masterfully combine trashy reality TV drama with a skillful art, showing individual interviews paired with contestants struggling to master a skill or dish. This drama, furthered by harsh judges and extreme time constraints, leads viewers to avidly follow the competition, to root for their favorites, cry when they’re eliminated and fume when the cocky Tex-Mex chef makes it past the first round. What cooking shows do so well, and what sports fail to do,
is allow you to be a devoted, but still casual viewer of a competition. Aside from Worst Cooks in America and other season-long competitions, the episodes of most competitions focus on a handful of cooks who you never see again, making it ideal for an audience with a short attention span. However, the repetitive nature of these shows guarantee the same techniques, judgments and surprises, offering a sense of comfortable familiarity. This is truly what makes these shows so successful. While yelling at a chef for reaching for a blender with 10 seconds left in a last ditch attempt to deepen the dish’s flavor profile with a vinaigrette is certainly a highlight of my viewing experience, the food is the glue that holds these messes of shows together. Food feels like home, even when it’s being prepared under the most absurd circumstances.
photo by Camden Newell • graphic by Brooke Williams
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or a while now, body positivity has been trending on social media, especially with teenage girls. Body positivity, by definition, is the movement that encourages people to adopt more forgiving and affirming attitudes towards their bodies with the goal of improving overall health and well-being.
any times I’ve caught myself screaming at cooking contestants who are desperately trying to cook a tender risotto or achieve some other risky culinary feat while eating lukewarm, overcooked ramen in my pajamas at my coffee table. Since I don’t watch sports, I’ve found that competitive cooking shows offer the same catharsis of criticizing someone vastly more talented than you, cheering when the underdogs win and devouring the interpersonal drama. While cooking itself is becoming less and less the focus of competitive cooking shows, these shows are becoming more popular due to their competitive, but non-athletic nature and unique culture. In 2000, the Food Network aired its first competitive cooking show, “Iron Chef”, a Japanese cooking challenge where resident chefs battle around a specific in-
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Oracle, Columbus East High School, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.
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OPINION
OPINION
Stronger Together Unified Track Has Positive Impacts on all Students by Thomas Voils
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ost people at Columbus East can tell you what Unified Track is if you were to ask them. While familiar with the program, people often can’t see the enormous impact that it makes in the lives of students who participate. However, it is evident in the smiles of the athletes that Unified Track, although not a large operation, creates a monumental effect upon the lives of the individuals involved.
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helping people come together, sports are generally easier to do, and they are usually more often discussed within the community. Being personally involved in Unified Track and seeing the impact that I can make on student’s lives is incredible. At first, I didn’t even know that sort of connection was possible in a high school setting. Making relationships and connecting with people is such a complex and oftentimes confusing task, but the simplicity of making friends in this sport is astounding. During practices, people are almost always sporting a huge smile and enjoying themselves, even though the running is hard sometimes. All the athletes are enjoying their time together and having fun which is important for everyone, especially kids in high school. Every person feels important and cared for and that’s what it is all about: the inclusion
and care of everyone. When talking to the Unified Track athletes, seeing how excited they are about the track meets and being able to participate makes everything worth it.
All images from a Unified Track practice on April 11.
Being able to see how happy everyone is while running and getting exercise is one of the greatest experiences I’ve had the pleasure of having in high school. It is important to recognize the bigger impact going on as well. Not only is everyone out exercising and being included in a high school sport, but they are bringing us all one step closer to ending discrimination of students based on disabilities, which is incredibly impactful to those students.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Oracle, Columbus East High School, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.
May 12, 2017
photos by Kim Schneckenberger
Unified Track is an opportunity for students with disabilities, both mental and physical, to get involved in sports with their friends and to be included on a team; for many, for the first time in their life.
In Unified Track, there are both Partner Athletes and Buddy Athletes. Partners run with their friends and encourage them to give their absolute best until they cross the finish line, whereas Buddy Athletes run their own events and spend time with the other athletes during practice helping train and run, making it a better experience for everyone involved. Unified Track is an especially good outlet for students with disabilities to get involved because sports is a unique medium where people can meet in the middle. It’s competitive, which brings out the passion and sportsmanship that brings people together more than anything else. If you’ve ever been on a team, you know that those teammates are like your brothers and sisters at the end of the season. Although things such as show choir and theatre are similar in terms of team building and
Unified Track goes hand-inhand with Champions Together, the program that ran the convocation in the middle of this school year. We all know about the pledges to end the use of the R-word, ending all the mean stereotypes and profiling aimed towards these kids. I think a lot of
people see those things and fail to grasp the full impact they have on a student with a disability. When the special needs athletes hear all the encouragement and praise they get instead of hatred and hurtful names, it makes them feel just like everyone else, which makes a huge difference on
their state of mind, just as it would with anybody else. The sad thing about the program is that not every school has one. In my opinion, every school should have a program like Unified Track. Every school has students with disabilities, and most of them go unnoticed in their daily
lives. But through Unified Track, they have a chance to stand out and be popular at their school, and to be included with the rest of their friends and classmates. This sport is changing lives and making the world a better place, which is something that everyone wants.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Oracle, Columbus East High School, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.
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OPINION
OPINION
by Soren Fox and Natalie Ryan
Personally, being able to listen to any conversation or to learn top secret information sounds awesome. Imagine the ideas you could learn, confidential government issues. Maybe someone is planning to do something illegal and you have the chance to stop them. The possibilities are endless. - Soren
While invisibility would undeniably be nifty on a spy mission, imagine running into danger and becoming stuck as invisible. What if, somehow, you were unable to revert back to visibility after becoming injured and unable to move, and nobody could see you! Not even spy missions are worth the risk. - Natalie
Everybody wishes that they could be a superhero. With so many powers to choose from, it is hard to decide which is the most useful. To help you decide your ideal superpowers, we have compiled the pros and cons for each.
For someone who adores both sleep and travel (AKA: me), being able to instantly teleport across the world is a dream come true. Red-eye flights and constant weather delays would be easily discarded if you could wake up and casually decide where to teleport on a day off. And just imagine all of the gas money you would save without having to drive back and forth to school every day!
- Natalie As with many other powers, super strength would be extremely useful on select occasions, while just being annoying on others. All I can picture is going in to shake someone’s hand and severely injuring them with your (literally) crushing grip. Or simply trying to close a door and watching it fly off its hinges after accidentally activating your power.
It’s hard to imagine a superhero who can’t fly from danger with their cape blowing in the wind. And besides, flying would be remarkably convenient for all. Instead of trudging out to your car in the morning, waiting for your impossibly slow brother and inevitably getting stuck behind a tractor on they way to school, you could sleep in and just fly, arriving to school with wind-swept hair that no styling tools could ever achieve. - Natalie
- Natalie
photos by Brooke Williams • graphics by Brooke Williams
No one will mess with you if you are super strong. You can save people trapped under cars or protect people from bullies. You may have to be careful about not hurting someone or destroying stuff. You are basically the ultimate weapon.
- Soren
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The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Oracle, Columbus East High School, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.
May 12, 2017
Teleportation to me sounds dangerous because you could end up in some sticky situations. For instance, you could show up in the midst of a bank robbery and get shot and it would be your own fault because you weren’t being careful. What makes you think you would naturally teleport to the intended destination? - Soren
Why fly alone when you can take a plane? Flying seems like an unnecessary superpower there are other means of getting around. Yeah, of course it sounds cool to fly, but what would happen if you were to get lost? It would take you longer to fly somewhere solo than it would be to take a plane. - Soren
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Oracle, Columbus East High School, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.
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STUDENTS
Because of Becca
cost of clubs
Most students are encouraged to be involved with extracurricular activities throughout their high school careers. Some may be involved in sports or other clubs, but there is always a cost factor. Each club has its own set of required dues in order for the member to stay affiliated with the group. Over the course of four years, being involved can add up in costs. Then, at the end of one’s high school career, it is a personal decision on whether the cost of clubs is worth it.
Student profile by Abigail Larken
Club
the group of disabled kids and had a group with them to play,” Kuhn said. Rather than staying in the same area, Kuhn also visited with children in other areas in Cuba, such as Matanzas and Jovellanos. The group also provided rice and beans for the under-privileged families. Houses were also painted and repaired for those needing an extra helping hand. Throughout the week, Kuhn was also able to enjoy sightseeing and other fun activities. With the group, Kuhn was able to visit Havana, the capital of Cuba. By visiting different areas and cities, this allowed Kuhn to be fully exposed to the culture.
