The Triangle, Issue 3, Vol. 103 by cnhsmedia

THE

TRIANGLE

Columbus North High School • 1400 25th Street, Columbus, IN 47201 • Volume 103 Issue 3 • Nov. 21, 2023

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Alex Osburn Ajay Singireddy Jasmine Yang

IN-DEPTH 16 DID YOU HEAR?

IN-DEPTH TEAM Izzy Munn Sylvia Sasse Deshna Venkatachalam Lydia Weed

Highlighting the phenomenon of gossip and rumors among high school students

PHOTO EDITORS Novah Ulm Grace Wheatley

ONLINE PREVIEW

ART DIRECTOR Sylvia Sasse SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM Chloe LaVelle Brynn Stewart Deshna Venkatachalam STAFF Jocelyn Aguilar Sarynel Barbosa Nicolas Bowers Aidan Brown Liz Carrigan Gabe Carrillo Claire Davis Annie Green Jaedyn Greenlee Lois Guest Maia Jamieson Kiko Thompson Emma Warnock

ADVISERS Roth Lovins Rachel McCarver

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Scan with your iPhone camera (Snapchat, too) to be linked to all of CNHS Media's socials.

Editorial Policy The Triangle is the designated forum for student expression at Columbus North High School. The student staff chooses all content. Signed columns published in The Triangle express the writer’s personal opinion and not the views of The Triangle, student body, BCSC, administration, board of trustees or faculty of Columbus North. The Triangle practices ethical journalism by providing balanced and fair coverage as determined by community standards. The Triangle strives to achieve 100 percent accuracy by checking sources, spelling, and quotes and attaining multiple sources. The Triangle encourages letters to the editor, but reserves the right to reject them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple letters of the same topic and personal attacks contained in the letter. The Triangle will not edit for content, but reserves the right to edit for grammar and length. Letters should be submitted to room 1507 or sent via e-mail to administrator@ cnhsmedia.com. All Letters much be signed by all persons involved in writing the letter, which the staff will check for validation. A letter sent via e-mail must be validated with a signature from the writer before The Triangle will publish it. If responding to a publication, letters must be turned in within one week of that

publication’s distribution. In the event of death, The Triangle will run a standard obituary. Pertaining to work submitted via social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), The Triangle will only accept written submissions from the original poster and owner and will only publish entries with the permission of the original poster and owner. The Triangle will not edit submissions for content and reserves the right not to publish them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple submissions of the same topic, vulgar or incendiary content. The Triangle will not publish photographs from Facebook. Posts on The Triangle’s social media pages by readers are owned by the readers and do not necessarily express the views or opinions of the staff. The Triangle is not responsible for their content and reserves the right to delete and report any inappropriate and unnecessary posts. By posting on The Triangle’s social media pages, the poster grants The Triangle permission to publish the contents of that post. In cases when a source’s information may bring ridicule or incrimination upon himself or herself, the editorial board reserves the right to cite the source as anonymous. The Triangle will never use composite sources and pass them off as anonymous sources.

GRANTED FOR YOUTH

Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded a large grant to support the Foundation For Youth of Columbus

NEWS GRANTED FOR YOUTH

INDIANA LEGISLATION PLACES NEW FOCUS ON SCHOOL SAFETY

FIREHOUSE FLAVORS KICK OFF THE FUNDRAISING SEASON

Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded a large grant to support the Foundation For Youth of Columbus

A look at how gun violence in schools and recent legislation have impacted school safety practices across Indiana

Columbus Fireman’s Cheer Fund hosted their annual chili cookoff in preparation for their fundraising season

APPLICATION CONTEMPLATION

STUDENT LIFE

A VETERAN’S VALOR

A CLUB FOR THE FUTURE

Lyndsey Fedewa explains the goals for her senior project

Students explain what the application process looks like for them

The new Computer Science Club allows students to understand how computers are used in their everyday life

TUNE IN TO FUNDRAISING 10

Senior Austin Clark hosted a lip sync battles to raise funds for the show choir program

APPLICATION CONTEMPLATION

Seniors explain what the application process looks like for them

MARCHING TO THE END

The Sound and Spirit of Columbus went to Lucas Oil Stadium for the Bands of America Super Regionals competition on Oct. 21

OPINION NEW PASSES

COLUMBUS MAN

THE TRASH MONSTER

SURVIVING FIVE NIGHTS

With the new e-pass system comes complication, but not without a reason Claire Davis investigates the popular social media page, Columbus Man With another Halloween season behind us, we can look at the impact that this holiday has on the environment A movie review of the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie

FINAL WHISTLE 22

Despite facing defeat in the semi-state match against Cathedral, the boys soccer team fought until the very end and recounts the season

SPORTS

MARCHING TO THE END 20

The Sound and Spirit of Columbus went to Lucas Oil Stadium for the Bands of America Super Regionals competition on Oct. 21

MAKING A SPLASH 21

Diving coach Nicole Decker and some of her dives reflect on her upcoming last season as a coach

FINAL WHISTLE 22

Despite facing defeat in the semi-state match against Cathedral, the boys soccer team fought until the very end and recount the season

A LEAP AHEAD 23

Gymnasts and coaches discuss their opinions and goals for the new season

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GRANTED FOR YOUTH Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded a large grant to support the Foundation For Youth of Columbus

by Annie Green design by Maia Jamieson

hildren ages 5 to 18 in the Columbus community will be able to participate in the newly-granted FFY facility, courtesy of a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. FFY executive director Chuck Kime speaks about the most recent grant Foundation For Youth of Columbus received. “This grant award from Lilly Endowment will help us ensure every fifth grader in BCSC has an experiential opportunity to visit Columbus Youth Camp,” Kime said. “It will support our efforts around learning loss for many of our Latino students and will help us teach families how to address the effects of childhood trauma.” Kime also explains how the grant will continue to impact the users of the facility. “Our work on addressing childhood trauma affects the way photo by Novah Ulm we interact with each other,” Kime Foundation For Youth that received a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. said. “Youth workers, like many in the helping professions, often carry Along with Kime, freshman Aldo Ramos wish a few things would improve. the stress of those we work with. The better is involved with Foundation For Youth. Every “If I could change one thing about the prepared we are to help our young people, summer, Ramos attends the facility. facility, it would be the amount of workers the better our own health becomes.” “Over the summer, I went to FFY for a that are there because it is understaffed In order to have an impact in the FFY teen camp,” Ramos said. “Every summer, you compared to the amount of kids there who community, Kime mentions what the grant get to go to a teen program, you get to go don’t get enough attention,” Ramos said. specifically was used for. to Donner park, Donner pool, the Children’s “Even though it’s really inclusive, there still “This particular grant is aimed at much of Museum and you get to have fun and is a low amount of staff that works there.” the work at Columbus Youth Camp,” Kime experience life with your peers.” Additionally, Ramos wishes FFY had more said. “The award provides a limited amount Along with the summer camp activities, kids who regularly attend and use the space. of capital support that will improve the Ramos adds how he appreciates feeling “Hopefully, FFY can improve on the learning environments for our participants.” secure at the physical location of FFY. amount of kids that are there,” Ramos said. As Kime describes, these learning “I think the most enjoyable thing that’s “Although the amount of kids is low, it’s still environments focus on helping families, there is how you feel safe,” Ramos said. “FFY a lot of fun. But if they could have more kids friends and those in need. is one of the most comfortable places I’ve there, more inclusivity, I think it would be “Our promotional work generally follows ever been in. They let me be myself and they way more fun.” the mainstream and social media platforms,” include everyone, no matter who they are or Kime said. “Our focus is on helping families what they have been through.” connect to enrichment opportunities and Though Ramos enjoys the facility, he does helping investors connect with the ways they can help.” These enrichment opportunities fit into Founded in 1937 FFY’s business model of offering several programs for children. “FFY’s business model focuses on our $497,000 PAY TO THE Columbus FFY is one of 187 organizations receiving grants ability to have several programs working through youth programs in Indiana ORDER OF together to serve young people,” Kime said. “Big Brothers Big Sisters, our Camp, our Four hundred ninety-seven thousand and 00/100 DOLLARS Club and all the athletics offerings utilize each program’s strengths to connect with families.”

