Oct. 29, 2009 HiLite

feature Is cursive writing becoming a lost art?

acumen The ‘Women’ issue

carmel high school • 520 e. main st., carmel, IN 46032

oct. 29, 2009 • vol. 55 • issue 3

Sick as a dog

H1N1 is not the only germ in town; students should be wary of other viruses lurking in plain sight

cover story + Those who’ve had H1N1 may be immune, but precautions still necessary news Check us out online @ www.hilite.org for the latest news, scores, video, polls and multimedia content

15 minutes Mary Kiray, skating queen

Carmel High School • 520 E. Main St., Carmel, IN 46032

Oct. 29, 2009 • Vol. 55 • Issue 3

Contact information

table of contents

cover story

Mailing Address: 520 E. Main St., Carmel, IN 46032 Phone: (317) 846-7721, Ext. 7143 Web site: www.hilite.org E-mail: Staff members of the HiLite may be contacted by using their first initial and their last name appending @hilite.org. For example, Michelle Hu will receive mail sent to mhu@hilite.org.

Responding to the HiLite

Letters to the editor will be accepted for the Nov. 20 issue no later than Nov. 6. Letters may be submitted in Room C147, placed in the mailbox of Jim Streisel, e-mailed to letters@hilite.org or mailed to school. All letters must be signed. Names will be published. (Letters sent via e-mail will be taken to a student’s SRT for him to sign.) Letters must not contain personal attacks against an individual and may be edited.

Look out for germs They’re everywhere. But in this year’s flu season, students must take extra care with their hygiene.

Purpose The HiLite is a student publication distributed to students, faculty and staff of Carmel High School, with a press run of 4,500. Copies are distributed to every school in the Carmel Clay district as well as the Chamber of Commerce, city hall and the Carmel Clay Public Library.

The paper serves as a public forum and two-way communication for both the school and the community. Opinions expressed in the newspaper are not necessarily those of CHS nor the Carmel Clay system faculty, staff or administration.

Credentials The HiLite belongs to the Indiana High School Press Association, Quill & Scroll and the National Scholastic Press Association.

Advertising Businesses may advertise in the HiLite if their ads adhere to guidelines. The advertising policy is available in Room C147 or at www.hilite.org.

Staff Editor in Chief Michelle Hu Managing Editors Rosemary Boeglin

Sarah Sheafer Accountant Andrew Burke Acumen Arjuna Capulong

Jinny Zhang 15 Minutes of Fame Afra Hussain Artist Daniel Li

Rebecca Xu Beats/Calendar Emma Neukam

Amanda Nguyen

Laura Peng

Nina Underman Cover Story Sara Rogers Entertainment Maddi Bourgerie

Ellie Seta Feature Hera Ashraf

Rebecca Xu Front Page Tim Chai

Steven Chen Graphics Daniel Li News Susie Chen

Beverly Jenkins Perspectives Julie Kippenbrock

Jade Schwarting Photography Nick Johnson

Kaitlyn Lampe Special Projects Kelsey Binion

Amanda Nguyen

Min Qiao

Tracy Sun Sports Mackenzie Madison

David Zheng Student Section Lauren Burdick Web Mike Jiang

Nishanth Samala

Reporters Sally Bae Audrey Bailey Meredith Boyd Hope Boyer Maggie Brandenburg Andrew Browning Patrick Bryant Monica Cheng Ryan Duffy Cassie Dugan Yameen Hameed Grayson Harbour Kendall Harshberger Ben Lu Alex Mackall Photographers Gabrielle Bowers Arjuna Capulong Shirley Chen Stephanie Coleman Shokhi Goel Lizzy Grubbs Kate Grumme Stuart Jackson Emily Puterbaugh Daniel Smith Jinny Zhang

Faraz Majid Katie Norman Priya Patel Darlene Pham Thalib Razi Mitch Ringenberg Erum Rizvi Katie Walstrom Reuben Warshawsky Jackson Whiteker Celina Wu Michelle Yun Sarah Yun Caroline Zhang Web team Michael Luo Pedram Navid Matt Pickard Michael Price Video Marianna Cooper Parker Myers

Adviser Jim Streisel Principal John Williams Superintendent Barbara Underwood

16

news Money issues arise as construction for new athletic facility is set to begin

sports Asteamit finishes its season, the football looks to return to the State

Those who’ve had H1N1 are already immune, but experts still advise taking precautions

Top five most common sports injuries

04

06

next year

24 26

Finals

feature Some parents draw the line on Halloween as they fear teenage

perspectives Staff perspective: Students must wash hands before returning to

Cursive writing is becoming a dying art as students find it easier and faster to write in print

Michelle Hu provides a statistical analysis of health care reform

08

10

pranks can go too far

student section Freshman Brooke McCallum plays tennis both outside of school and on

15

the school team to improve

entertainment Fall sweeps features several teenbased shows. Here’s our take on the

20

22

drama.

Staff reporter Maddi Bourgerie provides tips and suggestions on fun fall activities Cover>> Daniel LI / Graphic

28 30

school

15 minutes of fame

32

Junior Mary Kiray figure skates competitively

Want More?

Go to www.hilite.org for stories, videos, slideshows and more

Halloween

<< just a minute 03

HiLite • October 29, 2009

A brief history of...

43 A.D.

Two festivals of Roman origin were combined with Samhain. Feralia celebrated the dead and Pomona honored the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona, the apple, is likely the explanation of “bobbing” for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

Circa 800

Circa 1 A.D.

The Celts celebrated their new year, Samhain, on Nov. 1. As a tribute to end summer, people dressed up in costumes (animal heads and skins) and attempted to tell each other’s futures.

Pope Boniface IV designated Nov. 1 All Saints’ Day to honor saints and martyrs. The celebration was also called Allhallows, and the night before it began to be called Allhallows Eve.

1800-1900s

People began to dress up and go house to house asking for food or money, becoming today’s “trick-or-treat” tradition. At the turn of the century, the community aspect of Halloween became emphasized alongside the removal of its superstitious and religious overtones.

1700-1800s

A distinct American version of Halloween emerged. People would celebrate the harvest, share stories of the dead, tell each other’s fortunes, dance and sing.

1950-present

After vandalism was eliminated from the day during the 1920s, Halloween began to be directed at the young.