T-Shirt
FCCLA Best Buddies
$10 no fee
$15 (optional)
Drama Club East Student Assembly Fellowship of Christian Athletes French Honor Society Games Club
no fee
$15 (optional)
no fee
$20 (optional)
no fee no fee
Travel +$200
no fee no fee
no fee
no fee $15 (optional)
no fee
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HOSA
no fee
FFA
no fee
$20 (optional)
no fee
$10 (optional)
no fee
no fee
$15 (required)
no fee
$10 (optional)
no fee
Key Club National Art Honor Society NHS photo submitted by Olivia Ortman • graphic by Leo Saldivar
“My favorite part about the trip was the beach and working with disabled kids.”
story by Julie Connor • graphic by Leo Saldivar
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nstead of taking a trip to Florida for spring break, senior Becca Kuhn decided to make a difference during her time off. For Olivia Ortman’s senior project with the Westport First Baptist Church, Kuhn traveled to Varadero, Cuba. The trip to Cuba as a whole took an entire day to complete. The shortest part of the journey was from Florida to Cuba, which only took about 45 minutes. After arriving in Cuba, the mission trip was focused on disabled kids and their families. Kuhn helped Ortman run a Bible school for disabled children in different areas. “On Wednesday, we got with
Cost
$15
$15 (optional)
no fee
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STUDENTS
Dear Delaney...
This is the final Dear Delaney of the year! And oh, has it been a year full of dating dilemmas and dramas! For more sticky situations and advice on how to fix them, visit cehsnews.com.
My friend has been dating this guy for 6 months. They say they’re happy, but they’re both always cheating on each other, and they both know about the other cheating. My friend has her moments where she is majorly depressed when he cheats on her, but then she goes and cheats on him. It’s making me not want to be friends with her anymore. What should I do? -Done with the drama This question goes along with the age old problem of what to do when you are against your friend’s relationship. We have all been there and we have all spent countless hours explaining to our friends why who they are dating is “bad for them.” The truth is, the age-old saying “The heart wants what it wants” rings very true… especially when somebody else is trying to convince the heart to feel something else. Trying to force somebody to change the way they feel about a significant other for you only makes them want that person even more. All you can do is have one real, straight-forward and honest talk with your friend telling her exactly what you are seeing and why you think she would benefit with some time away. After that, she can choose to take your advice and listen to it or stay in the unhealthy relationship. When she makes that choice, it will be very difficult to sway her and pushing your opinion onto her will only weaken your friendship. If that bothers you (first let me say that it is okay that it bothers you), then take some distance and let her learn her own lessons. Sometimes, it is healthier for you to take a step back than it is for you to stay invested and connected to a relationship heading for disaster. Needless to say, her relationship will end in heartbreak and, at that point, step back in to pick up the pieces. As hard is it might be to not say “I told you so,” please do not. Friends are there for the highs and for the lows. We will all make our share of bad decisions, and thank goodness! Without them, we would never learn.
When you date someone, you are agreeing to engage with their whole family which, of course, comes with a huge set of challenges. I have no comprehension to how a grown woman can act in a way that is so degrading to a teenage girl, but there are ways to avoid the negative repercussions of someone else’s immaturity. First, be kind! If you kill her with kindness, she cannot say anything negative about you that is based on solid material. It is really difficult to be kind to somebody who is so rude to you, but remember how much you care about your boyfriend and, subsequently, how much you care about his family. Second, be persistent. Do not just give up on the idea that someday, the two of you could be close. It may seem like a long shot now, but give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that she is simply protective which means that you could crack that shell. If you give up and give into her behavior, there is no hope for a future friendship. And finally, shake it off. Seriously, do not put too much weight into this. Too many times I have seen problems with external people affecting the internal relationship and I hope you do not let that happen if you truly care about your significant other. You have to love his family but they do not have to determine the health and happiness of your relationship.
story by Delaney Jackson • graphics by Audrey Tian
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I have been dating this boy for about a year and I’m really struggling to get along with his family. His mom is blatantly rude to me when I’m over and I know that she tries to talk him out of dating me. The rest of his family is really nice but it bothers me that she doesn’t like me. Should I talk to her about it or just let it go? -People Pleaser
May 12, 2017
STUDENTS
STUDENTS
Torch Time: So What?
Taking A Deeper Look... Power Nap
Investigating a high school tradition and its purpose
Power Nap is a Torch Time led by the weights class teacher Adam Zollman. The name is pretty self explanatory as far as what students participate in during Zollman’s Torch Time. It used to be cleaning the weight room, but has since changed to having a “power nap” in the wrestling room.
by Caleb Davidson
“It’s a good time to just relax in the middle of the day and it helps that it’s right before lunch,” junior Corban Pollitt said.
FCCLA
T
orch Time is an event for students that takes place during the first Wednesday of every month after their fourth mod class. It is 35 minutes long and has the goal of focusing on the students. Students are given the opportunity to choose their Torch Time during their freshmen year when they become a member of East whether that be a transfer or other event. There are over 50 different Torch Times available ranging from a power nap all the way to just watching movies. Recently, there have been talks of why Torch Time is important and why it’s used. After all, it is just some-
-Guidance Counselor Andrew Taube
FCCLA Torch Time is led by Nutrition and Wellness teacher and Columbus East High School FCCLA adviser Karen Nading. Students are invited in for snacks and to discuss upcoming events having to do with Columbus East’s FCCLA chapter such as upcoming conferences, cluster meetings and workshops. FCCLA Torch Times are typically student lead by elected officers except in the event of a group speaker.
thing that students at East seem to walk into when they get to high school. The entire point of having a Torch Time is to be able to give students a part of a certain day to be able to look up to. It’s a time for students that all have a common interest or hobby to be able to get together and bond about that certain topic. It may not be the most academic feature of the day, but it definitely gives a good break every now and then and let’s students have some time to themselves every once in awhile. It also helps to break the trend of everyday routine and doing the exact same thing daily.
Movies Movies Torch Time is led by East English teacher Erin McNeill. Students that attend this specific Torch Time simply enjoy a movie for the duration of the time. All of the students are given the choice to vote on a new movie once they finish one. The focus for the students is to be able to relax and get away from the everyday workload for a while.
Skateboarding and Hacky Sack graphics by Kayla Jones
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The purpose of having Torch Times comes down to three main points. Those of us at East who help organize Torch Time, want the students to be able to make their own choices, be involved at the school, and most importantly be able to connect with other students that share their same interests.
May 12, 2017
Biology and astronomy teacher Steve Hambling is the leader of the skateboarding and hacky sack Torch Time. Students that have interest in action sports such as skateboarding are invited to all come together and talk about their common interests. Students are also welcome to hacky sack or just talk among themselves in an environment where everyone has a common bond.
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STUDENTS
STUDENTS
Teaching The Teachers...
...and saying goodbye to a job you love
What Teaching Has Taught Teachers
retiring Teachers in 2017
Students like a teacher who they can look to for more than just advice on schoolwork. They want a teacher who cares about their personal life and wants to help them beyond the books. These individuals are prime examples of what a student looks for in a teacher. The hardest thing for a teacher to do in their career is say goodbye to it. Teachers build relationships with students and faculty that last a lifetime, and saying goodbye to seeing them everyday is a hard thing to do. Some people leave to expand new horizons, while others have to leave for unknown reasons, but regardless of why, it’s a difficult thing to do.
mrs. settle
This is my 29th year of teaching. I taught my first ten years at Crothersville Jr/Sr High School and my last 19 here at Columbus East.
mr. Lewis
Over the years I was able to play soccer with several of my former students, which would probably qualify as close relationships. I play trivia in a Trivia League every week at Yats and one of the members of our team is a former student who graduated in 2005. There is a former student from 2010, and he is now a science teacher at North Newton High School in northwestern Indiana. I am also proud to say that several of my former students have gone on to become teachers, many of them social studies teachers. I can say with confidence that I have never had a day that I was not happy to be coming to school, so what I have learned in my 25-career is that if you love what you do, then it never seems like work. I would also say that teaching and the daily interactions with kids has helped me to remain very young at heart. I will be 56 years old next month, but in my mind I am much younger.
