Winter 2017

Carlisle High School

623 W. Penn Street Carlisle, PA 17013

www.chsperiscope.com

Vol. 71, Winter issue

The issue of equality

CHS taps into school “SPIRIT” 14 Costs, convenience, and quality: why viewers are Marching on: Students stay cutting cable active in American Democracy 18-19 5-7

P

eriscope Staff

Rowan Young Editor-in-Chief

Brooklyn Norrell Student Life Editor/Layout Design Editor

Chaela Williams A&E Editor

Kenny Brenizer Perspectives Editor

Olivia Boyd News Editor

Meg Tate Sports Editor

Bella Byus Staff Writer

Samantha Martin Staff Writer

Janae Ely Staff Writer

Releigh Norrell Staff Writer

Maya Daye Staff Writer

Daija Berry Staff Writer

Carol Etzel Staff Writer

Becca Winton Social Media Manager

Griffin O’Hagan Staff Writer

Kate Muir Adviser

Periscope is a student-created magazine whose mission is to showcase student achievement, inform the Carlisle High School community of upcoming issues and events, and provide entertainment for students at CHS. The Periscope staff produces the magainze while learning the roles of staff writers, photographers, editors, and business managers. We will uphold all press standards in the creation of this publication and abide by ethical and legal practices set in place by press laws.

Disclaimer: Articles designated as “Editorial” represent the views and opinions of the author, not the 2016-2017 Periscope staff, CHS Administration, or the CHS student body.

Equity Statement The Carlisle Area School District is an equal opportunity education instituion and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, religion or handicap in its activities, programs or employment practices as required be Title IX and Section 504. No person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientaion, religion or handicap be exluded from participation in or be subjects to discrimination in any program or activity funded, in whole or in part, by federal funds. Discrimination on the basis or sex or religion is also prohibited in some federal programs. For information regarding civil rights and grievance procedures or for information regarding services, activities, and facilities that are accessible to and usable by handicapped persons, contact Ms. Christina M. Spielbauer, Title IX Coordinator, Section 504 Coordinator, at 623 W. Penn Street, Carlisle PA 17013-2298. 240-6800

CONTENTS WINTER 2017

features

4

Letter from the Staff

5

Marching on: Students stay active in American Democracy

8

Winter Sports Highlights

9

Where’s the LUV? Lack of fan support for girls sports

10

We need to talk: how conversation can help achieve understanding o race issues in law enforcement

11

The daily struggle: how mental health can impact people’s lives

14

CHS taps into school “SPIRIT”

Love is Love: the reality of being in interracial relationship 16

15

21

Socioeconomic Equality: How finances can affect achievement in higher level courses

Financial Aid FAQ: Helping you understand your options

Costs, convenience, and quality: why viewers are cutting cable

Leveling the playing field: CHS athletics explore upgrade potentials

Big decisions: Comparison sites help students choose colleges

Cinderella

18 20

22 24

PERISCOPE 3

letter from the staff

Dear Reader, This issue of Periscope is something like we have never done before. Usually as a staff we try to focus on events happening specifically within the walls of CHS; however, for this issue we focused on affairs that are occurring not only in these walls but also around the country and the world. These topics are important to the student body of Carlisle High School and need to be addressed by this magazine.

“Equality” was an important word in the creation of these articles. Focusing on the many aspects of equality was important to the staff when identifying topics to cover in the magazine. For this reason, the views expressed in this magazine are those of the staff writer and not the staff or school district. The process of figuring out how to address certain sensitive or potentially controversial topics was difficult but in that moment we turned to a quote 4 PERISCOPE

from Gandhi: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Rather than reiterating problems with the country or specific groups of people, writers sought to address how to handle or approach a solution.

While continuing to write and note the problems in the world, it was important to recognize the change that could be accomplished to help our generation and generations to come. The press is and always will be the voice of the people and changing the world is a big task that we can’t tackle alone. Informing the student body and beyond of the events transpiring around the world is vital to a brighter future. We are happy to share these controversial topics with the world and making our voices heard.

Thank you for reading.

Sincerely, The Periscope Staff

Marching On: Students stay active in American democracy Story by Samantha Martin Photographs provided by Kyra Miller, Victoria Waring, Ames Williford, Judith Anne Purdy, Matt Nord, and Katherine Stockton-Juarez

Due to age restrictions set by the United States government, most students in high school cannot vote or run for office. However, age limits do little to stop many students from participating in the American republic.

Several protests and rallies have occurred over the past months, and among the thousands who have stood side by side for a cause they believe in, many Carlisle students have been among them.

The Women’s March on Washington

dear.

“I can’t imagine how different and how scary America will be [with] Trump [in] office,” Biddle said. “I’m terrified, and in order to combat that fear, I’ve made it a priority to stand up in every act of political resistance, no matter how small.”

Stockton-Juarez marched in support of the women’s rights movement, and the ideas that go with it.

“I went because I wanted to support Planned Parenthood, and because I strongly believe in feminism,” Stockton-Juarez said.

Nord also marched in support of equality. “It was a bit daunting at first, being one of the few men. I didn’t know whether I belonged there. But, after a while, I came to realize that we didn’t have to be divided along gender lines at that time. We were marching to ensure that half of us were treated the same as the other half, regardless of all differences.”

Although the March itself is over, the ideas which spawned the March live on.

The people behind the March have created the “10 Actions, 100 Days” campaign, where supporters are asked to do different actions to support the cause. People have sent postcards spreading information, and are now being encouraged to rally their communities together to enact local change.

When millions of marchers participated in the Women’s March on Washington and its sister marches on January 21, several Carlisle High School students and alumni stood with them.

The March, which took place the day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, was intended as a peaceful protest to convey a message of unity and justice to the new administration.

Creators of the March reached millions by creating a Facebook page, and created a website to convey their message and encourage those who could not attend the D.C. March to attend “sister marches” across the country.

According to the March’s official website, “In the spirit of The March for Life democracy and honoring the The Women’s March on Washington champions of human rights, was not the only major protest of recent dignity, and justice who have weeks. Thousands flooded into the nation’s come before us, we join in capital on January 27, 2017 for the March diversity to show our presence in for Life, one of the largest anti-abortion numbers too great to ignore. The protests in the world.