Families could prevent tricks played on them by sharing treats with children in the neighborhood. This eventually evolved into a $2.5 billion annual industry, making it the second largest commercial holiday.

what are the odds?

history.com / source

1 112 million in

odds a person will die from a vending machine accident in a year

v.

1 252 million in

odds a person will die from a shark attack in a year

bookofodds.com / source

04 news >>

Money for schools doesn’t grow on trees

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Despite knowledge that operational funds are separate from capital funds, some say plans to construct a new athletics facility come at a bad time things you need to know: School Funds School funding formula Indiana’s school funding formula is one of the more complex out of the 50 states.

To calculate a school’s amount of funding from the state, information about the school, including number of pupils, quality of educational material and the building quality, are all taken into account.

Foundation program This program is the most frequently used method to figure out a method for distributing dollars to school corporations. Over 40 states currently use the Foundation Program to calculate how funds will be distributed to schools.

First step: the state determines how much money the school will need to fund its regular educational operations.

Second step: the state determines how much of these funds can be raised locally (usually through property taxes). third step: the amount of state support for each school corporation is determined as the amount of dollars that cannot be covered by local sources.

by priya patel and michelle hu ppatel@hilite.org, mhu@hilite.org

C

onstruction on a new sports facility is set to begin in the fall of the 2010-11school year. Built as an addition to the fieldhouse and extending into the parking lot, the fitness center will be a two-story building, complete with a weight room that includes three different levels of weight equipment, more gym space, indoor running areas and more physical education classroom areas.

“We’re still utilizing some of the existing equipment, but a lot will be a combination of introductory type all the way up to more advanced for the different classes,” Athletics Director Jim Inskeep said.

According to Principal John Williams, the school has contemplated the addition for around three years. Every other department in the school has experienced renovations, and he said it’s time for the physical education department to change as well. “We identified a need for more space in our

physical education area,” Williams said.

Sophomore Matt Lampe plays basketball and baseball and uses the weight room to train. “I like the weight room right now, but some newer equipment would be pretty cool,” he said.

Costing around $5 million to $6 million, the costs of building such a facility will be paid for by the school board’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF). The monies in this fund are completely separate from the monies in the fund from which teacher salaries are taken.

CPF is generally used for any expansion-type project, such as building a classroom, or it is used for technology updates for schools across the district. For example, the 2009-10 budget went to technology upgrades in the 10-12 portion of the building.

The Carmel Clay Educators’ Association has voiced opposition to the addition. Though the money for the fitness center comes

Story continued on next page

>>

Grants for Schools • The Foundation Grant is calculated using the number of students enrolled in the school; therefore, it can vary depending on how many are currently in the school corporation.

• The Variable Grant is calculated using the school’s previous target revenue and the average daily membership (number of students).

• The Minimum Guarantee Grant is calculated much like the Variable Grant, with the exception that the target revenue is raised. ceep.indiana.edu / source

gabrielle bowers / photo

PUMPING IRON AT A COST: The proposed new sports facility will be located on this site, extending into the parking lot.

Athletics Director Jim Inskeep said the project will cost up to $6 million.

<< news 05

HiLite • October 29, 2009

<<Story continued from previous page from a capital projects money pool which cannot fund teachers’ salaries, Karen Taff, spokeswoman for the CCEA and social studies teacher here, said the actions of the district give off the wrong message in terms of teachers’ contracts. At the latest school board meeting on Sept. 29, she gave a speech in which she said the new fitness center is being built at the wrong time.

Despite concerns, according to Inskeep, this is a good time to

build because the construction companies need the business and are willing to give lower prices. Inskeep also said that with the current weight room, there is not enough space or proper equipment to cater to all of the different needs of students and athletes who train at the school.

“The idea is to break the space into three different instruction areas that will be beneficial to all of the various groups using the equipment, “Inskeep said. “Right now we don’t have the ability to cater to the different groups.”

Superintendent: separate General fund, capital funds both struggling The school system here is partially funded by a statesupplied General Fund, according to Superintendent Barbara Underwood. She said the General Fund is used strictly for covering operational expenses.

Around 30 years ago, the state decided to limit funding to populous suburban school systems like Carmel’s because of the revenue such schools received from property taxes, according to Underwood. It altered the General Fund formula to favor schools with less property tax revenue, she said, in order to equalize the total funds of different school systems.

Because the formula calculates payment per pupil, Underwood said, falling enrollment in recent years has further reduced the already constricted state funding, and now the school system here has one of the smallest General Funds in Indiana. Ninety-two percent of the General Fund goes toward teacher salaries and benefits, she said, so salary reductions make smarter, if more unpopular, budget cuts than trimming a little fat on the other 8 percent.

“You won’t save much by cutting down on paper (usage),”

Underwood said.

Also, falling interest rates have damaged the school system’s public revenue from the larger, locally-financed Capital Projects Fund, according to Underwood, which covers extra financial ventures such as the renovation and addition of equipment and facilities.

“We’re getting less than $50,000 in interest this year, as opposed to $1.5 million,” Underwood said.

Underwood said the school b o a rd p l a n s to d r aw u p a referendum asking taxpayers to pay more in property tax in order to replenish school funds.

Underwood said, “I’ll have a proposal for the (school) board of my own too, to cut $3 million of our budget for next year.” By Thalib Razi

Distribution of funds: where does the money go?

CH

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Ins 6 tru Pu .4% cti pil on s 5 al .8% s Co taff ach 2.9 % Ot es 1. he 7% r2 .1%

Indiana Department of education / source

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on 6 cti tru Ins

Instruction: 58,944,734 Business: 10,301,028 School administration: 5,453,216 Pupils: 4,973,707 Instructional staff: 2,467,095 Adult education/summer school/ coaches: 1,417,616 Central: 599,021 Non-programmed: 555,464 General administration: 492,723 Community service: 103,07 Textbooks: 81,403

9%

Carmel Clay Schools 2008 Expenditures (in dollars)

daniel li / graphic

06 news >>

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Already had H1N1?

Then no vaccine necessary

3

Experts say once people get swine flu, they develop immunity, but basic precautions still important

F

Despite his illness, the silver lining to Zhang’s experience is he won’t need to wait in line to get a vaccine for H1N1 as it becomes available.

by patrick bryant pbryant@hilite.org

or junior Jingxuan Zhang, his bout with H1N1 started on Sept. 27. According to Zhang, on return from a trip with the marching band from Louisville, KY, he started to feel what he called “slightly feverish.”

