Tiger Topics: N the red Volume XI issue V by Tiger Topics: Fishers Tiger Times

RED

VOLUME X1, ISSUE 5

N the

FISHERS HIGH SCHOOL, 13000 PROMISE RD, FISHERS, IN 46038

FRIDAY, DEC 9, 2016

TIGER TOPICS

www.ﬁshersnthered.com Photo by Lia Benvenutti.

“White Christmas” keeps audiences warm

Research shows new studying techniques

Service dogs provide stress relief for students

Basketball teams shoot for a good season

Photo by Reily Sanderson.

Photo used with permission of Tabitha Diehl.

Photo by Megan Jessup.

2 News

RED Big six media bias suppresses truth N THE

12/9/16

Alex Pope alexpope606@gmail.com

Vardagen expands to new Castleton store

Students in Action do good, get recognized

Moana knows way to audiences hearts

resident-elect Donald Trump surprised millions of Americans who woke up on Nov. 9 to the news that he had been elected leader of the free world. This came as a shock to many due to polls from multiple major news networks that projected Hillary Clinton to win the presidential election and reignited a conversation amongst both Democrats and Republicans about whether the news that Americans are fed is reliable. In the final stretch of the presidential race, many major Democratic figures criticized Trump for saying that the election was rigged and unfair, but there is a basis to his claims that affects both major parties. In 2012, Business Insider did a report on the big six and their control of the media. They found that the big six - GE, News Corp, Disney, Viacom, Time Warner and CBS - control 90 percent of what citizens read, watch and listen to each day. The big six’s subsidiaries include NBC, Fox, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, ABC, Pixar, Marvel, ESPN, MTV, BET, Nickelodeon, CNN and several other companies. This means that the big six’s 232 media executives control a majority of the information diet of 277 million Americans. “I think there definitely is a news bias. Fox is more conservative and CNN is more liberal. It’s hard to find unbiased news anymore, especially since it is all controlled by very few high power people,” sophomore Joey Cerone said. In 2010, Business Insider found that the big six controlled a monopoly of 11 U.S.

markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington D.C., meaning that they control 90 percent of the information gained in 11 of the United States’ largest and most populated markets. A related study done by Business Insider found that 12 percent of news published by the big six subsidiaries was completely false and that nearly 31 percent was heavily biased. “I get my news locally because they seem to be somewhat unbiased compared to the national media bias that always tends to lean one way or the other on issues and topics,” senior Larry Mathews said. The Center for Responsive Politics found that Time Warner, owner of CNN and others, has provided just shy of $5 million to federal political candidates and committees since the 1990 election cycle and almost $200,000 during the recent election cycle. Politifact recently published a study that found several of the big six’s subsidiaries that have made campaign contributions also have contributed false information to the public. “At Fox and Fox News, 10 percent of the claims we’ve rated have been True, 11 percent Mostly True, 18 percent Half True, 21 percent Mostly False, 31 percent False and nine percent Pants on Fire,” a Politifact article said. Politifact also found that information published and claims made by left-leaning NBC and MSNBC, were mostly false or worse 44 percent of the time. Campaign-contributing CNN received the best record amongst cable networks, as 80 percent of their claims and information were rated “half true or better” by the crew at Politifact. “I think that news sources like CNN and Fox are destroying media integrity. Fox

The big six media companies

In 1983,

90% Frost Fest brings community together with holiday cheer

of American media was controlled by

corporations.

It is now controlled by

six.

According to BusinessInsider

Graphic by Alex Pope and Carolina Puga Mendoza.

CNN has been criticized by Republicans for being biassed towards democrats, and was often referred to as “Clinton News Network,” because of their bias. Photo used with

permission of Tribune News Service.

always covers the Republican side and offers little to no opinion on the Democratic side, and CNN leans heavily left. To stop this, news sources need to find different resources and explore both sides of topics and arguments,” senior Alexis Campbell said. Around 70 percent of the information consumed by both Democrats and Republicans was false in one way or another. That, partnered with the thousands of false stories published on media giants Facebook and Twitter, created millions of uninformed voters. Buzzfeed had their top reporters look into the relevance of fake news stories throughout the primaries. They found that the there were 20 fake news stories originating from social media that gained national coverage. Seventeen of these stories had false information favoring Donald Trump. Starting in August, these fake stories were seen by more people than real stories on mainstream media were. According to Factcheck.org, there are a couple ways to check to see if a news story is reliable or not. Consider the source; if the source is notoriously unreliable or biased, the story may take some more looking into. If the provocative headline is what draws attention, read the story all the way through before sharing it. Also check the author’s credibility, credentials and legitimacy before trusting the story. Lastly, check the dates, credentials, support, and sources. Often in fake or heavily biased stories the corresponding sources and information do not add up. To prevent fake or heavily biased news stories from rapidly spreading, check them. One share leads to another, and in 2016 it did not take long for those fake story to be picked up on a national level.

RED News 3 Meet the school board: new members elected N

THE

12/9/16

Haley Thomas haleyt0723@gmail.com

hree new school board members were elected on Nov. 8: Amanda Shera, Mike Bottorﬀ, and Sylvia Shepler. They will take oﬃce on Jan 11. “I do not actually know who is on [the school board] but it seems to be well organized,” junior Julia Gibson said. “They seem to get the job done.” Since board members serve in four-year staggered terms, the three elected members will join four other members who are still in

the middle of a term. The school board develops and votes on policies for all HSE schools. Each year, they set goals such as enhancing student academic opportunities, support services, and school funding. They then create policies to help reach these goals. Board meetings are typically at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at the Administration Center, however the meeting on Dec. 14 will be the only meeting this month.. The board can also call special meetings on an as-needed

This is Shera’s first year on the board. One of her biggest priorities is providing mentors for each student through the Youth Mentoring Initiative. She also hopes she can make a photo personal difference in students’ lives by courtesy of Amanda Shera. talking with them one-on-one about their educational needs. “I have offered for every single senior this year that I will meet with them one on one and do some long-term thinking about their plans, just get them thinking long-term,” Shera said. “ I would also like to look into hiring more counselors to help with planning, and really light a fire under the counseling office.” She also believes that schools should make information on vocational training, such as classes at the Noblesville campus of Ivy Tech, more available to students. “Each student is uniquely gifted to do something,” Shera said. “Not everybody has to go to a four-year college. Her other goals include adding seat belts to all school busses, encouraging high school internships and starting technology training at an earlier grade.

basis. “Parents should know that they can contact any board members available. Then we ﬁnd out the information and get it for that person. All board members available to anyone in the community, not just their precinct,” Shera said. While some questions may be best answered by school administrators, Bottorﬀ also encourages appropriate input from students and parents. “Students can reach me with questions, concerns or petitions in a variety of ways...

Bottorff is also new to the board, and wants to focus on promoting individualized learning and updating curriculum. “With a few exceptions, HSE’s course structure, content, and progression looks photo courtesy of Mike Bottorff. largely the same as it has for decades,” Bottorff said. “This model teaches most subjects independently from one another. However, most jobs and professions don’t operate this way. The Board should support development of more cross-curricular learning experiences.” To reach these goals, he will work closely with other board members, gather community feedback and leverage industry experts. “The State of Indiana has approximately 350 public and private school corporations and a myriad of K-12 consulting organizations,” Bottorff said. “Reaching out their respective leaders will expose us to innovative educational ideas and help us learn what works versus what doesn’t.” He also wants to help students with practical work experiences and help the district have ﬁof scalMichael stability. Bottorff photo courtesy

and I will endeavor to respond directly and/ or forward inquiries to the appropriate people,” Bottorﬀ said. “While I appreciate, welcome, and encourage all community input, some topics and issues are best addressed by [school administrators] ﬁrst. If you’re not sure where to direct a particular concern, please ask” Students can be involved in this process by attending board meetings, which are open to the public. They can also register to address the board, which would allow them to speak directly to board members.

Photo courtesy of Bev Redmond.

Unlike Shera and Bottorff, Shepler is a returning member of the school board. She will be beginning her fourth term, and believe her experience will be an asset in continuing ongoing board work. Shepler’s priorities include

managing the continued student growth and associated demographic changes, hiring and retaining excellent teachers and support staff, providing a safe and secure environment for the entire district, and communicating with state legislators regarding all aspects of education, especially funding.

