The Oracle 2017-18: Issue 6

THE 0RACLE

april 23, 2018 | vol. 46, no. 6 | Cehs news

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Table of Contents Cover

The caution administration takes to keep students safe and what teachers do in their own classrooms.

12-17 Opinion Feature students & lifestyle Sports Arts & Entertainment 2

April 23, 2018

Decisions of Senior Year Taking Pride in Columbus Activism Under Siege The Future Is Calling

|4 |5 |6 |7

Religion and Rights | 8 Pressed for Tests? | 10 Conspiracy Theories | 11

DIY: Trash Bark | 18 Beyond the Walls | 19 Humans of Columbus East | 20

Hard Work Pays Off | 22 ‘Check’ It Out | 25 Swingin’ into Baseball Season | 24

High School Poet | 26 National Poetry Month | 27 Movie-ing on Up | 28 Summer Festivals | 31 Has Hip-Hop Hit Rock Bottom? | 30 cover & page design by Emily Hales | cover photo by Liz Hagan

Photo by Olivia Hoeltke, 11

Staff

Editor in Chief | Natalie Ryan Content | Natalie Glaid & Delaney Jackson Design | Emily Hales & Aliza Presto Photography | Reagan Perkins & Elaina Sims Cover/Feature | Yetla Reyna Opinion | Shelby Gordon & Thomas Voils Sports | Klayton Brummett & Caleb Davidson

Submit your photography to cehsnews@gmail.com for a chance to be featured in the next issue!

Web Content | Cam Key & Kat Richardson Writers | Kylie Brooks, Brayana Cacho, Eric Cardoso, Andy Davidson, Soren Fox, Savannah Garrett, Ethan Glaid, Maggie Gregory, Luke Harpring, Hannah Harris, Athena Jenkins, Kayla Jones, Toby Kelsay, Chesney Loehr, Max Nolting, Lexi Parton, Riley Repp, Jake Schoenegge, Madi Schutte, Elaina Sims, Abigale Smith, Grace Staggs, Nicholas VanAartsen Designers | Annie Bastian, Logan Foote, Robert Kanehl, Tori Overfelt, Reagan Perkins, Connor Reed, Sean Ryan, Leo Salvidar, Audrey Tian

Arts & Entertainment | Isaac Harper & Courtney Schnur

Photographers | Bre Burton, Irma Bruce, Savannah Garrett, Liz Hagan, Josie Royer, Noah Shoaf

cehsnews.com| Eli Newell

Adviser | Scott Duncan april 23, 2018

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opinion

Decisions of Senior Year in state vs. out of state A

s a senior in high school, I believe most would say the hardest decision to make is where they want to spend the next four years of their life furthering their education. Throughout the selection process, there are several questions that run through a student’s mind, such as which school will be the best fit, how much money do I want to spend and do I want to attend an in state or out of state institution.

Most seniors’ biggest concerns when choosing a college come down to the cost.

Finances are a large concern and stressor for most college students. Some students’ parents have planned ahead for their students to go to college

and have saved money over the years. Others have not been able to financially prepare for this huge expense leaving it on the student to pay their own tuition for college.

Throughout my college selection process, I discovered several in state and out of state institutions that ranged from a reasonable price to extremely expensive, as many students do. I found that the private colleges and universities almost doubled the price of in state universities. Scholarship availability can also be a strong factor when attending an out of state institution.

Personally, when it came time to decide on a college, I focused more on the educational aspect and the different majors

and programs that are offered.

I currently do not know what specifically I want to major in but all of my possible interests are offered as majors and programs at the school I decided on. Therefore, allowing me the comfort of exploring these majors and having different interests to fall back on if one is not as successful and all I expect it to be. My other concern was choosing a school that had opportunities for me to be a part of organizations, such as internships, clubs and community service programs.

My second concern as a whole is cost. While this is commonly the most important factor, it was not for me. I was more worried about choosing a college that would make me the

amount of traveling from home for college students at least 1,000 miles

at least 2,000 miles 5 miles or less 10 miles or less

at least 500 miles

25 miles or less 100 miles or less Source: Niche

MAGGIE GREGORY most successful student I could possibly be. I just told myself throughout my time in college, I would have to stay on top of applying for scholarships and be the biggest penny pincher I can be.

Here at Columbus East High School, there is diversity in students that have decided to go both in state and out of state. Though, due to the large popular colleges in our state, both public and private, there is a wide variety of students who attend those universities, including popular schools like Indiana University Bloomington, University of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, and Purdue University.

amount of miles from Columbus East to colleges Indiana University Bloomington: 37.8 miles University of Indianapolis: 44.6 miles IUPUI: 50.8 miles Purdue University: 116 miles

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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design by Aliza Presto

be important to students

C

olumbus.

The hometown of Vice President Mike Pence.

Also the hometown of many active LGBT community members.

Despite Mike Pence’s critics describing him as being openly anti-LGBT as demonstrated by his clear support of Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act as governor, Columbus recently hosted its first ever Columbus Pride Festival, organized by Columbus Signature Academy student Erin Bailey for her senior project.

While I am not here to dwell on the student who orchestrated such an inclusive event or Mike Pence and his views on the LGBT community, I am here in support of the importance this event holds for the community, but more specifically, for students.

The concept of being openly gay or a part of the LGBT community has only recently become an accepted norm within society.

Not only within society has it become a norm, but within schools as well. Here at East, many students affiliate themselves with being a part of the LGBT community, myself included.

However, sometimes being openly gay, bisexual, transgender or even gender fluid causes issues within classrooms due to how controversial being pro-LGBT is for teachers and students who have yet to accept the concept that there are students who identify within the community.

This Pride Festival held in Columbus was finally a way for students and young adults to interact with other members

of the community and openly express who they are and what they stand for.

The event should be very important to students because of how inclusive it was for those who have a hard time being comfortable with their sexual orientation.

It is important for students to support others in the community who identify themselves as a part of LGBT. This is important because these students should be able to freely feel acknowledged and represented within school and social settings.