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I have learned to NOT judge others because everyone has a story! So many people hide what is really going on with them and I have learned to get to know someone before drawing an opinion about them. I learned that to get respect you definitely have to give respect. I try to treat ALL my students, with the same respect that I expect of them. All in all, I’m so glad that I was lead into teaching (I really never wanted to be a teacher, I wanted to be a dentist and started school to follow that path). I have so many great memories and met so many people that is has enriched my life in many ways.
How long have you been teaching?
I have been teaching for 15 years. I try to build relationships with all of my students and still keep those relationships beyond the time that they are in my classroom. You have to work to build meaningful relationships, but, once you do, the possibilities for learning are limitless, and that goes both ways. We try and teach students that learning is a lifetime skill and I certainly continue to learn from each and everyone of my students. Of course, we discuss and learn science from each other but additionally we learn about music, movies and culture in a very authentic environment. Overall teaching has taught me that regardless of the student’s experience or background, students generally will invest in a teacher that is authentic and passionate about teaching. Students that may not have thought that they liked science are at least interested in why I am passionate about science. Likewise I have become interested in things that students are passionate about in areas where I was previously not interested in. May 12, 2017
Since 1991. I'm almost 60 years old and there's still a lot I want to accomplish in life. I need some time to call my own in order to do some of those things on the bucket list. Daily interaction with some very colorful personalities, both adults and students.
Why are you retiring?
mr. Lynott stories by Klayton Brummett • photos by Julia Claire Randle • graphics by Leo Saldivar
I am in my 25th year of teaching, 23 at East after teaching the first two years at Central Middle School.
I do my best to get to know my students on a personal level. Probably the closest relationship I have with a former Columbus East student is Stevie Brown. He has become a very close part of our family and I am very thankful for the opportunity to have had him in class and develop that relationship. I have several close relationships from students that I had at Crothersville. I think it’s easier to get closer to students when you don’t have such a high number of students on a daily basis. I saw 57 students a day when I left Crothersville and then when I came to East, I have 180 students on my roster not counting all the students I interact with in resource.
Mr. Hauan
What will you miss most about teaching?
Mr. Ponsford Art instructor for 39.5 years in BCSC. I still have lots of things I want to do in life, and while I'm still healthy I plan on doing them. I plan on hiking again in the Grand Canyon this fall with my wife and some friends, I am traveling to New Mexico in October for the hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque, the list goes on, and on, maybe some biking and fishing, who knows. The students… I will miss their humor, their stories, the relationships and friendships built throughout all these years.
Mr. baker I have been a teacher at East for 15 years. I passed my retirement age a year ago. I love working with the students, but I also came down with something that makes me want to spent more time with my family and friends. I also would like to doing some additional fun things and more traveling. I will miss students the most and when they learn things they never tried or accomplished before. I will probably try to get back to the school and do some subbing, but I would also love to have the opportunity to leave cold weather behind during January.
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WHAT TO REMEMBER FROM THE 2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR
Y y B
R a etl
a n ey
Considered a moral and ethical subject, sex ed is taught in schools like any other matter. The Oracle interviews students, teachers and parents on the subject in this story.
COVER
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magine sitting in class while the teacher is up front talking and, like in any other class, there are kids listening, others goofing around and even more not giving the subject at hand any attention. The teacher talks about sex and its aftereffects. Sexual education is depicted in movies and television shows, so that students think they already know what is being taught. But sex ed in Indiana, even just in Columbus, can differ largely from sex ed in other cities, states and in pop culture. Sex ed and its lessons have taken both positive and negative roles in people’s lives. There are different topics within sex ed that cover various grounds. Categories of disputed topics include lessons about protection, abstinence, consent, sexually transmitted diseases and the general need for teachers to teach accurate information.
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to be taught, but highly suggests it be taught as part of unabridged health education. Separate from sex ed, 34 states and D.C. mandate education on HIV and STDs. Indiana is one of the many states to do so. Health is undoubtedly important but even HIV and STD education is put on the backburner by some
health teachers at East to teach the sex ed curriculum. Clarity is an organization, like many others, that health teachers can invite to teach sex ed to the students in their classes. Clarity teaches healthy decision making and has students set goals for their future relationships. Tracy Pike is a representative
“Indiana has chosen to hold high standards for students by teaching the avoidance of risk is the healthiest lifestyle choice for ALL high risk behaviors” -Tracy Pike states. The programs currently taught cover an additional variety of subjects related to sexual health.
Health teachers are allowed to bring in guest speakers to teach a subject, and Clarity is invited by
from Clarity who regularly teaches sex ed in schools, and has spent years teaching Clarity’s curriculum at East. The “I Decide for Me” program Clarity has set up emphasizes value and self-worth as a part of their course. “We believe every person deserves medically accurate, relevant information and he [or]
she should decide for themselves their behavior,” Pike said. Through Clarity’s curriculum, students are encouraged to make their own choices and to not let their sexual history affect their future decisions. The facts and statistics taught in class are important, but they do not always stick with students. Since students may sit in a class and inevitably not absorb all information, Clarity is sure to include different styles of learning to captivate students. The program has skits students themselves perform, booklets to fill in while learning and sometimes candy as a reward for participation. According to its website, Clarity reaches about 8,000 students in South Central Indiana and those 8,000 students do not all have the same ideas about sex. With the different beliefs among students, Clarity also teaches about avoiding risk behaviors, to prevent potentially bad situations from happening. “Indiana has chosen to hold high standards for students by teaching the avoidance of risk is the healthiest lifestyle choice for ALL high risk behaviors,” Pike said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that about 30.1 percent of all high school students are sexually active, meaning a significant amount still do not relate to material being taught in sex ed. Subsequently, some people may not relate to sex ed or what Clarity teaches because sex and STDs are not something they worry about. Clarity provides students with accurate information even if the students do not relate to sex ed. With this information, students can May 12, 2017
Sex ed in Indiana -Sex ed not required, but highly suggested -If sex ed is taught, teaching abstinence and education on HIV/STDs is required Source: The Guttmacher Institute
Columbus, Indiana Planned Parenthood
all cover story graphics by Emily Hales
While other states also stress abstinence, they also mandate inclusion of other topics like sexual orientation’s impact, negative outcomes of sex and the use of condoms. However, Indiana’s code 20- 10. 1-4- 11 states that the focus in health classes should be placed strictly on abstinence-only sex ed. Abstinence is the act of restraining oneself from any sexual activity but the code also contains importance of monogamy. The Guttmacher Institute, a research institute and organization dedicated to advancing sexual health rights, states that as a nation, only 24 states plus Washington D.C. have a mandate for sex ed being taught in schools. Indiana does not mandate sex ed
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Clarity
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Since programs like Clarity teach sex education, health teachers do not have to impose their personal beliefs on their students, but neither do they have control over what is taught in class by outside resources. Because sex can be viewed as an ethical and moral subject, it is hard for teachers and administrators to teach sex ed on their own so they invite programs like Clarity. The curriculum taught in states throughout the country varies, seeing as not all states have the same mandate nor the same
outside programs available. Steven Spicer, new health teacher at East, is glad that organizations come in to teach sex ed. “If it wasn’t like that, I’d have to make up the curriculum,” Spicer said. Although teachers are not allowed to teach whatever they please, they are to follow guidelines that the law places, such as abstinence only lessons. With this in mind, Spicer does not want to impose his beliefs onto others, and with Clarity, he does not have to. With the participation of organizations like Clarity, teachers and schools do not have to answer for what their students are learning. The schools are only responsible for the programs they invite to
teach, not the materials taught. “That’s why I really like these organizations. Because they protect the school and the teachers,” Spicer said.
Parents do take a role in their kids learning sex ed. They can get notified or even asked if it is okay for the students to be learning certain topics within the subject. As stated in the Guttmacher Institute’s research, across the United States, parents from 22 states and D.C. are to be notified when their kids are starting sex ed or talking about STDs or HIV. The letters sent home to parents describes what will be taught in class and what is allowed and not
allowed on behalf of the parental role. Sex is treated like a moral topic by many, so if parents worry about the subject matter, they are often able to opt their kids out of that particular part of the class. 36 states and D.C. have reported parents are allowed to have an “opt out” option for their kids as claimed by the Guttmacher Institute. Sex ed is a subject that has changed tremendously over the years, meaning that parents possibly learned about the matter differently. However, despite possible concerns, parents in Indiana do not have the ability to withdraw their students from class. Despite the engaging activities presented in classes, not all
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learn new things and apply them to their own lives or plan out their futures.