Women’s March on Washington Jeanne Mancini, the President of will send a bold message to our March for Life, said that although she new government on their first day was impressed by the turnout, it did not in office, and to the world that surprise her. women’s rights are human rights.

“We’ve been at this for 40 years and we We stand together, recognizing always draw an enormous crowd,” said that defending the most marginalized among us is Mancini. “Every year the turnout is impressive in its own way, defending all of us.” whether it’s the March for Life that took place in the middle of Katherine Stockton-Juarez, who the blizzard of 2016 or the March for Life 2014 is currently a senior at CHS and when the temperature was subzero. This year’s It was a bit daunting at first, being one of the few March was terrific, too, but I wasn’t surprised attended the D.C. march, felt that men. I didn’t know whether I belonged there. But, by the turnout. ” the message of unity was conveyed in a serene manner. after a while, I came to realize that we didn’t have to The March for Life started with a massive “I was amazed at how peaceful be divided along gender lines at that time. We were rally featuring several speakers, including the the march was,” said Stocktonmarching to ensure that half of us were treated the same United States’ Vice President Mike Pence.

Juarez. “ [I] was absolutely “This year [‘s rally] was the first rally that the as the other half, regardless of all differences. astounded at how big it was.”

Vice President spoke at, so that was really cool Matt Nord, another CHS senior to be a part of that history,” said Judith Anne Matt Nord who attended the March, also Purdy, a student at CHS who attended the rally noted the sheer size of the March. and subsequent march.

“I had only been to one protest However, there was another speech that before; I had been one of four people at that one, and it affected Purdy most of all. was really eye opening and inspiring to see the way that “Personally the speaker that moved me the most was [Utah people from all different backgrounds came together to Representative] Mia Love,” said Purdy. fight for something they believed in.”

Purdy wasn’t the only CHS student impressed by Love.

Anna Biddle, a member of the CHS Class of 2016, “She [Love] talked about missed opportunities, and how it would have been much easier for her parents who were 6 PERISCOPE marched to protect ideals she holds

struggling for money [to have an abortion],” said Lucy Winn, a CHS freshman who also attended the rally. “Now she is a senator and can represent the people who have no voice.”

After the rally, the march to the Capitol began.

“The march started and we all walked towards the Capitol building in one large loop, which was about twelve blocks,” said Winn.

“Shouts could be heard from many of the protesters and the marchers.”

The March for Life, with its massive crowd and well-known speakers, is one of the most visible protests in the United States. This is why students such as Purdy participate in it.

“As a teenager in high school it can be hard to be taken seriously, and to be heard in society,” said Purdy. “It’s easiest to be seen and heard by participating in large group movements like the March for Life, where society can see [that] the Pro Life movement is comprised by both the young and the old.”

Mancini made it very clear that she seesand appreciates- the efforts of young pro-life activists like Purdy and Winn.

“They are the best ‘ambassadors’ for life with their zeal, their contagious enthusiasm, their desire to right wrong and to help enable true social justice.”

What does marching mean to you?

Katherine Stockton-Juarez (right), Senior

“

Marches show the power of the people.

Looking to the Future

Students who still want to take a stand, but were not part of the Women’s March or the March for Life, will have plenty of opportunities to do so in the future.

The month of April will be heavy with protests for several different causes. Those students who want more transparency in the government, as well as those who simply want Trump to release his tax returns, can attend the Trump Tax march on April 15. Students in support of science can participate in the March for Science, taking place in Washington on April 22. One week later, on April 29, the People’s Climate March, also in D.C., will protest the general social climate of the United States.

Students who want to participate in marches, but do not want to be a part of the large crowds at protests in Washington, D.C., can check out smaller marches closer to home.

40 Days for Life, a pro-life organization, hosts local events in cities such as Allentown and Pittsburgh. The People’s Climate March also has sister marches across the country.

Students do not have to navigate massive crowds in order to take a stand for what they believe in, although many students, including many of Carlisle’s own, choose to do so.

Would you participate in a march like these?

Tell us in the comments section on this story on CHSPeriscope.com.

Judith Anne Purdy Senior

“Being a

voice and standing up for those that can’t.

”

”

• • •

Boys Basketball

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Placed 3rd in the MPC Division Beat CV in the home and away game Won first round of States versus Coatsville (CHS was considered underdog in this game)

• • • •

Girls Basketball

Beat State College on their court for the first time in Carlisle High School Girls Basketball history Improved to a 9-14 record Beat Chambersburg on the home court Ended the season beating Waynesboro on Senior Night Got closer to all the girls and feeling like a family

Winter Sports Highlights As of March 13, 2017

• •

•

• •

• •

Wrestling

Beat Mifflin for the first time in 4 years Sent 4 people to districts •Drevan Howard •Rafeal Portilla •Colton Jumper •Kyle Seibert Freshman Rafeal Portilla placed 3rd at Districts and made it to round 2 of States competition

Boys Swimming:

Ended regular season with a record of 7-4-1 Sent 5 swimmers to compete individually at Districts •Devon Chenot •Isaiah Bell •Caleb Padget •Ethan Christiansen •Max Fiorentino One boys relay qualified for States Bell and Chenot also qualified in individual races

• •

• •

Girls Swimming

Finished regular season with a record of 8-4 Sent 5 swimmers to compete individually at Districts •Meg Tate •Maddison Young •Sierra Young •Ellie Tate •Elizabeth Young Maddison Young broke school record in 100yd backstroke Laura Mcllhenny placed 3rd at Districts and is going to States

Where’s the LUV?

Lack of fan support for girls sports Editorial by Meg Tate Photography by Camera Box

VS

Carlisle High School offers a large amount of sports for the students to participate in at CHS. However, have you ever been to a girls sporting event? Most people have not, while most of the students at CHS have attended multiple different boys’ events. CHS girls sporting events clearly do not get as much support as the boys do.

Women are not getting as much support in athletics as men are and it’s not just here at CHS. Just in the past couple months the United States Women’s National Team for soccer has been fighting for equal pay with the men.