This event brought together the community in a way that can show the nation that, although Columbus may seem like a place where LGBT members do not exist due to the perspective Mike Pence has given and the fact that

opinion

taking pride in columbus Why the pride festival should

shelby gordon Columbus is generally seen as a conservative town, Columbus is an inclusive community for all members of society from all over the spectrum.

Something such as the Pride Festival is important for students to accept and respect because of the image that is already portrayed amongst the majority of Columbus. The concept of accepting those who identify within the LGBT community here at East will be a major milestone for those who struggle with coming to terms with their own sexual identities because it will make these students feel more included within school social settings.

Accepting and acknowledging LGBT individuals creates a more favorable and genuine image for Columbus.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Oracle, Columbus East High School, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.

design by Robert Kanehl

April 23, 2018

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opinion

activism under siege Survivors-Turned-Activists Face Criticism over Outspokenness

P

erhaps the most remarkable story of persistence in the face of adversity for this decade is that of the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, one of the worst tragedies to rack the nation.

Beloved surviving members of the school became figureheads of the #NeverAgain movement, advocating gun control with the hope that the crisis they endured might not happen again. People who would have otherwise lived as the average student, at least for the time being, were thrust into the political world for a worthy cause, but to an unworthy response.

Emma Gonzalez, by far the most public and vocal member of the #NeverAgain movement, was met with a direct response by state politicians following her appearance at the March for Our Lives rally in Washington DC, at which she bore a Cuban flag patch on her jacket, alongside a number of other patches. Gonzalez was sharply criticized by state politicians, with Representative of the House Steve King’s campaign team claiming that she was advocating for the removal of the right to self defense, as Cuban dictator and revolutionary Fidel Castro did.

In addition, campaigning

Representative of Maine Leslie Gibson dropped out of the race to mass rebuke after calling Gonzalez a “skinhead lesbian” is a show of petty homophobia.

David Hogg, another #NeverAgain figurehead, got no less criticism, facing the rebuke of news anchors and others. In a display of willingness drop to childish levels, Fox News host Laura Ingraham targeted Hogg for college aspirations, in the case that he was rejected by four colleges as compared to highlighting ones he was accepted to. Ingraham later walked back her statements due to Hogg’s trademark vicious rebuttal, which, in Ingraham’s case, involved a direct and hugely successful call to Ingraham’s sponsors to withdraw their advertise-

riley repp ments. Hogg would later be defended by fellow shooting survivors, including his sister, whom replied to Ingraham with, “Coming from a 14yr old, please grow up” over Twitter.

In addition, St. Louis TV show host and talk show commentator Jamie Allman posted vulgar threats directed at Hogg following the reversal of Ingraham’s comments. In the threat, Allman stated that he was “preparing” to attack Hogg with a hot poker, a sharp fireplace implement made to break up wood in the fireplace.

Three days later, Sinclair Broadcasting Company confirmed his resignation and the broadcast company Entercom, which manages Allman’s radio show, announced he would be off the

air until the situation could be examined.

The behavior of Ingraham, Gibson, Allman and King is something of a controversy in the US, with their responses being “justified” by a portion of the population. Really, America? This kind of activity is seen as despicable from child to child on playgrounds for those as young as preschool. We have a term for it, too. “Bullying”.

We are taught that it is wrong, that it is unacceptable, and that we should stand up for what we believe, even if it means that we get picked on. So why does it suddenly not apply for these people?

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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design by Emily Hales

O

ften times in school, we all ask the question, “Will we ever really need to use this?” For a lot of people, it is hard to see why there is a need to memorize hard calculus equations whenever you are going into a career where there will hardly be any math use, at least not complicated math.

No matter the class, you should always pay attention in school, even if you feel like you won’t be using that knowledge in the future. But people always wonder if the school they are going to is actually preparing them for the future. Especially

in certain classes, I know I have had the thought, “Why can’t you just teach me how to do my taxes?”

Something unique about Columbus high schools are the C4 classes that a lot of students take every day, 1,248 students to be exact.

These classes are designed to focus specifically on a field of study that one might be going into in college or directly after leaving high school. This is a rare luxury for high school students.

Although C4 classes can’t be an exact match of what a student may decide to pursue, some can get very close.

The ability to test

out a field of study before you get to the “real world” is really amazing when you think about it. Instead of going to a university or trade school and spending a ridiculous amount of money only to find out it was all a waste of time, you could find that out now for free.

As people get older and start to look for the future, it becomes clear just how many adult duties are truly necessary that a high school student doesn’t really think about, such as renting an apartment, building good credit and even preparing for weddings. Obviously, it’s too early to be thinking

opinion

the future is calling are we ready to answer?

Thomas Voils about those kind of events for most people, but especially for seniors, it isn’t too far away.

In just four years, those seniors going to college will be almost done with their college experience and needing to find a job, a house, etc. For seniors not planning on college those tasks come even sooner.

These upcoming milestones are typically extremely significant in a person’s life, and it is important that school is preparing us for those things and helping us know what we will want to do when those occasions are on the horizon.

89.7% of East students feel they are prepared for college/careers out of 39 East seniors

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Oracle, Columbus East High School, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.

design by Sean Ryan

April 19, 2018

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feature

religion and rights Religion’s conflicting role in schools

By Noah Shoaf

T

he relationship between religion and public schools is more than complicated. Religious expression in schools is built on the First Amendment, which states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” which seems fairly simple.

The role religion has in the classroom is built on various court cases such as when the 1962 Supreme Court case of Engel v. Vitale banned school-sponsored prayers because it was a violation of the Establishment Clause in the Constitution. Also, the case of School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania v. Schempp established that required Bible readings were unconstitutional.

Those three court cases are the foundation on which public schools, judiciary courts and various organizations have built their policies concerning religion’s role in a public school setting; but, beyond that, religious expression in schools is determined by the individual school. Columbus East’s handbook prohibits religious harassment, stating that “prohibited religious harassment occurs when unwelcome physical, verbal or nonverbal conduct is based upon an individual’s religion or creed and when the conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with the individual’s work or educational performance,” but does very little to define the

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April 23. 2018

rights students have concerning religious expression.