28 states require the provision of information about skills for healthy sexuality, healthy decision making and family communication when sex education is taught.
uire req of s te sion e sta 13 e inclu on th n h es t atio tcom d m r u n info tive o sex a y. c a n neg of tee egnan pr
37 states require that information on abstinence be provided.
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May 12, 2017 Source: The Guttmacher Institute
parents agree that the school or outside organizations should be responsible for teaching sex ed. Jana Kelly, mother of junior Ryleigh Rayburn, believes sex education should be taught by the parents. “Morals, values and religion play a large part in what is taught,” Kelly said. Kelly believes it is up to the parents to teach sex ed to their students, not the schools. “Schools try and fill the void [of sex ed not being taught]. [It is] not their fault they feel the need to do so,” Kelly said. Shelby Littiken, who became a teen mom at the age of 16, has gone through Clarity’s sex ed course. She said the class was informative, and she learned some statistics, but she thinks that sex ed could be taught more realistically. “I think they [Clarity] should go into more detail about how things really are, since now I’ve had a kid and live that [in real life],” Littiken said. With sex ed behind her, Littiken, now 17, has seen the real life lasting effects sex has had on her. For example, she was unaware of the financial implications of being a parent. Littiken thinks that the way statistics are presented may be impractical for easily distracted students, and that some students do not take them seriously. According to Clarity, all facts are cited and medically accurate information is not a problem. The “I Decide for Me” booklet the program gives out, specifically has a page dedicated to their footnotes on the last page. In 37 states though, medically accurate information is not needed. Not having medically accurate information for students could potentially lead to consequences, such as increased STD or pregnancy rates.
Despite the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage across America and the growing acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, many LGBT community members are taught just about heterosexual sex in school . Not having information for LGBT members throughout the country can cause confusion or
the internet when one cannot get information through a credible source. However, the internet is not always the greatest option for students looking for insight on sex ed. But with the lack of information for some students, the internet might be the only place to go for information, and the internet is not always credible. “There’s that percentage we need to target [in sex ed],” Spicer said regarding how all students
“I think they [Clarity]] should go into more detail about how things really are, since now I’ve had a kid and live that [in real life]” -Shelby Littiken cluelessness on behalf of those who do not identify as heterosexual. According to American Progress, only 12 states include information specifically aimed towards LGBT members in sex education, and of those states, include negative information to be taught about LGBT sex ed. The Center for American Progress is a progressive policy research and advocacy organization, and the organization has done the research on how LGBT sex ed would mean healthier youth. Society today tends to turn to
throughout the country do not get taught the sex ed needed. Clarity offers help to anyone asking questions, offering to answer questions outside of the classroom through email or in person if a student visits, but does not directly offer information to the LGBT community in their “I Decide for Me” program. “Because at Clarity we believe all students (all people) are worth protecting and worth respecting, we are grateful for the opportunity to answer their questions,” Pike said concerning the questioning LGBT community.
Sex involves morals and values for some people so it is treated as a touchy subject. The Guttmacher Institute also researched that in only eight states sex ed is mandatory to be culturally appropriate and unbiased, while two states demand that sex ed cannot promote a religion. Clarity does not promote any religion, but a healthy lifestyle. The program highlights risk factors and how to reduce them. They also make sure to include Indiana’s importance of sex only within marriage. Even though sex ed would seem to be just education on the physical matters, Clarity is sure to point out that sex affects many aspects of one’s life, including physical effects. In high school, sex ed is normal for students. Students have health class, usually freshman year, and are taught by Clarity. At East, the health classes all get taught sex ed by Clarity, so there’s a good regularity throughout the school. The non regularity comes nationwide, where some states do not require sex education be taught. The inconsistency in sex ed that students are being taught, could end up having worse effects in the future. As society has changed about sex, so has sex ed. The changes everyone goes through, could ultimately lead to a bad outcome if sex ed is not taught properly. Although sex education seems to be a small part of high school, what gets taught at home or at school can go a long way for students. To graduate at East, one semester of health must be taken. While it may seem irrelevant or a menial subject to those learning it, sexual education will impact everyone’s future decisions and health.
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RECREATION
RECREATION
Pregnancy Services STI Testing & Treatment
4
ClarityCares.org C Awards Night
May 17, 7:00 pm 4 4 C Awards Night C Awards Night Southside Elementary May 17, May 17, 7:00 7:00 pm pm Auditorium
Southside Elementary Southside Elementary All are welcome to attend. Auditorium Auditorium All All are are welcome welcome to to attend. attend.
themed coloring
@ConnectionsC4 @ConnectionsC4
@ConnectionsC4
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RECREATION
RECREATION
2017 Oracle staff seniors
With the school year winding down, it is time to give credit where credit is due. Give it up for Columbus East’s Oracle staff seniors! compiled by Reilly Jones | photos by Kenzie Hempstead, Erin Louden and Camden Newell
Kim Schneckenberger
Maggie Lewis
Kennedi Satterfield
Favorite Memory: “Taking pictures at sporting events” College Plans: Attend Indiana State University to study Nursing
Favorite Memory: “Fixing all of Bryn’s mistakes” College Plans: Attend Ball State University to study Journalism and Political Science
Favorite Memory: “Discussing Buzzfeed with Lauren Schumacher” College Plans: Attend Purdue University to study Pre-Pharmacy
Brooke Williams
Reilly Jones
Photographer
Web Editor
Editor-in-Chief
Julia Claire Randle
Lauren Schumacher
Nicole Knechtel
Karli Reynolds Cover Editor
Designer and Director of Photography
Favorite Memory: “Getting to see the creative side of my classmates” College Plans: Attend Indiana University to study Occupational Therapy
Favorite Memory: “Eating ice cream cake as a staff after being trashed by another newspaper” College Plans: Attend Indiana University to study Anthropology and Communications
Favorite Memory: “Maggie Lewis” College Plans: Attend Indiana University to study an undecided subject
Favorite Memory: “Seeing Yetla excel” College Plans: Attend Ball State University to study English Literature and Philosophy
Favorite Memory: “Lillyanne” College Plans: Attend Indiana University to study Psychology on a Pre-Med track
Favorite Memory: “Fist fighting Duncan” College Plans: Attend Franklin College to study Business
Corbin Parmer A & E Editor
Julie Connor
Ads & Recreation Editor
Graham Johnson Designer
Ben Allen
Social Media and Web
Tanner McFall
Caleb Kinnaird
Favorite Memory: “‘Made Easy’ Trilogy and Austin Lewis” College Plans: Attend IUPUC for one year, then Indiana University to study Communications
Favorite Memory: “Maggie Lewis” College Plans: Attend Purdue University to study Family and Consumer Sciences Education
Favorite Memory: “The ‘Chopped’ video (even though it was sort of a catastrophe)” College Plans: Attend Ithaca College to study Sound Design and Music
Favorite Memory: “Waffle Wednesdays” College Plans: Attend Indiana University to study Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Human Ecology
Favorite Memory: “Too many to just choose one” College Plans: Attend Wabash Valley College to study Business Marketing and play basketball
Favorite Memory: “Freedom Fridays and our Instagram posts last year” College Plans: Attend Purdue University to study Cybersecurity
Photographer
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Opinion Editor
Copyeditor
May 12, 2017
Social Media
Editor of Design
Social Media and Web
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FEATURE
FEATURE
Stand for or take a stand on the pledge
for paying respect to his family member and others that dedicate themselves to a life of service and protection. Likewise, sophomore Alma Cima finds the Pledge of Allegiance to be a time that she can use for personal reflection. “I think we say the Pledge at school to remember and always have respect,” Cima said. While a great deal of enthusiasm is fostered for the Pledge in Novak’s classroom and among other students in the building, the same sentiments are not shared nationwide. An extensive history of controversy surrounds the enforcement of the Pledge in schools. This is due to the tradition’s potential to infringe upon citizen’ freedom of speech and the addition of the phrase “under God”. In spite of the multiple attempts to challenge the phrase at the Supreme Court level, the words
by Courtney Schnur
T
he standard procedure at Columbus East in the morning, being the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moment of silence, is commonplace among schools across the state and in about thirty-six percent of other public institutions across the nation, according to the Education Commission of States. The implementation of the Pledge in Indiana schools maintains the status of state law; however, the right of a student or
faculty member to choose whether or not to observe or respect this fixture is subjective. In other words, a chance to participate is offered, but not mandatory. Students and staff interpret this liberty in their own way. When the freshmen Keystone classes study journalism and multimedia, they visit the Olympian Flame studio and have the opportunity to lead the entire school in reciting the Pledge during their production of the morning announcements. C4 Law Enforcement and