“My symptoms were coughing, runny nose and high fever,” he said. He said he went to the doctor where he tested positive for H1N1. “They drew a couple vials of blood and tested my mucus,” he said.

According to school nurse Carol Gelatt, once students get H1N1, they cannot get it again. However, she said it is very difficult to detect whether or not someone has H1N1 because the symptoms are nearly identical to a more seasonal flu.

“You have to be sure you actually have the virus and not ‘flulike symptoms,’” Gelatt said. “A specimen needs to be collected and sent to a laboratory for proper diagnosis of H1N1.”

According to Joan Duwve, Medical Director for Public Preparedness for the Indiana State Department of Health, 99 percent of these lab-tested specimens are H1N1. She said the main reason so many people get H1N1 is because nobody has immunity to this new disease.

Duwve said there are two forms of the vaccine available including a traditional injection for anyone older than 6 months and a nasal spray.

According to Assistant Principal Doug Bird, the Hamilton County Health Department has made proposals for all schools to make available school-wide immunizations of students. “Our plan, hopefully, will accommodate as many students as possible,” Bird said.

dfadf

things you need to know: h1n1 vaccine

1. Afraid of shots?

The vaccine comes either as a shot (in the arm) or as a nasal spray.

2. What if i already got the SeaSONAL flu vaccine?

You will still need to get the H1N1 vaccine; the seasonal flu vaccine will not protect you against the H1N1 virus.

3. who can get the h1n1 vaccine and when can i get it?

Anyone may receive the vaccine, which was administered starting Oct. 12. The Center for Disease Control, however, has recommended that certain groups get immunized first, such as pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age and people between 6 months and 24 years old. cdc.gov / source

Bird said the plan will involve students getting a permission slip signed if they want the H1N1 vaccination; when slips are returned, the respective number of doses will be ordered.

According to Principal John Williams, this immunization will not be run by school nurses, but rather by officials from the county’s health department.

“This is not a school thing, this is a health thing,” Williams said. “We think it’s a great community service. It will take a lot of cooperation from the kids.” shirley chen / photo

SAY ‘AAAHH’: Nurse Carol Gelatt tests the temperature of a student at the health center. Getting a fever is one of the symptoms of H1N1; the virus is difficult to detect because many of its symptoms are like that of the seasonal flu.

For Zhang, his stretch with H1N1 is something he said he doesn’t want to go through again. According to him, it didn’t compare to any other time he had been sick before.

“It was like getting hit by a truck,” he said, “except without the broken body parts.”

shirley chen / photo

void of virus : A nurse fills out a pass for a student to go back to class after checking her symptoms. The school has been taking extra precautions to prevent other students from contracting a virus.

<< news 07

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Administration changes graduation gowns Instead of men in blue and women in white, all Carmel graduates will wear blue gowns this year by michelle hu mhu@hilite.org From the Class of 2010 on, seniors will wear the exact same gowns at graduation. This is a change from the past couple decades, when men wore blue and women wore white gowns, but the purpose for wearing the different colors has been lost.

According to Principal John Williams, the tradition was for students to sit in alternating blue and white so that the crowd would see an organized mass of the two colors. However, he said the tradition ended more than a decade ago, before he began working at this school as principal seven years ago.

“The thought (of changing the gowns) came about from a complaint,” Williams said. A grandparent of a graduate voiced her opinion on the inherent sexism of the different colors, and told the administration that she thought it sent a message of women’s inferiority.

Though Williams said the e-mail started the discussion, the change did not result from the same reasons the grandmother had. Instead, he said the tradition was outdated and there was no point in having different colors, especially since white is not a school color.

“There really was no logic to it,” Williams said.

Although there are some senior girls who are upset about the change in gowns, Senior Elvira “Ella” Shreder said she likes the new idea better.

“I didn’t really like the white gowns,” she said. “I think it was too plain, and the blue ones look cooler.”

Williams said that without a blue and white pattern, the graduates sat in only alphabetical order. “There’s no aesthetic value in (having blue and white gowns,” Williams said.

Shreder’s older sister, who graduated in 2008, was in the second-to-last class to feature both colors of gowns. Shreder said she didn’t her sister liked her white gowns very much.

“She was telling me that she’d rather have blue,” she said.

In the past, women had to purchase light colored or white clothing to wear underneath their white gowns, which is a problem Assistant Principal Amy Skeens-Benton dealt with, according to Williams.

Additionally, Williams said Herff Jones contacted the school independently of the color change and suggested a new blue gown with a special logo.

“We probably could have gotten that in white,” Williams said, “but it just made sense. If we were to order a bunch of them, now would be the time to make the (color) change.

Shirley Chen / photo

Groundbreaking Gowns: Senior Lauren Syck waits as a Herff Jones representative calculates the total for her graduation items, including her cap and gown.

This year will be the first year women will not wear the traditional white gown at graduation.

Obama considers longer school days, CHS has no current plans to adopt measure

by Kendall harshberger kharshberger@hilite.org

hours have been added to the school day as an experiment.

Early results are positive.

Williams said if CHS were ever to lengthen its days, sacrifices would have to be made.

Every Monday and Friday, sophomore Emily Garman gets up at 5 a.m. for her 5:30 a.m. swim practice. From 7:50 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. she is in school. Then, she has a daily swim practice until 6 p.m. After that, she goes home and does all her schoolwork.

However, Garman said she thinks increasing school hours would have a negative impact on herself and others.

“Carmel would adjust, but some after-school programs would have to be adjusted,” he said.

“I’m usually up to 10:30 or 11 doing my homework,” she said.

According to NYDailyNews.com, President Barack Obama recently spoke of his interest in increasing school hours; research indicates the increased time would be spent on core academics, more time for teachers and more enrichment time for students.

In the article, Obama said kids in the United States spend too little time in the classroom and that puts them at a disadvantage to students in other countries. In some schools, such as the Clarence R. Edwards Middle School in Boston, three

“(Lengthening school days) would be absolutely terrible. I have no time to do my homework anyways. I’d completely fail,” she said. “Just in general, no one wants to go to school longer than they’re supposed to.”

