sue two >> volume 91 >> is
oct. 19, 2011
. . . h g u o n e s i h g u o en reness a w A e c n le io Domestic V oblem in six r p a is e c n October isom le page stic Vio month. D s aned here at North. Turonwtoyou can Columbupersonal account and h to read a the warning signs recognize
photo by Keely Collier
inside ... what’s important to you
In this issue of The Triangle, we featured 60 different kids. Are you one of them?
15
your expression
04 Staff editorial
We challenge you to help prevent domestic violence here
24 “Adam LeClerc’s Monster Mash”
Check out the first-ever “Monster Mash” comic
your life
06-08 When love hurts
Read a personal account, statistics, warning signs and an observation of a court case
10-11 Fear
What is fear? Why are we afraid of certain things? Why do we think fear is fun? Answers to those questions and more
your friends
13 C4 motivation
Check out how students here engage in hands-on C4 classes that make high school meaningful for them
22 To view news daily, check out www. cnhsmedia. com
19
your weekend 18 Ride for Riley
Jon Foust’s Senior Project was personal. Learn about his story and why he chose his project
21 Halloween tell-all
Need a good laugh? Curious about everyone’s favorite candy? Turn to page 21 to read about everything Halloween
...
how you exercise your freedom of
our staff editor-in-chief Katie Kutsko
n o i s s e r exp
content editors Hillary McCloskey Vanessa Staublin managing editor Whitney Olibo copy editor Ramya Vijayogopal design editor Grace Snider social media manager Jenny Dieckmann
ourvoice: staff editorial The Triangle has a challenge for Columbus North, a challege to educate itself and to stand up against domestic violence
photo editor Keely Collier business manager Rob Young maestro leaders Kyla Ball Erika Espinoza Roth Lovins staff Kelli Booker Andy Carr Annie Day Nick Edwards Jadea Graves Dean Anthony Gray Alexus Jenkins Ian Kincer Taylor Kirchner Carrie Latimer Adam LeClerc Sierra Lollar Caiti Morris Neal Shaw Dylan Thixton Michael Vogel Amanda Wheeler Emily Wilkerson adviser Kim Green To view The Triangle’s editorial policy, visit cnhsmedia.com
What is an issue you think The Triangle needs to cover? Drop a letter to the editor off in room 177 by Tues., Nov. 8 to let the student body hear what you have to say.
04
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ere’s a scary statistic: According to the National Coalition Against Domestic abuse, one in three teens experiences some kind of abuse in their relationships. That means one in three of our friends, our classmates and our teammates will experience, or already have experienced, some form of abuse in their relationships. We do not know who they are when we walk down the halls or sit in class; they will more than likely remain silent. If our peers remain silent, how are we supposed to reach out? How will we be able to suspect a problem? On the flip side, what if someone we know is questioning whether or not he or she is being abused? What do we do? First, we need to educate ourselves on what exactly abuse is, what the signs are and what the steps to getting help are. To do that, we have to treat this very serious issue just that way -seriously. It cannot be taken lightly when someone’s life is at risk. We need to be sensitive about the topic and not joke about it because we never know what the person we’re joking with has been through. That is not a risk anyone should be willing to take. We also need to get serious about helping others. When life gets hard, that is when our friends and family need us the most. We have to be the support and strength for them when they have none. It is our responsibility to remind them how much they are capable of doing, to remind them how much they contribute to their family and community and most importantly to remind them how important they really are in the lives of others. So, here is our challenge: We need to rise to the occasion when we recognize the signs of domestic violence occurring in a fellow student. We cannot just wait for someone else to intervene. We need to gather the courage to reach out to our peers in a respectful, yet purposeful, way. Meaning, we need to find the appropriate time and place to brave the abuse and remind ourselves to keep his or her’s best interest in mind. If noone else says something, who will? It’s up to us to make a difference.
Greedygluttons W
e’ve all seen the devastating pictures of starving children in the commercials asking us to “donate money today.” But have any of us actually considered what rothlovins an effect we, as Americans, have on the rest of the world? Since my recent trip to Haiti, I have noticed how the things I do affect people on the other side of the world. One of the things that has bothered me the most after my integration back into society is how we spend our time, money and energy for mere forms of entertainment. An example that fits each of the categories is the television show
Junior encourges giving more, gorging less
“Man vs. Food.” Adam Richman, the star of the show, goes from coast to coast to find the largest foods. He then attempts to eat the large amount of food in a given time slot. For one thing, I find the fact that Richman can eat about 15 fully-loaded wieners in 45 minutes to be gut-wrenching. I don’t care if he does have the stomach to eat that much. I don’t want to watch that, or even think about it, for that matter. Why should a man be paid to go across America eating his weight in food when there are thousands of children and families all over the world dying from hunger? The “A Billion for a Billion” program is an organization that works to reduce hunger and malnutrition everywhere. In fact, according to http://wf.org/1billion, one child dies from hunger every six seconds. The organization believes that just $5 will provide one child with
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yourvoice
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Have you ever let fear stop you from doing something that you wantedto do?
What is your biggest fear?
388 responses:
435 responses:
Sophomore reflects after wisdom teeth removed ost teens have to go through getting their wisdom teeth taken out. Normally, people get them taken out before the teeth grow completely and cause damage. People are normally in their teens when this happens. alexusjenkins Most oral surgeons prefer to put teens to sleep to avoid them moving or freaking out from hearing the sounds that surgery causes. I got my wisdom teeth removed on Sept. 21. When I woke up that morning, I was so scared. I didn’t know what to expect. Before my surgery, I waited in the waiting room nervously. The woman at the front desk told me everything was going to be okay, and I had nothing to worry about. At first, I really didn’t believe her. When I was called back to the operation room, the surgeon hooked me up to a heart monitor to keep track of my heart rate while I was sleeping. This was to make sure that I was breathing normally. I don’t remember anything that happened in the time that I was under the medication. I woke up from my surgery and found I was ready to go home. The doctor released me because everything seemed to be fine. I was given pain medicine and a medicine that stopped an infection from occurring. Finally I got home, ate noodles and slept the whole day. The day of surgery, I couldn’t really feel much pain because I was still numb. However, the day after surgery was really painful because the numbness had worn off. I tried my best to sleep that day, but because of the pain I really couldn’t sleep very much. Even though I am still a little sore around my jaws, I can move around and eat normally. Although my mouth feels healed, I still can’t drink out of a straw or do anything that could cause a dry socket until one week has passed since the surgery. Getting all four of my wisdom teeth removed seemed scary at first. Yet now that I’ve been through the process, it really isn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
oct. 19, 2011
healthy meals for a whole year. Now I’m not saying you have to donate $5 to the organization every month, but there are little things that you can do to help kids all over the world. One of the local charities is the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. This campaign provides vaccinations, education and clean and healthy meals to children all over the world so that they can live normal, healthy lives. According to youth.unicefusa.org, the money collected this year will support The Eliminate Project, which will support elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus globally. The disease claims the lives of nearly 60,000 mothers and newborns each year. Again, you don’t have to call the number on your screen every time the commercials come on. Maybe just dig out the spare change and donate so that children will live and prosper to the best of their ability. It’s the little things that make the biggest difference.