Students ﬁnd novel and creative ways to study Hallie Gallinat halliegallinat@gmail.com

inal exams are coming up, and that means teachers recommend that students hit the books. Sometimes the traditional ﬂashcards and study guides are not eﬀective. These ways of studying can be just as useful as the old fashioned study methods.

where we can identify smell is very close to the memory area of the brain. Before studying, try putting on an odd smelling hand sanitizer. Then, during the exam, put on the sanitizer again. It can cause a memory of the facts studied, which can help. Chewing a weird ﬂavor of gum can also trigger study memories. “I would deﬁnitely use this because I love

learning all the diﬀerent psychological ways to study. I might try it for fun, but I wouldn’t use it as something to lean on,” junior Abigail Zagel said. Draw before you study Art has been proven to relieve stress, according to a study by Drexel University. Drawing, painting or anything creative can

Rewarding Yourself Giving yourself a gummy bear or a piece of candy after completing a passage or finishing a math problem is a useful way to study, according to Goconqr, a website for classroom resources for teachers and students. Simple things like five minute breaks or a few minutes of TV can also be rewards. It can motivate students during their study sessions. “I do not use this method, but I would try it because it could help me retain information better, and it could help me stick to my mind more,” senior Vincent Briones said. Different Smells According to Fifth Sense, a website for people with smell and taste disorders, smells can trigger memories because the area

Sophomore Alex Overdorf shows the rewarding method of studying with jelly beans Photo by Reily Sanderson.

help with studying because it can release final exam stress. Too much stress can cause bad health effects, such as sleep loss, and can prevent the brain from learning properly. “I would use this because I doodle over every piece of paper I have and doodling really helps me learn the information,” Zagel said. However, there are other ways to study. Teaching a class is an effective method, according to Rasmuessen, a college website. Explaining your topic or your study material to your family or even stuffed toys can help you learn what you are teaching. Listening to music is also a useful tool when studying, as long as it is the right genre and the right subject. Songs with lyrics are not as useful if you are using the language part of your brain. One important thing to remember before and while studying is to relax. Since stress has negative effects while studying, meditation can provide a way to reduce it. Meditation also lets the left and right side of the brain work together and the memory area of the brain become more active. “I am somewhat stressed out for the finals. I am mostly stressed out about my English final or my chemistry final. They’re not my strengths,” sophomore Billy Chang said.

RED 4 News Frosty farming: Local businesses bring fresh produce N THE

12/9/16

Helen Rummel hrum2526@gmail.com

he summer brought record-setting crowds to the Fishers Farmers Market this year, according to Fishers’ website. This has lead to the unveiling of the Winter Fishers Farmers Market, which will be open until March 18. Strawberries, zucchini and watermelon do not make an appearance within the Billericay Park building and less booths are present, but variations of homemade snacks and crops are still available with a little extra

Handmade soaps are for sale in single packs and as gift sets on Nov. 13 at Our Garden Soap’s Booth. Photo by Helen

Rummel.

work from business owners. Various vegetables can still be grown in the cold weather months after the frost settles in. They are grown in hoophouses which function identically to greenhouses with a smaller build using hoop structures, as the name suggests. These hoophouses allow the produce to adjust slowly to freezing temperatures instead of being killed by the ﬁrst frost. When it gets colder, these plants push out moisture from their cells to make room for glucose. “Carrots and spinach, especially, taste better because of the extra sugar they produce that acts as a kind of antifreeze. It has that natural sweetness,” David Garcia, founder of Garcia’s Gardens, an organic farm said. Garcia does more than provide fruit and vegetable from his farm located in East Indianapolis to the Fishers Winter Farmers Market. He also supplies produce to an assortment of restaurants and stores like the Good Earth Market, The Garden Table, Traders Point Creamery and the Monon Food Company along with multiple farmers markets in the county and private chefs. Bliss Haven Farms is ﬁve acres of land by

State Road 32. A variety of flowers, berries and grasses are grown there, complete with a greenhouse and walk-in cooler. Their products have been sold in eight Fishers Farmers Markets, including this new winter variation. They sell to local florists and wedding designers, as well as work in the business of weddings themselves. “Weddings are the bulk of our market. We have some of the unusual things that brides like,” Denise Bliss said, who co-owns the farm with George Stephenson. Bliss sprouted her business by growing flowers in her backyard garden and began to invest her time more fully once she retired. “All the kids were grown and everybody was out of high school, college and hockey. So, I was able to live the big job and do what I love to do,” Bliss said. The last batches of flowers have already been cut due to the dropping temperatures, therefore Bliss Haven Farms cannot attend the latter of the winter markets. Now their focus is on repairing equipment and remodeling. They also plant flowers early in spring to have blooms in time for when prom season rolls around. So far, only five winter markets have been held with approximately 15 vendors

The all-new, “are you kidding me”

each. The public still has the majority of the winter left if they want to attend. “Because the farmers market is in the winter now, it can be difficult to find fresh produce. I didn’t really think that there would be that much there,” sophomore Kate Millar said. “But, I go to the farmers market in the summer and I always love going. I like how it brings so many different foods together in one place.” Fishers welcomes the public to Billericay Park every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for organic foodstuffs, baked goods and coffee.

Graphic by Helen Rummel.

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Features 5

12/9/16

Students manage mental health with therapy dogs Carolina Puga Mendoza carox29@gmail.com

nywhere from working with a child to visiting seniors in a retirement house, therapy dogs volunteer along with their owners in places such as schools, libraries, hospitals and nursing homes. Medical science shows that interaction with a therapy dog can reduce blood pressure, reduce anxiety, fatigue, depression and provide emotional support according to CharlottesLitter, a program sponsored by Newton Kindness. “The school went through a very difficult period last year and the dogs were a way for students to cope with everything that happened,” senior Tabitha Diehl from Mountain Vista High School, Colorado said. There are different types of jobs for dogs, but they all come from the three main group of assistance: service dogs, therapy dogs and emotional support dogs. A common misunderstanding is confusing therapy dogs as service dogs. Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks to help a person with a disability. An example of a service dog is the one who guides an owner who is blind or has a physical disability according to American Kennel Club. Emotional support dogs are a domestic animal which does not require any type of training. By just their presence the patient can feel better

according to Service Dog Central. Schools such as Mountain Vista High School and Prospect High School in Illinois support therapy dogs for the same reason. The students from Mount Vista started the dog program because of a school project. They did research about the beneﬁts it could bring the students. At the moment they have three trained dogs who are all hypoallergenic. “Our school has therapy dogs because my

class and I felt that majority of the students were stressed because of school and the dogs would be a good way to alleviate the stress,” Diehl said. A counselor and a social worker from Prospect did research on the ways that dogs are being used by therapists, colleges, elementary schools, courtrooms and veterans suﬀering from PTSD. They thought that dogs would be helpful with students who are anxious or depressed since dogs

Dogs Reiley and Cannon help student mour the death of a teacher at Mountain Vista High School. Photo used with permission of Tabitha Diehl.

bring social, cognitive, emotional and physical stability for students. “Junie [Prospect’s therapy dog] has made it easier for students to talk about their feelings and feel comfortable coming down to student services,” doctor and guidance counselor from Prospect High School Lynn Thornton said. “She helps students calm down from panic attacks and feel better when they are feeling down. She’s made it easier for students to transition back from hospitalizations and helps make school phobic students more willing to come to school.” Although the dogs bring beneﬁts for students there are concerns like possible allergic reactions. Every dog requires veterinary checks and evaluations. Some students have a fear of dogs and the cost of animal maintenancel can be a concern to some. “It could have a positive impact on students who do need that calming mechanism of petting the dog or talking to the dog,” FHS counselor Kristen Konopasek said. “I think it might be hard in some aspects, especially with a big school when you think about the permission to be able to have the dogs, some students might be allergic, etc.” The changes a dog can bring into a school are dependent on what the students ask for as well the commitment to support the beneﬁts and drawbacks.