LILLY ENDOWMENT

NEWS

FIREHOUSE FLAVORS KICK OFF THE FUNDRAISING SEASON Columbus Fireman’s Cheer Fund hosted their annual chili cook-off in preparation for their fundraising season

he annual chili cookoff hosted by the Columbus Fireman’s Cheer Fund recently took place on Nov. 3. The Cheer Fund’s goal is to provide the underprivileged kids of Bartholomew County with a good Christmas. Co-chair of six years Ben Noblitt described the importance of the event for the Cheer Fund. “The chili cook-off is kind of our unofficial kick-off to our packing season,” Noblitt said. “It’s a time when everybody can come out, sit down and you see people that you may not have seen since the last chili cook-off.” Additionally, co-chair Justin Sims reflected on what this event is all about. “The event reminds everybody that Cheer Fund season is upon us and gets a lot of the younger people in the department excited,” Sims said. “We also want to remind the community that we couldn’t do anything without their support, and we are very gracious when they help us out.” Compared to other years, this year had the challenge of putting together both sit-down and drive-through meal options. During the tightened COVID-19 restrictions, the event transitioned to drive-through only, and this was the first year that a sit-down meal was being offered again. “It’s so easy doing the drive-through, but we want to get back to where we can sit down and have conversations with people,” Noblitt said. Rookies, who are firefighters that have less than a year with the department, are the cooks for the event. “This year we have 10 rookies,” Noblitt said. “They give us an ingredient list that they want to make for their chili, then we take our sponsorship money and we use it to buy their ingredients.” Buying ingredients was not the only thing that went into planning the event. “We have to have a place to do [the

by Lois Guest design by Jaedyn Greenlee

cook-off] and make sure that we have bowls, spoons, lids and plastic bags for the to-go orders,” Noblitt said. “We’re doing a sit-down for lunch plus we are doing the drive-through, so there is a lot more planning that’s going to go into this one.” Rookies competing have every creative freedom that they would need to make their chili. “It’s up to your imagination on how you want to make it,” Noblitt said. “If you’re trying to win, you have to keep it simple and basic because if you get too far off it gets kind of scary when the judges get to it and they start tasting it.” Rookie Maura Shea made a white chicken chili for the event. “I have curated my recipe so that it has some spice in it but it also has a bit of a cooling effect with the cream,” Shea said. “It is comfortable for all palates.” The competition is considered individual, but that doesn’t stop people from helping out. “We definitely have a lot of pride in our station and in our crews, so we’ll have a lot of support from our crews and our shifts,” Shea said. “Even though it is one cook versus another, it’s really like you get a group behind you in that competition.” This year the winner of the competition will be determined by a panel of judges consisting of the Columbus Regional Health ambulance service. “The five judges will get an 8 oz. sample of each chili and they’ll try one and they’ll judge it. There’s a tally sheet that tells what exactly they are looking for, or how they rate it on their scale,” Noblitt said. “Then, we add up all the points at the end and whoever wins gets a traveling firefighter helmet with their name and 2023 Chili Cook-off Champion on it.” After the event, members of the Cheer Fund use the money raised to get gifts for the upcoming Christmas

season. “We take the funds and the donations that we collect at the chili cook-off to go buy toys to make sure the kids have a good Christmas,” Noblitt said. “It gives us a chance to go out and buy specific things that may or may not have been donated that we know we’re going to need a lot of.” This annual event is a staple for the Cheer fund, the Columbus community and the firefighters. “Events like this bring support to firefighters and the fire service, and also organizations that we want to support, like the Cheer Fund,” Shea said.

photo by Novah Ulm

A volunteer serves chili at the cook-off.

NEWS

INDIANA LEGISLATION PLACES NEW FOCUS ON SCHOOL SAFETY

1177 HOUSE BILL

schools can apply to Indiana school fund for a grant to for training to use in the event of an

staff active shooter this training must be taught by a qualified instructor and cover specific topics, including the psychological and emotional

firearms

pay

responses after a shooting

the

identity of any employee who chooses to have this training is confidential Source Indiana General Assembly

SCHOOLS IN DANGER A map of school shootings that occurred worldwide from January 2009 to May 2018

Parameters: shooting took place on school grounds; at least one person not including the shooter was shot; kindergarten to university level Due to the lack of a consistent metric on school shootings worldwide, this is only one estimate and may not reflect all instances of school shootings over this time period

Source CNN

NEWS

n May 4, Governor Eric Holcomb signed House Bill 1177, which officially dedicated a portion of state funding to schools that wish to train their employees in the use of firearms. Under the law, which came into effect on July 1, any “school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school” in Indiana can apply for a grant to pay for this specialized training. While specifically granting funding for school staff to receive such training is new to Indiana, allowing teachers to carry guns in schools has been legal in the state since 2013. In fact, Jay County School Corporation in northeastern Indiana has kept a handgun in a biometric safe in each of its schools since 2018, according to WTHR. This is part of a three-part plan the corporation uses to keep its students safe against armed intruders or active shooters. Jay County schools also increased security measures in 2018 by “hardening” entrances so that

Estonia

each school can be entered through a single location monitored constantly by cameras and installing new bulletresistant doors and windows. Since HB 1177 became effective before the start of this academic year, other schools across Indiana have started to follow suit by requesting funding and initiating firearms training programs for employees who wish to participate. Wish TV reports that Shelby Eastern School District began obtaining firearms for staff and training staff to use them in the event of an active shooter in September of last year, as part of a plan that was introduced in 2018. More recently, Randolph Central School Corporation and Greenwood Christian Academy have both offered programs to staff this school year who want to be trained in using handguns, with the funding from HB 1177. According to the Daily Journal, Greenwood Christian Academy’s training process involved an interview of prospective trainees with several police chiefs as panelists. News Nation reports that Randolph Central schools will install

Russia

Hungary Germany

Canada

France

288 Greece

China

Mexico

Turkey

Nigeria

Brazil

Afghanistan

United States

Azerbaijan

Kenya

South Africa

Pakistan

A look at how gun violence in schools and recent legislation have impacted school safety practices across Indiana by Alex Osburn and Jasmine Yang

Significant events in the history of gun control in the U.S.