Junior Kassidy Humes believes that religion should not be a barrier to learning and agrees with the handbook that religious harassment has no place at East.

“If we can keep our personal biases out of schools than the learning environment will be more inclusive which is something everyone can benefit from,” said Humes.

Inclusion is a main belief of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The ACLU is an organization that represents citizens when their constitutional rights have been violated. Concerning religion in schools, the ACLU states that the group “works to protect public school students’ religious freedom by curbing the practice of school-sponsored prayer and proselytizing while simultaneously ensuring that students may freely express and exercise their faith.”

Junior Maddie Engelau is an active leader in her church’s youth group. She understands the importance of looking past biases as the ACLU does but she feels that it’s hard to be inclusive and still express her religious beliefs.

“I feel like sometimes you have to watch what you say.

Either people will bash on your religion or tell you your point is not valid because they do not have my same beliefs. Also, many say that there is a separation of church and state when you voice anything concerning religion,” Engelau said.

Religion in Schools Timeline 1791

The First Amendment establishes Separation of religion and state.

1802

Thomas Jefferson coins the saying “wall of separation between church and the state” in a letter to Dansbury Baptist.

1962

Engel v. Vitale bans school-sponsored prayers because it was a violation of the Establishment Clause in the Constitution.

1963

School district of Abington township, Pennsylvania v.

Schempp established that required scripture readings were unconstitutional.

2001

Good News Club v. Milford Central School found that religious clubs were allowed to meet in public schools after class hours as other clubs were permitted to do.

design by Sean Ryan

feature

The saying “wall of separation between the church and the state” was originally coined by Thomas Jefferson. In 1802, he wrote a letter to the Danbury Baptist for the purpose of keeping the state out of the church’s business. Now, the term has a different meaning after being used in different court-rulings as Engel v. Vitale and Pennsylvania v. Schempp keeping religion out of government.

“I wouldn’t say that their certain rules that say you can’t express your religion.There is a school perception that discourages teaching by faith, but it’s hard to freely express your beliefs if you can’t teach them,” Engelau said.

In general, both Engelau and Humes want East to be a welcoming school where many can have a voice and feel comfortable. It seems complicated with the different court rulings and various beliefs, but an environment with a balance of inclusion and free speech is what they and most students desire.

Mikal Ryals, East’s Campus Life minister, connects with juniors Connor Thornhill and Nathan Jeffers. Campus Life is a Christian organization that is active in public schools.

Pregnancy Services STI Testing & Treatment

ClarityCares.org April 23, 2018

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feature Every May, hundreds of Advanced Placement (AP) Exams are taken by students at East and across the world. While the process of taking an AP Exam is not exactly the most exciting moment of a student’s school life, getting a “5” on the exam definitely reaps the rewards. Look over the following information to find out how to get a high score on AP tests, the benefits of AP tests and classes, and what AP classes and tests are offered at East.

college credit

watch youtube videos

Scores of a 3, 4 and 5 are likely to be used for college credit in your future.

Look up the topic you are struggling with.

Crash Course is a reliable channel that covers multiple subjects.

challenge yourself

buy ap test study books

These books will have practice tests and will outline everything you learned throughout the year. Thrift Books and Amazon are perfect options for buying.

Taking AP classes will better prepare you for college classwork and tests.

boost your transcript

Often, an AP class on your transcript looks better than a regular class.

do classwork and ask questions If you do not practice, you are not working towards success. Your teacher is there to help you- there are no ‘dumb’ questions.

use practice ap tests

Be familiar with the format of the AP test; each subject will be different. You can reflect on your chapter tests from class. However, they might be different from the actual format of the AP test.

378

exams given at east* 56% OF EAST AP TESTERS 211/378 GOT 3, 4, & 5’S* AP CLASSES

14 AT EAST

use flashcards

Although you can buy flashcards, you can also use Quizlet or make your own on paper.

AP Literature and Composition

AP Biology AP Calculus AB

AP Physics 1

liz by A ig

n

AP Microeconomics AP Macroeconomics

de s nd ya st or

10

AP Statistics

AP Physics 2

a

Pr es to

AP Calculus BC

AP Language and Composition AP Government

AP Chemistry *Statistics based off of 2017 AP tests at East, provided by the CEHS Counseling Department.

AP Psychology Computer Science**

**Although only “Computer Science” is offered at East, the class prepares students for the AP exam which can be taken through North.

feature

Conspiracy theories The relevance of Conspiracy theories W

hether outrageous teacher stories or serious explanations for notable events, conspiracy theories have become increasingly relevant in modern society. Many of these theories have come about in recent years mostly due to the fact that large number of people have begun to lose trust in their government. The modern day

by Andy Davidson

conspiracy theory phenomenon started with the JFK assassination. According to critics of our government’s investigation and explanation, many pieces of the JFK assassination were covered up by the United States government, leading to the distrust.

Another factor that has led to the rise in conspiracy theories is social media. Social media has allowed for more conspir-

Mr. Barber’s Third Eye

What really is under Mr. Barber’s beard? He hasn't shaved it anytime recently, and do you ever wonder what would happen if he did? Would he look different to you? You would be surprised! If Mr. Barber shaved his beard he would expose his third eye that is under it. He keeps it to covered up so that no one will know about it. Have you seen Barber’s third eye? Will it change your opinion about him forever? I guess we will never know if he actually has it or not until he shaves his beard.

acy theory believers to spread their ideas and recruit more members. Many people fall into these conspiracy theory traps because they offer an alternative point of view towards an event that seems more logical than the accepted theory.

“I think that there are plenty of facts to support them but I don’t believe in them. A lot of the facts could have been

Vampiric Teachers

Have you ever noticed that blood drives come to East suspiciously often during the year? Is it the fact that Columbus East just wants to give back to the community as much as they can or do the teachers need some blood to feed their thirst? That’s right, there have been many reports of teachers drinking blood around the school.

“I literally saw Mr. Alvarez drinking blood this morning during passing period,” said Senior Dustin Rodgers.