Students offer jolly tips for family holiday peace

Ethan O’Sullivan ethanext17@gmail.com

“We do still have some disagreements about a disagreement as to who gets to sit in the society, politics, or religion,” Leonard said. front,” Ogawa said, “When it’s an especially inal exams and the holidays are just “But [perspective] lets us to work past those long trip over the holidays, I’ll offer to sit in around the corner, and according to differences. Mainly minor conflict occurs.” the back so things can be fine.” Ken Duckworth, M.D., this month Sophomore Michael Ogawa says that his Like Ogawa, Leonard, and 53 percent of is a major period of stress on the average first resort when dealing with minor conflict 214 English students polled, sophomore individual. Between studying for the tests, is temporary isolation. Ogawa, as the oldest of Nishant Chenchaiah’s disagreements with buying last second presents and sustaining three brothers, avoids physical fights altogether his immediate family are more likely to close interactions with relatives, the list of by setting aside some time for himself to cool evolve into holiday battlegrounds than tasks to worry about piles up quickly. Such down and think. disagreements with his extended family. factors contribute to a toxic winter household, “I’m one to remove myself from arguments Chenchaiah supports a peaceful environment Duckworth says. like that,” Ogawa said. “Since I have my own by being more lenient than usual. However, some students are placing their room, I’ll go there if things begin to get too “We get along more during the holidays worldly troubles aside to focus on working heated.” than any other time in the year,” Chenchaiah past minor differences with their relatives. When he finds himself in situations that he said. “I’m in a better mood, and it tends to be Sophomore Will Leonard spends his cannot easily remove himself from, Ogawa is easier to look past certain things that would holidays with his parents and brother, who willing to make sacrifices to keep parties on all normally annoy you.” primarily irritate him when they intrude upon sides content. Sophomore Rachel Peele spends the his personal space. He says that one can begin “For example, when we’re in the car, there’s holidays with her parents, brother and by always keeping the perspective of their family members in mind. Poll of 214 English students between Nov. 28 and Dec. 1. “Try to picture things from their point of view,” Leonard said. “If you can recognize M o s t your own faults, it’s easier for you to come M o s t Opinion Stressful Stressful together.” on Family Fall/Winter Relative By taking their views into account when Holidays Month voicing his, Leonard helps himself to ease tension. While this has not eradicated all of his problems, it prevents them from escalating.

grandmother. She shares many similarities with her mother that cause the most discord between the two of them. “Making a good joke will put everyone else at ease,” Peele said. As Duckworth puts it, lowering one’s expectations can result in a generally better holiday season. If someone accepts that they cannot solve every familial issue and that things cannot be made perfect, they will not wait for an unattainable reality. The time for coming together at the end of the year is short. Ogawa concludes that sometimes, standing one’s ground may not always be the best course of action. “You have to make an attempt,” Ogawa said. “If there’s a controversial topic that you know will cause an issue, don’t bring it up. If they bring it up, ignore them. It’s the holidays; they’re supposed to be a time of joy.”

RED 6 Features Simple pantry items spice up hot chocolate this winter N THE

12/9/16

Emma Russell emm3r99@gmail.com

azing out at the freshly fallen winter snow, a student watches the soft ﬂakes land delicately on the ground while feeling the heat of the mug from his hot chocolate in hand. ‘Tis the season to drink hot chocolate while participating in holiday activities. Though hot chocolate seems like an inviting hot drink, making it from a powder mix from a brand like Swiss Miss can taste quite bland. There are simple ways to ﬁx this beverage dilemma, by adding one ingredient into the drink.

and not leave any grain behind. Adding brown sugar will add a butterscotch taste, and muscovado sugar will add depth and heighten the chocolate taste.

Ice cream syrups

Caramel, chocolate, strawberry and cherry syrups do not need to be exclusively used on ice cream. Stirring in these sweetened sauces is a quick way to add a new ﬂavor twist. By adding in caramel sauce one can achieve a richer taste, and the strawberry and cherry sauces are quick ways to add a fruit ﬂavor.

“Caramel reminds me of a Twix. When I eat a Twix I think of all the components of the Twix, and the caramel always sticks out the most. It makes me want to add caramel to my hot chocolate,” freshman Elijah Hudson said.

Peppermint

Leftover candy canes or small peppermint candies from the dollar store are great for adding a hint of mint. Just add the candy in and wait for it to melt into a fresh peppermint taste. “I love peppermint tea so I would be

Chili powder

For those who enjoy a bit of spice in their life, adding chili powder is an easy way to bring some heat into their mug. Adding chilies to hot cocoa is a popular method used when creating traditional Mexican hot chocolate which dates back to the Aztec and Mayans. To create this Hispanic drink one should also add some cinnamon, hazelnut, and sugar as well.

Ice cream

Adding something cold to a hot drink may sound bizarre, especially when it is usually eaten but when the ice cream melts it actually makes the hot cocoa thicker. Different flavors can give the drink different flavors so on top of the new consistency it can be customized to the drinker’s taste.

Coﬀee

If in need of a caﬀeine boost but looking for a substitute for milk, creamer and sugar, hot chocolate is a possible substitute. The combination of the two drinks leaves drinkers with the taste of their own sort of Starbucks’/McCafe’s mocha coﬀee drinks.

Cinnamon/nutmeg

Adding spices like cinnamon and nutmeg are great ways to add a fall and winter taste. The spices bring out the dark bitterness of the chocolate while keeping the sweetness and adding just a bit of a homelike feeling. It also acts as a transition flavor for individuals suffering from apple cider withdrawals. “It [cinnamon and nutmeg] gives it a warm, sweet flavor that gives you some Christmas vibes,” senior Katelynn Dubs said.

Sugar

Sugar is a simple way to sweeten up cocoa for those looking for a decadent taste. Before grabbing just plain old cane sugar try using a substitute instead to switch up the taste. Powdered sugar is a quick dissolving sugar that will instantly sweeten the drink

very interested in trying peppermint hot chocolate,” senior Abby Lee said.

Graphics by Emma Russell.

Students celebrate Christmas season secularly Reily Sanderson reilysanderson@gmail.com

hristmas lights, mistletoe and spending time with family are many people’s favorite parts about Christmas. Many students still chose to celebrate Christmas regardless of their religious beliefs. “I think Christmas is important because it’s a time to celebrate, whether it’s about religion or celebrating friendship and family. That’s why I love celebrating Christmas,” senior Sydney Bingham, said. Eighty-one percent of non-Christians celebrate Christmas according to Pew Research center. This includes Buddhists, Hindus and atheists. Another study by Pew found that 32 percent of people found Christmas more of a cultural holiday as opposed to a religious one. Sixty-nine percent looked forward to spending time with family and friends, 11 percent looked forward to religious reﬂection and church. Director of U.S. religious surveys at Pew said younger adults are less likely than older adults to see Christmas a religious rather than cultural holiday and less likely to attend Christmas church services Christmas has many non-religious symbols

like the tree, which was used by Pagans to bring in the Winter Solstice. “I’d tell [Christians] Christmas isn’t Jesus’s birthday, so it’s just as random as a day for them as it is for us,” senior Cameron Eslinger said. “It was a Pagan holiday; his birthday was an entirely different month according to historians.” Even the date of Christmas is debated to be non-religious, although many believe the date is the birth of Christ, based on historical records Catholic Priest Joseph Fitzmyer guesses that Jesus was born around Sept. 11. 3 BCE. Some decide to celebrate Christmas because of the tradition behind it, instead of the religious aspects. Some people still celebrate Christmas, but call it a different name, some Big Bang Theory fans call it “Newtonmass.” “I could honestly care less. It’s holiday about giving to people and you shouldn’t need Jesus to achieve that,” senior Brian Pinckert said. Another non-religious symbol of Christmas is also Santa Claus. St. Nicholas is often confused with being the same as Santa Claus, but they have many main differences in attire, time of visitation and origin. The tradition of gift giving during Christmas originated from the Romans.

Santa Claus and his two elves pose with two children in Disneyland. Photo used with permission of Tribune News Service.