Source ThoughtCo

1791

SECOND AMENDMENT The Bill of Rights is ratified, which includes “the right of the people to keep and bear arms”

CREATION OF THE NRA

1968

The association is founded to help improve marksmanship in the event of war

GUN CONTROL ACT OF 1968 This legislation places stricter regulations on the sales, import and dealers of firearms

COLUMBINE SHOOTING At Columbine High School, two students open fire, resulting in 15 deaths and 24 others injured

1999

2008

DC v. HELLER SCOTUS rules that the Second Amendment grants citizens the right to keep firearms for personal use

BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT

This legislation includes enforcing stricter firearm dealer licensing and expanding mental health resources

NEWS

2022

maintaining a safe school environment. “Some of the older teachers, they know their rooms, they know how they’re set up, they know what they’re doing,” Stevens said. “Some of the newer teachers may not. Especially if they’re brand-new teachers, they’re just trying to figure out how to teach, let alone trying to figure out how to make their classroom safer.” Stevens explains how resource officers are able to assist teachers in creating a plan of action to keep themselves and their students safe in any situation. “We make it very clear that we’re available to go to classrooms and to help [teachers] figure out how to make this place safer,” Stevens said. “We can actually show them some very simple things to do to help them make it a safer place for everybody. So, it’s very individualized and different classrooms are completely different.” While BCSC has not announced plans to pursue the funding granted by HB 1177, Stevens describes how the opportunity to train some teachers to use firearms in the event of an armed intruder could prove beneficial. “I’m all for things that make our schools safer,” Stevens said.”Am I a hundred percent for arming teachers and everything? No, not necessarily. But, by the same token, you do have teachers that maybe they were in the military, maybe they’re former police, or they just have a very strong knowledge of firearms from hunting or for whatever else, that we have those resources already. So if we could take them and train them and make sure to the best of our abilities that they would be able to act appropriately in a dangerous situation, then I’m okay with that.” Whether it be a teacher or a resource officer, Stevens emphasizes the importance of proper training and safety measures for anyone who might use a firearm in a school environment. “We need to make sure it’s secure and safe day in, day out,” Stevens said. “Hopefully I’ll never shoot this gun, on duty anyway, other than at the firing range in my whole career, but if that one time happens then I’d better know what I’m doing.”

1871

biometric safes containing handguns in their schools alongside the firearm training program for staff. While some schools have placed greater emphasis on arming teachers as part of their security protocols due to recent shootings and legislation, there are also other approaches to keeping students safe in a school environment. Officer Eric Stevens began working as a school resource officer here in 2014, and over time he has witnessed firsthand the development of different safety procedures, such as limiting the number of unlocked doors in the school. “A lot has changed over the last 10 years since I’ve been here because back then, the doors were all open. There were no safety protocols for up front,” Stevens said. “Basically whoever came in, came in. So now we lock all the doors except for door one, and even then, you have to come through the main office in order to get in. People can’t just walk in the door.” In addition to enforcing a stricter door policy, another more recent safety measure is using lanyards to identify who is supposed to be in the school building. Stevens describes the importance of this new policy. “Now with the lanyards, that’s actually a big deal,” Stevens said. “Students don’t like it and I get that, but that’s actually a bigger deal than folks know because we really, historically, we have gotten folks, maybe they were students last year, but they’re not students now, so they shouldn’t be in the building.” Another improvement that Stevens has seen in his time as a resource officer is the run hide fight approach in the event of an armed intruder. “As far as an armed intruder goes, of course we’ve done our run hide fight protocol,” Stevens said.”It used to be kind of a free-for-all. We’d call code blue and then nobody really knew what to do. You’d lock down, but what if you were in the halls, so hopefully we’ve trained them now enough that folks at least have some idea of what to do and they know that hey, if I need to get out, I can get out, or if I need to hide, I hide.” From a teacher’s perspective, securing a classroom against an armed intruder is another consideration in

THE RIGHT DEBATE

A VETERAN’S VALOR Lyndsey Fedewa explains the goals for her Senior Project

by Liz Carrigan design by Aidan Brown

ethods of recognition for veterans, such as medals of honor and salutes are all temporary. It seems as if when the camo and badges come off, the recognition ends. Senior Lyndsey Fedewa has created a way for students to help veterans continue to feel merit for their actions. “There’s this big stigma where younger generations are seen as not respecting the veterans, so I wanted to prove that stigma wrong and show younger teens and younger generations do actually support their veterans, and care about them,” Fedewa said. “So I figured I would do some “Thank You” cards,” Fedewa said. Fedewa’s mentor, MJ Shireman, explains her role in the project. “Lyndsey is very independent, organized and self driven,” Shireman said. “So, honestly, Lyndsey hasn’t needed much from me other than to run her project by me. She has done a fabulous job recognizing veterans that may not receive notes of appreciation otherwise,” Shireman said. Each senior project necessitates planning and preparation. Fedewa explained the planning process for her project. “Just getting all the cards donated so people can fill them out, and then contacting the VA hospital [a medical center that is responsible for the care of war veterans and retired military personnel], and teachers to get their classes to fill out cards,” Fedewa said. “So what I’ve done so far was [involve] Key Club, they meet in advisory, so I went down there and they just filled some out. I chose to involve Key Club because they’re always looking for service activities to do in their meetings. Then I’ve been asking

Lyndsey Fedewa shows several colored cards she made as a part of her senior project to send to patients at veteran hospitals.

200

LOTS OF LETTERS

STUDENT LIFE

Current Goal

400

photo by Grace Wheatley

An overview of the progress Fedewa has made on her project

classes of mine to fill some out, if we’re not super busy in class. During one of my church’s religious groups on Sunday, fourth and fifth graders will fill some out, and if I need more we’ll go to other schools and whatnot.” Fedewa explained her inspiration for her project. “My [inspiration was] my greatgrandfather is a WWII veteran and I love him to death so I wanted to show support to him and everything he had to go through, and my other great-grandpa who was in the German military,” Fedewa said. Fedewa explained the impact she wants the letters to have on the people who are writing them. “I’m hoping that they [all] feel good about what they’re writing,” Fedewa said. Shireman explains her hopes for the project. “ I am hoping a few things will happen,” Shireman said. “Number one, I hope the cards bring a bright spot to each veteran who receives one of the thoughtfully written cards. Two, I hope writing these cards brings an awareness of what sacrifices were made by these veterans to the folks writing the cards. Writing our thoughts brings mindfulness and intent to the thoughts we are conveying. And third, I hope Lindsey’s project is a great source of pride,” Shireman said. Additionally, Fedewa explains the impact she hopes the letters will have on their recipients. “The best part is seeing the looks on the veterans’ faces when they read them or look at them,” Fedewa said. “I’m hoping that the veterans who might be in the VA hospitals, who might not get many visitors, feel supported and loved,” Fedewa said.