Keystone teacher, Ron Novak, started engaging his students in the East media program via the Pledge, and other Keystone teachers have followed in suit. He finds the morning to be his favorite part of the day and a time that evokes immense excitement from the students in his classroom. “In general, I think [the Pledge] is a great thing that gives a student time to reflect and to appreciate what this country has for them. It’s not a school policy; it is a statewide policy, so we’re
following state law not just school law. I think following the law is a good thing and it gives the kids an opportunity to have an open dialogue about what is respectful and to ask ‘Why do we do this?’,” Novak said. Other students outside of Novak’s class feel compelled to recite the Pledge for reasons of their own. Sophomore Tristan Franks, for example, has an uncle that serves in the military. For Franks, the short period of time in the morning acts as an outlet
“under God” remain in the Pledge of Allegiance, holding their place in the oath for over sixty years since President Dwight D. Eisenhower implemented the phrase in the early 1950s. As a result of these court cases, the issue of whether the Pledge lines up within the First Amendment of the Constitution has fluctuated, but ultimately, the Court ruling results in leaving the decision to be deciphered by individual states. Over a span of years, controversy has surrounded the issue from the perspective of various religious beliefs. In the year 1940, two Jehovah’s Witness students, siblings Lillian and William Gobitas, felt as if saluting the flag would cause them to disobey a Biblical commandment. As a result, the pair were suspended from school because they failed to participate. The Supreme Court found
the school to not have held any unreasonable standards outside of the law. More recently, in 2004, another Supreme Court case regarding religion took place when a California resident claimed that his shared belief in atheism with his young daughter was disrespected by the Pledge. However, because the man lacked legal custody of the child, his case was dropped and an official ruling never surfaced. Apart from raising the argument that the Pledge in schools limits religious freedom, parents, teachers and other various civil rights organizations have also taken an interest in ensuring that all rights under the Constitution remain protected. Twice in 2014, once in Manhattan and again in New Jersey, the American Humanist Organization, an organization that advocates for equality among humanists
and the non-religious, took on two separate cases regarding the Pledge. In Manhattan, the American Humanist Organization, more commonly referred to as the AMA, teamed up with parents to challenge the Acton Boxborough Regional School. The group claimed that the enforcement of the Pledge defied the equal rights protection clauses of the Constitution. During the second case, the AMA and an individual family found controversy with the phrase “under God” Yet, once again, the court defended and held onto their decision that no unlawful acts resulted from enforcing the Pledge in schools. Ultimately, the choice as to whether or not to recite the Pledge of Allegiance comes down to the personal beliefs of each American citizen and is a right entitled to all, even if they disagree with the practice.
How Often Do you say the Pledge of Allegiance? Every single day: 78 Often: 17 OCCAsionally: 8 graphics by Reagan Perkins
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May 12, 2017
Rarely: 17 Never: 14 Poll out of 134
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FEATURE
FEATURE
“Personal” Computers How private are your electronics? by Dustin Rodgers
T
he importance of technology is evident in everyday life. The dependence upon unlimited access to any and all information has skyrocketed since the introduction of the internet and personal computers. With the availability of unlimited information to anyone with an internet connection, it is likely that personal information is readily available as well. People that have access to this personal information can range anywhere from neighbors, to hackers or maybe even your own government. Due to their immediate involvement with technology, there are two organizations that play an important role concerning personal information: the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
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codes, that have been leaked from the CIA.
Year Zero: The first string of articles, titled “Year Zero,” which is a part of Vault 7 as a whole, posted over
8,000 confidential documents. These documents contain what many CIA hackers have likely been up to since the early 2000’s. It shows the wide range of events that the CIA was apparently trying to persuade, such as elections in France and the various cyber weapons that the hacker team
has. Year Zero also shows that the hacking team is owned by the CIA under the Center of Cyber Intelligence (CCI). This group of hackers has recently been exposed by WikiLeaks, with WikiLeaks claiming they have created “weaponized” malware that May 12, 2017
graphic by Reagan Perkins
Firstly, WikiLeaks recently leaked information concerning the CIA, proving that the government has access to all citizens’ personal information. The recent confidential documents posted through WikiLeaks, by the code name of Vault 7, have shown that the CIA has been aiming its team of hackers towards the common person. WikiLeaks has been posting clusters of articles and lines of
graphics by Reagan Perkins
Vault 7:
targets major U.S. and European company products. Some of these multinational products include Apple iPhones, Google Androids, Microsoft Windows and Samsung TVs. According to “Year Zero” the CIA is turning all of your personal electronics into recording devices. In relation to Samsung TVs, the CIA, partnered with the United Kingdom’s MI5(their CIA), have developed a new weapon that turns your TV into a microphone. They target users by running the weapon while the TV is in “Fake off” mode, leading the user to believe that the TV is fully off. But while the TV is in “Fake Off” mode, it records all of the noise in the room, including your personal conversation. Another exploit that the CIA is apparently using to target its citizens is weaponized malware and trojans. Malware is a software that is intended to damage or disable computers and computer systems and a trojan is any malicious computer program which is used to hack into a computer by misleading users of its true intent. The CIA is using this malware to target any iPhone or Android users that have a Twitter account. Then once the malware is on a phone it extracts all of the data from it, including the geolocation, camera and microphone. If you aren’t already concerned, it gets way worse than you could have ever anticipated. The CIA has lost control of their hacking tools, specifically the malware and trojans used to target the general public. Unfortunately, this means that the several hundred million lines of code used as the hacking arsenal of the CIA is now up for grabs by anyone who wants it. These cyber malwares are difficult to contain because once they have been created, similar to any other file, they can be pirated and copied easily. Due to the CIA incompe-
tence, anyone now has the capability to hack into personal electronics and life.
FCC: The FCC is the Federal Communications Commission and they regulate the U.S. communications by radio, wire, television, satellite and cable. They are responsible for enforcing the laws and regulations that surround communication, as well as continuously strive to increase competition in the technology field to promote innovation and expand worldwide communication. Their main goal is to incorporate diversity within communications so that everyone is able to successfully communicate with one another.
But why do they matter? In late March, our government, namely the House, Congress and President, all signed a bill repealing the FCC regulation on internet privacy. Therefore, the ISPs (Internet Service Providers) are able to sell your internet history to the highest bidder. Companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon now have control over internet search history. Over the past few years, the FCC ruled that these companies would have to strengthen their security in order to protect the consumers’ internet history, app usage, location data and even social security numbers - with the passing of this new bill, these
companies simply sell this private information away. Finally, this means that internet companies are now capable of selling information to advertising companies or other corporations that want your personal information, without your consent. Although privacy was never a luxury in the past, the government is now required to go public about the lack of privacy you have. Thankfully, the FCC is currently working to regain internet rights of consumer, and as well as reestablish internet privacy. But until then, be careful what you’re searching for because you never know who may come across it.
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FEATURE
A healthy balance of nature with Portland's many public parks and eclectic local culture, Oregon is the perfect destination for the outdoors enthusiasts and budding social media celebrities.
FEATURE
Channel your inner Ron Swanson from the TV series Parks and Recreation by exploring the presidential trail at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota or fossil hunting in the surrounding Badlands.
State parks in general are the best for budget-friendly camping adventures with a group of friends.
Watch the sun set over the infamous New York skyline and if that is not your thing, then a cliche selfie in Times Square should boost your social media popularity.
PostThis enchanting and classy Southern city has impressive plantations to explore, such as the Middleton Place, or enjoy some shopping at the Belmond Charleston Place.
If you’ve got Cali-fever but don’t appreciate the suffocating traffic of major cities such as Los Angeles or San Diego, consider the well preserved, 90s-beach-inspired city of Santa Barbara.