The Triangle attempted to survey 20 percent of the student body on its fears
116 Yes, I regret it. 92 Yes, I learned
something from it. 29 No, I am not afraid of anything. 151 No, even though I do have fears, I do not let them stop me.
Halloweenversus
62 Rejection 74 Heights 110 Bugs/ Spiders/ Snakes
189 Not listed
by Andy Carr, Ian Kincer and Adam LeClerc
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what’s happening in your
life...
what’s new Look for Circles Day Nov. 2- Pull out your monocle (hey, there’s one!) and start hunting.
On a more serious note, the next school board meeting is Nov. 14. Go see what’s being planned for the future of our school.
Try to be nice to your annoying siblings and stop harrassing your teachers; Thursday Nov. 17 is World Peace Day. All jokes aside, here’s to a future with less violence.
Many of you may know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but we bet you didn’t know that October is also: Cookie Month National Popcorn Month Adopt a Shelter Dog Month American Pharmacist Month Apple Jack Month Computer Learning Month National Diabetes Month National Pizza Month National Vegetarian Month Sarcastic Month Seafood Month compiled by Ramya Vijayagopal
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when love hurts... photo by Keely Collier
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month. The Triangle takes a look at the dangers of domestic violence in hopes of helping someone in this situation. One senior girl shares her experiences from an abusive relationship
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hey started dating her sophomore year. They were so happy together. Six months of a relationship that was “completely perfect.” And then it all changed. This girl, now a senior, was in the best relationship of her life; or so she thought. The months to come, however, would tell a rather different story. She started dating a junior boy in the spring of her sophomore year. “We started off as best friends, and then we started liking each other more and more as time went on,” she said, “We just had really good chemistry.” She was charmed by his fun attitude and sense of humor.
“We were always laughing and having fun together,” she said. Her hopes for a long, great relationship were shattered when he broke up with her “for no reason at all” about six months into their relationship. “It all went downhill from there,” she said. While they were apart, she began seeing other guys. However, when he found out she went on a date with another guy, he lost it. On one occasion after he found out, they were together in private. “He got really mad, and he took my phone. Then when I tried to reach around behind him to get it, he grabbed me and threw me on the ground,” she said.
That was the first time he had significantly shown his violent side. About a week later, he apologized. “He said it would never happen again,” she said. Not too long later, “it” happened again. They were in the car. “I can’t remember what we were arguing about, but he kept getting really jealous about something, then he pushed me really hard against the door, and I hit my head on the dashboard. That hurt pretty badly,” she said. This scared her. He said he would change. “He had yelled before, and that was pretty scary, but I didn’t think that he would pick me up
wary
signs
Extreme Constant jealousy and interrogation, overprotectiveness accusation and lack of trust
doesn’t.”
Pressure to go further sexually than you are comfortable with
To read about another student’s experience with domestic violence, visit cnhsmedia.com
Frequent following, stalking or spying
managed to end an official relationship with him, but he still calls for her. “He knows that we aren’t dating, but sometimes he still thinks he has control over me, and he doesn’t,” she said. “I tell him that, but then he just says how he loves me and how we should be together, and even though we’re not dating, we should act like we are. We sometimes try to have a period of separation, where we don’t talk to each other, but he always ends up texting me or calling me, and I get sucked back into it.” Some of her friends remain by her side for comfort. After two years of repression, one friend is just now finding out the details. “It wasn’t very long ago, probably about two weeks ago when we first talked about it in detail,” her friend, a senior, said. “I had had my suspicions before that, but I didn’t really want to pressure her into telling me about it. I was just there for moral support and to comfort her.” Although he is gone most of the time now, and she has the closure and comfort of her friends, she still has some ties to separate. “I’ve realized that this is not how it’s supposed to be,” she said. “But now I can’t quite seem to get out of it.” by Andy Carr
Absolute control over where you go and what you do
by the
Physical abuse such as punching, grabbing, slapping or rape
numbers Here are the nation’s numbers on domestic violence
80
of physically abused girls continue dating their abuser Percent
of couples report abuse in their relationship
33
of teens experience some kind of violence in their relationship
40
Percent
was able to manipulate her more and more, saying and doing even worse things to her. “There’s no reason to call a girl bad names like that. He’s always done that,” she said. “He always threatens me. He would be like, ‘If you hang out with this person this weekend, I’m going to do stuff with this girl next weekend.’” It got to the point where she herself could not even confront him about it. “He would always blackmail me,” she said. “When we were fighting, he would always say, ‘Don’t talk to me. If you come up and talk to me in front of people, I’m going to embarrass you in front of everyone.’ So I couldn’t even talk to him in person because he would just embarrass me.” Blackmail. That was one of his main tools to control her and keep the word from getting out about how he treated her. The situation continued all throughout high school. She began to realize why he was doing this and how she had allowed him to all this time. “I think when he broke up with me, and I still wanted to be around him, he knew that I was still attached. After that, I feel like he knew he could do whatever he wanted with me and I would be okay with it,” she said. Currently, they do not see each other as much as they used to. She
Prevention of contact between you, your friends and family
of domestic abuse incidents occur between nonmarried couples
15
Percent
said if I told anyone, he would beat them up. I didn’t want to put anyone else in harm’s way, so I told them not to talk to him about it,” she said. And so his reign of terror continued. He yelled at her. He threatened her. He called her names. “If he said something mean to me or called me something really bad, I told him it was not okay to treat me like that. But he always made it seem like I initiated it, like it was my fault,” she said. Causing her to internalize the reasons for her mistreatment, he
Demands to see your text messages and Facebook conversations
Percent
“He still thinks he has control over me, and he
significant
Percent
and throw me into something,” she said. “That scared me and it made me not want to be around him anymore. You never know when he’s going to snap again.” As the situation got worse, she confided in some of her friends, and her parents found out as well. “I told a couple of close friends. My parents actually found out from a friend. I had confided in them but they were worried about me and told my parents. They were really concerned and didn’t want me to see him anymore,” she said. Her friends willingly stepped to her aid, assuring her that they would confront him about what he had done to her. “I told two people about [the abuse], and they said they would talk to him about it, but then he
Abuse in a relationship is not always easy to spot. Here are signs to watch for, according to Judge Chris Monroe
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know the
of domestic violence victims are men
sources: rno.org and ncadv.org
compiled by Andy Carr, Carrie Latimer, Caiti Morris, Vanessa Staublin and Michael Vogel
oct. 19, 2011
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Courthouse crisis
Judge determines outcome of estranged marriage