Do you think that the school should do something about the teachers and their vampiric ways or do we leave it to the professional vampire hunters?

stretched and altered over time,” said senior Mark Scuitto.

Overall, conspiracy theories have taken over the internet and made their way into mainstream media impacting the thought processes of millions of people. Featured below are a few of East’s most outrageous conspiracies.

Newell Family are Lizard People

Have you ever noticed why Mr. Newell has a whole container full of flies in his office?

That’s right folks! Your very own principal is a fly loving, sunbathing, lizard person.

Mr. Newell has been seen by witnesses such as Senior Wyatt Koopman doing some weird things. “I saw Mr. Newell open a container in his office, and a fly shot out of it and Mr. Newell’s tongue shot out toward the fly and ate that thing up!”

Do you think Mr. Newell and his family are a part of the lizard community or is this just a big rouse?

The theories presented here are done humorously and not intended to be taken in a literal sense.

design by Reagan Perkins

April 23, 2018

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Cover

East’s procedures and regulations concerning safety explained

O

n April 20, 1999, news of the Columbine High School massacre in Littleton, Colorado swept across the nation. Ever since, school shootings have been a topic that concerns faculty, parents and most importantly the students whose lives are directly affected by school violence.

Julie Quesenbury, also known as Officer Q, officially joined students and staff as East’s school resource officer in 2014. Quesenbury, who has been an officer for the Columbus Police Department for 13 years, originally had shifts around lunchtime, where she spoke to and connected with many students.

Quesenbury has seen growth and change in the walls of East, and this year she has to undertake a conversation about the safety of students, answering questions by parents who are confused and partaking in more discussion with the corporation concerning school safety.

Being responsible for nine BCSC schools, Quesenbury already has

By Yetla Reyna

over 5,000 students to handle, and even more chaos would ensue in an emergency situation.

Quesenbury believes it is up to everyone to help one another out in ensuring the safety of an entire school community.

“If you see something that’s not quite right, say something.

If you hear something that’s not quite right, say something to us and say something to the deans; to me. Here in this school we depend on people to stand up and do the right thing to take care of others, and that’s taking care of yourself too,” Quesenbury said.

Teachers are encouraged by Quesenbury to go through a “Run, Hide, Fight” procedure with their students.

“In an emergency situation, that’s not the time to make the game plan. In order to make students feel more safe, teachers need to communicate how they would do those things within their own classrooms,” Quesenbury said.

Some teachers are concerned the school is not safe enough.

13

“

Assess the situation. Make a determination.

What steps do we need to go to next.

“

-Michael McBride unsafe, but the ease in which outsiders can gain access to school buildings.

“From a safety standpoint of accessibility, I think this building needs some help when it comes to being secure. There are so many doors,” Buntin said.

Students credit the freedom of East’s resource system and building structure in creating its iconic welcoming environment, yet Buntin claims that this freedom can also be perceived as a lack of security.

With the constant flow of students in and out of the doors, especially at lunch, there can be challenges to maintaining the safety of the school.

“

“

If you see something that’s not quite right, say something

“

12 April 23. 2018

“

Watch what we [students] say and be careful.

Even if you’re joking, you never know who is listening.

-Rachel Rudzinski

fault of anyone, but the design of the building itself has too many open spaces.

With East having been built so long before problems really arose about intruder emergencies,

-Julie Quesenbury

Can you imagine a class of 25 kids chucking golf balls at the guy? We have a plan that will work.

-Troy Buntin

the group reviewing the BCSC Crisis Review Plan. BCSC administrators have been looking at different types of scenarios and what must be done to combat them in case of an emergency.

Although the schools in BCSC are trying to set up a system for intruder emergencies, the structure of the East may be a problem for other emergencies.

Genevra Dewhirst, an English teacher, has voiced her concerns for emergencies such as a tornado.

“There aren’t many places for us to be secure, unless you go down to the planetarium and the tunnel,” Dewhirst said.

Dewhirst points out the structure is not necessarily the

“

Cover

“How easy would it be for someone you don’t recognize, someone you don’t know, to blend in with a group of students,” Buntin said.

The Indiana School Guideline for Emergency Response Systems states that the first line of defense is the exterior doors. At East there are 50 doors leading outside.

Although there has been an emphasis on the “Run, Hide, Fight” procedure, there are two other emergency procedures that school officials have considered.

The “lock-out” procedure includes locking all of the doors in the building that lead outside. In this situation no one is allowed to enter or exit the building.

Similarly, the “lock-down”

“

Troy Buntin, government teacher at East, is not necessarily afraid of students being

procedure means locking all doors in the exterior and interior parts of the building.

Nobody in the building is supposed to move from whatever class or area they are in.

East dean Michael McBride has to asses any threat or intruder when there is one in the building. His job as a facilitator is to keep everyone he possibly can safe.

“If there re three guys standing out there with a gun I’m probably not going to run at them. But what can I do to to help the scenario and have an outcome with the most students being safe in that situation?” McBride said.

McBride is also apart of

cover design by Audrey Tian, Tori Overfelt and Leo Saldivar | photos by Josie Royer

said.

With concerns all over the district, BCSC is trying to complete changes by having meetings with administrators. While East has been approaching security head on, there are small things students are

not aware of East faculty doing in order improve facilities with the overall goal of keeping everyone safe before any emergency situation happens.

“

It’s good to have a plan. I think it’s important in a civilized society to have those discussions.

“

there are people who may judge the difficulty to change the building, not only for the cost but the fact that Columbus has architectural wonders.

Senior Rachel Rudzinski believes the safety of students is not inhibited by the structure of the school.

“It’s nice having Officer Q here and Mr. Newell always updates students on safety.

I think what we have now is pretty good, especially since the doors are locked during the school day,” said Rudzinski However, Rudzinski does believe students need to be more careful in what joke about. She thinks some people can find a joke as more than what it is, and that can always cause problems.

“Watch what we [students] say and be careful. Even if you’re joking, you never know who is listening,” Rudzinski

-Genevera Dewhirst

Cover

march for our lives

S

tudents across the country are walking out of schools and into the national spotlight in protest. With a motto of “never again,” they are advocating for gun control so that schools across the nation can be safer.