For the USWNT it is especially not fair because they received less pay than the men for their World Cup performance. The men’s team didn’t make it past the second round in the 2014 Rio World Cup. The women’s team however made even less money and they won the entire tournament.

The student athletes here at CHS admit that when there is a big game, and a large amount of supporters are there then it makes them strive to perform at their absolute highest. The only athletes who get this support are on the boys’ teams.

All of our athletes at CHS work hard in practices and games. The boys sports get a reward for the effort being put in, no matter what. This school needs to give the girls the support every athlete wants and needs.

Our female athletes deserve equal support, but that is not what occurs. Most students feel that the girls sports do not perform as well as the boys do. For most sports of our girls’ sports this is true but there are some that that is not the case.

Boys events get these crowds because they are all thought of as “good”. The only thing is that girls’ sports are “good” too. The students compare the two events but they cannot be compared. Men have the physical build that makes athletics easier to succeed in.

Our situation at CHS is not as serious as it is with the USWNT but it is still important.

Having support at every sporting event girls or guys will encourage our student athletes to be better and strive for greatness. After all, we want anyone and everyone to be great and having support brings them one step closer to achieving that.

PERISCOPE 9

We need to talk:

registration that I legally purchased this gun” and regardless of that you still get shot, it’s unfair. There was no need for any lethal force to be used in this situation.

R: Well it could be a matter of how he worded it. Like, nobody’s going to be one hundred percent sure how exactly he worded it. He could have been like “Hey there’s a gun in the glove box” and the cop could have misunderstood him, which is still no reason to shoot but there’s always going to be misunderstandings.

M: It was captured on video, though. [...} it seems like he just told the officer that he legally owned a gun and then he said he was going to pull out his license and registration and he still got shot. So I don’t think that there was really any need for any type of lethal force.

And I know that this isn’t how all cases with cops using lethal force go; sometimes they do need to shoot. But it shouldn’t be the first thing you go to.

R: Yeah and I think that there should be steps that are taken before you get to that. Like remember when we had that [police] assembly and they told us all the things they try to do before it gets down to having to shoot people? Well if the suspect reaches for a gun or a knife or something, they can’t really just talk it out or else they could die.

But [if ] in Sterling’s case, he let the cop know that he legally had a gun and he was just getting his license and registration and he still got shot at? That’s unacceptable and the cop shouldn’t have killed him. It wasn’t necessary.

M: Right. And there have also been cases when people’s hands have been up and they were still shot at. Like for example, in the case of Charles Kinsey. He was completely unarmed and he was helping out a mentally disabled man. The cops showed up and Kinsey lay down on his back with his hands up and told the officers that he was helping out a disabled man, yet they shot him in the leg for no reason at all.

The man allegedly asked the officer why they shot him and the officer’s response was, “I don’t know.” I mean, this man didn’t have any weapons on him, he wasn’t posing a threat at all, and he still got shot. And there are countless other cases of police shooting unarmed people—unarmed black people in these cases—and it gets to a point where you just have to ask yourself; when will it stop?

R: We can stop these types of things from happening by maybe giving police officers more diversity training, kind of like how the teachers here had diversity training. Because cops are needed, but racist ones are not. I did junior police academy for Carlisle and there’s a place in HACC where you can walk through there and see how cops are trained.

I think that there are different methods we could use for training our cops, again with the diversity training thing. I mean come on it’s 2017, racism shouldn’t be a problem anymore. It shouldn’t have been in the first place. We all breathe, we all bleed, we’re all human. None of us are better than others because of our race. Period.

M: I agree but it’s still very evident to me that even now we are still facing racial injustices. Not even just in America, but around the world.

R: Agreed.

In the end, we reached an agreement. Though having this conversation didn’t solve the issue of systematic racism towards black people in law enforcement, it was a start. We encourage others to have conversations with people who have different opinions than them. After all, we can’t find a solution to a problem if we don’t address the problem first.

To read more of Maya and Releigh’s conversation, check out www.chsperiscope.com

how conversation can help achieve understanding of race issues in law enforcement Story by: Maya Daye & Releigh Norrell Photography by: Janae Ely It is important to have conversations about serious topics, even if it’s with someone who has a different viewpoint than you. Students Releigh Norrell and Maya Daye, who have different backgrounds and viewpoints, sat down and had a conversation about racism in law enforcement. Here is their conversation.

R: So what do you think about police officers?

M: I don’t really have an opinion on all police officers, but the fact that we have people out there who dedicate their lives to protecting American citizens is amazing and I am grateful for those people.

However, there are some people who are police officers that should not be police officers.

R: Yeah, and some cops will do whatever they can to make sure you’re safe but there are some bad cops. And that goes for like, anything.

There’s always going to be a few mean teachers but it doesn’t mean all teachers are mean.

M: I agree that there are some “bad cops” but I think that we should do a better job at stopping bad cops from entering the police force. Like, if we did more extensive background checks, I don’t think we’d have as many.

R: Yeah. And this is kind of changing subjects, but when police shoot at people, it’s kind of hard to tell if they do have a weapon or not sometimes because when your adrenaline is running, your brain takes over and sometimes you really don’t know what to do. So maybe in cases when police officers see a suspect reaching for their phone or something, they may have thought they were reaching for a gun. And if they’re not pulling out a weapon then there’s no excuse to shoot at them, but the officer is trained to do what he has to do to save his life and the lives of those around him. Even then, there should be a warning and tasing them would be a better option. They shouldn’t just jump to lethal force.

M: I agree and there are some cases where people have been pulling out their phones or putting their hands behind their backs and in those cases it could be difficult for the officer to tell whether or not they’re pulling out a weapon but it’s not always the case. Like for instance, do you know who Alton Sterling is?