Bingham has been celebrating Christmas secularly since she was a kid. “We always watch Christmas movies and my dad reads us a book to all the kids. That has happened since I was a little kid. We just leave religion out of Christmas and we don’t talk about it,” Bingham said. Although Christmas is often seen as religious, it is evolving into something for all people to celebrate. Bits and pieces of the holiday are secular and people continue to celebrate it regardless or their beliefs.

RED

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Features 7

12/9/16

Science of spice: hot foods burn off future health risks Linda Chang lindachangkong@gmail.com

weating, panting, burning and occasionally crying are a few of the symptoms a person can receive from eating spicy food. Some people willingly indulge themselves in this type of discomfort and enjoy it. In fact, according to Quick Service Restaurants magazine, 54 percent of Americans now prefer hot or spicy foods. “I personally enjoy eating spicy food. The spice is what enhances the flavors of the food and makes it taste better,” freshman Grace Vang said. According to the Thrillist, a food and travel publication, people acquire immunity to these symptoms over time. When a person eats spicy food, a molecule named capsaicin is released. Over time, constant amounts of capsaicin deplete a neurotransmitter called substance P, which is responsible for sending pain signals to the brain. Once people become desensitized to the heat, they start to enjoy the flavors of the food more and develop a craving for spice. This is one of the main reasons people from different countries like Mexico, Thailand and India have a higher tolerance for various spicy foods. They have been exposed to hotter foods at an earlier age. For those who cannot tolerate spice, they are not alone. Thrillist also states that half of the American population still cannot

handle their heat. “I do not like spicy food, nor can I tolerate it. I don't eat it very often so when I do it's really spicy. Even pepperoni is spicy to me," senior Savannah Sito said. There is a myth that hot foods damage taste buds, but according to BBC, spicy flavors play tricks on the human body. The molecule capsaicin is also responsible for the burning sensation that comes with eating pepper. Any time capsaicin is released, it binds to a receptor on cells that detect temperature and substance P cells. These receptors are normally triggered if temperatures are higher than 107 degrees Fahrenheit or by acid. When eating pepper, the body is being tricked into giving warning signs, such as sweating and burning, to show that something is not right. However, even though these receptors are triggered, capsaicin is not damaging the body. In fact, BBC states that capsaicin and hot foods are not bad for a person at all. However, different people are sensitive to different foods. That is why some people consume spicy foods and experience upset stomachs, while others do not. According to Health.com, studies have shown that spicy food can lower the incidence of a heart attack and stroke. Capsaicin can help fight off inflammation, which is one of the causes of heart issues.

Food Challenges:

One Chip Challenge

The One Chip Challenge consists of eating a single chip. However, this chip is so spicy that it is purposely only sold one at a time, in a cofﬁn-shaped box. The Paqui Carolina Reaper Madness Chip is made from the hottest pepper on Earth, the Carolina Reaper. According to Forbes magazine, this chip is so deadly that they recommend wearing gloves when handling it for precaution. The Carolina Reaper Madness Chip can be found in select Whole Food Market stores.

Scoville Scale (SHU)

The Scoville scale measures the spicy heat of the world’s peppers in Scoville heat units, or the concentration of capsaicin. 1,569,300 SHU Carolina Reaper

1,041,427 SHU Ghost

150,000-325,000 SHU Orange Habanero BWW Blazin' Wings300,000 SHU 100,000-225,000 SHU Bird's Eye

Spicy Noodle Challenge

The Korean Spicy Noodle Challenge consists of eating the instant, spicy Korean noodles known as Samyang’s Buldak Bokkeum Myun or Fire Chicken Stir-Fried Noodles. People record reactions of their various types of sweating, crying and burning. Almost all people end up with a ring of ﬁre sauce around their lips with a leftover stinging sensation. Students who want to try the challenge can buy these noodles at any Asian or Oriental store such as Asia Mart located in Castleton. Photos used with permission of Peter Xiong.

50,000-100,000 SHU Thai 30,000-50,000 SHU Tabasco 2,500-8,000 SHU Jalapeño Fire Chicken Stir-Fried Ramen3,210 SHU Sriracha- 1,000-2,500 SHU 1,000-2,000 SHU Poblano Ketchup- 0 SHU 0 SHU Bell

5 Countries With the Spiciest Food:

India

Thailand

Sri Lanka

Mexico

South Korea

Information from the Daily Meal. Graphics by Linda Chang.

Spicy Dishes Nearby

1. Tom Yum is a sour and spicy soup from Thailand that includes bird’s eye pepper, lemongrass, lime juice, ﬁsh sauce and shrimp or chicken. This dish is served at Thai Kitchen in Fishers. 2. Kimchi Jjigae is a Korean soup made with Korean hot pepper ﬂakes, kimchi and other ingredients, such as scallions, onions, diced tofu and pork/seafood. This dish is served at the Bando Restaurant in Indianapolis. 3. Vindaloo Curry is an Indian dish with meat, usually lamb, with a spicy Goan curry sauce of diced potatoes, a whole coriander, red chilli peppers and vinegar. This dish is served at India Sizzling in Fishers. 4. The World Famous Shrimp Cocktail is unique to St. Elmo's Steakhouse in downtown. It is served with four pieces of jumbo shrimp covered in a heavy-coating of spicy horseradish sauce.

Photos used with permission of TripAdvisor.

8 In-Depth

Lia Benvenutti lianbenvenutti@gmail.com

White Chr The main cast of “White Christmas” sings the finale, “White Christmas (Reprise)” as fake snow falls down on them from the grid.

hite Christmas”, originally based on the movie released in 1954, was rearranged into a Broadway version by Irving Berlin. The story was adopted for this year’s winter musical. Performances were on Dec. 1-3 at 7 p.m. Juniors Ally Marshall and Claire Cox sing with senior Riley Timko in the final song of the musical, “White Christmas” as their characters, Rita and Rhoda. “Rita is my favorite role I’ve ever played in my entire life. She’s really ditsy. She really just wants Phil’s attention and she is willing to do anything to get him to like her. Rita and Rhoda are almost like the silly girls of White Christmas,” Marshall said.

The trio of female characters, Betty and Judy Haynes and Martha Watson sings “Falling Out Of Love Can Be Fun.” They are played respectively by Rachel Roberts, Annie Wolfert, and Kara Porzuczek.

1. Sophomore Ros duet in “How Deep Roberts. 2. The chorus perf number “I Love A 3. Junior Kara Por Out Of Love Can Roberts and Annie 4. The chorus dan Skies” as a closer 5. Cast members his character Bob Betty Haynes. 6. Male co-stars R O’Leary sing a rep feathers. 7. Sixth grader Gr Susan Waverly an Happy” to her fam

istmas Senior Connor O”Leary and junior Annie Wolfert pose at the end of “I Love A Piano” along with chorus members. “We’ve all worked really had, put a lot of money, effort, time and a whole lot of choreography that I didn’t want to learn into making this production. I really just hope that it can brighten up some people’s Christmas seasons because I know that this isn’t always the easiest time of year for people but this is a really feel-good type of show and I think it can make some people happy,” senior Connor O’Leary said.

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CAST LIST Senior Zane Jud performs as Mike, stage manager for the show put on by Wallace and Davis in the barn. Mike expresses his frustration about the show towards Bob Wallace. Junior Brayton Wilds addresses his troops as General Henry Waverly in the closing scene of the musical finale. His right hand men, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis stand behind him as he speaks.

s Delong sings his part of the is The Ocean” with Roberts. orms a tap routine during the Piano” to start off Act Two. zuczek sings a solo in “Falling Be Fun” along with Rachel Wolfert. ces along to the song “Blue to Act One. gather around Ross Delong as Wallace reads a telegram for Betty Haynes. oss Delong and Connor rise of “Sisters” with fluffy ace Mandel performs as d sings “Let Me Sing And I’m ily.

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7 Senior Rachel Roberts sings “How Deep Is The Ocean” in Act Two. “I think everyone that comes through these shows just wants to do their best and make their theatre family here proud. That’s what I want. The shows are going to come and go every year and they are all going to be fantastic, but if we can keep the drama on stage and make this a fun, safe space for people, then we’ve done our job. I’ve done my job,” Roberts said.