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The pinnacle attraction of the west, the Grand Canyon, allows one to hike or ride a donkey down winding and steep paths to the base of the canyon where a nature guide helps you test your survival skills. May 12, 2017
If you’re a little on the funky side, you’ll enjoy walking down Austin’s bustling streets, stopping in artists’ workshops and tasting award winning barbeque.
In the city that never stops partying, enjoy high quality entertainment and food at low prices. Some fun activities consist of visiting the National WW2 museum or the Audubon Zoo.
story by Alayna Leonard • graphic by Aliza Presto
Despite being unable to legally drink, Las Vegas still offers adventurous activities such as ziplining through the mall or shopping on The Strip.
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FEATURE
d n a r G t n e r pa
ur o l Wil ration e gen rrible ? s e t t n e r be a p d n ichardson grata R herine by K
A
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noodles, while my grandfather taught me how to fish and drive a golf cart around the house when my parents were away. And although I have a pretty basic understanding of these activities to this day, I am not incredibly proficient in any of them, not at their fault, but at my own. Yet, to this day, I watch my grandmother make memory quilts for my siblings and cousins, alter my prom dress and host our extended family for holidays annually. And over time, I slowly realize that I have no clue how I would even attempt to do any of those things which causes a question to arise: Am I going to be a bad grandmother because I don’t really know how to do all of these things that I always envision a good grandmother to be able to do?
As I look around at my fellow students I realize that none of us seem to have a clue how to do any of this either. Are we all going to be awful grandparents? Who is to blame for our lack of grandparental skills? Modern society? Ourselves? Throughout the years, society has changed drastically when it comes to relationships in general. Texting is on the rise as opposed to conversing on the phone or in person. And while these innovations have made communication easier, they have potentially fractured meaningful interactions between generations. Despite discouraging face to face conversation, technology makes life easier for individuals, allowing jobs that used to be done by hand to be done with a machine. May 12, 2017
graphics by Aliza Presto
s high schoolers, we don’t often have personal crises; that’s usually left to middle aged guys buying motorcycles and moms deciding to take up pottery classes to fill up the time that opened up when their children ‘finally’ moved to college. And although high school life feels chaotic, the blissful teen years are often referred to as the best years of our lives. But high school leads to us considering colleges which leads to a profession that we will probably work for the rest of our lives and at some point you can get married, later decide to have kids and raise them until we can finally retire to our dream destination until we are eventually taken by death. That is the typically accepted and envisioned plan for high schoolers, if even that. However, this plan has an ultimate flaw, it only goes as far as our kids, but kids grow up and have kids and
congrats, you are a grandparent. Hear me out: Grandparents, across the board, are some of the best people I know - they can help raise you and spoil you because this is their second chance at raising a child the way they wanted to if they think they screwed up with your parents. This cycle has been going on for centuries and in several decades, it will be our turn. I know, terrifying. So here is where this crisis finds me: almost done with my junior year, single, just trying to get through high school, get into a college and not even considering marriage anywhere in the foreseeable future, so really I shouldn’t be worried. But I’m a worrier, and now I am worrying whether or not I’m going to turn out to be a really terrible grandmother. I grew up very close to my grandparents, and throughout my childhood, my grandparents taught me how to do an abundance of things. My grandmother taught me how to sew a pillowcase and make homemade
Why do it by hand when there is a machine that can do it faster and probably better? Junior Anna Andress, however, does practice one of these stereotypical grandparent skills: sewing. A skill she taught herself in fifth grade when she didn’t want to wait to learn the next year that has overtime become a hobby. “I learned the basic whipstitch and started making stuffed animals out of felt and embroidery thread. I really enjoyed doing this, so later on I learned how to knit and crochet. More recently, I have enjoyed cross-stitch and punch needle embroidery,” Andress said. And although she didn’t learn this skill from her grandparents, she has been able to spend time with both sets throughout her life, typically seeing them every other week, learning from them as she has grown up. “I feel like it is important to spend time with my grandparents and the older generations because I am able to learn from them. They have obviously lived longer and have learned more
about certain situations, so they are good to go to for advice,” Andress said. Simply due to the time period they grew up in, our grandparents spent a lot of time with their grandparents, learning from them. And although we still see our grandparents at the least during holiday seasons, the overall amount of time spent with our grandparents has decreased. This is a problem a majority of high school students experience, as their schedule gets busier leading free time to become sparse. The teenage experience requires us to balance many aspects of life daily: school, homework, sports, clubs, volunteer opportunities, friendships - the list really can go on forever. Thus leading to a lack of free time to spend with our families which in turn a lack of time to spend with our grandparents. Regardless, I asked Andress if she believed that she would be a good grandparent, her answer be-
ing much more level-headed than my own. “I hope not! I’m sure that once I’m a grandmother times will be much different, but I feel like the same principles will apply. I always had a good time going to my grandparents’ house so that will probably be what I try to focus on achieving for my grandkids and will try to spend as much time with my grandkids as my grandparents did with me.” To those of you like me, who are now anxiously contemplating whether or not you’ll be a good grandparent in several decades, this article has really done nothing to guide you through this crisis. However, there is one expert on this entire crisis I’ve been experiencing. She’s lived it, helped raise six grandkids and continues to be one of the most optimistic people I know, my grandmother, Donna. The topic of journalism came
up at my family’s Easter gathering at none other than my grandmother’s house, thus bringing up the question “What are you working on right now?” and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to get help. I explained my crisis to my grandmother and her answer gave me such a feeling of peace it reminded me why grandparents are so good at being grandparents, their advice is impeccable: “Although it helps to be able to sew or do outdoor stuff as a grandparent, that doesn’t amount to how much you can love them or the stories you can tell them, that’s what really matters. Because, when it comes down to it, your grandkids aren’t going to care if you can alter their prom dress, but all the stories you’ll be able to tell them, wow.”
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SPORTS
Resisting Pre-summer Slump
Attendance Matters
the
At East, students are becoming increasingly aware that summer is on its way. As the school year comes to a close and finals creep closer, classes tend to become more For freshmen, sophomores and juniors, the last quarter of the school difficult. Simultaneousyear is very important for the next year. Students need to soak in all ly, students are losing the information that their current teachers are giving them. This inforinterest. Although mation will likely pop back up later in a different high school course. staying motivated is For seniors, the motivator is not the following school year at East, it is necessary for success, it will naturally become the importance of working hard to keep their options open and be able more difficult to find to do anything they dream of post high school. motivation as the air grows warmer and the days grow longer. Again, motivation is As a school rule, students who plan on playing a fall sport must maintain not always easy to a C-average or higher in every class. Working hard in class keeps an find, especially when athlete's athletic career in steady motion throughout high school. At East, that motivation is anyone involved in a sport is considered a student-athlete, where acadirected towards demic needs come before athletic needs. something as monotonous as school. To help out students at East, here are With summer on the way, teenagers have one thing on their minds: hangfive simple ing out with friends. This last nine weeks would be a terribly unfortunate and effective time for students to upset their parents by getting poor grades. Doing so ways to stay Summer motivated may result in being grounded during what is arguably the most enjoyable is going for the last time of year. to come few weeks one way of school. or another. School is It can sometimes become very difficult to stay motivated for yourself. So not going to do it for someone else instead! Keep in mind the future of the people who end earlier depend on you entirely. One example of this would be a person's hypojust because students are thetical kids. When searching for motivation, students can remember that longing for some day they may need a steady job to support a family. Today’s decidays in the sun. sions influence the rest of a person's life. At the end of the day, students have to come to school one way or When running in a race, the most exciting moment is when the runner another. They can see the finish line. They know they are almost done with the race, might as well make and therefore feel an urge to sprint through the last few meters to the the best out of their finish line. Students can treat school the same way - school is almost days here at East.
Exploring the idea of why our student section varies heavily from sport to sport by Caleb Davidson
E
ast offers a multitude of different sports in which students are not only able to compete in, but also support their fellow Olympians.
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Think about next year!
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Fall sports!