R: No. M: Ok well he was this man who was sitting in the car with his girlfriend and kids, and I believe he had a gun, but he told the officer that before he reached into the glove compartment of his car to pull out his license and registration and he was shot at point-blank range in front of his kid and significant other. And I feel like if you’re in an open carry state and you tell the officer, “Hey, I 10 PERISCOPE have gun, I’m going to pull out my license and

The daily struggle: how mental health can impact lives Story by Brooklyn Norrell & Daija Berry Photography by Janae Ely

History

Mental illness and the negative attitude surrounding it have plagued the human race for centuries though it was not until the 18th century that people were recognized for having a mental disorder. However, then those diagnosed were thrown into mental institutions or institutionalized in insane asylums where they were heavily medicated, mistreated, and often forgotten about.

Few changes were made to the system of institutionalization until Harry Truman passed the National Mental Health Act in 1946, which in turn created the National Institute of Mental Health where the government allocates funds for mental health research. This long period of mistreatment for the mentally ill ended in the 1950s when there was a worldwide push for deinstitutionalization.

These pushes lead to the United States passing the Community Mental Health Centers Act of 1963 which set the strict standard, they now have to be an immediate threat to either themselves or others for them to be institutionalized.

It is apparent that the standard of living for the mentally ill has drastically increased in the past 80 years. The increase is sure to continue growing as researchers and medical professionals dig deeper into the minds of

people that are faced with mental health issues.

Who is affected?

As of 2016, every one in four people worldwide suffer from a mental illness; this puts mental health disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide. Half of mental health conditions appear in people before the age of 14 while 75% appear before the age of 24.

In the United States, every one in five adults suffer from a mental health condition which is ultimately over 40 million Americans. One in ten young people will experience a major depressive episode. Ultimately, America’s youth depression rate rose from 8.5% in 2011 to 11.1% in 2014 and continues to rise today.

Mental Health and Teenagers

Being a teenager within itself is a difficult task but adding a mental illness to the plate can make life almost unbearable. Recently, the Periscope got to sit down with people and talk about their experience with mental illness in the high school environment.

Mackenzie “I have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and disordered eating. The biggest effect [of my mental illness] is how tired I am all the time. I never have any energy for anything besides the bare minimum I need to keep myself

presentable and my grades okay. Anxiety and depression keep me up sometimes, but even when I go to bed on time I’m exhausted.

I also have a really hard time meeting new people and having healthy relationships because there’s so much fear from anxiety and low self esteem. However, I definitely know myself so much better now. I’ve just had to learn what sets me off and what makes me feel better and how much of something I can take, because when I don’t pay attention to those things I lose progress.”

Amanda “I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, bipolar depression, and anxiety when I was 14 years old after I attempted to end my life by overdosing on Ibuprofen. Having these mental illnesses makes it difficult sometimes to do even little things, like getting out of bed in the morning. My anxiety keeps me from being outgoing and trying new things, or even raising my hand to answer a question. I’ve had teachers exempt me from presenting in front of the class just so that I don’t have an anxiety attack.

The thing about having bipolar depression and bipolar disorder is that it is a very bad combination. I started to rely on my older sister to help me with my depression but she moved back to New Jersey almost three weeks ago and just talking to her every day doesn’t seem to help.

I need that physical connection where I am able to actually hug her and just sit with her and watch movies or talk about things. She became my rock and it’s difficult for me to open up to anyone else besides her because she has been with me every step of the way. She was the one who made sure everyone knew I was okay when I overdosed in eighth grade. She was there when I cut from depression and the abuse I was dealing with.

When people find out I have a mental illness they look at me differently and I hate that. I’m still a human; I still need to breathe in order to survive; I still can function properly, I just have difficulty doing some things. People look at me like I’m a failure and a sorry excuse of a human when they find out that I overdosed when I was fourteen.

My condition affects my social life because it causes me to push people away in order to try and “protect” myself. I don’t try new things because of my anxiety. My bipolar disorder isn’t always able to be controlled and that causes me to explode and go off on people that were only trying to help.

I’ve ruined many friendships, both that knew about my mental disorders and that didn’t.”

Emily “I’ve dealt with depression every day for over 8 years and I wish people would treat me like I’m normal and not an outsider with a problem. It’s already hard to deal with something you don’t want but to have people treat you like something’s

wrong with you just reminds you even more that something is wrong. It just makes it harder to live with.

It’s hard to make friends or even keep friends because they don’t really want to have to deal with someone with depression. So, I don’t have that much of a social life. Life at home is good, my family has learned how to work with me and my depression and that makes it a lot easier to cope with. My condition makes every day life slow and sad and trying to act like everything is normal is a really big challenge but the biggest challenge is being alone, not having anything to distract me from the hate and sadness I have for myself.

It is difficult to tell people about my depression because I know that they’ll treat me differently or act differently around me. You’re already trying to be as normal as possible and the reactions of others don’t help with that. A lot of people don’t understand what depression is or how it works so they just assume that you’re trying to get attention or that you’re using it as an excuse for something. It’s just easier to keep everything to yourself so you can try and be normal.”

Although some students feel alone, they should know that their teachers and counselors are beginning to notice and take action.

“20% of adolescents suffer from a mental disorder, and in a school of 1600 that is 320 students” explains Seth Roper, CHS social studies teacher who is completing certification to become a licensed professional counselor.

Delia Gongloff , who is in the same program as Roper, explained that “Students can become easily agitated, struggle to pay attention, can make poor choices, lose their inhibitions, and struggle to stay organized and on top of responsibilities. The issues can also affect their physical health causing headaches, stomach aches, and poor sleep habits” in relation to having mental health issues.

Gongloff added, “Schoolwork often suffers because they may have difficulty remaining focused both in class and in the evenings when trying to do homework. They may be turning things in late or not at all. They might not be able to devote the time needed to adequately prepare for tests.”

When asked where the mental illness spike stems from school counselor Johanna Jones explained that “I think that adolescents put a lot of pressure on themselves and may also be receiving pressure from family, friends, and teachers. There seems to be this mentality that they have to be perfect in every aspect of their life. I also think that some adolescents are dealing with some very adult issues and just aren’t equipped to deal with those issues in a healthy way. I think we have seen a rise in mental illness in adolescents due to more awareness and reporting.”

Jones also added that “I think that sometimes people are still afraid of the stigma associated with mental health issues and so they avoid seeking help, or they don’t know where to find help.”