Bob Wallace: Ross Delong Phil Davis: Connor O’Leary Betty Haynes: Rachel Roberts Judy Haynes: Annie Wolfert Martha Watson: Kara Porzuczek General Henry Waverly: Brayton Wilds Susan Waverly: Grace Mandel Ralph Sheldrake: Riley Timko Rita: Ally Marshal Rhoda: Claire Cox Ezekial Foster: Mason Klumper Mike: Zane Jud Tessie: Rose Stroup Jimmy: Daniel Rodriguez Cigarette Girl: Kate Michale Snoring Man: Daniel Rodriguez Mrs. Snoring Man: Kaylee Demlow Train Conductor: Everett Kalman Assistant Seamstress: Nick Kanter Seamstress: Jenna Pyle Dance Captain: Lauren Detrich Scooter/Piano Player: Tristian Grider Jim: Joey Kelly Gloria: Maria Diebolt Marty: Kaleigh Stohler Sheldrake’s Secretary: Lily Wann Photos by Lia Benvenutti.

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12/9/16

Magical world of Disney mystifies many through the years Taylor Wagner taylornoellex@gmail.com

Dwarfs” paved the way for an iconic franchise. As time has gone on Disney princess movies have gained popularity and diversity with hether it was “Cinderella”, “The Jungle Book” or “The Lion King,” different ethnicities, plots and backgrounds for characters. Disney movies leave a mark Disney’s first animated princess movie was on the lives of many. Dec. 5 marks Walt ‘Snow White,” animation innovation has taken Disney’s birthday and the legacy he left on the film industry. Walt and his brother Roy off. Being the first full-length animated motion Disney cofounded Walt Disney Productions picture, it provided a prototype for movies to come from the franchise. which then led the way to a multi-billion ‘Snow White’ holds a place as one of only dollar empire. two animated films on the American Film Starting with the first Disney princess movie in 1937, ‘‘Snow White and the Seven Institute’s “100 Years, 100 Movies.”

W 1937

“Snow White” marked Disney’s ﬁrst princess movie and full motion picture.

1955

The Lady and the Tramp

1959

Sleeping Beauty

“The Lady and the Tramp” held the iconic spaghetti kiss scene. The scene has been modeled in many modern movies.

1991

Bambi

The production of “Dumbo” marked Disney’s ﬁrst movie where the leading role was an animal.

1961

101 Dalmatians

1994

1992

The Lion King “Aladdin” was Disney’s ﬁrst animated movie to have a racially diverse cast. The setting of the movie is in Persia and includes Arab culture.

1998

1999

Mulan

Tarzan

Disney’s production of “Mulan” was their ﬁrst to include Asian culture and cast along with a feminist message. A live action version of Mulan is said to release soon.

2005

Chicken Little

1953

Peter Pan

Cinderella Disney took from Brothers Grimm fairy tale to make “Cinderella,” the second full motion princess movie.

“Bambi” was Disney’s ﬁrst movie to deal with loss or death of family and nature.

1973

1967

1981

Robin Hood

The Jungle Book

The Fox and the Hound

1996

1995

Pocahontas

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

2000

2001

Atlantis

2002 Lilo and Stitch

2003

Brother Bear “Brother Bear” aims to show the value of nature by turning a young boy into a bear to teach him a valuable lesson. This was Disney’s 44 animated movie.

“The Emperors New Groove” includes Inca culture with its architecture, sun worship and llamas as domestic animals.

2008

Bolt

2009

The Princess and the Frog

2010

Tangled

“Princess and the Frog” marked Disney’s ﬁrst African American lead as a Disney princess and included jazz culture.

1997

Hercules The “Hercules” directors worked on the ﬁlm for four years before the movie was released. They also directed “The Little Mermaid.”

“Pocahontas” was Disney’s ﬁrst movie to reference an actual historic event of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

The Emperors New Groove

1989

The Little Mermaid

“The Fox and the Hound” was Disney’s take on two uncommon friends ﬁnding their way along an adventure.

“The Jungle Book” dealt with the theme of losing your way and making new friends.

Disney’s production of “101 Dalmatians” was based on a novel written ﬁve years prior by Dodie Smith.

Aladdin

The Beauty and the Beast

The movie also broke ground by combining methods of CGI and 2D animation together to make a handdrawn aesthetic in Moana, according to an Indiewire interview with the producers and animators. “I think that Disney movies keeps us connected to our childhood as we grow older. Disney said, “Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional,” junior Disney club president Neha Manoharan said. For more information on Disney movies, go to Disney.com.

1950

1942

1941

Graphics by Taylor Wagner. Dumbo

Snow White

“I think that Disney has left a legacy. It started in the 30’s and to this day is the most popular franchises because of how amazing every production is,” junior Riley Phelan said. Introducing animals and ﬁctional creatures started with ‘‘Dumbo’’ in 1941. Giving animals a voice and a plot line gave way to movies such as “Robin Hood” and “Chicken Little.” Disney has also progressed in animation and special eﬀects over the years. In “Moana,” released Nov. 23, a production team of 90 animators was assigned to animate the water alone.

2012

Wreck-It Ralph

2013

Frozen “Frozen” is one of Disney’s top grossing animated ﬁlms with proﬁts of $1.3 billion. Frozen 2 is said to release within the next two years.

2014

Big Hero 6

All photos permission News

2016

Moana

“Moana” is Disney’s latest release which includes used with Hawaiian culture of Tribune and the voice of Dwayne Johnson.

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Mo Wood woodbmo@gmail.com

Opinion 11

12/9/16

wo kids sit, swaddled in blankets, watching wide eyed as Rudolph prances around the screen, trying to play all the reindeer games. It has been like this for the past nine consecutive nights, old Rankin/Bass Christmas movies have not stopped playing. Rankin/Bass may sound unfamiliar, but they were the company that made the stop motion Christmas movies that are adored by parents and grandparents, but are slowly being forgotten by newer generations. While Rankin/Bass productions are considered low quality to today’s standards, they are still worth admiration. Joy seems to radiate from the specials, much more effectively than today’s holiday shows. Movies like “Elf” and “Home Alone” are successful in bringing holiday spirit to an audience, but they can not hold a candle to the classic magic of Chris Kringle bringing toys to the people of Sombertown or the Miser brothers putting aside their differences to save Christmas. The movies they produced were made-forTV specials, featuring one big star to attract bigger audiences. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” for instance featured Burl Ives, a popular actor from the forties and fifties, as Sam the Snowman who narrated the story. Specials were usually based on popular holiday songs, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was a song by Johnny Marks, then adapted into the special. This was also true for Rankin/Bass’ later movies as well, “The

Photo by

Little Drummer Boy” Mo Wood. and “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” “The Year Without a Santa Claus” has my favorite music, Heat Miser and Snow Miser’s songs in the beginning always get stuck in my head. I ﬁnd myself humming “I’m Mister Heat Miser, I’m Mister Sun” all December. Rankin/Bass created magic for children in the sixties and seventies, but critics have emerged, accusing the duo of white washing and sexism. The critics are right - all of the characters are white washed. “The Little Drummer Boy” was supposed to be a Middle Eastern boy, but he just looked like a roughed up white kid. Sexism is evident in “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” when the storm is coming and Sam says that the women and children need to take shelter. While I am a feminist, and have been severely critical of white-washed media, I still ﬁnd the Rankin/Bass movies magical. The holiday season is centered around spending time with loved ones, and I think the Rankin/Bass movies brings my family and many other families together. My parents like them because those are the movies they watched when they were kids, and my siblings like the stories. While the holidays are not supposed to be centered around the TV, it is a tradition now a days to come together in the evenings and watch feel good holiday movies.

Classic Rankin/Bass characters appear in their ﬁlms - Heat and Snow Miser from “The Year Without A Santa Claus,” Hermey the elf and Sam Snowman from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and Chris Kringle from “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.”From left to right photos used with permission of Mo Wood, pocolover1957, Patrick Fitzgerald and Christina Bardeanu. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Comparative religions students are required to visit a place of worship of a different religion than their own. Visiting the Buddhist monastery in Bloomington is one way students can fulﬁll this requirement and get a glimpse of a different culture. Photos by Lizzie Brown.