Letters Written

Letters written as of Oct. 24 Projected Total

500

420

400

300

100

A CLUB FOR THE FUTURE

ccording to the US News and World Report, computer science is in its golden age. Along an ever-increasing number of careers, the field is also known for high-paying salaries and a growing job market. As a part of this computer science trend, students here have taken the initiative to join and create a computer science club. Sophomore Vincia Li describes how computer science can help students start preparing for a career now throughout high school. “I think computer science is a developing field,” Li said. “It’s good to get into it because it will most likely become bigger in the future.” Li explains how she plans on using computer science in her specific future. “Right now I’m thinking about going into a medical profession, but if that doesn’t work out, I’ll have computer science as a backup,” Li said. Along with Li, math teacher Robert Deirth believes that computer science will impact the future job market. “In today’s world, computers are controlling everything: medical, entertainment, science, it’s all being done by computers,” Deirth said. “It’s hard to find a career these days that doesn’t relate to computer science.” With the development of computer science, Deirth highlights how everything both now and in the future will more than likely involve computers. “Computer science is related to so many different things,” Deirth said. “Regardless of what a student is going to do, they are more likely to encounter this in

any career field or any hobby that they might have throughout life.” The personal importance computer science holds to Deirth inspired his decision to sponsor the computer science club. “I am now teaching the AP Computer Science Principles course, and math, computer science and engineering all relate very closely together,” Deirth said. “It is something important for so many areas for different student’s lives. It gives a good background for almost anyone even though you don’t necessarily see it in every class.” Deirth explains why it is important for everyone to have a basic understanding of some computer science to know how common computers work. “I think one of the key things is understanding how things that [students] use every day works,” Deirth said. “You use a smartphone every day, but you might not know how it works, what is going on behind the scenes and inside of the smartphone. You can use a Chromebook and if you have an error, maybe knowing a little bit about the coding helps you understand a little bit more about why this error is occurring so you can prevent it in the future.” In the context of students here, Deirth mentions how computers impact everyone’s lives every single day. “Computer science is something that in education you are using all the time,” Deirth said. “We have Canvas this year. Even on Canvas, you can go on the page and look at the code and program how things look on your pages, deal with how assignments are working and understanding computer science helps you do your other jobs better.”

The new Computer Science Club allows students to understand how computers are used in their everyday lives by Annie Green design by Emma Warnock

photo by Annie Green

Students meet at the Computer Science Club callout meeting on Oct. 23.

Opportunities for students at CLUB FACTS Computer Science Club 1) Earn volunteer hours 2) Create resume-worthy projects 3) Use multiple code platforms a) Python b) Java c) HTML

STUDENT LIFE

TUNE IN TO FUNDRAISING

Senior Austin Clark hosted a lip sync battle to raise funds for the show choir program

photo by Novah Ulm Senior Austin Clark preforms “Bet On It” from “High School Musical Two.”

STUDENT LIFE

he choir program’s annual lip sync battle recently took place for the third year in a row. Senior Austin Clark organized this event as his senior project in order to raise money for the show choir program. “Just to be in show choir, it costs 500 dollars. Then you also have to think about competition fees, costumes, the set, and transportation fees,” Clark said. “So, any money we can get is really beneficial.” Clark put a lot of effort into getting together participants as well as spectators. “There’s a lot of collecting phone numbers, a lot of contacting people, trying to get people to sign up. I did a google form to get people to sign up and then had a call out meeting,” Clark said. “I’ve been spreading the word around and getting people to sign up and come to the event.” Clark’s mentor for the project, Auditorium Director Justine Lykins, helped organize the more technical elements of putting together an event. “There’s a lot of moving parts in any show,” Lykins said. “For this one we have to coordinate sound, lights, and choreography, as well as ticket sales and counting votes.” As for participants, senior Alaney Parker and junior Sarah Gross were a part of a group that recreated the dance ‘Boss Ladies’ from the show ‘Dance Moms’. “We’ve been practicing during advisory and a bit out of school,” Gross said. “We have basically been making videos and then sending them to each other to figure out what we are doing.” The winner was determined through an interactive voting process involving the spectators. “The audience will vote on the overall winner, likely using cash donations or their ticket stubs to cast a

by Lois Guest design by Jocelyn Aguilar

vote,” Lykins said. There were also smaller, more specific, awards that you could win that contributed to your group’s overall votes. Clark looked forward to the process of choosing category awards. “There’s going to be a panel of judges which will be my mentor and the other auditorium staff, and they’re going to choose category awards,” Clark said. “That could be the best choreography, the best costuming and stuff like that. Whichever groups win those will get an extra amount of tickets to go towards their overall votes.” In the last couple of years, this event has become a fun and successful way for the choir to raise money. “I’m encouraging people to go because it’s a fun event to watch, and I really think that whoever has it next year can make it even bigger,” Clark said.

FUNDRAISING GOAL $2,170 RAISED

$500 GOAL

APPLICATION CONTEMPLATION Seniors explain what the application process looks like for them

by Liz Carrigan design by Nicolas Bowers ith a walk across the stage, the moving of the tassel from one side of the graduation cap to the other and a toss of the cap into the air, high school is complete. Post-high school plans can be intimidating and the process of applying and preparing for the next step starts well before graduating. Senior Vanessa Holloway explains the hardest part of applying to college. “I’d say the hardest part of applying is getting all of the scholarships and recommendations filled out for them,” Holloway said. “It can seem endless doing multiple college applications at once, so I focused on applying to one college at a time,” Holloway said. Additionally, senior Emily Torres explains what her experience with applying was like. “ I think the best part of applying is the many options that are available. Iit can be stressful but it all depends on what your plan is,” Torres said. Many people who apply submit applications to multiple schools. Holloway explains her application process. “I only applied to the best four in-state schools, [but] I would recommend applying to three safe schools you’ll definitely get into, and two stretches you might get

into,” Holloway said. Holloway shares her advice to anyone who has not yet applied to college, but will in the future. “I would say to just get it done,” Holloway said. “The more you put it off, the more you’ll worry about it. It’s better to just get applications done, so you can focus on having a super senior year,” Holloway said. Furthermore, Torres shares her advice for future applicants. “Take advantage of all the college visits that happen at school and make sure to check emails about applying,” Torres said. Additionally, senior David Zhang gives his advice. “ Make sure to have a rough draft of all your writings early so that you have time to revise,” Zhang said. Holloway explains how she approached applying to her choice colleges. “I’d say the hardest part of applying is getting all of the scholarships and recommendations filled out for them,” Holloway said. “It can seem endless doing multiple college applications at once, so I focused on applying to one college at a time.”