Roper also explained that “There should definitely be more awareness for mental illness and part of being aware not means yourself, but also your friends and classmates. If you are worried about someone else, then you should speak to them about getting help.

There is a fear among some students that if they were to take their worries about a friend to a teacher or counselor that the friend will be mad at them. Even if they are mad, them getting help is much more important, and they will probably thank you in the long run.”

Mental illnesses affect many of those inside and outside of CHS. Your friends, your classmates, your teachers, your coworkers, and your neighbors. Mental illnesses cannot affect anyone no matter how happy they seem.

Becoming aware is one of the most important steps to take when trying to understand what those close to you are going through.

Mental Health and Adults

Most mental illnesses begin to appear in people between the ages of 13-24 and as a person grows and develops, so does their brain.

This development can cause something to be offset in the chemical balance of the brain which ultimately affects a persons everyday life.

Jamie Bouder, a Shippensburg University Psychology major, describes how her own mental illness has followed her from her teenage years into adulthood.

“I began receiving treatment for my mental health around the age of 14 in response to increasing difficulty keeping up with my academics, athletics, and other responsibilities.

At this time, my parents did not realize how much my home life had to do with my performance in other aspects of my life.

I was treated originally for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder with talk therapy and medication. When I was 16, I was admitted to several psychiatric hospitals, two inpatient and one outpatient, and missed a total of approximately two months of school.

At the first hospital, I gained the diagnosis of depression. It was not until my twenties that I began taking medication specifically for post-traumatic stress disorder; however, I had been talking through traumatic points in my childhood all throughout my experiences with mental health professionals.

For me, I feel it was especially crucial that I confronted my illnesses while I was still developing into a young adult. There were many times during which I felt hopeless and battled with suicidal tendencies, and so it was essential that I have a counselor to confide in and a

psychiatrist to help cater my medication regimen toward my current circumstances.

I realize that I clearly needed the help of a professional when I did reach out for it; however, I feel like I could have used it even sooner... I think today - maybe if I had gotten that assistance then, I would have had more confidence in my abilities and the validation for my emotions which I was not getting in my home environment…and maybe some of the trauma I experienced could have been avoided.

I also realize, however, that what I have gone through in my past defines who I am today and how I interact with the world around me, both in positive and negative ways. As I take on new responsibilities and navigate my desired career path as a young adult, I know now that I was gaining new strengths I was not aware of when I was growing up and struggling constantly to cope with my surroundings and their inevitable impact on my mental health.

These experiences I had throughout my childhood and into young adulthood have not only helped me discover what career I am interested in pursuing (mental health counseling), but have also aided me greatly in finding out who I am today. Before receiving treatment for my disorders, I had never been in a situation were I needed to sit down and seriously think about myself – all my strengths, my weaknesses, my abilities, my experiences, my personality – in order to survive.

This was especially obvious once I had been hospitalized. Completing all those group therapy sessions and journal entries and searching for my most effective coping techniques have paid off in years later in ways I could have never imagined.

While some things might have seemed tedious at the time, this was not the point. The point was that I take all the time I needed to learn important things about myself, such as what I am in control of and what I am not, how I can find the positives in even the [worst] of situations, and that recognizing I need help is never a sign that I am weak…but instead an indicator that I am smart enough to recognize that no person can do all things on their own. There are times when we must reach outside of ourselves to accomplish even greater feats than we ever could alone, and in this we must be strong enough to swallow our pride and allow ourselves to rely on others.”

Mental illnesses affect a large portion of people in the Carlisle community as well as worldwide. The purpose of this article is to bring awareness to mental illness among not only teenagers but adults as well. As mental illnesses become a more prevalent issue in society, it is our job to not only become knowledgeable of a currently unknown subject but to make people who suffer from it feel safe in their own skin.

PERISCOPE 13

CHS taps into school “SPIRIT”

Story by Olivia Boyd Photography by Kate Muir Diversity is a large part of what makes CHS a representation of the town of Carlisle. In order to remain on top of all the issues that come along with a variety of people, CHS has become involved with the Student Problem Identification And Resolution Of Issues Together (Spirit) Program, which was started by the U.S. Department of Justice in the component of the Community Relations Services(CRS) more than 15 years ago.

Unfortunately the program had been put on hold for 10 years but was brought back with much persistence on the students who wanted issues to be known by the administration. The SPIRIT program helps to let students know that they are heard as well as empowering students and giving them the opportunity to get the administration involved.

“It was a good learning experience and I feel glad to be a part of it,” said Mishaal Abaasi, a senior from Pakistan. “I learned a lot because being in America, I didn’t know I would learn about so many different people from all over the world in such a small town. Like in Carlisle, I didn’t know this place existed honestly.”

“And being a part of the spirit program I realized different problems people face and how they tackle it and different experiences. It was a good experience,” Abaasi added.

Along with the SPIRIT program, the CRS also has diversity training, parent/student dialogue, study circles and peer mediation. At CHS, select students participated in a SPIRIT program that combined groups of people to discuss problems they see around the school and what they think should happen.

Jay Rauscher, CHS high school principal, said that the school has already started to respond to the meetings and

14 PERISCOPE

concerns students have had and many members of the CHS staff have begun putting together clubs and activities for students to participate in that could help with the concerns held.

A large topic that seemed to concern students was mental health.

“We heard some information that we expected hear, but we did hear new information. I think the one thing that stood out most in my mind was the number of students that were concerned about mental health issues, “said Rauscher. “ It made me better understand the type of pressure our students are under to be successful and just to kind of navigate through their education and deal with all the things that are going on in their lives.

“So to me,” Rauscher added, “that was extremely important to hear and we’re already responding to it with some different things that are put in place from various staff members to try and help and support that.”

The initial program was an overall success that helped to have the students voices heard and hopefully those voices will bring about action for change in the school.

“I’ll just say I was very pleased with how the program ran; the US Department of Justice community relations did a fantastic job of coordinating it, organizing it and bringing in people to help guide and direct our students, and I was extremely pleased with our students,” said Rauscher. “[The students] took it very seriously: they worked very hard over those two days, they had great discussions, great dialogue and were very willing to share their thoughts and feelings about some of the concerns and problems they felt were present at CHS.” The students seem to share Rauscher’s optimism.