Classes should expose students to different cultures Lizzie Brown

Post, and Fishers is a heavily Christian area with 45 percent of residents identifying as or some students, central Indiana is Christian. Because of this, many students have never been exposed to any religion all they have ever known, but there is much more to the world than the other than Christianity and have built up misconceptions about other religions. Midwestern United States. However, the Islam is one religion that has been multitude of classes offered give students covered extensively in the media due to the opportunity to venture outside of the growth of ISIS who claim to be Islamic. the Fishers bubble and experience other However, as taught in Comparative cultures. World history, Comparative Religions, and foreign language classes are Religions, ISIS does not follow the Quran. Jihad is not instructing Muslims to kill a few of those courses that are important non-believers; it is instructing them to do to breaking down cultural boundaries. away with the evil inside themselves, and All freshman are required to take the Quran expressly prohibits Muslims from some form of world history, and for good killing another human being. By taking this reason. This allows students, right from class, students gain an understanding and the beginning of their high school career, respect for other religions by learning that all to be exposed to the evolution of human belief systems are valid. societies and how they have shaped our Foreign languages are already a modern world right from the beginning graduation requirement, much to the dismay of their high school career. World history of some students, but this is yet another courses are the first step in ending xenophobia. They show how every human instance in which students are preparing themselves for life on an international level. came from a common source. It is unreasonable to expect every person in World history also prepares students to go on to college and be successful in an the United States to speak English; many increasingly globalized world. Despite our Americans are immigrants who are trying President-elect’s best attempts, Americans to fit in with society. Business today is often done on an international level with cannot ignore the fact that our country depends on other nations and that we have people who are not necessarily fluent in English. Learning another language removes great diversity within our borders. obstacles between different cultures. Religious diversity is often tied to The bottom line is that these classes cultural diversity, making a Comparative break down cultural barriers and end Religions course essential. As stated in the stereotypes and misconceptions that the First Amendment, we have freedom of religion in the United States. However, many Americans have. These barriers only cause distrust and fear when we should be 75 percent of Americans identify as celebrating cultural diversity. Christian according to the Washington

lizziebrown617@gmail.com

N 12 Opinion RED Head 2 Head: Students debate urgency of global warming THE

12/9/16

Lia Benvenutti lianbenvenutti@gmail.com

Claire Rosenthall clairerosenthall@gmail.com

lobal warming is an extremely important issue that has been continuously affecting this planet for hundreds of years. However, due to some major social and political changes taking place right now, there are other issues that need our more immediate attention. According to the Third National Climate Assessment Report, the global warming over the fast fifty years has been primarily due to human activities. Using too much heating and air-conditioning, burning too many fossil fuels and lack of education are all attributed to humans. Any type of change is difficult, which explains people’s reluctance to make changes to fix global warming, and why the burning of fossil fuels and the other similar issues have not been changed very much over the past years despite movements to do so. Still, protests are being held constantly in major cities of this country to fight the government’s treatment of the issue of global warming. Protests are an excellent way to enact change for a lot of the biggest issues facing our country today such as poverty, immigration rights, abortion and gay rights. Global warming is an issue and is cause for major concern but there should not be the same caliber of protests about global warming due to the fact that protesters can instead raise awareness and make people take more of an active role in helping the environment in their homes. This will ensure global warming will be dealt with more peacefully and with greater speed. According to The World Bank, America has a 6.2 percent unemployment rate, which directly stems from the federal government’s regulations involving minimum wages and monopolizing industries. The government can actively take a role right now in changing these laws that are more directly affecting the country right now, so there should be protests about this and similar issues. Because global warming, while still being a serious problem, is not as drastic as it was several years ago according to Scientific American, combined with the fact that there is not a lot the government is willing to do right now; the right thing for the public to do is simply make little changes within communities to help Earth be cleaner. If every person in this country did one thing on their own in their communities to help benefit the environment, that would be almost 319 million steps in the right direction. As long as active societal members continue to raise awareness and make sure people are educated about global warming and what can be done on an individual scale to help curb the rising temperatures, and if people are willing to make those little changes on their own, then this country can use its resources and government power to address more serious issues that affect society on a faster timeline.

Paws for Thoughts Is global warming an urgent issue?

Photos by Lia Benvenutti and Madi Calvert.

n Fishers it is common to have 70 degree weather when one walks out of school one day, and 40 degrees the next. Scientists would call this climate change. Global warming is ultimately the cause of this, which is a very urgent issue happening to the world. Global warming, by its definition, is the gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans. According to NASA, the average global temperature increased 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit from 1880 to present day. If the temperature of the Earth continues to increase at that pace there will come a point where we can no longer sustain the temperature of the atmosphere. When the poles get warmer the Earth is essentially losing our air conditioner. People tend to feel as if global warming is not an urgent issue, and that global warming is not the only issue going on. It may not seem like global warming is affecting us directly but in other parts of the world it is affecting them straightforward. In countries considered water poor, meaning they do not have easy access to clean water, women are required to carry countless pounds of water on their head for many miles to have water in their household for one day. This is a result of unstable ocean currents that displace water because of global warming. If these countries are not able to keep up with simple necessities we will be losing resources from places like India or Africa. Humans are not the only ones affected by global warming; animals like polar bears are a decreasing in the Arctic areas. As the atmospheric temperature rises, ice caps and glaciers are more likely to melt which means the homes of these animals are disappearing. Not only do polar bears lose their homes, but sea levels rise when the ice melts which can cause severe weather like hurricanes which we face every year. Another myth about global warming is that everyday people cannot do anything to fix it and scientists can only make a difference. However, one of the leading causes of global warming is greenhouse gases, which humans produce. Whether burning fossil fuels or expelling motor vehicle exhaust which depletes the ozone, we are the root of the problem. These gases are not safe for us to consume. According to International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the Earth’s surface was predicted to grow in by 2100 but now because of global warming the Earth is in reverse, expected to shrink in the next hundred years which is not a good parallel for our growing population. If we do not get educated about global warming and start to protect the world, we will be facing the consequences first hand whether that would not being able to withstand the temperature or dying of thirst because of the lack of water we will have.

“I think [global warming] is very urgent and I think people don’t address it as much as it needs to be. Especially now with Trump being in oﬃce I don’t think it will get any better,” junior Kate Kimmell said.

“I think global warming is a serious issue but not as extreme as people make it out to be, it is more of a lingering problem we have right now,” junior Risden Cassady said.

“I think [global warming] is a huge issue but I don’t think people need to freak out about it because there are other important issues going on and there is not a ton you can do about it right now,” sophomore Jenna Pyle said.

“I think global warming is important because we need to keep the Earth that we are living on around. Global warming does go up and down at times but that doesn’t mean we should stop caring about it,” freshman Sean Kieﬀer said.

“I feel like global warming is a real and happening thing today because it goes from 75 degrees to 40 degrees in the middle of November and that is not normal weather,” senior Elaina Souders said.

“Global warming was a gigantic issue years ago but it has gotten better as time has progressed. It is deﬁnitely something to care about, but you need to be more educated about it before you start freaking out,” sophomore Liam Green said.