photo by Grace Wheatley Senior David Zhang

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

Early Action Common Dates Nov. 1, Nov. 15, Dec. 1

Regular Decision Common Dates Jan. 1, Feb. 1, Feb. 15

Early Decision 1 Common Dates Nov. 1, Nov. 15

FAFSA (Financial Aid) Opens Dec. 1, Closes June 30

Early Decision 2 Common Dates Jan. 1, Jan. 15

Source Solomon Admissions

STUDENT LIFE

OPINION NEW PASSES With the new e-pass system comes complication, but not without a reason by Nicolas Bowers

or decades, North, and schools worldwide have survived using paper passes to let students leave class. This year, that all changes. North is now piloting a new e-pass system where students can request passes, and teachers have to approve them. Alternatively, teachers can also create them themselves. With this new system, BCSC can now see where everyone is going, how long people are gone and how many times a day people leave class. That’s a lot of data, but for the vast majority of students, it doesn’t really matter. After all, if you have nothing to hide, why hide it? It just makes our lives more difficult. It makes going to the bathroom or refilling a water bottle an unnecessarily complicated endeavor. But, this system isn’t meant for the vast majority of students. It’s meant to reduce skipping class in the bathrooms or hallways. It’s meant to reduce tardies and unexcused absences. It’s meant to reduce vaping. It’s meant to help raise attendance averages, and hopefully even graduation rates. For the past couple of years, BCSC has struggled with all of these things, largely because of Covid-19. Administrators and teachers relaxed their rules because there was simply too much going on at one time. Since Covid has largely faded from our public view, it’s time to bring some things back. Detention is back, and the administration is more serious about attendance and tardies. E-Passes are a key part of managing that. Additionally, they’re meant to collect data, so that BCSC can see what is happening on a normal school day. E-Passes are incredibly inconvenient to use, and solve a problem that some would say doesn’t exist. But it wasn’t created for people with perfect attendance in mind. It was created for people who need more support to stay in class and be on time, and because of that, I understand why. No one likes this system. It’s a hassle. or the administration, however, it helps keep people in class, and possibly keeps everything and everyone organized. Despite how inconvenient it is, I think everyone can agree that it’s worth it to keep everyone’s education on track for success.

OPINION

COLUMBUS MAN Claire Davis investigates the popular social media site, Columbus Man

by Claire Davis

e have all seen Columbus Man posting about a traffic accident, promoting community events and even advertising small businesses. However, Columbus Man is not a reliable or trustworthy place to get information. For those who don’t know, Columbus Man is a Facebook and Instagram page with over 35 thousand followers and which is run by an anonymous Columbus resident, who frequently posts content that is submitted to them. So anyone could send the social media page a DM with a picture and caption, for it to be posted. This is good in theory because it offers a chance for people to have their opinions voiced, and brings Columbus together by spreading awareness on a local scale, however it’s been problematic. Many of the posts are unnecessary and spark controversy. For example posts about someone’s birthday, complaining about a bad driver or posting pictures of random people minding their business have all been on the sites. These types of posts make the page less serious or trustworthy because whoever is posting has no credibility as a reliable source. Furthermore, the fact that they are posted anonymously gives people a large platform to feel safe sharing information on, leading to fake news and misinformation spreading. People are less likely to hold back when submitting content to be posted if it can’t be traced back to them, which is why it’s problematic. The page can be fun to look at and genuinely gives good information from time to time. However, we all need to be careful when using it as a valid news source, as its extreme accessibility to anyone who wants to make a public post makes it dangerous.

THE TRASH MONSTER With another Halloween season behind us, we can look at the impact that this holiday has on our environment and what we can do about it

by Emma Warnock

alloween has given us so much: thrilling haunted houses, enough candy to kill a horse and over 2,000 tons of plastic waste from Halloween costumes annually. Every year, Americans flock to Spirit Halloween or Amazon to search for the trendiest costumes of the year. According to CNN Entertainment, Barbie, Oppenheimer, Spider-Man and Wednesday Addams are the most popular costumes this year. These costumes are fun for now, but how rewearable or relevant will Barbie’s pink cowgirl pants or Miles Morales’ spider-suit be in the future? More likely than not, these costumes that sparked so much joy in the moment will be thrown out, creating a massive amount of unnecessary pollution. Approximately 35 million costumes are thrown out by Americans every year. This roughly translates to about 6,000 tons of textile and plastic waste every year. Costuming sustainably doesn’t have to be expensive. Many have created culturally relevant costumes with items found from used clothing stores. Some have skipped Barbie’s iconic cowgirl look to go for something more sustainable such as her gingham looks throughout the movie. These dresses would be a great addition to a summer wardrobe. Although thrifting components of your Halloween costume can be good for the environment and cost effective, it is not an easy option for everyone. Those outside of the regular sizing range can have a hard time finding day-to-day clothes at thrift stores, let alone clothing that must fit certain specifics to relate to a costume. An alternative to thrifting a sustainable Halloween costume is to use clothing that you already have. For example, many have decided to dress as Carmen Berzado from The Bear this year. This costume consists of a white T-shirt, an apron and messy hair. A costume like this could be fun, free, and reusable as it has come from clothing already in your wardrobe. Although there are many solutions, there is no right answer when it comes to still participating in traditions while also being climate conscious. All we can do is be conscious of our purchases and how they effect the environment around us.

SURVIVING FIVE NIGHTS A movie review of the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie

by Annie Green

n Oct. 27, I embarked on a life-changing journey in the cinema world; I went to attend the opening weekend of Blumhouse Productions’ “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” As a child, I vividly remember watching playthroughs of Scott Cawthorn’s “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” whether it was Jacksepticeye, Jschlatt or “The King of FNAF’’ himself, Markiplier. When I heard that “Five Nights at Freddy’s” was becoming a film, I was so excited to see a huge part of my childhood become a film on a screen. I am so excited to see so many people bond over Scott Cawthorn’s fictional franchise. It’s so cool to know that people have the same, positive experience that I have from the video games. When Cawthorn released the first game in 2014, the video game industry was changed forever because of the newest survival game: “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” Though the multi-game franchise can be extremely confusing and hard to follow, it is a powerful concept that has affected millions of people around the globe. Now the review: “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” starring Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard and Elizabeth Lail, has easily been one of the best movies released based off of a video game franchise in the history of cinema. I mean, sure. We have “The Last of Us” starring Pedro Pascal, we have “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” starring Chris Pratt and we have “Uncharted” starring Tom Holland. But I truly think that Scott Cawthorn has taken the world by storm and will continue to do so in the future. As of Nov. 8, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” has a rating of 29 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, despite the positive feedback from the average fan attending the theater. I particularly enjoyed the film because of the relation to the famous “fnaf lore” that had a huge play into the plot and the setting. With Freddy, Chica, Foxy, Bonnie, Springtrap and last but not least, Balloon Boy and William Afton all making appearances, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” is a wonderful movie that allows fans to relate to the video games, the books and different kinds of music, and it helps grow people together over the extremely famous franchise throughout the world.