March for Our Lives is a national protest that has been created and organized by a group of students who survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. According to CNN, the students are “calling on lawmakers to address the issue of gun violence in American schools.”

The mission statement, included on their website, marchforourlives.com,

16 April 23. 2018

By Liz Hagan

lists five goals the movement intends on accomplishing. The goals include universal, comprehensive background checks, a high-capacity magazine ban, and an assault weapon ban.

National school walkouts have been held in support of the movement, when students walk out of school in honor of those who have died in school shootings. The next national school walkout date is April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting.

On Saturday, March 24, a

march was held in Washington D.C. in support of the movement. Several sister marches and events took place across the country in the last month, including ones in Indianapolis and Columbus.

Junior Maia Campbell participated in the Columbus event.

She explained that part of the reason she marched was because it was a way for her to gain a voice and share her opinion.

“To me, March for Our Lives means standing up for a safer country,” Campbell said. “It means giving youth a voice they don’t typically have, and empowering us to change the world.”

Campbell believes that gun control is directly related to school safety. In her opinion,

there should be more strict control over everything gun related, including background checks.

Additionally, she believes that the type of guns citizens are able to own should be limited.

“I don’t think anyone needs to own military grade weapons,” Campbell said. “I think that’s quite ridiculous.”

Campbell’s opinion on March for Our Lives and gun control is not shared by all of her fellow students. Junior Garrett McGa-

cover design by Audrey Tian, Tori Overfelt and Leo Saldivar

Cover

ha decided he did not want to march because he believes that gun control is not an effective measure in stopping crime.

“Criminals disregard the fact that gun control measures are implemented and will still take advantage of others,” McGaha said.

In his opinion, strict gun control laws also violate the rights of American citizens, making them more reliable on the government for protection. “[Gun control] mostly just takes the rights of individuals to defend themselves and makes them reliable on the government to defend them,” McGaha said.

Although their opinions on gun control are different, both Campbell and McGaha have similar ideas as to how schools in particular could become safer. Campbell believes schools should focus on their entrances more.

“I think we need to look at our entrances and how easy it is to get into a building because right now, it’s quite easy to get in based on all the doors we have in the school,” Campbell said.

Similarly, McGaha believes that schools should have better enforcement of who can come in the school and who can leave.

“The entire open campus idea doesn’t necessarily promote safety, even though a lot of people enjoy that for going off campus for lunch, it does make a security risk,” McGaha said.

McGaha also believes that March for Our Lives is ineffective because he views participants as heavily misinformed.

“A lot of it is done by people who don’t necessarily understand a lot of basic things about firearms and firearm laws,” McGaha said.

As opinions are held by everyone, the importance of having facts to back up opinions is important to both Campbell and McGaha.

“It’s important to not just listen to what your peers say and actually look at facts and

make your own opinion based on personal beliefs,” McGaha said.

The March for Our Lives movement can be viewed as controversial, but both Campbell and McGaha believe that it is important for teens to be forming their own opinions, especially when the current generation of teenagers will eventually help in determining the future political landscape.

“Whether people like it or not, we’re the future, we’re going to be holding govern-

SCHOOLS

ment positions and we’re going to be creating laws, so I think we have every right to hold a position in politics,” Campbell said.

POLICY & ACTION 17

Students & Lifestyle

DIY: Trash Bark The Perfect Post-Easter Dessert W

By Grace Staggs

ith Easter having just passed, many families may be wondering what to do with all their leftover Easter candy. To anyone looking for a new and innovative use for that candy, try this sweet and salty snack that is easy to make and easier to love.

1 3

Ingredients: 24 oz semisweet chocolate ½ cup peanut butter, warmed 1 cup crushed potato chips 1 cup crushed pretzels ⅔ cup M&M’s

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2

In a small glass bowl, heat the chocolate in the microwave on low heat. Stir every 30 seconds until melted. Pour onto parchment paper, spreading evenly.

Drizzle the peanut butter over the chocolate and drag a toothpick through the peanut butter in the opposite direction to create a swirl.

4 5

Top with chips, pretzels and M&M’s.

Transfer to the refrigerator to set for one hour. Break into pieces and enjoy.

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design by Annie Bastian | photos by Grace Staggs

O

ver the past 10 years, Columbus East High School has organized over 10 trips around the world. A handful of students are chosen through one of the school’s academic departments to journey to breathtaking and renowned countries.

Behind the scenes of these premeditated and structured trips are the teachers who organize them. Karen Bray, Geography and History of the World teacher, has taken a total of seven global trips through the school.

“I really enjoy someone discovering something for the first time. It may not be new to me but it’s new to them,” Bray said. “I don’t think there’s anything that can replace traveling with students.”

However, not all students are as enthusiastic toward their new surroundings.

“My least favorite thing would probably be seeing students who are reluctant to try new things, like a new kind of food,” Bray said. “We’ve had students who don’t want to try local dishes so instead they’re looking for the nearest Taco Bell.”

Bray has dealt with all sorts of complications, from unwilling students to students who have dropped out of the trip completely.

“Our last trip that we took we were going to Paris. We had a few people drop out because they were scared from the Paris bombings, but I think in the world that we live in, you can’t let those fears stop you from living your life,” Bray said. “I think overcoming that fear of travel is a really important step.

If the opportunity presents itself, I say go for it.”

Senior Krysjahn Johnson, who traveled with East her sophomore year, shared her opinion on traveling with a

design by Leo Salvidar

By Hannah Harris

school.

“It was cool because you got to know other students that you didn’t know well while embarking on a new journey with them,” Johnson said. “I guess you could say sometimes you get annoyed when you’re in tight spaces with the same people for a long period of time, but most of it was great.”

Meeting new people is not the only benefit to traveling outside America’s borders.

“There were so many lessons that I learned, like you should always be cautious no matter where you are. Not that anything was dangerous, but just realize that your surroundings are different and new so you should respect that,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s experience of traveling with a school is simply irreplaceable.

“When you go outside the country, you feel liberated.