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Editorial 13

12/9/16

Performing arts programs show beneﬁts

eople admire those who create. Whether those creations are sung, acted or played with an instrument, performing arts have inspired the world since the first civilizations. While artisans are often renowned for their contributions, many admirers do not consider how performing arts education has improved their lives in other ways. According to a study done by University of Kansas professor Christopher Johnson, students involved in good performing arts programs scored notably higher on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, and even students involved in low-quality programs still scored higher than those who did not participate in performing arts. The differences ranged from 17 to 23 percent, which is a significant amount on nationally regulated tests. Johnson hypothesizes that this improvement is a result of both sides of the brain working in sync while the student performs, which strengthens neural connections between the hemispheres. Something as simple as playing in an orchestra for one class period a day can improve test scores. Author Lisa Phillips notes that children need the life skills that performing arts provide in order to survive in the real world. Some of these include problem solving, dedication and accountability. Many performing arts activities require every student to do their part, or the entire program will fail. Procrastination is a chronic problem for many students, and having a class or extracurricular activity that promotes time management and responsibility will ultimately help them with

Graphic by Madi Calvert.

the rest of their work. The performing arts help develop a strong work ethic that will last a lifetime, teaching children the importance of staying on task. Phillips adds that students in these programs also develop very strong collaboratory skills. In the modern world almost every job requires collaboration on projects or assignments. By practicing these skills daily in high school, students can get a head start on learning how to deal with other people and create a performance. Students will gain confidence and learn the value of their contributions through performing. The benefits of music are more prominent in younger children, according to executive director Mary Luehrisen of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation, a not-for-profit that promotes the benefits of music education. However, older students in performing arts programs

often develop more fine motor skills and advanced language processing. Though it is better to start at an early age, it is never too late to get involved. The performing arts engage students in school and give them a reason to attend every day. When they are doing something they genuinely care about, they are more motivated to participate and make an effort throughout their school day. Many programs have consequences for missing rehearsals or classes, so students are more likely to attend. From instruments to stages, there are thousands of ways to participate. It is a very diverse field, and there are so many mediums to try. It may take some time for some people to find their niche, once they do they will notice the change in their lives. Though not everyone has innate talent and skill, performing arts in high school have always been more about having fun and exploring interests than raw talent. Even if students are not the most skilled in their group or class, they can still have fun and reap the benefits of participating in the program.

Friday Dec. 9, 2016

Editor-in-chief: Madi Calvert Copy Editors: Lizzie Brown, Emma Russell Web Editor: Mo Wood News Editor: Haley Thomas Features Editor: Reily Sanderson In-Depth and Entertainment Editor: Lia Benvenutti Sports Editor: Claire Rosenthall Graphic Designer: Miranda Lewellen Writers: Linda Chang, Alaina Gabbard, Hallie Gallinat, Seana Jordan, Sawyer Osmun, Ethan O’Sullivan, Alex Pope, Carolina Puga Mendoza, Helen Rummel, Taylor Wagner Photographers: Megan Jessup Editorial Statement Tiger Topics N the RED is the ofﬁcial triweekly newsmagazine of Fishers High School. It is distributed free to 3300 students and school personnel. It is designed, written, typeset and edited by students. Opinions expressed in the newsmagazine do not necessarily represent those of the adviser, administration or the entire staff. Letters to the editor may be submitted to A218 and must be signed and include the writer’s phone number for veriﬁcation. Letters to the editor will not be published anonymously. The ad policy is that ads may be sold to be in the paper, prices depending on size. If there is any incorrect info, corrections will be made in the next issue.

Mission Statement It is the mission of Tiger Topics NtheRed newsmagazine to provide students, faculty and the school community with an informative and entertaining publication both in print and online formats. Our goal is for the print and online publications to work together to encourage our readers to interact with our publication through a public forum in which readers can share their ideas and opinions with the publication staff.

3300 students & 220 faculty members

Principal Jason Urban Adviser Kristine Brown Fishers High School 13000 Promise Road Fishers, IN 46038 317-915-4290 ext. 21218 ﬁshersnthered.com

Photo illustration by Mandy Lewellen. mir.larkin17@gmail.com

Printer Greenﬁeld Daily Reporter 2600 copies Associations IHSPA CSPA NSPA Quill and Scroll

14 Sports

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12/9/16

Basketball dribbles their way into upcoming season Alaina Gabbard alainagabbard@gmail.com

ust starting their season, the boys and girls teams are already playing a lot of games. Although they have room to improve plays, the coaches said their players are more determined because there are more varsity players. “I would like to see our team consistently play with collective intensity and have a focus that demonstrates growth from last year,” girls basketball coach Michael Gaines said. According to Gains everyone is passing the ball, being aggressive on both ends of the court and staying focused on the same goal. The team is working well by sticking together on and oﬀ the court. The boys team has adjusted this year after losing many of last years seniors. This allowed the team to start fresh and recreate a team with younger players that have been trained to step up at this moment. “Everyone on the team gets along well and you can see this on the court with how unselﬁsh we are when playing with our teammates when sharing the ball,” senior basketball player Jason Slain said.

Senior boys basketball player Jason Slain

With every team there is always room for improvement. This year both teams have specific goals set for the season. Those goals were to be better at execution of offensive actions and reads. A difference between the girls team and the boys is that the speed of the game is faster on the boys team during games verses during a girls game. Every game day the girls team will have a walk through practice and Gaines will list off the strengths and weaknesses of the team. He also names some keys to success of what the team should be doing the day of the game. “We usually get team game binders with reports on other teams and we can look at those and get focused on how to win that game,” junior basketball player Sydney Rector said. To prepare for game days, the coaching staff for both boys and girls teams will look up statistics and watch videos of the opposing team they will be facing to prepare the team. “To prepare myself for a game day I will at least five minutes before the game to clear my mind of everything and just focus on the game,” Slain said.

With the information gathered from past games and other recent games from other schools the coaches will create scouting reports. During practice the plays that are developed to give the team their best chance at beating the opposing team. “I really think we are sectional contenders this year and I definitely think and feel we are capable of beating any team in our conference. If we can believe in each other, stay together, and work hard,” senior Alexandra Banko said. The coaching staff is having the team push more by constantly telling the team to think of future games and telling them that they have a really good chance of getting to state. “Having teammates that always have your back is very important,” Rector said. “They are people you can have fun with and that are always there for you and that is very helpful and important.” They have not been winning many games but the team is not worried yet because these games do not count towards state. The boys team has won two of their three games so far this season. They lost to Beloit Memorial with a score of 61 to 68. The girls team has lost five of their ten

Quick Facts: Girls Basketball2016-2017 season (Team Average)

games that they have played so far. Some of those games were and only lost by one point. “I believe we have a team that could go very far and accomplish great things this year if the team sticks together and plays their strengths throughout the whole season,” Slain said.

Senior Alexandra Bankovich guards Westﬁeld player on Nov. 16. Tigers lost 5041. Photo by Megan Jessup.

Junior girls basketball player Sydney Rector

47.8 points per game 37% ﬁeld goal percentage 26 rebounds 7.9 assists 10.6 steals 3.9 blocks What do you do to prepare for game days? “ To prepare myself for a game I take ﬁve to ten minutes before the game and clear my mind of everything and focus on the game.” Why did you want to play basketball? “I have played basketball all my life, both my parents played along with other family members and it is just the sport I love.” Photo used with permission of Jason Slain.

Boys Basketball2016-2017 season (Team Average) 66.3 points per game 54% ﬁeld goal percentage 35 rebounds 12.7 steals 4.2 blocks

What do you do to prepare for game days? “I go through the game binder for our team to see what I can do to prepare for a game.” Why did you want to play basketball? “I’ve been playing since third grade and I just love the game and a lot of which made me stay with it was the teammates I have had.”

Photo used with permission of Sydney Rector.

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Sports 15

12/9/16

Outdoor fun takes away winter blues Sawyer Osmun sawyerosmun@gmail.com

learn [to snowboard] because the tricks would be more fun to do on a snowboard than with skies.” Junior Makayla Pruett, on the other hand, says she is more of an indoor person during winter. She prefers watching Christmas movies or Netﬂix and decorating for the holidays. The only time Pruett likes to spend outside during the winter is running with the girls distance track team, practicing from Monday through Friday, and running on her own time during the weekends. “I spend most of my time outside during the winter with track and it kind of gets annoying because it is too cold, so I kind of just chill inside and get warm,” Pruett said. “Something that I have always wanted to try

in the winter would be ice skating with my friends because it looks fun with the ice rink that was built at HTC.” The Hamilton Town Center outdoor ice skating rink in Noblesville has closed down permanently. Other ice skating rinks such as Forum at Fishers are open during the wintertime to any students. English teacher Shanna McCabe enjoys sledding but says she likes to stay indoors because of the diﬃculty driving in winter. “I grew up outside of Chicago where the streets were cleared before the snow even hit the ground. In Indy, I feel like I am driving on an ice rink,” McCabe said. “[I’ve come to love sledding] because my cousins and I would spend all day sledding when we were little.” According to Statista, 2015 statistics show that skiing and snowboarding are the most popular winter sports in the U.S. The statistics also show that ice hockey is one of the most popular winter sports in North America, but the sport is more concentrated in Canada. “I think that even though you like being an indoor person, you should try to expand your horizons and get outside during the winter and do something new that you haven’t experienced yet like ice skating, playing hockey, going sledding or playing in the snow and building snow forts,” Pruett said.

ports fans can enjoy the holiday season with new items arriving in the athletic department. From sweatshirts to technology, there is an assortment of gifts to choose from. One of the most popular items according to NY Daily News will be Amazon’s Echo and Dot. Since their release back in 2014, Amazon has sold 5.1 million in the U.S. They feature the ability to stream sporting events right from the Amazon Echo if people have a subscription to MLB’s premium packages. Another feature is being able to link the speaker to Yahoo Football Fantasy through the My Alexa app.