OPINION

THE POWER OF WORDS The Triangle staff analyzes whether gossip is worth it

alking alone down the hallway during passing period can be a very monotonous task. As he treads behind a group of people, he reaches for his headphones to listen to music. Right before he puts them on, however, he overhears his name in the conversation in front of him. What was initially a boring, two-minute walk turned into a race of keeping up with the people in front of him, desperate to know what is being said about him. This student, like many others, is a victim of gossip. Gossip, according to the Cambridge dictionary, is “conversation or reports about other people’s private lives that might be unkind, disapproving or not true.” The paradoxical reality of gossip is that while people do not want their own personal lives discussed, they still choose to discuss other people’s lives. One motivating factor that was found as to why people choose to gossip is the driving power of revenge. As Psychology Today explains, using conversations to demean or minimize a person that the

gossipers dislike can provide them with a feeling of payback. Furthermore, gossip can also give individuals a feeling of power, whether that be the power of possessing secret information or the power of being “superior” to people with gossip-worthy problems. Talking about others behind their backs produces a sense of gratification for many. But, even if it is enjoyable, do the impacts of gossip have a greater negative impact than the fleeting emotional reward for sharing the latest rumor? Sixty-two percent of the Triangle staff believes that gossiping, in general, can be considered more harmful than fun. There is no shortage of negative effects from judgmental or malicious gossip. According to Very Well Family, overhearing rumors or sensitive information about oneself that has been spread by other people can cause deterioration in a person’s self-confidence, self-esteem and multiple aspects of their mental health. Additionally, gossip can lead to ruined reputations and individuals being ostracized from friend groups. However, gossip has also been proven

COMICS BY KIKO

comic by Kiko Thompson

EDITORIAL

to have positive psychological impacts. As Hartsfield Planning suggests, gossiping can help friendships develop by building trust and releasing “happy” hormones such as oxytocin. Additionally, gossip can provide a space to talk through a problem with another person and resolve issues. Discussing situations that have negatively impacted an individual can also help to relieve that stress and anxiety through simply letting the emotions flow into conversation. Although the word “gossip” is typically assigned a negative connotation, unexpected benefits have been proven to result from talking through stressful situations or complicated issues. In its purest form, gossip is just another form of communication. And like any other kind of communication, it can be used to help or to harm. Learning to think carefully about the kinds of conversations one chooses to have could very well lead to a world where “gossip” isn’t seen as an act of betrayal or malicious intent, but instead another tool to learn from mistakes and build stronger relationships.

Kiko Thompson illustrates the cycle of gossip in high school

HERO

As part of Kiko Thompson’s senior project, she developed storyboards created by students into three-panel comics. This is one of three that Thompson created.

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DID YOU HEAR?..

Highlighting the phenomenon of gossip and rumors among high school students by Izzy Munn, Deshna Venkatachalam and Lydia Weed design by Sylvia Sasse

IN-DEPTH

he peaceful library is filled with hushed voices. Open textbooks and computers are ignored as students immerse themselves into the world of gossip and rumors. This distraction among students is something that just about everyone takes part in, even if they don’t realize it. NBC News states that gossip is any talk about someone who isn’t present. Usually, it is about something that we can make a moral judgment about. English teacher David Spencer teaches lots of different pieces of work throughout the school year, many of which contain themes of rumors and gossip. “Gossip is very entertaining and it’s kind of like the grease that keeps society moving,” Spencer said. “The way I teach it with The Great Gatsby is with a few articles and books that show the development of gossip in our society.” By taking part in gossiping, words can be spread in a matter of minutes. Spencer believes that this is a natural instinct, especially for students. “You can’t function without making judgments every day. The more we just automatically judge people, it becomes like a sport or recreation for some people,” Spencer said. “Especially in high school when you’re surrounded by hundreds of people, you’re just naturally going to have that tendency to judge others. It’s like a switch that’s been flipped and it’s very hard to turn off.” In a high school setting, gossip can be used to take up time or is inadvertently worked into conversation with others. Teenagers gossip as a way to observe the people around them. “Once they become smarter and more intellectual, they analyze people. They try to draw conclusions about who they let into our inner circle and who to stay away from,” Spencer said. However natural gossip may be, it can also turn harmful and end up hurting others in the process. “We gossip especially about those who have more power than us because we want to hold them to a

higher standard,” Spencer said. “The part where it goes overboard is when people just get mean and nasty about gossip and it’s not about do we trust someone; it’s about marginalizing people. High school is a breeding ground for that because of boredom. It’s something that passes the time and is fun.” Realizing the negative impacts of gossip within the school system, Spencer takes this as an opportunity for his students to better understand the concept. “The reason we study [gossip] in the 21st century is because of the dangers of conformity, peer pressure, and the slippery slope of how accusations are made in modern society,” Spencer said. “It is something I think all young people should carefully examine.” According to NBC News, women tend to engage in more neutral gossip than men. Neutral gossip, according to However, both men and women tend to indulge in negative and positive gossip equally. Looking at this from a school perspective, The Triangle conducted a stratified random sample in order to determine the gender divide of general gossip. Among different resource classes, the results concluded that out of the 28 people surveyed, 14 of each respective gender, girls tend to gossip more than boys. Of the girls surveyed, 74 percent of them answered “yes” when asked if they gossip. However, of the boys surveyed, only 36 percent answered “yes.” Sophomore Gabrielle Revell explains why she believes The Triangle received these results. “I think there tends to be a stereotype that girls gossip more than boys. But I disagree, guys usually don’t just call it gossiping,” Revell said. Revell states that the difference in definition of gossip among genders helps us understand the results of the survey. Senior Aryan Tatnis explains his personal definition of gossip. “It is the spreading of rumors or things that you think are true, but it’s usually hearsay and not based on

“When I’m bored with my friends and we hear about something shocking, we debrief.” sophomore Clemense Delfosse “I’m a people pleaser, so I fall into the temptation to also talk about others.” junior Taelynn Cain “Over thousands of years we’ve made [gossip] something we’re so good at. It is what makes human society so unique.” English Teacher David Spencer IN-DEPTH

facts,” Tatnis said. Tatnis elaborates on his belief that the root of gossip stems from peoples’ need to be known. “A lot of people gossip for attention. They will say something crazy or out of the normal and people will feed into it,” Tatnis said. On the other hand, Revell believes that gossip can be seen in both a positive and negative light. With many purposes, there can be lots of different outcomes. “Gossip being harmful definitely depends on intentions in my opinion,” Revell said. “Gossip is so often used to harm others, but can also just be a method of communication and spreading information. If you aren’t saying things that would hurt someone else, I don’t see it as a bad thing At a school with a population of over 2,000 students, Revell states that gossip can come naturally to everyone. “The problem with having such a big school is that it’s so hard to know everything, especially when there is so little communication,” Revell said. “It feels almost unavoidable.” Tatnis discusses the different types of communication in which gossip can be seen or heard. “People probably gossip the most via Instagram and social media,” Tatnis said. “They also do it when they’re with a small group of friends.” According to Psychology Today, online platforms are cesspools for gossip. It’s easier to spread more harmful words because of the ability to stay anonymous. Additionally, anything put out of the internet by students is subject to gossip. Spencer states that the easy sharing features on social media also contribute to gossip. “When I was in high school in the early 2000s we had social media, but it’s such a feedback loop where people expect clicks, likes, reposts,” Spencer said. “That’s all in the name of sharing.” Gossip has changed throughout the years but is still prevalent in everyday conversations. Spencer suggests that the evolution of the human race is what made gossip natural. It can be seen as a skill used to bond with others and maintain social order. “Over thousands of years, we’ve made it something we are so good at. It is what makes human society unique,” Spencer said.