Definitely take the risk because it really changes your life,” Johnson said. “As long as you’re ready to explore new things and try different experiences with the people around you, it’s going to be great.”

students & Lifestyle

beyond these walls traveling abroad as a student

Students & Lifestyle

A

By Elaina Sims

t Columbus East, we often only ever see the surface of our faculty and peers. We fail to dig deeper into their lives and see what makes them who they are, and through Humans of Columbus East, we go beneath the surface into their inner flame.

“There’s always going to be something; there’s always going to be a challenge, and

you just do the best you can and move on.

So humor gets me through a lot of things.”

Chasidy Kannianen, English Department Chair & Teacher

“I do dance, theater, softball, cheer, rodeo, key club and have a 4.3 GPA. Every Sunday, my parents and I get together and go through the entire schedule for the week, and it’s not that complicated.

It’s pretty easy when you get used to it.”

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Caitlin Wager, Sophomore

design by Tori Overfelt

I want to explore my creativity and imagination,

and I feel as if I just study, I will never match what my imagination could do. I want to make something new for everyone to enjoy.”

students & Lifestyle

“I’m thinking of becoming a general dentist or a genetic counselor. I also want to become a writer.

Danilo Almeida, Senior

“My husband says I work with high school kids well because I’m immature myself; that I fit in well with high school age children, but I was super excited when my kids got to the age when they were self-sufficient.

At some point you have to learn a little self-sufficiency.

We won’t always be here to guide you.”

Annie Baugh (center), Math Teacher

“My passion started from my dad.

Whenever I was around six years old, he put a baseball tee in front of me and gave me a baseball bat, and

that’s kind of where it all started.”

Dawson Glenn, Junior photos by Elaina Sims

April 23, 2018

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Sports

HARD WORK PAYS OFF A Preview of East’s Mens Golf Team

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ast’s mens golf team is all about hard work and dedication. With the help of an experienced senior leader, Avery Foist, and a talented freshman, Kody Reynolds, East looks to to make a deep postseason run this golf season.

With the loss of two talented seniors last year, this year’s golf team has some large shoes to fill, but Foist is confident his team will be just fine.

“Losing our two seniors makes this season a little more challenging, but we picked up Kody Reynolds and he is ranked 3rd overall as a freshman, so he’s going to help us out a lot,” Foist said.

Reynolds is confident in his ability to help his team and looks forward to filling in the gap that was left by last year’s seniors.

“Our team lost some seniors last year so we don’t have a lot.

I’m just trying to play my best to give them a chance to get to where we want to be this year,” Foist said.

Foist and Reynolds are serious about succeeding this season and they made sure to work hard this offseason to accomplish their goals.

“I’ve done a lot of things to prepare for this season and I go to the course every day and hit range balls and then chip and putt and I work with a pro out at Otter Creek golf course as often as I can,” Foist said.

Reynolds has also made sure he is putting in the right amount of work in in order to be prepared for his freshman season.

“All of the practice and dedication I’m going to do this year is all going towards trying to go to state. That’s my goal. To get to state as a freshman would be awesome,” Reynolds said.

April 23. 2018

By Max Nolting

The season is meaningful for Foist and Reynolds and they are both hopeful that they will accomplish something special.

“This season is really important to me because I’ve put so much work into my golf career and I’m hoping it will pay off for my last year on the team,” Foist said.

With the senior leadership of Foist and the fierce determination of Reynolds, it looks like the East mens golf team is headed in the right direction.

Avery Foist tees off at East’s home course, Otter Creek, in Columbus.

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800

design by Connor Reed | photo by Megan Holl

Sports

‘Check’ It out Everything you need to know about Lacrosse

L

acrosse is generally an unknown sport, especially here at East. Games often go unnoticed, and due to the game’s still recent

By Ethan Glaid

emergence into the high school sports scene, many students remain clueless about lacrosse’s rules and conduct. In lacrosse players run around the field

passing the ball between them using their sticks.

The object of the game is to reach the opponent’s side of the field and throw the ball into the net. List-

ed below is the beginner lacrosse knowledge needed to enjoy the game and support the East lacrosse team.

Helmet:

Protective Equipment (arm pads, cup, rib paDs, etc.):

The pads are a vital piece of equipment, as lacrosse is a very physical sport and can lead to various injuries.

All lacrosse helmets include a protective facemask and are required for all players.

Crosse (Lacrosse Stick):

The wooden stick with a net on the end is among the most important pieces of equipment in the game. The crosse is used to carry and throw the ball throughout the course of the game.

Ball:

The lacrosse ball is made of solid rubber. And is coated with various colors including white, yellow and orange. The ball is passed around from player to player in down the field in order to score.

Freshman Alex Thomas design by Annie Bastian | photo by Ethan Glaid

April 23, 2018

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Sports

24 April 23. 2018

story by Klayton Brummett

Sports

design by Aliza Presto | photos by Eli Newell

April 23, 2018

25

Arts & Entertainmet

artist spotlight

Behind the scenes of ‘64 Seasons’

By Abigale Smith

N

ow joining the elite group of published high school students, East student Lyndsey Wolfe has compiled her best poetry into a book she titled “64 Seasons”.

The book contains reflections on many of her life experiences and thoughts relating to everything from college essays to heavier subjects such as eating disorders. With such a wide variety of topics, every student is sure to find a topic that they can relate to. Wolfe’s book can be purchased on Amazon for $11.99.

Q: Why did you decide to write a poetry book?

A: “I’ve been writing poetry since I was 11 or 12, and I’ve been reading it since I was in kindergarten. I just really love poetry.”

Q: How did you become interested in poetry?

A: “My favorite poets are Beau Taplin and Savannah Brown, and I want to do what they do. I want to express the way I feel and the way that I understand, and share it with people.”

Q: Where do you get inspiration?

26 April 23. 2018

A: “I’m really cliché, so I’ll often see someone with a nice smile or I’ll meet somebody and their personality is just really intriguing to me. I’ll also write about things that happen to me; anything I can relate to.”

Q: What is your favorite poem?