“But, in my opinion, more is not necessarily better.”

John williams

But according to Williams, sacrifices wouldn’t just have to be made on students’ activities. “How would we pay for (longer school days)? We can’t just ask teachers to work extra hours and not pay them,” he said.

Principal John Williams said he thinks there are pros and cons to the prospect of a longer school day.

“If this program was ever to be used,”Williams said, “some things would have to be worked out first.”

“But, in my opinion, more is not necessarily better,” he said. “It’s what you’re doing, where you’re doing it and who you’re doing it with that really matters.”

For now, Garman said she’s just going to keep managing her schedule as is.

“If it happens, it happens,” she said. “I just really hope it doesn’t.”

08 feature >>

HiLite • October 29, 2009

No Trick

No Treat Halloween pranks, while amusing to some, can cross the line into vandalism

By Laura Peng

D

on’t expect sophomore Jonathan Jun to show up at your front door on the night of Halloween. He does not accompany his friends to Party Tree to shop for costumes or leave candy out for trick-or-treaters. His mom, Eunice Jun, does not observe Halloween for religious reasons and said she prefers that Jonathan and his brother spend time with the family to stay out of trouble.

“My mom thinks it’s dangerous to be out with your friends at night,” Jonathan said. “We’re teenagers. We can do some pretty destructive things.”

According to the National Retail Federation, 38.3 percent of adults in the Midwest similar to Mrs. Jun do not intend to celebrate Halloween this Saturday for both religious and non-religious reasons. Instead, she plans to take her family out to dinner.

“Halloween is a holiday when children dress up in costumes and engage in festivities,” Mrs. Jun said. “But I personally do not believe in the holiday and prefer that my children remain at my side where I know they are safe.”

Story continued on next page

>>

Rebecca Xu and Shokhi goel / photo illustration

<< feature 09

HiLite • October 29, 2009 According to Sergeant Phil Hobson, the resource officer at this school, cases of misconduct and vandalism typically increase on the night of Halloween. In response to this statistic, both the local police local neighborhoods keep a closer eye on Halloween pranksters.

Hobson said, “You will see smashed mailboxes and pumpkins and the occasional toilet paper in the yard. But increases occur in misdemeanor crimes, not in violent crimes.”

But not everyone considers the crimes problematic. One of the numerous victims of such misdemeanors include sophomore Annie Zipes, who wakes up the morning after Halloween each year with her front yard blanketed in toilet paper.

“My brother’s friends TP our house, and I think it’s funny as long as I’m not the one who has to clean it all up,” Annie said. “And my parents don’t really mind since we know who did it.”

Toilet papering typically does not cause any permanent damages or result in significant monetary losses.

“When you’re out with your friends, you can do really stupid things. My friends usually do a lot of crazy stuff, and I’m not there to do it with them.”

Fo r t h e s e re a s o n s among others, Annie’s mom, Melissa Zipes, shares a similar perspective with her daughter.

Mrs. Zipes said, “The first thing that goes t h ro u g h my m i n d is how long it will take to pick it all up. I figure kids will be k ids. I’m mildly annoyed, but never a n g r y. W h e n ( t h e pranks) don’t cause Jonathan Jun any damage, I don’t think it should really get them in trouble since it’s not hurting anyone. I trust my kids not to do anything disrespectful, and I think pranks are a bit different.”

shokhi goel / photo

UNHAUNTED HOUSE: Sophomore Jonathan Jun sits on the porch of his undecorated house. Jun said he doesn’t celebrate Halloween due to religious reasons and possible dangers.

According to Hobson, individuals who are caught committing criminal mischief are arrested and required to pay restitution to the victims of their misdemeanors.

Additional consequences include probation and community service.

the Harm-o-meter Lieutenant Jeff Horner ranks how harmful Halloween pranks are on a scale of 1 to 10

Most Harmful

“When you’re out with your friends, you can do really stupid things,” Jonathan said. “My friends usually do a lot of crazy stuff (on Halloween), and I’m not there to do it with them.”

Although Jonathan said he feels left out of Halloween festivities, he does not have anything to say against his parents’ decision. In fact, he said he is not sure whether he would let his own kids celebrate Halloween in the future.

Nevertheless, the police often receive word of more serious cases of vandalism every year on Halloween that require families to spend money for replacing damaged property.

More destructive pranks include egging houses and cars, forking yards and smashing pumpkins and mailboxes.

“It depends on what grade they’re in and where we’re living,” Jonathan said. “My brother and I did not celebrate Halloween when we were kids. My parents just bought us a lot of candy and usually took us out to eat at a restaurant. They don’t like the thought of running around with your friends at night.”

“About seven years ago on one Halloween evening, there was a neighborhood on the southeast side of the city where about 40 mailboxes were vandalized,” Hobson said. “Even though it may seem harmless to the kids who did it, the monetary losses were quite significant. If you figure about $200 a mailbox times 30, the numbers can get really high.”

Hobson said, “Some people are more aware of the safety issues involving younger children Halloween is a neat holiday for kids to dress up as long as they are safe and responsible. Depending on their age, parents are responsible for supervising their kids, keeping an eye on them and checking their candy. Free candy is never a bad thing.”

Forking yards

9 and smashing mailboxes

Egging houses 7

Smashing 3 pumpkins

Toilet papering homes and yards 2

Least Harmful

Jeff Horner / source

10 feature >>

HiLite • October 29, 2009

The Decline of Cursive Increasing number of students find print faster to write and easier to understand

cursive is not something to regret since an increasing number of people find print clearer and faster to write.

“In terms of communication and education, it’s not regretful,” she said. “But I think when beautiful penmanship disappears it is a little sad.”

According to second and third grade teacher Linda McHugh, cursive’s decline is due to teachers spending less time on teaching cursive. McHugh said via e-mail, “Teachers have to prioritize what is most important and cursive is not on the top of the list.

“In years past, I can remember allowing 10 to 20 minutes a day for cursive instruction. Now I add cursive to (my students’ morning activities). Sometimes I show how the letter is formed, but most of the time I have the students follow their (handwriting manuals), so the students are pretty much on their own.”

stephanie coleman / photo

THE CURSE OF CURSIVE: Junior Ben Klutzke writes his name in both print and cursive. Klutzke said he chooses not to write in cursive anymore because he said it is slower and he wanted a change.