“In general I really enjoyed the experience,” said Waring. “I hope that our efforts are continued forward, [as] there is a lot left to accomplish.”

SOCIOECONOMIC EQUALITY:

HOW FINANCES CAN AFFECT ACHIEVEMENT IN HIGHER LEVEL COURSES Editorial by Kenny Brenizer & Becca Winton Photography by Becca Winton The United States Census Bureau found that in 2013, 45 million American citizens were affected by living in poverty. Students make up a large percent of this population. While many aspects of their everyday life are affected by this, school shouldn’t be one of these instances. Yet students still face situations where their financial situation prevents them from making the most of their high school years. Students are expected to make creative and imaginative projects in honors or AP classes, but these often require materials that can become costly. Some students find themselves unable to afford certain materials for a project.

Projects are often graded on originality or uniqueness, which can’t always be done with simple paper and pencils. Students don’t always have access to the materials they feel that they need. Some teachers provide extra materials in class, but this makes it difficult for students who also need to work on the project outside of school hours.

For example, science fair students are expected to provide their own materials.

While someone may have an idea for a prize-worthy project, they find themselves restricted by their budget. Limited materials restricts their options and often leaves the student with a final project that doesn’t meet their own expectations.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) suggested that “parents educational attainment and household poverty status is associated with the quality of children’s educational experiences and their academic achievement.” The NCES also found that in 2014 about 15.3 million, or 21 percent, of U.S. children under 18 were living in poverty. This means that almost a quarter of U.S. students are affected throughout school by their parent’s income.

Students are at a disadvantage academically when they don’t have the same opportunities as others. The knowledge of what is required for AP classes discourages students from taking them and reaching their potential in these higher courses.

In May of 2016, the NCES published an article that said, “Living in poverty during early childhood is related to lower levels of academic performance.” This isn’t due to a lack of effort. It’s caused by something the student has no control over and though their grades shouldn’t suffer from it, they often do.

For many students at Carlisle High School, paying for science fair, History Day, or just a regular class project can often be a struggle. When making day to day necessities is hard, extra supplies for assignments can be overlooked and neglected.

However, there is some help available to these students. The majority of teachers who assign projects that expect students to go above and beyond would help students find ways to complete the assignment. While it can be hard for students to ask for help and to talk about their financial situation, communication with the teacher is the best route to take. Another resource available to students is the Bison Foundation which provides scholarships to students looking to further their education at the college level.

Love is Love : the reality of being in interracial relationship Story by Chaela Williams Photography by Janae Ely Love comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and forms. Yet even with a growing acceptance for interracial marriages & couples, there is still some resistance in society towards the idea of being involved with someone of another race.

For a century, anti-miscegenation laws prohibited interracial marriage and interracial sex in the U.S. There were state laws that considered miscegenation (now known as interracial) a felony. All anti-miscegenation laws banned the marriage of whites and nonwhite, primarily black people and also Native Americans and Asians.

In 1967, history was rewritten when interracial couple, Mildred Loving, an African-American woman and her white husband, Richard, challenged the laws and took their historic case, Loving V. Virginia, to the Supreme Court. The court ruled that the laws were unconstitutional, legalizing

Nate Barnes and Emmerson Zinn NB: The thing that made me fall for her [is] the fact that she was willing to work through all the mistakes I made and she always kept it real with me. She’s beautiful, anytime I’m around her I just gotta stare at her.

Allisya Mullins and Jonathan Weed JW: I never considered her to be “outside” my race. I like her because she is her.

AM: We work together and he’s always so helpful. He’s passionate about certain things [which] made me like him.

interracial marriages in the U.S. The court Even though interracial marriages/couples decision was chronicled in the movie, Loving, are becoming more common, there are still that was released in theaters in late 2016 (see some couples who face discrimination based sidebar). on the negative attitudes towards mixed-race The U.S. saw an increase in interracial relationships. marriages after that decision. By 1990, “Sometimes I do catch people staring, there were 1.3 million interracial marriages expressing their disapproval,” English teacher compared to only 651,000 in 1980 and Erika Schiffgens said about her marriage 149,000 after 1967. to an African-American man. “We’ve According to statistics, some racial groups experienced [being judged] when we first are more likely to intermarry than others. Of moved to the mid-state and we were trying to the 3.6 million adults who got married in rent an apartment. Even though they didn’t 2013, 58% of American explicitly say anything, it Indians, 28% of Asians, was pretty clear that they 19% of blacks and 7% of didn’t want to interact whites have a spouse whose “We’ve experienced [being with us.” race was different from While some judged] when we first moved individuals view their own. to the mid-state and we were interracial relationships In 2013, Pew Research reported that 12% of trying to rent an apartment. in a negative light due all new marriages were to the “taboo” ideology, Even though they didn’t interracial. According to the mass majority of explicitly say anything, it was Americans support a 2015 survey from Pew, 37% percent of Americans pretty clear that they didn’t interracial relationships. agreed that having more Couples are also want to interact with us.” people marrying different incredibly grateful for races was a good thing for the acceptance that their Erika Schiffgens society. family has shown them.

Polls show that interracial Senior Lucy Tesman marriages across the United (who is Caucasian) is States are increasingly in a relationship with accepted; however, there is still disapproval. A former CHS student Terrell Brown, an 2013 Cheerios ad featuring a white mother, a African American. black father, and their biracial daughter ignited “My sister is engaged to an African so many racist comments on YouTube that all American man so my family didn’t care the comments had to be disabled. In 2016, about Terrell being African American,” said Old Navy posted an ad on their official Twitter Tesman. account that featured an interracial family To celebrate the anniversary of Loving V. merely to promote to a larger audience, but Virginia, Loving Day is an annual celebration the ad sparked a social media outrage, some held on June 12, the biggest multicultural Twitter users calling it “absolutely disgusting.” celebration in the U.S.