A: “My favorite poem of all time that isn’t mine is ‘Couldn’t Care More’ by Savannah Brown. I recommend it to everyone.”

Q: What is your favorite poem that you wrote?

A: “I have a couple. One of them is called ‘Size Doesn’t Matter’. Another is called ‘Friendship Eulogy.’ It’s about some really close friends that I lost. Then there’s a poem called ‘Nights Like These,’ which I wrote after a drama get together at a friends house.”

Q: Is there one poem that seems to be everyone’s favorite?

A: “There’s one titled ‘All the Pretty Girls,’ about anorexia and how everyone tries so hard to be skinny and then they starve themselves and die and all that’s left of the skinny pretty girl is a little body taking up barely any room in the casket.”

The cover of Lyndsey Wolfe’s book, ‘64 Seasons’

design by Emily Hales

Arts & entertainment

NAtional Poetry month Sonnet Celebration in Columbus

W

ith the excessive amount of rainfall in April, the month’s relationship with showers is exclusively known. However, April’s reign in verse and rhyme is a lesser acknowledged feature of the month. April marks the beginning of National Poetry

Month.

Officially designated by The American Academy of Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month aims to highlight the work of all poets past and present.

design by Emily Hales

Through creating national observance the organization strives to provide teachers the opportunity to incorporate poetry into their curriculum, promote reading, increase exposure of poets through media coverage and to bring attention to poem publication.

Another major goal of National Poetry Month is to give libraries the chance to put a spotlight on poetry.

The Bartholomew County Public Library takes advan-

By Courtney Schnur

tage of this by offering several opportunities for the community to become involved and participate in the celebration.

At the beginning of the month,

part in National Poetry Month.

On April 17 there will be an open mic night for slam poetry.

The monthly Teen Café will be dedicated to reading poetry

they kicked off their activities by hosting Indiana’s poet laureate, Adrian Matejka, in the Red Room. A wide variety of activities for all age demographics ranging from children to adults are available for locals to become involved.

A series of seminars, friendly slam poetry competitions and poetry readings will take place over the course of the entire month. For teenagers, there are a few final opportunities to take

fully embellished with bakery sweets and tea in true café style.

Both of these events will take place upstairs in the Teen Area starting at 4 p.m. and lasting about an hour.

They will continue their festivities throughout the month of April with a full schedule and list of all events available on their online calendar.

April 23, 2018

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Arts & Entertainmet

Taking a look at how the film industry is fighting against social issues

By Chesney Loehr

W

ithin the past couple of years, social issues and stereotypes have been brought up to the surface on all forms of media. The media has become a powerful platform for spreading awareness about social issues such as women’s, LGBT and basic human rights.

One of the greatest platforms of media being utilized right now is the movie industry. It has recently begun to address social issues more conspicuously by forming plots around recent issues in today’s

society.

More sensitive topics have also been brought to attention to spread awareness. Movies are including topics such as abuse, mental illnesses, disabilities and suicide. Films are making topics that no one wants to talk about more apparent, causing more discussion.

Movies such as “To The Bone” discuss the dangers of eating disorders by moving through the plot through the eyes of a young female who struggles with anorexia. The movie addresses an uncomfortable scenario in a way that is

more comfortable to talk about by adding humorous elements.

Lots of films have included main characters that are different races, genders, religions and sexualities in order to reach a wider fan-base. Main characters have started to detach from the stereotypical straight, caucasian male that seems to be the star in majority of older films.

“Love Simon”, “Wonder Woman”, “Power Rangers” and “Black Panther” are well known movies that feature characters that break the stereotype of the typical straight, white male.

“Love Simon” and “Power Rangers” feature main characters who question their sexuality, while “Wonder Woman” and “Black Panther” feature main characters of different gender or race.

Communities like us have grown to be better since social issues are being brought to the surface. Movies have helped everyone embrace others who are “different” within various communities.

The Columbus community has become more inclusive since the rise in social issue awareness, causing our town to grow in diversity and acceptance. For example, the Pride Festival held on April 14 is a major step forward to embracing our community.

Many people are connecting with movies on a more personal level due to the addressing of social issues that affect many. Movies have reached out further to their audiences, touching hearts of many and changing communities for the better.

‘Love Simon’ has recently come out to theaters, literally. The main character, Simon, is a gay teenager trying to embrace himself. The movie addresses how people in the LGBT community often face challenges such as coming out and being embraced by relatives. The movie raises awareness of the internal conflict and even the the physical conflict that can take part when someone is struggling with their own sexuality.

April 23. 2018

Arts & entertainment

Wonder Woman has been around since 1941 and has been seen as a female empowerment icon. Last year, the movie “Wonder Woman” came to theaters and the audience exploded with support. The main character, Wonder Woman, was not only female, but was a strong, independent and amazing figure for any viewer to look up to. The movie shows Wonder Woman refusing to be tied down by social standards. Women feel strong and important after watching the movie due to the strong representation of women.

“Power Rangers” includes a group of five diverse teens that work together, despite their differences, to save the town they love. The group includes two caucasian characters along with a LGBT Latina teen, an autistic black teen, and an asian teen. This group creates a set of heroes that go against the typical billionaire superhero. All of the characters address realistic problems teenagers face such as coming to terms with who you are as a person, no matter what problems you face.

design by Emily Hales

“Black Panther” has served to empower the black community. The movie’s main character, T’challa, provides a change from the typical male, caucasian superhero in the movie industry. The movie also gives a refreshing look at gender roles by giving women strong warrior positions alongside the male warriors. Not only does the main character change the superhero game, but it gives a new view of the black community by encouraging the audience to embrace their roots.

“To The Bone” features a main character who suffers from a serious case of anorexia. Throughout the movie, she meets others like her who are also trying to get better. As the main character goes through her treatment, the audience is faced with the harsh reality of anorexia and other eating disorders. The movie brings these sensitive topics to the surface and spreads awareness of eating disorders.

April 23, 2018

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Arts & Entertainmet

Summer Festivals What you need to know about this year’s biggest events

By Brayana Chaco

W

ith summer rapidly approaching, it’s good to prepare for some of the main events of the summertime - festivals.