J

By Caroline Zhang czhang@hilite.org

unior Ben Klutzke has regressed over the years when it comes to his handwriting. He said he learned to write in cursive in third grade. By the end of his freshman year here, he had stopped writing in cursive and switched entirely to printing. “I felt like cursive was slower,” he said.

Klutzke is not alone. In the 2006 SAT writing portion, only 15 percent of the test-takers wrote in cursive. Indiana’s Academic Standards requires students to learn and write in cursive only in the third and fourth grades. According to English teacher Rebecca Malenkos, Klutzke is one of an increasing number of students choosing print. Malenkos said she might know why.

“I suspect it has to do with the individual and what they find faster,” she said. “Everything, from books to the Internet, is typed, so maybe our eyes and brain read and process the printed word faster.”

Klutzke said he attributes his switch to print to the need for faster writing skills. “(In my freshman year) I was doing a lot more writing and I felt like I needed a change,” he said.

However, freshman Aabha Anekar said she plans to continue writing in cursive due to personal preference. “I’ve been writing in cursive since first grade and I’m used to it,” she said.

“I think it’s a beautiful handwriting.”

Another factor in the decline of cursive may be due to the fact that an increasing number of people think printing is clearer.

Anekar said, “My teachers write in print when writing on the board so it’s more clear and students can understand it better.

However, when they’re grading papers or writing a letter, they will often use cursive.”

Malenkos said, “I think printing is easier to read. Sometimes, people who write in cursive like to be a bit flamboyant in their writing, and will add curly Q’s and embellishments.”

She also said from a practical standpoint, the decline of

Cursive may also be victim to the modern and more informal style of writing prevalent in today’s society. Klutzke said, “I think cursive is reserved for extremely formal writings.

Writing has gotten a lot more informal because of e-mail and text messaging.”

Malenkos also said she sees cursive as a more formal style of writing that is dying out. “I think cursive writing used to be a signature of academics,” she said. “Having beautiful penmanship was a sign of class and prestige. Nowadays it is all about speed and how fast you can get writing on paper.”

by the numbers U.S. postal office workers used to confuse a cursive capital letter ‘Q’ with the number 2.

Daily handwriting lessons have decreased from an average of 30 minutes to 15 minutes.

0.3% of high school students are allowed to use

computers on standardized tests because their handwriting is so bad. time magazine / source

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12 feature >>

HiLite • October 29, 2009

In lieu of money, some students choose to

Share Their Hair Even in recession, Locks of Love kept alive by plentiful donations

D

By Katie Norman knorman@hilite.org

onations for the charity Locks of Love have not fallen due to the economic recession even though many other charity donations have. Junior Jessica Novitski has donated twice to the charity Locks of Love and said the reason the organization is so successful is because the donation in hair makes it easy for people to feel as though they are sacrificing and doing their part without having to ask for money.

“It’s a more tangible method of donating than money, plus it makes you feel more connected to the people you are donating to,” she said.

Some charities have found different ways for people to contribute that do not involve donating money. One such charity, Locks of Love, asks for hair. And while other charities have suffered along with the economic downturn, the New York Times reported that Locks of Love still has plenty of hair donations to go around, even having to throw some donations away from the surplus.

“It’s a more tangible method of donating than money, plus it makes you feel more connected to the people you are donating to.”

Many of the more well known charities ask for money to help pay for a good cause, but with this year’s economic recession, tight budgets may not allow for a lot of their donations to come through.

Jessica Novitski

Junior Akshatha Sridhar has also donated to Locks of Love, and said she also believes in the benefit of donating hair instead of money.

“Even if people don’t have money they can donate to a good cause as well as helping somebody with cancer by donating something they will be cutting off anyway,” she said.

Still, not everyone can donate. Locks of Love has strict standards for its donated hair.

To make the prosthetics, the hair has to be a certain length and have a certain history before it can be used.

Bleached hair, dreadlocks, hair that is shorter than requirements and even heat-damaged hair will not be used to make the prosthetics.

Jessica Novitski / submitted photo

HALFWAY THERE: Junior Jessica Novitski poses with her hair half long, half short as it is being cut for Locks of Love. Students opt to donate their hair instead of money, especially with the current recession.

Some people like junior Audrey Oliger, who said she has been personally affected by cancer in a family friend, decided not to donate because her hair was not long enough for the Locks of Love standard of at least 10 inches.

“M y hair has never been long enough for me to comfortably cut

Donor hair must be: Tied into a ponytail or braid before it is cut At least 10 inches long Clean and completely dry Put into a plastic bag and placed inside an envelope Not bleached (no highlights) locksoflove.org / source

BAG IT UP: Jinny Zhang, HiLite staff member and senior, has placed hair for donation inside a sealed plastic bag, as recommended by the Locks of Love organization. shokhi goel / photo off that much hair,” Oliger said.

Oliger said she thinks fewer people contribute because it’s harder to give, but at the same time it’s so unique and personal that people are naturally drawn to it as a way to donate.

Novitski said she0 believes that giving her ponytail is a small price to pay for the chance of normalcy that would be offered for someone who has lost their hair to cancer, one of the more emotionally costly eventualities for cancer patients.

“The donation itself meant more to me than any dollar I ever gave to a charity. Besides, I wasn’t using all that hair for anything and I understood how much looking normal could make one feel more normal,” she said. “So I donated.”

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YEARBOOK Dec. 4

Dec. 9

Last day to order a yearbook

Senior ad orders due

$60, cash or check (checks payable to CHS Yearbook)

Order forms available outside of C145

C145 (SRT or after school)

Prices range from $75 - $250

See Miss Wilson in the yearbook room, or e-mail her at nwilson@ccs.k12.in.us, for questions.

15 student section >>

HiLite • October 29, 2009

#2,497 of 4,644

Plays the Field

Freshman Brooke McCallum plays tennis outside of school to improve her success on this school’s team

F

By darlene pham dpham@hilite.org or three times a week, at two hours each time, freshman Brooke McCallum plays tennis at the Carmel Racquet Club. Like many other students here, McCallum wants to participate on a school team.

She said she hopes to try out for the Women’s Tennis Team in the spring.