“The number one thing that is on my list this year would be the Amazon Echo,” junior Miles Wagner said. “It doubles as a portable speaker and a device that has the same functions as Siri.” Another option are items with the fan’s favorite sports team on them. Sweatshirts, garden gnomes, key chains and even toothbrushes are available for sport fans. “One of my favorite baseball teams is the Cubs,” junior Sydney Parry said. “I honestly would just like a shirt, hat or socks with their logo on it to remember the fact they won the world series this year.” Companies, like Fanatics, are preparing for the expected surge in sports gifts purchases for the holidays according to Athletic

Business. In a building in Ohio, Fanatics Inc. is preparing for the holiday season by stocking up on sports memorabilia with many items relating to the Cub’s World Series Champion title. There is even a selection of items signed by the professional athletes themselves. Shoe manufacturers tend to put out pairs endorsed by well-known athletes, like Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. However,this past year, Nike released something new: the self-tying shoes that some people have been wanting since the movie, “Back to the Future: Part 2,” came out in 1989, according to NBC News.

The Amazon Echo is priced at $150 while the dot is priced at $50. Photo used with

Cub’s Jerseys are priced between $20 to $60. Photo used with permission of

NBA 2K17 is sold at GameStop and other stores for $60. Photo used with

ow that the cold weather is approaching, it is time to grab the snowboard or the sled and head outside. Some might ﬁnd junior Charis Greiwe and sophomore Roman Strobel outside during the winter season revisiting their favorite activities. Greiwe says that her favorite winter activity is sledding in her neighborhood with her siblings. She and her family spend a lot of time outdoors during the winter season. “I haven’t yet been skiing, but this winter I’m trying skiing for the ﬁrst time and so I’m really excited for that,” Greiwe said. “I enjoy winter, so just having friends that you can just go outside and go for walks with, even if it’s really cold is nice.” According to Stages of Life, a survey in February 2015 showed that 28.8 percent of teenagers voted fall and summer as their favorite season, and 17.6 percent of teenagers voted winter as their favorite season. Strobel has tried skiing and says that it is his favorite winter activity to do with his family. He also likes to help his dad do outdoor work. “I like going skiing with my family because it brings all of us together and we have a good time,” Strobel said. “I would like to

Children go outside and sled in the snow.

Photo used with permission of Tribune News Service.

214 students surveyed in English classes on Nov. 30. Graphics by Claire Rosenthall.

Holiday items sporting way to the top Seana Jordan seanajordan30@gmail.com

permission of Tribune News Service.

Tribune News Service.

permission of Tribune News Service.

The shoes went on sale only in New York on November 28 and Nike expects them be released in other stores by late December. “I don’t think I would want anyone to buy me the shoes, because that just seems like such a waste of money,” senior Jaylen Caldwell said. “I would never purchase something worth almost $800, when there is a chance of me growing out of them. The idea is pretty cool, but the price is just too much for a pair of shoes.” The popular video game NBA2K17 is one of the top rated games of the year. The 18th installment of this series was released in September and features a realistic gameplay that has sparked basketball fans’ interest all over the world, according to the video game experts at IGN. “For Christmas, what I really would love to have is NBA2k17,” Caldwell said. “I have always loved to play basketball, especially on my Playstation 4.” Two versions are available right now. The Legend Edition includes a controller skin,a poster and many other digital items. Most of these items mentioned can be found at department stores like Walmart, Sears, and Target. NBA 2k17 can be found anywhere video games are sold and the self-tying shoes will be in select Nike stores.

THE

12/9/16

Coaches’ Corner: Coaches discuss upcoming season

FHS Athletic website.

What are your goals for this season? “We are training to win the Mudsock Trophies, the Hoosier Crossroads Conference Championships, the Sectional Championships and the State Championships. We will consider this season a success if we give our best efforts towards those goals.” How do you learn from your season as it goes on? “Every practice and competition gives us clues as to what we need to do to get a little faster.”

What is the number one strength your team has? Why so? “I think we have many strengths. I believe that we will achieve what we truly believe we can achieve. I know that sounds very cliche’...but I will stand on that. What is the most important thing you teach your athletes? “I hope that it’s the value of working together as a team towards a common goal.”

Claire Rosenthall clairerosenthall@gmail.com

Ethan Harris Boys wrestling coach

Jay Chambers Girls and boys swim coach

Coach Jay Chambers cheers swimmers on at sectionals on Feb. 22. Tigers placed ﬁrst. Photo used with permission of

RED

16 Sports

Coach Ethan Harris watches match against HSE on Jan. 6. Tigers lost 54-12. Photo used with permission of FHS Athletic website.

What are your goals for this season? “My goal is to get my wrestlers to compete at the highest level possible that they can, while still allowing them to have a fun time as they do it because that is what the sport is all about.” How do you learn from your season as it goes on? “We constantly reﬂect from our competition and practice and utilize ﬁlm to discuss our needs as a team.”

What is the number one strength your team has? Why so? “The number one strength we have as a team it that we have upperclassmen that are leading by example. Our program is deﬁnitely on the right path, and our upperclassmen have a lot to do with it.” What is the most important thing you teach your athletes? “One important thing I value teaching is promoting being leaders on and off the mat.”

Athletes’ Angle: Athletes work toward conquering new personal goals Alex Strueder Junior wrestler

Carissa Schneider Senior swimmer

Senior swimmer Carissa Schneider swims towards the ﬁnish in her event at sectionals on Feb. 22. Tigers placed ﬁrst. Photo used with permission of Carissa Schneider.

What are your goals for this season? “This season, it is my goal to help my teammates reach their best. If everyone swims to their best ability, we will have a great season that will lead to the achievement of team and individual goals. How do you use past experience to help this year? “Having experience is very beneﬁcial in swimming. I know how the meets are run and what meets I should be swimming fast in. I am also very familiar with the atmosphere of sectionals, our championship meet that guarantees a spot at state.”

How do you train yourself for this sport? “Training for swimming is very rigorous and unlike many other sports. We have 10 practices a week…yes 10. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, we have practice from 5:30-7. We have practice every afternoon from 3:105:45. Saturday morning practices run from 7-10. Each practice is unique in its own way, but will help one reach a person’s goals if they practice correctly.” What kind of impact does your coach have on you? “All of my coaches have made it very clear to me what it will take in order to reach my goals. I must do everything correctly if I want to go to the next level. My coach has also taught me to valuable life lessons that I will hold onto for forever.”

Junior wrestler Alex Strueder wrestles against HSE opponent on Jan. 6. Tigers lost 54-12. Photo used with permission of Fishers Athletic website.

What are your goals for this season? “My individual goal for the season is to earn myself a medal at the state competition in February, and as a team we want to make improvements from last year, and be more competitive in close duals.” How do you use past experience to help this year? “As a freshmen I made it to state, but was eliminated before medal rounds took place, and last year I lost in ultimate overtime in the match to go to state. I use this as motivation everyday in practices to push myself so I do not come up short.”

How do you train yourself for this sport? “Training for wrestling is similar to many sports, but also has many differences. One of the biggest differences is wrestling is a team sport, but when it comes down to it is an individual sport because it is only you and your opponent for 6 minutes straight. Because of this, mental toughness is a big aspect so my coaches are always pushing me physically and mentally.” What kind of impact does your coach have on you? “This is the second season for all of our coaches here. They have deﬁnitely made a big change in the culture of wrestling and expect nothing less than my best effort every single day. They are very educated on the sport and help everyone tune in on technique, and are not afraid to make us work.”