Coachella, Indio, CA, April 13-15; April 20-22

Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI, June 27-July 1; July 3-8

Price: $429-$999 Location: Empire Polo Club, Indio, CA Duration: The weekends of April 13-15 and April 20-22, from 11:00 a.m. -12:30 a.m. each day.

Attendance: 250,000 Genres: Hip-Hop, Pop, Alternative Artists: Beyoncé, Eminem, Post Malone, The Weeknd and 100+ more About: The concept of Coachella began when Pearl Jam’s lead singer was astonished with the prices that Ticketmaster was charging people to attend their concerts. The band then boycotted the venue, performing the Empire Polo Club grounds instead, inspiring music executives Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen to create an affordable event, tickets originating at $50 a day. Many social influencers and celebrities attend Coachella annually, so if you are not able to see your favorite artists, there is a great chance you will run into some celebrities throughout the event.

Price: Starting at $21-$100 (Applies to General Admission only, separate $65-$95 charge for attendance at American Family Insurance Amphitheater shows) Location: Henry Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee, WI Duration: 11 days total, 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Attendance: 800,000-900,000 Genres: Hip-Hop, Pop, Alternative, Country, Rock Artists: Halsey, Logic, Imagine Dragons, J.Cole, Shawn Mendes and 800+ more About: If you are on a budget, Summerfest is a very affordable event at only $21 a day. The festival began in 1967 and since has become known as the world’s largest music festival, featuring over 1,000 performances, 800+ artists, and gaining an annual $187 million.

Lollapalooza, Chicago, IL, August 2-5 Price: $335-$4,200 Location: Grant Park, Chicago, IL Duration: 4 days total, August 2-5 Attendance: 400,000 Genres: Hip-Hop, Pop, Alternative Artists: the Weeknd, Khalid, Bruno Mars, Camila Cabello, LANY About: Began in 1991 by Jane’s Addiction front man Perry Farrell, originally planned as a farewell tour for the band. The name “Lollapalooza” originated from a word Farrell heard in The Three Stooges meaning “extraordinarily impressive.” Featuring multiple major artists such as Post Malone and Logic, the term “Lollapalooza” certainly fits the event.

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Vans Warped Tour, june 21-August 25 Price:$44-$100 Location: Multiple locations; locally at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center in Noblesville, IN Duration: July 24 (Noblesville) 11:00 a.m. -9:00 p.m.

Attendance: 25,000 Genres: Rock, Alternative, Pop Punk Artists: All Time Low, State Champs, We The Kings, Crown The Empire About: Warped Tour originated in 1995 by Kevin Lyman. The first name of the tour was “The Bomb,” which Lyman retracted due to the Oklahoma City bombing the day the tour was to begin. Lyman then changed the name to “Warped,” originating from a magazine he worked for previously.

Each year being a different theme, this year being titled “Final Full Cross Country Tour” due to 2018 being the final year of Warped Tour before its retirement.

design by Reagan Perkins

Arts & entertainment

has hip-hop hit rock bottom?

hip-hop is a long way from its roots

W

hen hip-hop took off in the 1990s as a newfound platform for expression in the music world, the art form hardly resembled mainstream hip-hop today. It is undoubtable that rap has changed drastically in the last 25 years, and it can be argued that these changes have not been for the better.

It is important to note that when discussing an entire era of music, there is always going to be good music and bad music, as goes for any period in music history. However, one can analyze the general trend of style in the genre to see where the evolution of hip-hop has gone. Possibly the best way of determining an era’s greatness is to see its lasting impact in culture.

The 1990s marked a time when modern rap took a footing on a larger stage for the first time. Fans of the “golden-era” recall less superficial drama between artists and generally speaking, more genuine talent and passion from artists.

Artists like 2Pac, Nas and The Notorious B.I.G. came to popularity with their poetic tales of poverty and gang life in underprivileged urban areas of America. The music in this era often addressed social and racial issues, although not without glorifying certain aspects of “Thug Life” as it came to be called.

Contemporary hip-hop is drastically different from its precursor. Hip-hop in recent years has emphasized excessive basslines

design by Logan Foote

and faster lyrics. Those who consume mainstream rap today will likely cite that it is more exciting, which to some level, is a valid point. For having fun in the car, modern hip-hop likely delivers all that people could ever want.

Similar to the attitudes of many adolescents, modern rap has embodied raw anger and intensity over collected lyricism, at least it seems that way judging from the Billboard 200.

Today, hip-hop has moved out of its roots and has taken on more forms and styles than ever. Hip-Hop/Pop fusion can be seen in artists who adapt rap to be more palatable to the masses, which can take away the elements of rap which make it socially significant. “Mumble

Rap” is also a recent phenomenon which has taken away from lyricism and instead created a culture intently obsessed with catchy taglines over substance.

Not to mention, modern rap glorifies unhealthy and outright illegal behavior. This criticism is controversial, since clearly old-school rap did this to a point. However, much of classic rap from the 1990s portrays the negative side of drug use and illicit behavior as well. I see a general lack of this in contemporary music, which typically emphasizes money, drugs and essentially gaining earthly pleasures by any means necessary without ever addressing the consequences.

While the artistic element of rap music has faltered in much of mainstream rap, a

By Luke Harpring

substantial basis of quality artists still manage to find love from the masses. Artists such as Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole continue to address the plight of inner-city America, acknowledging the roots that the genre found in the 1990s.

Inevitably, Rap and HipHop are becoming more mainstream each day. Whether the genre continues to highlight honest, anecdotal lyrics or loses its roots to pop-culture is ultimately up to what listeners support. While I certainly encourage enthusiasts to listen to whatever it is that they enjoy, I see it as a sad day for hip-hop when the only takeaway from the once great genre is “Gucci Gang.”

April 23, 2018

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Senior Alec Burnett and Coach John Major discuss East’s April 11 baseball game against Brownsburg.

Senior Zarrien Johnson-Bey executes a high jump attempt during East’s April 17 track meet against Bloomington North.

Photos by Eli Newell and Savannah Downey