McCallum has a long tennis history. “I’ve been playing since I was 5,” McCallum said. “I play on the high school team at the Carmel Racquet Club, and I play all year round.”

McCallum said she doesn’t think she would make the school team practice additionally outside of school.

McCallum, like a number of students here, takes extra lessons in order to keep with the competition. “I know it’s good and I think the competition will be rough,” she said.

According to counselor Stephanie Aik ins, the competition level here at school is high.

“Students and parents have high expectations here.

Students have their competitive nature to keep up with others, or they have their own goals which keep the competition high. Students know what they want to achieve and how they will achieve it,” she said.

Like McCallum, junior Danielle Yin also feels the pressure to take extra classes. She said she takes an extracurricular chemistry class every Saturday.

“You learn a lot more in-depth stuff about chemistry that you don’t get to at school,” she said.

Aikins said she understands why students would want

to take extra classes or lessons.

“It provides additional time and practice,” she said. “Students also get personalized instruction that they don’t always get at school.”

“Students know what they want to achieve and how they will achieve it.”

While extra lessons may be beneficial to some students, others find them unnecessary.

family-based decision to decide what is best.”

However, McCallum said the extra effort she puts outside of school is the best choice.

“It will prepare me better than those who don’t,” she said. “I’ll get better, and others who don’t play won’t.”

Counselor stephanie aikins

“I started taking private lessons at the end of freshman year. I stopped taking them at the end of sophomore year,” junior Taylor Lampe, who participates in the symphony orchestra, said. “They were getting very expensive and it was a hassle getting over there.”

Although Lampe said she no longer takes private lessons, she said she definitely feels the pressure from her instructors to do well in the group and the class is still very challenging.

“The directors highly encourage (taking additional classes) because in class we can’t focus on individual needs that you get in private lessons,” Lampe said.

According to Aikins, there is a big downside to extra lessons outside of school if it’s not the student’s choice.

“If students have a passion for the subject, it can be very enjoyable and a stress reliever. However, if students dislike it, the extra lessons, instead of a stress reliever, can add on stress,” Aikins said.

Aikins said that the decision to take extra classes should be a family decision.

“It’s a personal decision,” Aikins said. “If it’s enjoyable and provides personal growth, then students should take them and if it’s reasonable for the family. I think it should be a

lizzy grubbs / Photo

match point: Brooke McCallum takes a swing at the Carmel Racquet Club. McCallum began playing tennis at age 5.

16 cover story >>

Do you know where

HiLite â&#x20AC;˘ October 29, 2009

a

With the upcomin outbreaks at CHS avoiding germs; ho can lurk in

By N

VIRUS ALERT: The background image is a picture of the H1N1 virus. However, H1N1, while it has been getting much of the press, is not the only germ to watch out for this season.

CDC / PHOTO (used with permission)

HiLite • October 29, 2009

are hiding?

ng flu season and recent flu S, students take extra care however, germs and bacteria n unexpected places.

Nina Underman

<< cover story 17

unior Bradley “Brad” Ellis knows first-hand how easily germs can be spread in a school environment. A wrestler for this school, Ellis woke up one morning during his freshman year and noticed large red bumps on his head and face. He had what is known as a staph infection, caused by the common Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

“Everyone has staph on their body,” Ellis said. “If you have a cut on your body, the staph gets in the cut, and that’s when you get your infection.”

Ellis said he got his staph infection after wrestling an infected student from another school. Although Ellis was only infected for about a week, he said, “Sometimes it can be bad enough where you can be hospitalized, and people have even died from it.”

But wrestling rooms are not the only places where germs lurk in a school.

Each day as students stream through the doors, they enter an environment where they will be exposed to more than just a high school education.

Story continued on next page

>>

18 cover story >>

10

HiLite • October 29, 2009

<< Story continued from previous page dirtiest everyday places Health Magazine’s recent list of the most germ-infested places you encounter during the day and throughout the year

1

The kitchen sink: Did you know your home sink can be even dirtier than your toilet? This germ-infested area can contain as much as 500,000 bacteria per square inch, potentially including traces of E. coli and salmonella.

2

Handbags: Recent studies cite that most women’s purses contain thousands, even millions, of bacteria. Some included staphylococcus bacteria, salmonella or E. coli.

3

Shopping cart handles: Touched by dozens of people daily, these germ reservoirs contain saliva, bacteria and fecal matter.

What, then, is a concerned student to do? While there is no need to panic, recent H1N1 (swine flu) outbreaks have increased awareness about infectious diseases and the spread of germs in schools. Knowing which areas and items in this school are more prone to bacterial and viral infections can be beneficial in preventing the spread of diseases and lead to more informed, healthier students.

Public drinking fountains: Public drinking fountains are germy, but school fountains are the worst. Each fountain can contain anywhere from 62,000 to 2.7 million bacteria per square inch.

4

6

5

Wet laundry: Your laundry may seem clean, but before transferring the load to the dryer it’s crawling with E. coli bacteria. To prevent the spread of bacteria, put the load in the dryer for at least 25 minutes.

Mats and exercise machines: Most exercise equipment at gyms and schools can cause staph infections, even with the use of anti-bacterial wipes and sprays.

8

Your bathtub: Typically, bathtubs can contain more than 100,000 bacteria per square inch, including staphylococcus.

10

ATM Buttons: These seemingly-harmless buttons are often dirtier than public bathroom doorknobs.

According to Dave Dowell, science department chairperson, the most germ-prone items in the school are the drinking fountains, followed by the bathroom faucets.

“When people touch those faucets with dirty hands after using the bathroom, there’s just no way around spreading bacteria,” Dowell said.

Head nurse Carol Gelatt said the most germ-infested things at this school are student’s hands.

Playgrounds: Researchers have found traces of blood, mucus, saliva and urine on these public play places.

7

From desks to drinking fountains, backpacks to cell phones, germs are everywhere. Bacteria and viruses lurk in just about every part of the school, especially those frequently touched by students. Spread in the air or through contact with a contaminated object, avoiding germs in a school setting, especially in one with over 4,000 students, is impossible.

9

Office electronics: Office phones can house more than 25,000 germs per square inch. Along with phones, keyboards can also house thousands of germs, especially those that are not cleaned regularly.

Sara Rogers / Photos Health magazine / Source

“A ny w h e re y o u r h a n d s touch, doorknobs, desks, is a way to spread infection and bacteria,” she said.