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n ironic sequence of events occurred on Oct. 3: a courthouse marriage ceremony and a heated divorce case, both of which were overseen by Judge Chris Monroe. The bride and groom sat with their families in a crowded hallway, anxiously awaiting Monroe. He strolled in, arms full of files, and asked the couple, “Are you ready to do this?” The couple nodded excitedly and followed him into the small courtroom. Once the couple exchanged vows and signed the papers, Monroe left to take care of a completely different case. A couple with two children were getting divorced. The woman, employed by Walmart at the time, had gone to Turning Point several years before, and said she was afraid that something bad was going to happen. “I’m afraid sometimes, [my husband] gets angry often,” the woman said. “There’s no physical abuse. I didn’t take the girls [to Turning Point], I wanted to get established on my own first.” When she had gone to Turning Point, her husband had “gone after her,” according to the woman. Issues of custody and child support are now being settled by Monroe. “The thing is, I don’t know anything for sure about what happened,” Monroe later said. “He could have gone after her in a controlling and aggressive way, or he could have been concerned because he did not know where she was. Often in cases of domestic violence, the woman can begin to lie. Other times, she’s afraid to talk because she’s afraid of her abuser. It really is hard to know what is real.” Yet Monroe, having experience in cases such as these, knows what to look for when it comes to domestic violence. “When a woman is being abused, she goes into survival mode, and I can tell that,” Monroe said. “She’s hyper-vigilant. I have to look for body language and facial expressions.” The topic of custody was brought up, and the tension in the room increased dramatically. “Joint custody is honestly very hard,” Monroe said. “Kids almost never do well with divorce. It affects them like a death in the family would, because the marriage is dying. They need and want stability.” Finally, a conclusion was achieved. The mother would have custody of the children mornings and afternoons on school days and alternating weekends. The woman was not happy with the result Women tend to be passionate when the question of their children and their survival arises, as proven by the mother’s reaction to the joint custody ruling. Judge Monroe has concerns of her own for these children. “I’ve been in the system long enough that I actually have begun to see how habits of domestic violence can be passed on through generations,” said Judge Monroe. “When a child is exposed to that at home, it becomes normalized. They see it, they’re around it, so they’re more likely to engage in it or accept it.” When domestic violence becomes a part of a relationship, those involved are not always aware of it. They can be in denial, make up excuses for the abuser and pretend nothing is wrong with the relationship. “Domestic abuse is characterized almost always by coercive, controlling behavior,” Judge Monroe said. “Abusers are smart. It begins subtly and is is not always apparent to the woman being abused. It can begin with something as simple as a boyfriend always wanting to know who his girlfriend is talking to on the phone. It then can turn into stalking and following, and becomes coercive and controlling.” To protect against an abusive relationship, one must be aware of the signs. If one or more of the signs are present, make the smarter choice and get out of the relationship. by Carrie Latimer
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Helpful hints
Authority sources give advice on abusive relationships When a relationship becomes out of control, the feeling of hopelessness can develop
“She may decide that everything mean that he does to her, she deserves it. She does not tell anyone, and now she tries to live with a secret.’” Mrs. Williamson
There is always hope
“Many people simply don’t know what to do. That call to Turning Point, the police, or that report to a counselor may wind up saving a life.” Police Chief Worton Turning Point is always a place to go for help
“Turning Point is the heart of helping the victim to escape her partner when she is ready. They provide shelter if needed for safety and education for the victim about how they can improve their situation, with schooling or a job, so that they can provide for themselves and their children.” Mrs. Williamson
photo by Carrie Latimer
Some relationships in high school can take a turn for the worse “The teenage years are the time in a person’s life when they are learning and growing. They are just learning about relationships. If they think they are in love, they will frequently accept whatever the other person says or does. If there is not equality in the relationship and the boy dominates, the victim loses her selfesteem and self-worth.” RN and the Columbus Regional Hospital coordinator Debra Williamson
Domestic Violence affects everyone “Domestic violence affects an entire community. We have to work together, citizens, police, social services [and others] to help stop it.” Police Chief Worton
What is domestic violence?
“Domestic violence is a repetitive cycle of verbal or physical actions that are done to control ones partner. It is a pattern of abusive behaviors to establish power and control over their partner using fear and/or intimidation.” Mrs. Williamson compiled by Vanessa Staublin
A CREEPY CONTEST!
Dear students of Columbus North High School, Want to spend an evening in a real haunted location right here in Columbus, Indiana? On Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. Creepy Legends Paranormal Research will randomly choose someone from North to join the team on an investigation of the Crump Theater. You and a guest will accompany Creepy Legends in a real-life paranormal investigation. To enter the contest, you must do the following: 1.) Go to Creepy Legends Paranormal Research
Business Card Sponsors
Facebook page and “Like” us. 2.) Email tooscary4u2bhere@yahoo.com, stating Crump Contest, North Student, your first and last name, your email address and a contact phone number. You must follow ALL the instructions for entering the contest to be eligible to win. The actual investigation will be held in spring 2012 on a Friday night. The winner will be notified of date and time. Winner must be a North student and show student ID prior to the investigation. The winner’s guest must be at least 13 years of age or older. Guest does not have to be a student of North High School. Signed liability wavers will be required by the parents of the contest winner and guest. Good Luck, Contestants! Chris of Creepy Legends
Don’t forget Free Brownie Fridays!
Snappy Tomato Pizza
ertise v d a o t s y a p It
Student Student price for Pricing lunch and Every Day dinner Lunch buffet Monday and through Dinner Friday!
the
Two locations!
Clover Center Clover Center 2353 Beam Rd. 2353 Beam Rd. 372-2300 (812) 372-2300 and West ofand Town West of Town 2451 Jonathan Moore 2451 Johnathan Moore Pike Pike 669-0843 (812) 669-0843
in
riangle For Information regarding Advertising Contact: Rob Young Business Manager
Is it really all in our heads? Students and teacher give their take on the psychology of fear, how it affects daily life and the effects fear can have on the future
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than any of the kids on the cross country team. All I could think of was that I am not going to be a victim,” Pfaffenberger said. As the body responds to fear it releases a hormone called epinephrine, also know as adrenaline. Adrenaline increases rates of blood circulation,
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t drives everything we do. It wakes us up and gets us moving in the morning. It makes us turn the lights on. It forces us to listen to authority. It compels us to do our best. It prompts us to make smart decisions. It influences us to ask questions. “Fear makes us who we are,” senior Lindsey Smith said. Fear of being late. Fear of the dark. Fear of punishment. Fear of the future. Fear of death. Fear of the unknown. Senior Logan Spicer defines fear in his own words. “Anything that causes severe anxiety or trauma,” Spicer said. The fears listed above and all others determine how people react to stressful situations. “If a person fears anything, he will do anything to get away from that fear,” Smith said. When people are placed in a dangerous or seemly dangerous position, they will invoke a natural fight or flight response. Psychology teacher Mrs. Laurie Pfaffenberger felt her body react to fear one night at a lake. “I saw a man that night and wasn’t scared, but when I saw him charging towards me. I took off and I bet I ran faster
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“ makes us who we are.”
breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism. The hormone prepares muscles for exertion. “Adrenaline causes some people freeze up and lock while others run and scream like I did the night at the lake. Adrenaline is a good thing. It gets you moving and pumping. Adrenaline keeps you safe. Adrenaline is a natural way for your body to escape,” Pfaffenberger said. Although fear may be unpleasant, people are still naturally attracted to it. “The feeling that someone feels inside themselves when
they are scared is such an adrenaline rush that they just can’t help but be attracted to it.” Smith said. To get this adrenaline rush, people place themselves in situations in which they feel afraid. This can range from watching a horror movie to riding on a high speed rollercoaster. “I don’t enjoy horror movies because the nightmares I have afterward don’t give the same thrill and adrenaline rush as the movie itself,” Smith said. “I know that I am safe on a roller-coaster and it tickles my stomach, but the movie makes my imagination grow, causing the fear to increase.” The idea the movie plants in Smith’s mind causes a growing paranoia that affects her more strongly than the reality of physically being on a roller-
coaster. To be afraid is normal, but fear can lead to multiple anxiety disorders including general anxiety disorder (GAD), according to Pfaffenberger. “A little fear is good. Worry drives us because worry is a kind of fear. When people are healthy and balanced, this fear and worry drives you to be successful. People that don’t worry get themselves into trouble,” Pfaffenberger said. “When people are exposed to things, they don’t fear it as much, like how people fear other cultures. They fear the other culture until they are exposed to the culture. That’s how they treat phobias. The more you are exposed to things, the less you fear them.” by Hillary McCloskey and Nicholas Edwards
Fearful vs. phobic
A phobia is a fear that has become unreasonable. This check list will help you decided whether your fear is normal according to Psychology Suite 101 Professional and social life is negatively affected by the irrational fear. The fear seems unreasonable to your friends, family and youself. Rearranging your life to avoid your fear to the point it is disrupting your life.
Ready to scream? North students compare two nearby haunted attractions
T
he seventh scariest haunted house in the nation is roughly a fifteen-minute drive from North. Have you taken advantage of it? Sophomore Jason Casey attended the last four years, and according to him, the scare at Seymour’s Fear Fair never got old. “It’s definitely worth it to go,” Casey said. “It’s a lot of fun.” Sophomore Mackenzie Bennett agreed that Fear Fair was an enjoyable scare house. “I like to be scared,” Bennett said. “They really did a good job of that. It had a lot of my favorite scary movie characters, so there really wasn’t any way that it didn’t live up to my expectations.” Sophomore Kane Benjamin revealed what he was thinking throughout the scare house.
“Where’s the next guy? That’s what’s going through my head the whole time,” Benjamin said. The scare was worth the cost. “It was around $15, so it wasn’t that expensive, and it was definitely worth the money,” Casey said. While Fear Fair was going on in Seymour, there is another place that Bull Dogs might have wanted to check out if they were looking for a scare, according to senior Nicole Schoonover. “Scream Acres was one of the scariest things I’ve ever been to!” Schoonover said. Far Cry Field (previously known as Scream Acres) is also cheaper than the Seymour scare house, costing only $10. Although Far Cry Field is a shorter drive, Freshman Keith Salo had a longer wait than he wanted.
“We probably had to wait maybe about 20 minutes,” Salo said. Salo went to both Fear Fair and Far Cry Field, and liked Fear Fair better. “The only problem really with Fear Fair was the wait,” Salo said. “It was definitly better than Far Cry Field, as far as the quality and entertainment.” Disappointment resounded in freshmen like Harvey Velazquez as well when he visited Far Cry Field last fall. “Well, it was good and bad, but all in all the people (working) weren’t really that good,” Velazquez said. “Some were into it, some weren’t, and it really wasn’t all that scary.” Both scare houses had their chills, but they also fell short in places. Which will you choose? by Neal Shaw
Paranormal tracking
photo illustration by Hillary McCloskey
On TV, in movies, we are all accustomed to watching paranmoral investigations, but who knew they were taking place so close to home? Case manager and lead investigator from Columbus Ghost Trackers, Deb Durr, shares information about ghosts, investigations and more Triangle: How was Columbus Ghost Trackers formed? Ms.Durr: Our group formed in June, 2005 with most of our members having their own paranormal experiences occurring or had occurred in the past. Triangle: How would you define paranormal activity? Ms. Durr: Anything out of the ordinary that usually does not occur or happen, such as, a TV suddenly coming on and flipping through channels.
oct. 19, 2011
Triangle:How do you know if a ghost is present? Ms. Durr: If you feel a sudden cold to the point that you have goose bumps or hair standing up on your skin, then a spirit is present. Also, often times, a spirit will also have a scent, such as perfume or a musky type smell, and that too lets you know one is there. Triangle: Is paranormal activity always negative? Ms. Durr: No, paranormal activity is not always negative. They are spirits and they appear
to act much like they did in life because they are the spirit of what used to be a true person. Triangle: What equipment is used for paranormal investigations? Ms. Durr: We pretty much use a lot of the equipment that the well known Ghost Hunters use; DVR cameras (6-9), video cameras, digital cameras, digital recorders, Guass Meters, K2 Meters, flashlights (for communication purposes at times) and whatever other equipment we decide to add to
our collection. Triangle: What is the best way to contact Columbus Ghost Trackers? Ms.Durr: They can email us at cgtrackers@yahoo.com or call my cell phone. That number is available on our website at columbusghosttrackers.com. Also, there is a page on our website that they can also fill out and it will automatically send there message to our email address and to my private email address also.
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what’s up with your
what’s new
In the family
This brother-sister duo have more in common than their last name
Babbling Day- Oct. 21 Release the nonsense that’s been building inside you on Oct. 21. It’s an excuse to unleash your inner insanity; Babbling Day!
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Courage to Climb Auditions: The annual Courage to Climb concert is back, with auditions on Sunday, Nov. 6. The concert is senior Rachel Davison’s senior project.
photo illustration by Dylan Thixton
Tyler and Kayla Combs stand together like they do at Future Farmers of America, or FFA, meetings.
Did you know?
Here are some things you probably didn’t know about FFA
Semi-State Competition for Sound of North- Oct. 22 Our very own Sound of North has a major competition on Sat. Oct. 21 at Ben Davis High School. Cheer on your friends and help them to a victory.
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compiled by Ramya Vijayagopal
...
friends
FFA is the largest high school student organization. A group of young farmers founded FFA in 1928.