IN-DEPTH

Within society, gossip can be useful in order to build trust and relationships with the people around you. “We are still trying to figure out who the people we can turn to are when we don’t know who we can trust. I think that’s why we gossip and that’s valuable,” Spencer said. “We just need to be careful about gossiping with no evidence.”

we randomly selected 14 boys and 14 girls to respond to the question...

DO YOU GOSSIP? 12 GIRLS (74%)

“YES”

5 BOYS (36%) 2 GIRLS (26%)

“NO”

9 BOYS (84%)

GOSSIP DEFINED BY THE STUDENT BODY “Spilling the tea.” freshman Luke Hunter “Rumors that can get you into problems with others.” sophomore Alandra Caceres “Talking down on others with a motive.” sophomore Dayana Arau-Ortiz “Talking about someone other than you.” freshman Ben Wiltrout IN-DEPTH

MARCHING TO THE END

pplause fills the stadium and the Jumbotron and lights create a mixture of light and color as they reflect off of the numerous seats and fences. The band emerges from the tunnel on to the field, retracing the steps of the numerous bands competing that day. The crowd quiets down and the stadium fills with awe and silence as the band begins to perform. The sound of the instruments come together into a harmonious mixture of sound and color. Senior front ensemble member Gabby Graham recounts how the stadium made her feel. “It’s really exhilarating to be in such a massive performance area,” Graham said. “Even though it’s just the same old football field I’ve played on a hundred times, it feels so much different. It’s really cool to be able to walk through all the same tunnels and entrances that professional football players do yet be there for a completely different event.” Junior colorguard member Kate London shares her feelings while being at the stadium to perform. “Performing at Lucas Oil is really awesome [with] the big Jumbotron, all the seats, all the people and how high you have to look up to the press box to see the judges,” London said. “It’s just a lot different than performing in a high school stadium and makes me feel a lot more important.”

The Sound and Spirit of Columbus went to Lucas Oil Stadium for the Bands of America Super Regionals competition on Oct. 21 by Gabriel Carrillo design by Claire Davis

Graham explains the process of preparing for the show. “The prep was rigorous from a music, visual and technical standpoint,” Graham said. “Bands of America (BOA) is a really big competition and we were facing some of the best bands in the country which can be pretty intimidating. It took a lot of hard work and hours upon hours of practice on and off the field, but it was definitely worth it.” London gives insight into the morning before the show. “We had to get here at 6:45 in the morning, change into uniform, load up all the buses and leave,” London said. “So I did feel pretty unprepared when we got there because we hadn’t practiced at all. I hadn’t really touched any of my equipment or done any of my show, but it was still a good experience and it was still fun.” Senior drum major Luke Dornfeld describes how the practice for drum majors are different from how the rest of the band practices for a show. “We are with the band the whole time and we help them out a lot,” Dornfeld said. “The thing is that they have to warm up musically with their instruments so I usually just think about the show and try to get “Locked-in”.” Graham shares her practice checklist for her and the fellow members of the front ensemble. “Since I’m in the front ensemble we practice a bit different from the band,”

Graham said. “While the band has to focus on both music and marching, the [front ensemble] focuses mainly on music as well as adding visuals and facial expressions to enhance our general effect and visual scores.” London shares how the colorguard’s practices are different from the rest of the band. “Marching band is both a musical and visual performance, but [the] color guard is just that visual aspect of it so we don’t have any musical aspect,” London said. “On a normal day from 5:30 to 6:30, every section will be warming up and the colorguard will warm up by ourselves. Then we’ll come together to work on the show in little chunks.” All of that practice is meant to continue getting better for every performance. Graham shares how she and her fellow members of the band felt after the performance. “I was still filled with a lot of energy and felt proud of how our band did as a whole,” Graham said. “It was really nice to see how others were coming off the field too. There were people who had a massive grin on their face giving our drum majors hugs and high fives.”

WHO IS IN THE BAND?

A breakdown of the sections and people . involved in the Sound and Spirit of Columbus.

DRUMLINE

Provides the beat and tempo of the music.

BRASS

Plays the melodies and harmonies of the songs. Comprised of instruments that have bell-like shapes.

SPORTS

DRUM MAJORS Carries out instructions and conducts the band.

WOODWINDS

Plays the melodies and harmonies of the songs. Comprised of instruments that use reeds.

PIT

Comprised of percussion instruments, which play in front of the band and do not march.

COLOR GUARD

Performs the theatrics side of marching band through dance and story telling.

MAKING A SPLASH Diving coach Nicole Decker and her divers reflect on her upcoming last season as a coach

by Alex Osburn design by Sarynel Barbosa fter the bell rings and the school day ends, splashes of swimmers and divers entering the pool echo throughout the athletics building. Coaches and athletes alike leave behind the worries of school, work or home and come together with the common purpose of making every flip and every stroke count. Diving coach Nicole Decker has been coaching here since 2018, and this school year marks her last season as a full-time coach in the world of diving. “I’ve just been involved with diving for a really long time, and I’m ready to have some time away from the pool and away from school,” Decker said. “I’ll probably still help out, I just won’t be the person completely in charge.” Decker herself dove throughout high school and college, and being a coach has allowed her to form bonds with current student athletes as she helps them grow. “[My favorite part about coaching is] mostly just getting to hang out with my divers and kind of build those relationships, and also watch them learn things and be successful,” Decker said. One way Decker builds a successful team is by motivating her divers to always put forth their best effort. Senior diver Ella Gray

Partin describes how Decker has encouraged the team during practices. “Toward the end of practice we all kind of didn’t want to be there that much because it was really cold, it was a struggle,” Partin said. “So she would feed us Goldfish after we would do a dive, so that was fun.” Partin has been diving for Decker for three years, and she reflects on what she has gained from their time working together. “I think she is a great coach,” Partin said. “She’s really amazing for you if you’re struggling mentally on an aspect of a dive, and I think her years coaching have been amazing and very helpful for everyone. I hope she continues doing whatever she does with great passion.” Senior diver Haley Potter echoes how Decker is able to help her athletes improve in not just the physical, but the mental aspects of diving. “[Decker has taught me] to keep pushing yourself and just to try and get rid of those mental blocks and just do the dive, because it might turn out better than you thought it would,” Potter said. Through her time working with divers as a coach, Decker has had the opportunity to experience a different

aspect of the sport than what she saw as an athlete. “I have learned that it takes a lot of patience, not just the coaching part of it, but just being at meets when they’re long and they take a long time,” Decker said. “It’s different from a coaching side than being an athlete, so I guess you could just say I’ve gained a little more perspective and respect for all the people that I’ve worked with when I was an athlete.”

DIVE THROUGH THE PAST Key events in Decker’s journey as both a diver and a coach

2000

2005

2006

2007

2008

Starts diving age 10

grade 9 3rd in Ohio state tournament

grade 10 2nd in Ohio state tournament

grade 11 2nd in Ohio state tournament; goes to China for international meet

grade 12 2nd in Ohio state tournament

2009 - 2011

2012 - 2018

2018 - 2024

2023 - 2024

Dives for Indiana University; IU diving team wins Big Ten Championship all three years

Coaches diving at Bloomington North HS and Tri-North Middle School

Coaches diving at CNHS

Last season as a diving coach at CNHS

photo by Grace Wheatley Decker coaches a diver at practice.