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Finish strong!
over, so people might as well do their best!
written by Grace Staggs • graphic by Aliza Presto
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Do it for your kids!
of their peers cheering for them. There has to be a reason for these turnouts if they continue to repeat themselves year after year. Most of our school’s events are just harder to assemble students in a group in the first place. During some sports’ seasons, certain key members of the student section are competing in such sports or others going on. Most would agree that the most popular sport is football, followed closely by basketball, soccer and volleyball. However, that does not diminish the effort that other athlete put into their sports in any way at all. Regardless, some students just have certain interests that maybe others do not share when it comes to events like these. The overall question to be looked at is, “Why do certain sports get more attention from student supporters than others?” A surprising answer that has been expressed by some is that the adrenaline rush felt by the competitors does not translate to their fan base. It is not to put down
other sports, but some are just seemingly more entertaining than others. “Personally for me, I like to watch sports like football, basketball, and soccer because of the contact. I like seeing the skill involved combined with having to fight to be able to win,” sophomore Tanner Walls said. Also, for example, Junior Zarrien Johnson-Bey always makes a point to attend the football games, but is not available to do the same for track, since he competes. The same goes for junior Jaedin Miller, who attends all of the soccer matches, but is not able to do the same for football games because he is a member of the team. “I think that football had the largest student section mainly because our team is very successful. Also because it’s just a fun experience and fun way to hang out with friends on a Friday night,” Miller said. There is an even bigger issue for sports such as golf that do not have bleachers or single area for students to gather and support players. Regardless, the popular trend among students seems to be that the faster paced sports have the most fan attendance.
graphic by Graham Johnson
3
Please your parents!
All events for all sports are open to the public, and East students are always encouraged to get out and rally around their classmates as they compete for their school. However, it seems like a common trend that once sports like football, soccer and basketball are over, the student sections are as well. Athletes competing in sports such as track, golf and swimming do not really get to feel the camaraderie of having an entire crowd
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SPORTS
bob’s burgers burger book Review
Water polo
by Julie Connor
Austin guse brings water polo to east
If Looks Could Kale
Unfortunately, this was the second worst burger of the four. I am typically a kale enthusiast, but on a burger, not so much. The kale was drenched in red wine vinegar, so it left a sour after-taste. Personally, this is not something I would order or ever make again.
by Soren Fox or Austin Guse’s senior project, he brought something to East that we have never seen before. He decided to start the school’s first Water Polo team. Water polo is a competitive water sport played between two teams. The game consist of four quarters, in which the teams try to score a point by throwing the ball in the opponent’s goal. The team with the most points wins. The only pieces of equipment used are a ball, swimwear, swim caps, goals and a mouthguard. Water polo is not considered
an official sport at East, but rather is a club team like lacrosse. The Columbus East swim team is where Guse was introduced to and gained experience in water polo. It is challenging to play a sport that is not offered at school or that not many students play. Guse has never played on a water polo team, but during his swim practices for East, the swim team would occasionally play for fun. The water polo team was established so that Guse could play more and offer it to people not on the swim team; he wanted to give everyone an opportunity to play.
With around 20-25 students participating, the project was way more successful than he expected it to be. “There was a lot of interest outside of the swim team,” Guse said. Guse knew that a lot of people would be interested in water polo and he could tell by the large amount of students that participated that they wanted to try something new. He wanted to give everyone a chance to experience something different from the commonly played sports at East. Since Guse has always
enjoyed playing sports through school, he knew that many others would enjoy playing water polo if it was a sport held at East, making it easier for students to have a chance to participate. “I started the club at East and I hope it grows in the future,” Guse said Guse put a lot of time and effort into making this water polo team and he was very proud of the outcome. He can not wait to see how far water polo goes in the future at East.
New bacon-ings This burger was not too exotic or anything special. However, it was the second best of the four I tried. It is something you could probably order at any burger joint all over the United States. I am personally a huge fan of bacon and would definitely make this for a lovely summer cookout.
sweet home avocado IT’S AN AVOCADO I thought that this burger was amazing. I am probably biased towards this burger because avocados are truly awesome. With the mix of peppers, onions and tomatoes and to top it off, a hint of lime, it was refreshing and light. My pallet was happy with this punny concoction.
graphic by Graham Johnson
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May 12, 2017
graphics by Aliza Presto
shake your honeymaker 10/10 would not recommend. This burger just had too many odd flavors. It featured honey, dates, cayenne pepper, thyme, vinegar, garlic, feta, etc. I pulled a Gordon Ramsey and spit it into a napkin. I would never ever make this or order this and wish I would picked a different burger to make. The only good thing about this burger was the punny name.
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A healthy dose of nostalgia
Movie Attendance Increase Due to Social Media
by Natalie Ryan Our Guest” is just an added bonus. “I think it’s really interesting to see what they can do to jazz up [older movies],” said freshman Anna Emmert, who has watched the live action versions of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. Consumers seem to agree. On April 13, the live action Beauty and the Beast became the highest grossing live action musical after crossing the $1 billion mark in the box office. Similarly, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the newest film in the Star Wars franchise, which Disney acquired in 2012, entered the exclusive $2 billion club. It seems obvious as to why Disney keeps creating remakes and reboots; viewers are curious to see how their favorite films are
adapted and therefore spend lots of money to see them in theaters. Just the titles of these adaptations alone are enough to fill seats, even if there is no other initial draw. However, some moviegoers are tired of the constant revival of familiar stories and desire new original content instead. Along with groups of viewers concerned about the absence of fresh material, other problems have arisen as studios convert animated characters to live-action representations and add new content to increase the length of movies, since many animated films are shorter to account for the attention spans of children. For example, controversy arose after rumors that Mulan, a Chinese warrior from the beloved 1998 an-
by Natalie Glaid
imated movie, would be portrayed by a white actress instead of an Asian woman. Similarly, Ghost in the Shell, based on a manga of the same name and produced in part by DreamWorks, has also been accused of whitewashing after casting Scarlett Johannson as the Japanese protagonist. Finally, Beauty and the Beast was barred from some movie theaters amid controversy over an alleged gay character that became more obvious when the story was adapted. While opinions on live-action adaptations and franchise reboots vary and possible problematic elements arise, it is undisputed that these high-grossing films are wonderful for the movie going industry.
What’s your favorite Genre?
We polled 120 East students on their favorite movie genre– comedy clearly taking the cake as the student body favorite, while romance came in last.
Action Romance
11% 25%
24%
40%
photos from disney.com
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Comedy
Horror
May 12, 2017
graphic by Brooke Williams
ince 2010, there have been seven live-action remakes of classic Disney animated movies, with 10 more confirmed as being in production. Additionally, several iconic animated movies and movie franchises have been brought back in recent years by Disney and Pixar, including the recently purchased Star Wars franchise and Pirates of the Caribbean. Nostalgia is running rampant in movie theaters with classic childhood animated classics rapidly appearing on the big-screen, one after another, perhaps with a dark twist or new songs. For many, this blast from the past is welcome on the basis that a quality movie is a quality movie, and an opportunity to hear Emma Watson sing “Be
s the 21st century progresses, modern technology continues to evolve– especially technology that concerns the connection between traditional entertainment and social media. The word entertainment varies depending upon the person, as some people may view it as a board game or an athletic event while others may prefer the simplicity of watching television. Despite the different opinions as to how entertainment is defined, it can easily be deemed that most modern people believe it to mean the latter. The reasoning behind this? Social media. It is assumed that social media is the culprit behind the need for electronic-based entertainment
due to the ease with which people are able to communicate and access desired information. Apps, such as Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter, enable users to efficiently and effectively share international news, humorous memes and day-to-day thoughts and feelings. “I’m on social media all the time. I’m on Snapchat mostly to keep my streaks updated and I scroll through Instagram and Twitter feeds to keep up with my friends and like photos,” junior David Phan said. “It can be time-consuming, but overall I think social media is beneficial to keep up with mine and everyone else’s social lives.” Not only are technology-lovers educated about international and national affairs through social me-
dia, but also about local happenings as well. Community pages inform those interested about events occurring around town or updates about the county school system. In relation to entertainment, social media also serves to communicate announcements about upcoming movies, music and celebrity events. The immense amount of success the entertainment world has recently experienced is greatly attributed to social media, since promotions and advertisements are constantly flowing. According to BuzzFeed, a popular social media site, the domestic box office has already hit $100 million– and it is only May. Clearly, people are attending movie theaters more, as this is
the largest amount of money produced since 1998. The leftovers of winter 2016 such as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, La La Land and Sing paired with 2017 hits like Beauty and the Beast, Get Out, Fifty Shades Darker and Hidden Figures worked together to please a wide array of audience members. “I’d say I go to the movies about every weekend. I appreciate the talent of certain actors and enjoy being entertained,” senior Cam Wilson said. “I also like the slushies.” Therefore, it can be determined that the relationship between social media and entertainment benefits both parties involved because of the increase in movie attendance and social media usage.