Crisis with Loving:

Movie depicts struggle for equality Review by Chaela Williams Loving is a 2016 historical drama depicting the lives of Mildred and Richard Loving. The film opens with Mildred telling Richard that she’s pregnant to which, to Mildred’s surprise, Richard becomes overjoyed.

To prevent having their child born out of wedlock, the couple drives up to Washington D.C. to get married and return to their quiet and conservative lifestyle in Virginia.

In the middle of the night five weeks after getting married, officers break into their home, arresting both Mildred and Richard. The officers claim that their marriage license means nothing in the state of Virginia. Richard is repeatedly told by the white community that he “should’ve known better” than to marry a person of color.

The film chronically follows the Lovings’ lives after their 1958 marriage leads them to leave the state of Virginia for 25 years. Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton play Mildred and Richard Loving respectfully.

Negga gained an Oscar nomination for her performance which was well deserved, Negga spoke and acted precisely like the real-life Mildred.

The director, Jeff Nichols aimed for this film to be filled with a “sense of authenticity and truth.” The director went above and beyond to fulfill his authenticity even filming at the same jail that Lovings stayed in and having the Loving’s only surviving child, Peggy Loving, be a consultant during production.

Cable vs. Streaming

Costs, convenience, and quality: why viewers are cutting cable

Story and photography by Carol Etzel Infographic by Becca Winton Over recent years, the world of TV has been revolutionized. American citizens are changing the way they watch television shows.

In a survey conducted by GfK in 2016, 25% of US homes do not subscribe to a pay-TV service.

These homes are subscribing to streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime. Many families are conflicted about which side to chose. When you look at the facts, the choice is easier than ever.

There is no denying that the cable bill is

significantly more expensive than streaming company bills. According to NBC news, the average cost of cable is around $99 per month; a streaming subscription such as Netflix costs only $8 per month.

Now more than ever, people are looking for opportunities to save money. If a family cuts cable and relies on Netflix, they would save more than $1,000 per year.

Besides affordability, another main benefit of streaming is easy access. Viewers can watch and re-watch episodes whenever they would like. They can make TV fit their schedule instead of making free time to watch

scheduled cable shows.

Although the same effect is achievable through a DVR, you no longer need to worry about limited space or shows overlapping while recording.

This form of watching is very convenient.

You can watch from any device; all you need is your login. With cable, your options to watch TV are limited to specific spaces and requirements.

To draw in more viewers, these streaming companies came up with a brilliant marketing strategy. They created their own TV series only available through subscription to their service.

These original shows quickly became popular.

The high quality writing and acting led to many critically acclaimed shows. This brought more press and attention to streaming services.

A well known example is Orange is the New Black, a show released by Netflix in 2013. This show has been nominated for seven Emmys, six Golden Globe Awards, six Writers Guide of America Awards, two Producer Guide of America Awards, an American Film Institute Award, and a Peabody Award.

These writers are given more time to produce their episodes. The longer deadline provides them with more time to focus on the plot and character development. Shows produced from streaming companies seem much more put together and planned out.

If you have great characters and an interesting plot, the installment method is no longer necessary to keep viewer interest. The writers have to produce a quality season or they risk losing viewers over the average yearlong hiatus.

There are many other original series that have become popular. Netflix also released

original series such as Stranger Things, Sense8, and Daredevil. Hulu is known for their series The Path and Casual. Amazon’s original series include Hand of God, Alpha House, and Betas.

When these companies began offering original content, their services were more than rebroadcasting. This drew in more viewers and increased their business.

One thing not available through streaming is live sports. This is a deal breaker for many sports fans considering dropping cable. Not only sports, but there are a variety channels available through cable that are not on streaming sites.

Many families have a bundling service of internet and phone. This complicates their decision because they lose multiple services if they drop cable.

Making the switch to streaming saves money and provides viewers with high quality television. Before making a decision, be sure to research your options and decide what choice best fits your preferences.

Don’t look away: a review of Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

Review by: Griffin O’Hagan Photo provided by Netflix The first book series that one reads is always so important to their childhood; it’s unforgettable. The first book in A Series of Unfortunate Events 13 book set was released in 1999. So people that are teenagers currently most likely remember reading these books back when they were in elementary school.

When I was told that the book series was being adapted into a Netflix original, my initial reaction was to be worried, that they would besmirch the name of the series that is so close to my heart. Then I thought about who was making it: Netflix. I became very hopeful after that.

Netflix originals rarely disappoint. After I dedicated myself to watch the entire season in one day, I heard the credits roll with utmost excitement. Each episode captures the Gothic tone and the dry humor that made the books so incredibly, addictingly, perfectly.

If one hasn’t read the books before watching they will not be lost, the plot is well connected and told, and it relies next to nothing on background that reading the books would provide.

The Baudelaire children (Louis Hynes as Klaus, Malina Weissman as Violet, and Presley Smith as the Sunny with Tara Strong as her voice) are child actors so it is apparent that they struggle with their characters and deciding on how to play them; however it’s charming and doesn’t detract from Lemony’s vision. The show also features the big name actors Neil Patrick Harris as the main antagonist Count Olaf and Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket. Yes, he plays the author and is a full blown character; that’s what this kind of show does. He sets the scene and narrates events that happen. It is such a simple plot device but it really feels like the books have literally come to life.

The series is about the children escaping the clutches of Olaf and getting to the bottom of their parents death. The show is a must watch for readers of the children books and even a very interesting story for those looking for a quirky but dark mystery.

Big decisions:

Comparison sites help students choose colleges Story & Photography by Brooklyn Norrell It’s that time of year again: college acceptance letters are flowing into mailboxes across the United States and decisions need to be made.

Although many schools offer a May 1 deadline, students are stressing and beginning to weigh their options for the future. Comparing the benefits and downfalls of these colleges may seem overwhelming simply because there are so many different factors to consider.

Factors such as campus life, academics, pricing, and location are just a few of the items considered.

Considering all the factors that need to be looked at seems overbearing and makes people make uninformed and hasty decisions whenever the deadline approaches but there are some websites that compile information together for a user-friendly comparison of student’s college choices.