SPORTS

FINAL WHISTLE Despite facing defeat in the Semi-State match against Cathedral, the boys soccer team fought until the very end and recount the season by Jasmine Yang design by Emma Warnock

he clock on the scoreboard reads 0:59. Despite the cool breeze sending a chill through spectators, sweat drips off the foreheads of the soccer players. As the goalkeeper prepares to take the goal kick, players are bent over, panting and trying to catch their breath. They glance at the scoreboard again and sigh as they read the 2-1 score. When the final whistle blows, players walk off the field in disappointment. Senior soccer player Nico Gotoh describes how he was able to find a positive outcome out of the loss. “I thought the season was quite successful,” Gotoh said. “Our goal this year was to win state, which is unfortunate, but I think reaching all the way to the final four is awesome. I think the team really grew and we matured a lot, so I’d say it’s pretty successful.”

When persevering through the lows of the challenges he faced while playing, Gotoh recounts his favorite part about being able to play soccer. “Winning games and scoring goals is really fun,” Gotoh said. “Also, the connection you get [from] playing soccer. A lot of my friendships are based on soccer.” While friendships are one form of relationship able to be formed through soccer, sophomore Jackson Johnson joined soccer due to his relationship with his brother. “My brother did it and he played a huge role in my life, so I just decided to follow what he did,” Johnson said. For Gotoh, he took inspiration from his father, along with seeing the sport on the TV. “My dad started playing soccer and he inspired me to play soccer, and just watching soccer on the TV inspired me,” Gotoh said.

Sophomore Jonah Sipes also took inspiration from his family. Despite the setbacks he faced when he first began playing soccer here, he found a way to persevere. “Starting high school, I thought that I would play varsity a lot, but I didn’t really play varsity a lot, so I had to work harder to get to that level,” Sipes said. “Just working hard [helped me overcome the challenges].” Gotoh defined what helped him stay motivated throughout the 12 years he has played soccer. “Perseverance and determination,” Gotoh said. “You have to be determined to reach your goals because in soccer it’s not going to be easy to get where you want to go. I think if you stay motivated and you have a set goal, you can work toward it and achieve it.”

HOW FAR THEY GO Years the boys soccer team has gone to State, Semi-State, Regionals and Sectionals

State: 2012

Regionals:

photo by Neftali Juarez

Senior Nico Gotoh runs across the field during the Semi-State match on Oct. 21 against Cathedral

SPORTS

1994, 1998, Semi-State: 2001 2000, 2001, 2009 2002, 2007, Sectionals: 2011 2008, 2009, 1994, 1998, 2012 2011, 2012, 2000, 2001, 2022 2013, 2016, 2002, 2007, 2023 2022, 2023 2009, 2019, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2022, 2023

Source IHSAA

A LEAP OF FAITH

Gymnasts and coaches discuss their opinions and goals for the new season

by Nicolas Bowers design by Maia Jamieson

ymnastics is a lot of things to a lot of people here. For coach Bob Arthur, it’s “a second life”. For junior Arwyn Tian, it’s a place for her to “improve her skills”. For freshman Emerson Chambers, it’s a way to build “athleticism”. For junior Reese Euler, it’s helped her “understand the importance of hard work.” Gymnastics is a sport that North has recently succeeded at after placing fourth at the State championship last year, according to CNHS Athletics. With a new season starting, gymnasts take this time to reflect and look at the upcoming season. For Euler, it’s been a lifelong passion. “I went to a birthday party when I was like 3 or 4 at Jodie’s Gymnastics Zone and then I started classes there,” Euler said. “When that closed, I went to Victory Gymnastics Academy and I did club there up until sixth grade. I didn’t do it seventh or eighth grade, but then a lot of my friends from the club did North gymnastics because they’re older than me and I just followed them and went to North gymnastics too.” It’s a similar story for Tian, who started at a young age as well. “I always wanted to be a gymnast,”

Tian said. “I started wanting to be a gymnast when I was six years old in gym class when we started doing a small gymnastics unit. I didn’t start for a few years after when I was 8 or 9 years old.” Over the years, each of the gymnasts found their favorite event. “I like the floor, just because there’s a lot of different things you can do,” Chambers said. Euler, on the other hand, explains why she prefers the vault. “My favorite event is vault because you have two tries, and it’s something that I used to not be good at,” Euler said. “I worked at it so now I understand if you work hard you can get something good out of it.” To demonstrate their skills, the gymnasts have an extensive schedule of meets they attend each year, always hoping to do well at State. Euler explains that while meets can be stressful, they can also be really fun. “I love getting ready for meets, especially like ones on the weekend or bigger meats because all of my friends and I would take pictures and we get ready together,” Euler said. “It’s just so much fun.” Arthur explains how he plays an extensive role in how the team prepares for meets. “It’s a little different coaching girls gymnastics, and we’re all a little bit different,

but for the most part, it’s just trying to stay level and trying to be prepared,” Arthur said. “Trying to know who’s going to go in what spot and basically just keeping my head on straight.” Arthur has a long history of gymnastics success in Indiana. “From my former high school days I met another guy up at Purdue,” Arthur said. “We started a gymnastics club there since I already got my name out there. I got tapped on the shoulder to coach a small community called Rossville, which is a little bit east of Lafayette. That started my coaching career when I came back to Columbus. They had some openings at the gymnastic center. Eventually, it turned into a North position. I did my first position here at North in 1983, and haven’t looked back since.” Euler explains that for the upcoming season, there’s a lot of optimism. “My goal this year is to win State,” Euler said. “At least like an event or hopefully all-around at state because I came close last year, so I feel like if I fix everything that happened last year then this year, I should hopefully win something at state.”

MEET SCHEDULE Jan. 3, Franklin Central Jan. 8, Columbus East Jan. 11, Bloomington North Jan. 18, New Palestine Jan. 25, Bloomington South Feb. 1, Seymour Feb. 6, Roncalli Feb. 10, CHS Invitational Feb. 12, Conference Indiana Feb. 24, Sectionals Mar. 9, State Finals

Junior Reese Euler

photo by Grace Wheatley SPORTS

MUSICAL MAYHEM A look at the music taste of students

by Ajay Singireddy

GENRE BREAKDOWN 8% 16%

ROCK

INDIE

POP

CLASSICAL

COUNTRY

RAP

23%

OTHER 20%

5% 13%

15%

HOW MANY PLAY?

31% of students play a musical instrument

“One of my favorite music genres is Broadway musicals because I love getting to hear the stories and the emotion and range in the songs.” senior Kenzie Pendleton

“My favorite genre is pop because it is interesting to see different subtypes of music and see how they fit together.” junior Srilaksmi Srivathsan

WHAT IS PLAYED? #3 SAXOPHONE (7 RESPONDENTS) #2 GUITAR (15 RESPONDENTS) #1 PIANO (16 RESPONDENTS) A total of 185 students were surveyed from resource classrooms