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Cha s In c lumbus
tial to reach a large demographic of people and becomes a part of daily life. Public art allows people to experience and appreciate the values that are integral to artistic expression. These values include diversity, culture and universal communication of ideas. Since the universal communication of ideas and emotions is a key concept in art, the public space of the Commons facilitates
Community embraces classic, local art piece
these themes in an appropriate setting. The safe and public setting that the Commons offers gives many opportunities for people to share their own ideas and experience art in a new way. Art has the potential to evoke feelings to more people when done in an accessible and relatable way. When art is made public for all people to see, it enriches our daily life and can be appreciat-
ed by those who may not have the opportunity to experience art in the traditional setting of a museum. The Columbus community values the importance of art and the Chaos sculpture is a good example of Columbus’ drive to make art a part of everyday life. Chaos can still be viewed in action today on the fourth Tuesday of each month in a community event called Chaotic Tuesday.
At Chaotic Tuesday, organizers share the history of Chaos and display the sculpture while all the parts are operating. This event was created by the Columbus Area Arts Council in order to keep the spirit of Chaos alive and to inform others about the interesting history of Tinguely’s masterpiece.
by Alex Schumacher
U
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constructed around Chaos as the rest of the Commons was being built. Chaos cleverly joins both engineering and the prevalent art culture present in Columbus. Of all the artistic machines that Tinguely has created, Chaos is the largest one that he has made in the United States. One of Tinguely’s unique philosophies on art was that he believed that art should be in motion just like it is in life. This concept can clearly be seen in Chaos, as nearly all the parts within the sculpture have the ability to move. Chaos was designed to be symbolic of a person’s day, starting slowly and gentle at first and becoming gradually more “chaotic” as the movements progress. Art such as this immerses its audience in a way that few other forms of art can accomplish because
people can see the intensity and livelihood of the sculpture rather than an inanimate painting. Chaos was also designed to be public art which opens up the doors for many to observe and experience the excitement that art brings in a nontraditional setting. The importance of public art is something that often goes unrecognized by many people who observe it on a near daily basis. Unlike world renowned art galleries that require admission fees and may not be accessible to many people, public art has the ability to reach an audience who otherwise may not have the ability or inclination to view art in a museum setting. Art such as Chaos that is in a public setting allows everyday people to view it freely, interpret the meaning of it and become immersed with it more than
art which would be viewed within a museum. An additional reason why individuals may not ever experience art at a place such as the Art Institute of Chicago is that people of lower income levels may not ever have the opportunity to travel to art museums. In some cases, even if one lives in a city such as New York or Chicago they may not be able to afford the admission fee. This makes art seem inaccessible and irrelevant to many who cannot observe it easily. The setting of a museum also can intimidate those who may not have a higher level of education. Because of this, a person of lower education may never acquire the passion for art or see it as valuable. When public art is integrated into a community, it has the poten-
May 12, 2017
photo by Camden Newell • graphics by Kayla Jones
pon walking into The Commons of downtown Columbus, Indiana, a 30 foot tall, seven ton conglomerate of steel parts and gears awaits visitors and Columbus residents alike. This fantastic work of art, titled Chaos 1, poses many questions, including how this sculpture came to be and what it is doing in such an unsuspecting place like The Commons. The interesting history of Chaos spans back over 40 years, starting with its commission by J. Irwin Miller in 1971. Jean Tinguely, a Swiss painter and sculptor, constructed Chaos as kinetic art, or art that moves, entirely out of parts and scrap from Columbus. The Columbus community finds Chaos so important that during the reconstruction of the Commons in 2011, a climate controlled box was
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Hittin’ the Trails
Summer Jams
A look at the best trails close to home by Corbin Parmer
Scarce O’ Fat Trail- Located between Bloomington and Nashville in Yellowwood State Forest, the Scarce O’ Fat trail features a 4.5-mile-loop through strenuous and rugged terrain. The average hiking time is around three hours, and Yellowwood State Forest offers a campground in case rest is required at the end, or somewhere throughout.
Indiana is home to quite a few popular hiking trails, with several dedicated state parks that each offer interesting and unique hiking experiences. Since warm weather and sunshine is right around the corner, here is a look at five of Indiana’s most favored trails near Columbus.
is Trail 8 of the Brown County State Park trail system. Trail 8 is a 3.5-mile-loop, the longest featured in Brown County, with difficulty ranging from moderate to strenuous. The average hiking time is two hours, and the trail features focal points of Hesitation Point and Upper Schooner Creek Valley.
Low Gap Trail- Located between Blooming-
E
ton and Martinsville in Morgan-Monroe State Forest, this trail is the toughest in the list. The length is a 10-mile-loop, with several elevation changes. The average hiking time is around seven hours. There are several campground locations in the forest, along with camping allowed in the backcountry area of the Low Gap Trail.
ach year, countless music lovers and partygoers flock together to experience some of the world’s most popular artists take the stage at summer music festivals. These festivals are known for lasting up to several days, hosting some of the hottest artists out there and providing a unique experience for nearly every person that attends.
Several artists are featured at each music festival, allowing fans to have the chance to witness many of their favorites all in the same place. For example, at some of this summer’s biggest festivals, such as Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, stars such as Chance the Rapper and the Red Hot Chili Peppers will take the stage.
Bonnaroo
Trail 5- Located near Nashville in Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve, this short, 0.8-mile-loop trail takes roughly 45 minutes to complete. The difficulty is strenuous, however, as the elevation changes are nearly vertical both up and down the trail.
Will take place in Manchester, TN, from June 8 to June 11. The 2017 lineup will include U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Weeknd, Chance the Rapper and many more.
Twin Caves Trail- Located in
Will operate from Gulf Shores, AL, from May 19 to May 21. Mumford & Sons, Twenty One Pilots, Frank Ocean, Major Lazer and countless others will be featured on stage.
May 12, 2017
Firefly Music Festival
Sets up in Dover, DE. Starting June 15 and ending June 18, Firefly will feature performers such as The Weeknd, Muse, Twenty One Pilots, Chance the Rapper and Bob Dylan, along with several others.
Hangout Fest
graphic by Kayla Jones
Spring Mill State Park in Lawrence County, this hike features a 2.5-mile-loop that lasts approximately 1.5 hours. This trail is named after the cave system in the area, and several caves can be found along the trail.
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by Corbin Parmer
graphic by Kayla Jones
H
iking has long been a beloved outdoors experience for nearly anyone willing to make an attempt. Available during almost any season, hiking proves to be an accessible and satisfying way to experience nature.
This summer’s biggest festivals
Trail 8- Set inside Indiana’s largest state park (approximately 16,000 acres)
Lollapalooza
Takes place in the windy city, Chicago, IL, from August 3 to August 6. The lineup this year will feature Muse, The Killers, Chance the Rapper, Arcade Fire, The XX and more.
Outside Lands Will appear in San Francisco, CA, from August 11 to August 13. Artists like Metallica, The Who, Gorillaz, A Tribe Called Quest and Lorde will perform.
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Mattias Memering
Senior Mattias Memering decided the day before prom to go out of high school with a clang. He showed up to prom on Saturday evening resembling a knight in shining armor. After being denied entry on the premise of not wearing formal attire, he stood outside near the commons with picket signs. He and his friends received over 100 signatures on a makeshift petition of students who felt he should have been let into prom. “I didn’t fight in a crusade to be turned away at the door. But after the protest, I felt like I was satisfied with my prom experience, so I didn’t ask for a refund on my ticket,” Memering said.
Columbus prom: may 6, 2017 Sarah Brown & max kaser
“About a month before prom we thought he wouldn’t be able to go because he had drill but he managed to get his schedule changed and actually ended up surprising me by coming home early. He asked me to go to prom by leaving a rose at my work then presenting me with a promise ring. When the night came having him there made everything perfect and I wouldn’t trade that night for the world,” Brown said.