FFA motto: “Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve” Today, there are 523, 309 FFA members, ranging ages 12-21, in 7, 487 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rica and the Virgin Islands.
89 percent of FFA members are in high school
hen senior Kayla Combs hears someone say that FFA is Future Farmers of America, she puts more explanation into it. “When someone says that, they think it is only farmers. They don’t think of anything else with it,” Kayla said. “It is not cows, plows and sows. It’s the interest in agriculture.” “FFA is a national organization of young adults that have an interest in agriculture,” Kayla said. “I love FFA and it has always been a part of my life.” Combs’ brother, sophomore Tyler Combs, is also in FFA. “FFA with my brother is pretty good. We don’t really do stuff together, in my perspective, which to me is even better,” she said. Tyler feels that being apart of FFA has made an impact on his life. Tyler has been in FFA for two years now. Kayla introduced him. “My sister is the one who got me started in FFA and I used this opportunity to become more involved,” Tyler said. One of Kayla’s friends introduced her. “Brilynn Roberts is a really close friend of mine, who has graduated, and she is the one who introduced me to Mrs. Fairchild and FFA,” Kayla said. Mrs. Fairchild is the FFA advisor for the Columbus FFA Chapter. Kayla and Tyler are both under her chapter. “Kayla is down to earth and she doesn’t hold back. She says what needs to be said and does what needs to be done,” Fairchild said. “Tyler is laid back, hilarious, and willing to do anything for anyone. They are both, for a brother and sister, protective of each other and they get along great.” Mrs. Fairchild encourages others to join FFA if it is something that is a part of their life. “I would advise anyone who is interested in agriculture to join FFA. That doesn’t just mean farming stuff. That includes food, the earth, animals, natural resources and other sciences,” Mrs. Fairchild said. Being a part of FFA entails different things, and Tyler enjoys all of them. “We do different things as a whole such as National Conventions in Indianapolis and some livestock judging for the fair,” Tyler said. “FFA to me is a just a life changing experience over all.” by Dylan Thixton
R
oom 110: ABC’s posters cover the walls; miniature furniture fills the room and children play with Mr. and Mrs. Potato pieces. This is preschool. This is Early Childhood Education. Circle Time! 15 three and four-yearolds eagerly sit in a circle to learn the lessons of the day, the letter “E” and the calendar. C4 Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Jennifer Wallace leads the “Days of the Week” song, while each little kid snaps along – or at least tries. “If we’re at the end of the month, does it mean it’s the end of the World?” preschooler Tyler asked Mrs. Wallace. High school students chuckled at the innocent question. “[I like] the things they say, they’re cute, fun and hilarious,” junior Lindsey O’Connell says. But besides the fun moments high school students experience on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, they practice their knowledge on the children. “We split up into groups and we each have a ‘Me’ buddy,” senior Ashley Gess said. “A “Me” buddy is the preschooler we work with.” With 27 To read about more teachers and 15 students who take preschoolers, this class, visit the work cnhsmedia.com needs to be divided into
Spark plug
small groups. Each teacher rotates the different roles for each preschool day. The roles include: Leader, who organizes the lesson of the day, snack maker, bathroom aid and observation. Lesson planning occurs during Mondays and Fridays. Each teacher and Mrs. Wallace brainstorm art, math or science activities for the upcoming preschool week. Being part of this C4 class gives students an opportunity to explore their possible future career. “I want my career to be around preschool kids. Every day I look forward to coming here and learn more about them,” senior Erika Torres said. At the end of a preschool day, the children eat their snack and go outside to play while they wait for their parents to pick them up. “At the end of the day you feel good,” Guess says. “Even though they wear you out, it is still fun.” by Erika Espinoza
photo by Ellen Hacker
Junior Greicy Patiño connects with the children playing “Indian Simon Says.” “I love having the opportunity to be around children, interact with them and be able to be a big part of their lives,” Patiño said.
Girls like Tori Ray defy the norm, take over a traditionally male-dominated class
H
igh school is a time of discovery. Teens discover who their friends are and who they are not. They discover what interests them and what does not. And, with a little luck, they discover something they are passionate about and
photo by Chelsea Mathis
Sophomore Tory Ray works on a car during her Auto Tech class first and second periods. “I’m acing it,” she said. Ray enjoyed being a part of a new experience.
oct. 19, 2011
During six and seventh period, we have some young visitors here. Check out a day in their life
pursue it, like sophomore Tory Ray has. “I like working on cars and I thought I could make a good career out of it if I was good and knew what I was doing,” Ray said. Ray’s first and second period classes are not normally found on just any girl’s schedule. Last Feb. she signed up for the C4 Automotive Technology class, not knowing what she was getting herself into. “This year, the Auto Class has increased with more girls than usual. Unlike the guys, the girls will do their homework and do better like Tory Ray,” C4 Auto Technology teacher David Stidham said. “She isn’t afraid to do anything, she is always asking questions and she takes the time to do homework.” The best part of this class for Ray is her teacher. Stidham helps motivate her to do well in the class. “If Mr. Stidham wasn’t so cool, I don’t think the class would be so fun. Mr. Stidham is laid-back, but in a good way. He wants your work done but have a good time doing it,” Ray said. Beginner students in the class study engine repair, suspension and steering and electronic systems. This program is certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation and offers the students future training if they complete the course. “Just like every other class, we have chapters in the book due every week,” Ray said. “If that homework isn’t done, you have to stay in the
classroom until it’s done, then you can go into the shop,” In the past, this class consisted of larger amounts of boys than girls. However, this year, there are more girls than there have ever been. “We are just as capable as the guys in the shop. I think all of the girls have an A or A+ so we don’t dominate but we are up there with the boys,” Ray said. “I’m treated just the same because I know more or at least as much as half the guys in there do.” By taking this class, Ray realized she can use the skills she learned in class and apply them to her life. “If I couldn’t make a career out of it, at least I would know how to fix my car if it ever broke down and wouldn’t have to call anyone else,” Ray said. Ray did not realize what she got herself into when she put an automotive class on her schedule. She has discovered a passion for this class and wants to make a career out of it in the future. This C4 class has influence her to keep going with her passion. She not only discovered a career that she qualifies for, but a career she truly loves. A career she knows she will be happy with in the future. She discovered her niche. “I love it. It’s so fun, and I never have a bad time.,” Ray said. “We are always doing something.” by Kelli Booker
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BIG Think little be
B
eing a “Big” in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program requires a large amount of responsibility. Senior Haileigh Lakin knows first-hand how being a “Big” can be a lifealtering experience. Originally, two separate organizations, Big Brothers and Big Sisters joined together in 1977. They have since used volunteers like Lakin to maintain the program. The organization works to give under-privileged children, or “Littles,” a positive influence. “I became a ‘Big’ because I think that it is really important for children to have a positive role model in their lives,” Lakin said. Her views on being a “Big” are greater than what meets the ordinary expectations. “‘Bigs’ help their ‘Littles’ learn how to be successful people socially and academically,” Lakin said. “I also think ‘Bigs’ benefit ‘Littles’ by being a good friend and a consistent part of their life.” With the knowledge of how to be a “Big,” Lakin stepped up to the challenge of actually being a “Big.” “Monique Brim (Niki) has
been my ‘Little’ since last year. I see her once a week,” Lakin said. Prior to actually meeting Niki, Lakin was nervous about how things would turn out. “I met Niki in December,” Lakin said. “I remember thinking that we would have nothing in common.” Upon meeting her “Little,” Lakin used her perspective of being a “Big” to create a successful relationship. “Our relationship is great,” Lakin said. “It has grown a lot since last year, and I can tell she sees me as someone she can trust and confide in.” Their weekly meetings consist of spending time together in an ordinary “Little-Sister-Big-Sister” fashion. “My Little likes to make up games for us to play in the gym,” Lakin said. “We also play board games or just talk.” Lakin acknowledged the wisdom gained from her generosity. She learned to be “grateful for the benefits [Lakin] has in life”. “As a child, I had many great role models in my life,” Lakin said. “I wanted to share that experience.” by Kyla Ball
Senior Haleigh Lakin recognizes that something so simple, like being a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters, makes a significant impact in others’ lives
photos by Roth Lovins
Haleigh Lakin and Monique Brim show off their fondness for each other with a warm hug and genuine smile. “She isn’t afraid to be herself,” Lakin said. “And she loves to have fun.”