According to Gelatt, items students use every day such as cell phones, pens and pencils, lockers, I.D. cards, gym weights and mats, textbooks, desks, money and make-up are all covered in bacteria and germs capable of causing infection.

“Anywhere your hands touch, doorknobs, desks, is a way to spread infection and bacteria.” head nurse carol gelatt

To prevent the spread of some of these germs, head custodian Jack Landers said that virtually everything in the school gets cleaned on a daily basis. “The custodians that are here during the day shift go around after every passing period, clean restrooms, hallways, that kind of stuff, and they just keep wiping them down,” Landers said.

But even with constant cleaning, schools are still filled with disease-causing agents. In a 2006 segment of “Good Morning America,” microbiologist Robert Donofrio tracked and analyzed common areas in a Tennessee elementary school using a hand-held germ meter. The meter offers an estimate of the total number of microorganisms present. Any reading above 300 meant

<< cover story 19

HiLite • October 29, 2009 bacteria and pathogens were thriving.

The water fountain had a reading of 2,335. The computer mouse read 9,838. The basketball used in gym class? 13,987.

In comparison, the toilet seat had the lowest reading of the day. According to Donofrio, although these counts may seem high, they are likely not much different from those in any American school.

Dowell, Gelatt and Landers all said the key to not getting sick from germs is to practice frequent and efficient handwashing.

“You’re not going to get sick from touching something someone else has touched and getting germs on your hands,” Dowell said. “Where you get sick is when you rub your eyes, or you put your fingers in your mouth, wherever there’s some type of membrane that allows those types of viruses and bacteria to get inside the body.”

Ellis said he now knows just how serious germs can be.

“Now that I’ve had a staph infection, I wash my hands more because germs can live very easily in many places,” Ellis said. “I used to only take a shower with a body wash, but now I use both a body wash and an antibacterial soap so I make sure to get all the bacteria off.”

getting squeaky clean The Mayo Clinic discusses ways to get the most out of hand sanitizer as well as soap and water.

Choosing soap: Opt for traditional soap rather than antibacterial soap. Antibacterial soap use may lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the product.

How to Use: 1. Wet hands with warm, running water and apply either liquid or bar soap 2. Rub hands together vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds 3. Scrub your wrists, the back of your hands and between fingers 4. Rinse well 5. Thoroughly dry your hands with a clean towel 6. Use a clean towel when turning off the faucet

Choosing hand sanitizer: For the most effective cleaning, only use hand sanitizers containing at least 60 percent alcohol.

How to Use: 1. Apply about 1/2 teaspoon (dimesized) of the alcohol-based sanitizer onto the palm of your hand 2.Rub hands together thoroughly for at least 20 seconds 3. Cover all surfaces including your wrists, the back of your hands and between fingers 4.If dirt is still visible after completing the above steps, use soap and water

mayo clinic / source

CHS experiences flu outbreak, affecting hundreds by sara rogers and nina underman srogers@hilite.org, nunderman@hilite.org During the week of Oct. 5, empty desks filled classrooms and the lines at the health center continued outside of the office.

Junior Morgan Perry experienced this firsthand when she began experiencing flu-like symptoms on Oct. 6.

“I wasn’t feeling great,” Perry said. “I had a sore throat and a bad cough and I was really tired. I went to the nurse intending to go home.”

soap up: Applying hand sanitizer, junior Kelsey Davis tries to combat germs and bacteria after using calculators provided by her teacher.

Davis said she started washing her hands more frequently after the recent flu scares, especially after coming in contact with objects touched by other students. sara rogers / Photo

When she arrived at the health center Perry said she had to wait around 40 minutes to see the nurse. According to Perry, there were around 10 students inside the office and another 15 or 20 waiting in chairs outside of the office.

With recent H1N1 outbreaks, Gelatt said the number of students she treats each day has increased significantly from last year. “A year ago during flu season we would see maybe 180 kids (each day).” Gelatt said. “(The week of Oct. 5) we were seeing between 270-320 kids (each day).”

Despite the wait, Perry said the system was efficient given the circumstances. “The nurses were truly doing their best to get students in and out of the office as quickly as possible, but there was a huge amount of students to take care of,” she said.

20 entertainment >>

Something to gossip about HiLite • October 29, 2009

Fall sweeps week means networks will soon air many of the most popular high school dramas.

Here’s what we think about those shows.

Despite odds, ‘Gossip Girl’ features ‘unlikable’ teens, still remains popular

U.S. version of ‘Degrassi’ looses original intent by rosemary boeglin rboeglin@hilite.org

by Mitch Ringenberg mringenberg@hilite.org

At its inception, “Degrassi” was a Canadian teen soap opera that held the viewer’s interest with its diverse characters and its edgy subject matter. The show dealt with issues in a way that young teens could understand, breeding tolerance among its viewers concerning issues such as AIDS, abortion, abuse, alcoholism, cheating, sex, death and suicide, dating, depression, bullying, gay rights, homophobia, racism, the environment, drugs and eating disorders. This, perhaps the shows most commendable aspect of the show, should be regarded as truly remarkable, seeing as its peer teen dramas across the border were restrained to “he said, she said” fuss and the occasional pregnancy scare.

Admittedly, I knew absolutely nothing about the “Gossip Girl” universe and the characters that inhabit it, and I can’t say I know too much more after three episodes (yes, as a male, I have indeed spent over two hours of my life watching this show). However, what blows my mind is how a show whose main characters mostly consist of shallow, materialistic and utterly dislikable teenagers leading boring lives, facing boring problems and saying boring things can not only manage to stay on the air, but turn into one of the most popular television shows in America.

For anyone who’s interested, the basic storyline consists of following the lives of about four or five young adults living in New York City. If you’ve even seen five minutes of “Dawson’s Creek” or “Degrassi” you know what to expect: cheesy dialogue, embarrassing acting and “real” teenage problems over-dramatized and blown out of proportion.

Despite an advertising campaign that tries to make “Gossip Girl” appear controversial and racy, its real crime is blandness.