BigFuture (bigfuture.collegeboard.org)

Pros: BigFuture has a set table in which they will compare up to three colleges or universities based on location, type (as in public or private), campus life, admissions, and cost and aid. This allows you to compare a few of the most important factors when deciding

on a school. If you move away from this comparison chart you will find that BigFuture provides more specific information within their college pages.

Cons: While BigFuture provides a list of majors offered within the schools, they do not, however, mention the rate of that major as whether or not that school effectively provides for that major or if it is a good program at that school. Some schools are known for specific majors while others are known for their variety of majors.

StartClass (www.startclass.com)

Pros: The site StartClass allows users to compare two colleges of their choice. In comparing schools, StartClass looks at rankings, admissions, costs, financial aid, student body, academics, crime statistics, and location. Before you look at these factors, StartClass provides a Fast Fact list that gives users quick and useful facts about their competing schools.

Cons: startclass has several categories of judging with many subcategories however the company has difficulty getting that information on some of the smaller colleges they compare.

StartClass works better when comparing larger, more widely known schools.

College Factual

(www.collegefactual. com) Pros: College Factual allows a user to compare two colleges side by side on educational resources, degree completion, post-graduation, diversity, and value for your money; it takes all of these factors and adds them up, point’s wise, to get a final score at the end that shows which college is dominant.

If you go into the individual college’s page on the website, the website will dig deeper into the college’s majors as well as any other information that you would like to know.

Con: In the comparison chart College Factual only looks at a few subjects making it hard to look at the side by side comparison.

All in all there are several websites and sources that allow students and their parents to compare their college options each with their own pros and cons. Using one of these websites can ultimately better layout what a college have to offer as well as help make your decision easier.

Financial Aid FAQ: Helping you understand your options Story by Brooklyn Norrell Story by Janae Ely Just as you are receiving your college acceptance letters, those same colleges begin sending out their financial award letters. These letters carry a ton of important information about how much money you will need to spend on college, information that can ultimately help you make a decision.

These letters allow you to know what kind of aid you are receiving, how much you need to borrow, and the long-term consequences of your financial decision. Those three factors could make or break a college in affordability.

There are five financial aid categories that will most likely appear on your letters; those four include:

Grants & Scholarships

Grants and scholarships are considered free money because its money that you do not need to pay back. Grants are need-based while scholarships are merit-based.

Direct Subsidized Loan

Direct subsidized loans are loans available to undergraduate students with financial need in

which the school decides how much you can borrow based on that need.

The US Department of Education pays for the interest on these loans while you’re in school at least half time, six months after completion of school, and during a period of deferment.

Direct Unsubsidized Loan

Direct unsubsidized loans are for both undergraduate and graduate students with no direct focus on financial need.

The school determines how much you will receive and you must pay interest at all times.

If you decide not to pay for it while in school or during a grace period the interest will accumulate and add onto the total of the loan.

Federal Work Study

Federal work study programs allow students to get jobs while in college that can help put a dent into their tuition.

However, accepting your work study offer does not guarantee you a job, you will need to search for one. Not all work study programs are on-campus and the funds are not directly applied to your tuition as they are to cover the

day to day costs rather than tackle the entirety of tuition.

Work study jobs are limited and are not a guarantee. Both pay and hours can vary in a work study program.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

The expected family contribution is how much a family is expected to pay out of pocket for their child’s education. This prediction allows the school to build the rest of the financial aid award letter based on need. The EFC is always changing.

So after narrowing down your college options to just a few, it is time to look at the financial aid package that each school is willing to offer. In considering the factors above, you should be able to make a decision with the knowledge of overall affordability.

Considering these factors at an early time allows you to prepare for the future and how much debt you should expect after school.

Financial aid letters play an important role in college decisions; it pays to understand what PERISCOPE 21 they are saying.

Leveling the playing field: CHS athletics look to upgrade facilities Story by Bella Byus Photography by Kate Muir When compared to other schools, CHS may be lacking the upgraded athletic facilities needed to stay competitive. Some think that without updates to areas like our fields, locker facilities, and weight room, our athletes may struggle to compete. The district, however, hopes to move forward on much needed renovations soon.

Much of the delay regarding updates has been due to finances. In the years of 20132014, CASD had granted the updates of the middle schools, Wilson and Lamberton. These renovations were very costly.

During the building of these middle schools, the negotiation of the weight room was being discussed but each year was pushed back.

“We were originally looking to put the weight room under the stadium but after reviewing the building, we would have had to do major renovations to bring it up to code,” said George Null, CASD athletic director.

“Also, the bids that came in were too high.

In 2016 both middle schools got granted to get more high tech equipment for their fitness rooms but the weight room at the high school still could not be negoti-

22 PERISCOPE

ated. However, according to Null, this process is moving forward now, waiting for bids from contractors.

“We are going to update and expand the Swartz weight room,” said Null. “We are going to expand the size from 1200 square feet to 5000 square feet.”

Currently, the weight room can fit 25-30 people at a time; the updated room should hold around 100-150.

According to an article recently published in the Carlisle Sentinel, the district has set aside about $500,000 in its capital reserve projects budget to expand the weight room.

The budget also allocates $200,000 toward the development of athletic fields on an 8-acre plateau.

CASD has a $425,000 project budget.

Within the budget $300,000 would be set aside for construction, $100,000 for the weight room, and $25,000 for the special flooring.

Many sports players have complained in the past about the weight rooms being out of date and too small to fit an entire team.

“It bothers me because there is no room to work out and it’s overly crowded,” said Noah Castopolus, a freshman football player.

Both weight rooms pose a threat to athletes

with dangers of breaking equipment.

“Sometimes the equipment or the benches are not sturdy so when you go to sit down on an inclined bench you almost feel like you’re falling or doing not sitting properly but this causes unbalance in whatever body part you’re trying to work,” said Rojen Porcopio, a CHS junior lacrosse player.

The weight room, however, is not the only update people would like to see. In a recent CHSPeriscope.com poll, (99 total votes), 28% of the responses thought replacing the stadium field with turf was most needed, followed by the weight room (27%), the addition of a pool (24%), updating the McG gym (15%), and other (5%).

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Cinderella Photography courtesy of Periscope alum Hannah Westbrook