Lakin passes a ball to Monique during one of their weekly meets. “I don’t really have a favorite activity to do with Monique. I just enjoy talking to her and hanging out,” Lakin said.
All about littles According to mentorsforyouth.org, Big Brothers Big Sisters has made a positive influence in “littles’” lives 64 percent have a positive attitude towards school 58 percent increased grades in social studies, language arts and math
60 percent increased relationships with adults
56 percent increased relationships with their peers
64 percent increased self confidence
The overall average number of unexcused absences decreased
oct. 19, 2011
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photos for Jacyln Gill
Teambonds
A
drenaline is something that has allowed humans to survive for centuries. But the moment the gun goes off at the cross country State Meet, each individual needs a little more than adrenaline to endure through the heavy competition. Every individual possesses a similar mindset. Except some teams were not just happy to be there, Columbus North being one of those team, placing first in the state that day, in 2009. Senior Michael Sublette was a sophomore that year, placing last for his team. “I ran terribly during most races that year, but my teammates were always full of encouragement after each race and helped me stay motivated throughout the difficult time,” Sublette said. Sublette started running in seventh grade at Central Middle School during track. Having the ambition towards being a sprinter, he was inevitably let down after the coaches recognized his lack of leg speed. They then suggested distance running which he did and has continued throughout his high school career. Having been on a nationally ranked team and placing 19th in Nike Cross Nationals, Sublette looks to run in college. Sublette looks forward to practice daily. He believes that their success comes from the strong bond on the team. Teammate and good friend senior Andrew Diehn could not agree more. “You go through the same pain as everyone and you share a bond that no one else understands but those who ran,” Diehn said. For the past two years, the Cross Country mens’ team has won State and looks to win their third on Oct. 29. They have had the same three runners on varsity for the past two years as well, only losing four spots which were promptly replaced. “On our boys’ varsity we have three guys who
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Left: The two-time state champion men’s cross country team huddles before a meet. Above: Seniors Michael Sublette and Dave Powell run in a Conference meet.
Men’s cross country team believes they share a bond stronger than most teams
have run varsity for three years. They have been team. Before the team goes off to run, Weinheimer on the starting line side by side on many, many holds a logbook session. The session includes occasions. This gives them a bond that few people details on how to execute the workout, information ever experience,” coach Rick Weinheimer said. on the upcoming meet, to log their daily mileage “Many of our runners train together all year round, and motivational phrases and quotes for inspiration. and, without a doubt, that has built and improved “The logbook sessions keep us focused on goals their friendships. Getting outside of the comfort and show us why we do certain things. It unites us zone, ‘shared suffering’ also gives them a strong vas a team,” Kelsey said. connection.” Sublette thinks that having had the support of his The team travels to numerous places as a team teammates makes it so much easier and worthwhile each year. All of the team trips are composed to for him. He believes that it contributes to the most help build togetherness through working hard important element of their training - running daily. while teammates depend on each other. They As of Oct. 10, Sublette ran total of 9,287 miles in his travel to summer ‘Paavo’ camps, a team camp at school career and run 1,798 consecutive days in a McCormick’s Creek State Park, an overnight trip to row. the Culver invitational and State Meet weekend. “My desire for personal team success stops me “Our Team Camp in early August is the most from ever slacking off. To slack off is to lie and to let important to team bonding. It involves everyone down all of my teammates,” Sublette said. on the team and puts us in a situation where we Some companionships may seem strong at the depend on each other for food, shelter, running and time. But the members of the men’s cross country camaraderie,” Weinheimer said. team believe that the friendship on their team is Finishing third in the nation last year, the team something so unique and enduring that you can made going to Nike Cross Nationals in Oregon, count on it being there for you when it is most an essential trip of another momentous ‘shared needed. experience.’ by Ian Kincer “Nationals was a great experience that gives the team a common goal to work towards that is even more prestigious and exciting than the State Meet,” senior Christopher Kelsey said. “When you go through hard and challenging experiences like Nike Cross Nationals To view sports with people, you develop a very strong news daily, bond because they know what you have check out been through and can honestly say they know what it’s like.” cnhsmedia.com Working hard is something that Weinheimer emphasizes daily with his
Columbus North’s Judson Erne Auditorium
what’s going on during the
what’s new
Bike benefit
Far Cry Field Closes- Oct. 22
Senior Jon Foust explained it all started with migraines. He put up with them for two weeks. Then one day while he was at work, Foust decided he had had enough. His parents told him the migraines should go away but they did not. Finally, Foust and his family went to the hospital. The hospital staff gave Foust a CT scan. After the hospital did the scan, they sent him to The Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. “The hospital told me that I had a brain tumor that affected the memory part of my brain,” Foust said.
Fall Break Oct. 20- Oct. 23
Q: What gave you the idea to do a bike ride? A: Mark, my mentor, rides bikes and introduced me to cycling. So, when it came time to choose a senior project, I said why not do a bike ride? I originally wanted to do a chainless downhill ride but it was denied.
Kick back and relax this long weekend. After completing the first nine weeks of our school year (congratulations!), everyone could use the extra days that Fall Break provides. “I’m going to an Alabama football game. I’m really excited,” sophomore Sam Meyercord said.
Q: What have you learned from the project? A: Planning is golden. I am not a big planner, so I had to work on my planning skills for the ride.
photo by Roth Lovins
Senior Jon Foust rides his bike during his senior project on Oct. 9. His project benefited The Riley Hospital for Children where he had surgery for a brain tumor last fall.
Chocolate Day- Oct. 28 Go grab a box of Hershey’s Kisses and satisfy your sweet tooth! Book Lover’s Day- Nov. 5 Check out a good read from the library and enjoy the weekend. compiled by Ramya Vijayagopal
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Senior conducts bike ride to help raise money and give back to hospital after surgery for a brain tumor Senior Jon Foust
The end of this season for Columbus’s very own haunted corn maze is near; Far Cry Field closes Oct. 22, so head out and get your scream on this weekend. Many students are getting involved with this event; Teens for the Betterment of Bartholomew County hosted an event at Far Cry Field on Friday, Oct. 14.
...
weekend
9 Ride for Riley date
34 10
417 dollars raised
All for 1 miles cause
Q: What are some challenges you’ve faced throughout the process? A: I had to overcome my shyness to collect donations and advertise for the event. It was a big step up from what I used to be like. Q: What was the best part? A: Participating in the ride and raising $417 for Riley.
Mark Yeaton
Q: What’s it been like working with Jon? A: It’s been a blast working with Jon. Jon is a good leader and I consider him to be a Riley kid. Q: Do you think this could turn into an annual event? A: This could become an annual event if a senior decides to pick it up next year. Over time this project could built with momentum, especially because the event goes towards a worthy cause. compiled by Roth Lovins and Jadea Graves
Playing to his own beat
Senior finds relaxation and way of selfexpression through playing his guitar and radio during passing periods
W
eird looks. Laughter. The occasional admonishment. Senior Brian Deye is all too familiar with these reactions during passing periods. Unlike the swarm of students strolling from one class to the next to catch up with friends on the latest gossip, Deye finds passing period a perfect time to jam out to his guitar or blast songs from his Vox DA5 radio. What began as an experiment his freshman year has gradually turned into a hobby and relaxation method for the musically driven senior. “Playing the guitar is a means of expressing myself without a fear of holding anything back,” Deye said. “I can lose myself and just play.” Of the range of tunes he plays, Deye likes to mix up the genre, so his music is not under the same category. “I play everything from folk to rock n’ roll to Robert Johnson,” Deye said. “They are all varying because I try to appeal to everyone with different types of music.” Like the tunes he rocks out to on his guitar, Deye also plays a diverse set of student friendly tunes on his radio. One of which includes Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” Junior Elizabeth Frietzsche, who has been friends with Deye for two years, finds his musical passing periods a resourceful outlet of expression and as pure entertainment. “He plays everywhere and you can see how much he loves it,” Frietzsche said. “I find it very amusing because he is not afraid to express himself in any way that he wants to.” Although Deye’s eccentric musical hobbies have been evident since his
oct. 19, 2011
freshman year, music itself sparked his interest from his childhood years in Colorado Springs, Colo. “I started playing the trumpet at age six and was always around music as a kid,” Deye said. “I also had two teachers that inspired and challenged me to broaden my musical horizons.” English teacher Katherine Stahl, Deye’s Senior Horizons teacher, has noticed Deye’s vigor for music through his Senior Project, which will consist of a concert at the Crump Theater to benefit physically, sexually and mentally abused teens. “It’s clear to me that music is his passion,” Ms. Stahl said. “I enjoy seeing him pursue it, especially with his ambitious Senior Project.” Looking ahead after high school, Deye plans on attending the Los Angeles Musician Institute, a lifelong dream that he has always had along with becoming a professional musician. When he got the call about his acceptance, Deye was floored with excitement. “When they called, I didn’t know who it was at first,” Deye said. “After I found out I was accepted, I was so insanely happy that I was jumping around and knocked water out of my fish tank.” Although he has the LA Musician Institute to look forward to, Deye still has many tasks to complete, like his current classes. But for now, Deye can enjoy the rest of his senior year and continue to rock on. by Whitney Olibo
photo by Keely Collier
Senior Brian Deye strums his guitar in the old social studies hallway before school Oct. 3.
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olumbus Attractions The Triangle went all over Columbus to find the most popular places teens hang out. Look below to find out what other Bull Dogs thought about our town’s Hot Spots
“People should go to Red Zone because it’s fun. People are always complaining that there is nothing to do in Columbus , but now you can go play laser tag with your friends instead of sitting at home being bored. I have played laser tag in the past and would love to play at Red Zone because its like tag and paintball put together in one event..” senior Zach Crouch
“The best time to hang out at the Ice Rink is durning hockey games. During the game, you can go to the lobby, get some hot chocolate, hang out with your friends, and watch the game. It’s also the perfect place to cuddle because its so cold.” junior Amanda Pittman
“I like the YES Cinema because its cheaper than the regular movie theatre, so it fits my price range and they play movies I might have missed at the AMC. Also, its downtown so after I watcha movie I can walk to Zaharakos to eat or just walk around for a little afterwards.” sophomore Monica Gamez
“The best thing about the [AMC] movie theatre is that they have a card that offers free upgrades on refreshments. The movie theatre isn’t really a cool place for people to hang out, but the staff there makes everything fun for their customers.” junior Karina Lugo
“I like the bowling alley because you can go there when its cold or raining and its a relaxed environment so it’s easy to talk and just hang out with my friends. My least favorite part are the shoes because they are too big and I don’t like the fact that others have worn them befor me.” junior Nicole Klee
compiled by Roth Lovins
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It’s the time of year to dress up, watch scary movies, and eat an unreasonable amount of candy. These students share some of their best Halloween memories, including scariest attractions they have been to and weirdest items they have received while Trick-or-Treating
Trick-or-Tell
“My friends and I all went up to this house and the dude had a stack of fifteen pound Hershey chocolate bars that he was handing out. I was carrying it around most of the night under my arm. I was twelve. I didn’t know they made fifteen pound bars of chocolate. It took me like a month and a half to eat it.” sophomore Joseph Smith
n Top 10 Hallowee s candie Between Halloween schware’s and trick-or-treat traditions, candy seems to always be a highlight of the holiday. The top 10 candies devoured during Halloween are... Source: National Retail Confederation
1. Candy Corn 2. Snickers 3. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup 4. Kit Kat 5. Milky Way 6. M&Ms 7. Hershey’s Chocolate 8. Nestle’s Crunch 9. 3 Musketeers 10. Twizzlers
“When I was 10 we had a haunted house at my house. My sister and I were dressed up. It was actually pretty successful and we made a lot of money off of it. My uncle was dressed up in all black and he was hiding in the cabinet. He was supposed to reach out and grab people’s legs. He saw a woman walk by that he thought was his wife, but it wasn’t his wife, and he grabbed her butt. She screamed and he had to apologize like a thousand times. It was really awkward and my aunt got mad. She was a little angry for awhile, but she got over it.” senior Alex Beller
n Top 10 Hallowee es um cost Halloween gives students the opportunity to dress up, and escape their normal attire. The top 10 costumes most often used are... 1. Witch 2. Princess 3. Pirate of the Caribbean 4. Vampire 5. Zombie 6. Batman 7. Black Cat 8. Ghost 9. Nurse 10. Spiderman
oct. 19, 2011
“I was trick or treating when I was younger, and I went to some rich person’s house who was giving out body parts. There were either hands or feet, and I picked a foot. It tasted like gummy bear candy. It took me about 20 minutes to eat. It was really good. It was a little strange. It looked like it was cut off at the ankle.” freshman Zachary Zeigler “I lived in Texas for a year or two, and we decided to go Trick or Treating down there. Well, we were going around and my mom took us to this one house (I was in 1st grade) and the lady goes “Oh, I don’t have candy, but I can see what I have.” So five minutes later she comes out with a big box of buffalo wings, and she’s like “Oh, do you want some of these?” They were hot wings. They weren’t very good. I would have rather had candy.” freshman Kevin Moats
“T-Meyers is a place where you can ride a haunted hay ride, and there’s a haunted cornfield and a haunted house. Back in 8th grade, Kali (Burton) and I, and her family and a couple of her family’s friends fit ourselves in one van... we went to T-Meyers, to the haunted house first. We pretty much left Kali and it was funny because her mom was with her and we all decided to scare her. She went through the haunted house but we had to beg her to go. We had to get her mom and dad to get her out of the car. She didn’t cry until she got on the haunted hay ride and people were coming after us with chainsaws. She ended up under her mom’s legs, holding on to her mom.” sophomore Rachel George
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Ethnic Expo recap
Many students participated in Ethnic Expo during the parade and working booths. Here are two students’ accounts of what it was like
photos by Chelsea Mathis
“My family is part of Cameo which is trying to represent cultures and we are representing Korea,” senior Karen Ma said. “Hanboks are generally worn when they are at celebrations or holidays. It is a very traditional dress.”
“ I just like getting dressed up, and I think wearing ethnic clothes like liederhosen is pretty cool,” senior Joe Bridgeman said.
A balancing act B
etween studying for his English test, going to band practice and responding to an email from a state representative requesting publicity over a certain issue, sophomore Nickie Mitch has a lot on his mind; not that he’s complaining. Mitch is chair of Bartholomew County Young Democrats, Students for Priscilla Scalf, Columbus North Young Democrats and Indiana High School Democrats. “I’ve always been politically involved because it’s been in my family a long time. I’ve always felt like it’s our responsibility as young people to get involved because the decisions made today affect our generation most of all,” Mitch said. Mitch seemed completely at home in the office of the Priscilla Scalf for Mayor campaign as he exhibited the banners he designed himself and bought with fundraising money. “I love it,” he said of his political involvement in general. “It makes me feel good because I know I’m giving people the chance to make a difference. They might not be able to make a difference on their own but together we’ll make an impact.” Even with all of this leadership and the responsibilities it entails, Mitch still manages to balance his schoolwork and extracurriculars, boasting a class rank of 10. He keeps a cheerful attitude as well, not complaining about his workload but rather making light of the situation.
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Sophomore finds time to balance school and unique extracurriculars “My sleep has been suffering, not my schoolwork,” Mitch said good-naturedly, pausing his work in the office. “On an average day, I come home from school and try to get as much homework done as possible before band, then I go to band, and afterwards I work on Young Democrats.” Mitch is hard pressed to meet the reputation set by his older sister senior Sage Mitch, who has an extensive list of extracurriculars to add to her academics. “I’m very proud of him. It’s good that he has found something he’s passionate about,” Sage said. That passion showed through clearly one Saturday morning as Nickie and fellow sophomores Sharon Wang and Trendha Hunter met at the office of the Priscilla Scalf for Mayor campaign. He led the group in making phone calls to ask various members of the community from a provided list which way they were going to vote in the election on Nov. 2. Alisha Miracle, Field Director of Priscilla Scalf’s campaign, also works closely with Mitch through his involvement as chair of Students for Priscilla Scalf. “My first impression was that he might just be another loud high school boy. (But that changed),” Miracle said. “He’s very motivated, and so involved. He’s ridiculously intelligent.” Candidate for Mayor Priscilla Scalf also has a high opinion of Mitch: “I knew that he was going to make things happen, and he has.” by Ramya Vijayogopal
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Columbus
Vitamin D - a subject everyone should study
two minutes with...
freshman Dixie Burton Freshman Dixie Burton has a normal life now. However, in her younger years, her life was anything but. Burton was born without a diaphragm, and went through numerous operations to get where she is today What was wrong with your body as a child? “When I was born, I did not have a diaphragm. All of the organs that were supposed to be down in my diaphragm were pushed up in my lungs. Your diaphragm is what keeps everything down where your pancreas is located. So the doctors had to push everything that was in my lungs down. Then they used my extra tissue and made it into a diaphragm.” What medical issues arose from your lack of a diaphragm? “When I was little I had an ECMO machine, which helped
thegrayarea
Technology gorge
E
ven if you don’t admit it, we, as a whole, lust for new things. We lust for everything: more clothes, shoes, space on our iPods; No, a new iPod. New apps, new phones. Think about it: how many of you own a flip phone? Walking down the halls I have seen more Androids, iPhones and Blackberrys than “brick phones.” It was only five years
compiled by Jenny Dieckmann
photo by Ellen Hacker
me breathe. Today, my organs are all misplaced. Such as my heart, which is in the middle of my chest and twisted. I also have two belly buttons. One of them is my real belly button and the other one is the spot where they kept my feeding tube when I was a baby.”
Have you ever thought about actually using your phone longer than your two-year contract requires?
ago that Motorola Razors were popular. In my opinion, we upgrade way too fast and definitely way too much. I pondered this idea while searching for a new phone myself. I have been eligible for an upgrade for a solid two years. I’ve had my LG Dare for four years, meaning I have skipped two upgrades. I feel that I have used my phone to
its full potential, and now it’s time to upgrade. I will admit I am also victim to craving new things. I am not complaining about upgrading itself, just how we over do it when upgrading isn’t really needed. We try to keep up with the quick releases of new Apple and Android cellular devices, and I feel that a “two year upgrade” isn’t needed. compiled by Dean Anthony Gray
just a thought... “I had a Droid 2 and upgraded to an iPhone after three months because I like newer technology.” senior Munsie Myers
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“Last year, I bought a pair of black Uggs, even when I had a pair of brown ones. I bought the black ones just so I could match more things.” junior Marissa Furkin
We invented wheeled luggage 41 years ago, and we landed a man on the moon 42 years ago. Why is it that we thought of landing on the moon before we thought to add wheels to luggage?
Adam LeClerc’s
monstermash