The show’s terrible acting and dialogue doesn’t even allow it to reach guilty pleasure status. We’ve seen teen soap operas before; this one just looks a little sleeker.

theentertainmenthotline.net / photo

Pucker up: Chuck Bass leans in for a kiss from Blair Waldorf before leaving in his personal limo. “Gossip Girl” airs on Monday nights at 9 p.m. on the CW.

This is an irresponsible and nonsensical decision considering

Story continued on next page

>>

show. Most likely, however, it probably stems from the fact that my male teenage mind naturally opposes all television focused on “gossip” and/or “girls.”

There’s a great quote by the infamous director John Waters that goes: “To me, bad taste is what entertainment is all about.” I can respect what he says there, and “Gossip Girl” may hold that appeal for many viewers. However, if bad taste is going to be your thing, it should at least be well done, and that is where “Gossip Girl” fails. Actual dialogue: “The next time you forget you’re Blair Waldorf... remember I’m Chuck Bass (Cue cheesy stock music).” All this coming from a character whose only facial expression is brooding.

While I can’t imagine that I’m a member of “Gossip Girl’s” target audience, I’m having a tough time figuring out who is. The show is too racy for the tween set, but far too unintelligent and cheesy for most high schoolers to consider valid entertainment. Unfortunately, there must be enough people who disagree with that statement, which is a shame; because idolizing people like the ones portrayed on this show would do someone a lot more harm than good.

Not being one who watches much television, struggling through “Gossip Girl” had me wondering if everything else on TV is this awful. Personally, when watching a show, I enjoy relating to or at the bare minimum, liking the people on the screen, so maybe that’s why I just couldn’t “get” this

Yes, it’s unrealistic, and certainly should not be taken seriously, but if you’re going to take a television show to extreme heights of melodrama and commercial edginess as is the case with “Gossip Girl,” at least make it interesting.

books. movies. music. reviews. food. style.

In fact, the U.S. broadcaster of the show, The N, has edited out parts of episodes or refused to air episodes in their entirety due to subject matter of, or reference to, abortion.

That kind of thing doesn’t only happy in Canada, so why not maturely address the issue on U.S. airwaves?

degrassiblog.com / photo

Chill out: Peter is contained by Sav during a meltdown following a drug overdose. “Degrassi” airs on Friday nights at 8 p.m. on the new Teen Nick network.

<< entertainment 21

the shows audience. If the N had its viewers at heart, it would consider that there are many teens in the United States who have experienced accidental pregnancies and, therefore, some who have also contemplated or got abortions. That kind of thing doesn’t only happen in Canada, so why not maturely address the issue on U.S. airwaves?

While it succeeds in striking the debate, “Degrassi”, a show with a moral conscience and, typically, viewer education in mind, often makes its points in such flashy, obvious ways, that the plot sometimes seems to be on the backburner.

The show also depicts a clean image of the “villain” in a situation, leaving little to no interpretation for the viewer whether or not what is happening is right or wrong and who should be held responsible. “Degrassi’s” characters do all the thinking for you, which I guess could be seen as a positive to some.

An important distinction to make when flipping on “Degrassi” is if it is “Degrassi High” or “Degrassi: Next Generation.” It is difficult for me to ascertain whether or not I like the original

better because I have more memories watching it and am more familiar with the overall plot and characters, or because it is a better show. Regardless, “Next Generation” brings a host of new characters, some interesting, some obnoxious, while continuing to follow the lives of beloved first generation characters.

che frien ating d par heartb s reak se ty x drugs love drama rs o m u r lies s t e r sec ends i r f l gir ies m e en

Largely, the show is interesting in many ways because it is starkly different from television programs produced for teens within the United States. This makes it fresh and different, leaving the viewer not only hanging on until the next airing to see what happens, but also thoughts and ideas to contemplate in the interim.

Also, they say “aboot” instead of “about.” I like that.

ds

<< Story continued from previous page

bo yfr ien

HiLite • October 29, 2009

ellie seta / graphic

‘Glee’ provides bright spot among teen-based shows by hope boyer hboyer@hilite.org The latest phenomenon to sweep the FOX Network of teen drama television shows is none other than “Glee,” a high school musical waiting to happen. Filled with sassy actors and truly raw talent, “Glee” has my sister and I waiting up on Wednesday nights for the next performance, which always leaves us begging for more.

It all begins with McKinley High School Spanish teacher W©ill Schuester (Matthew Morrison) as he manages to reform the Glee Club that he was a member of as a McKinley High student. He is attempting to live vicariously through the talent and age of his current Glee Club members. His bitterness of never becoming famous himself causes him to push harder for students to audition and take part in his recreation. His entire success as Glee Club teacher and sponsor revolves around the manipulation of Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) and Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith).

tvfanonline.com / photo

Sing-a-long: “Glee” follows the story of a group of high school misfits as they attempt to revamp their high school choral group and make it to the national choral competition. “Glee” airs Wednesday at 9 p.m. on FOX.

By tricking both into staying in and joining in Glee Club, he raises the club from its current obscurity into the world of drama and show make-up. Filled with drama about the next competition and everyday teenage struggles, “Glee” will have you riveted on the spot.

Monteith is stunningly convincing in his role as the high school quarterback who must maintain the perfect image for his cheerleader girlfriend, Quinn (Diana Agron). He does a lovely job of portraying the confused teenager who is really

just trying to find his place in the world that he currently lives in. The rivalry between Agron and Michele reaches new levels as soon as the competition for Monteith’s heart begins. Michele is perhaps my favorite character as she is the queen of show biz and unconditionally, irrevocably in love with the non-accessible Monteith.

As the dramatic episodes continue to bring in more and more similarities to CHS, the show becomes more and more addicting. As a current member of a competition show choir, I understand where the drama and stress comes from.

Michele is exceptionally good at maintaining her future career as a star.

Unfortunately, just like most high schools, McKinley tends to discriminate against those who stand out. The classic torturing of the talented kid is shown time and time again throughout the different episodes. While Michele knows that she is different and discriminated against because of that, she continues to be herself and to press on towards the same goals.

I think what will really make “Glee” more popular among teenagers is the fact that it is so different than anything else on television. You’ll be sitting there watching, and randomly, the actors or performers will just break out in song. It reminds me a little bit of the “High School Musical” trend but with much better music, actors and it is broadcasted as a TV show (rather than as a movie). With only seven enticing episodes out, the first season of “Glee” can only get juicier.

books. movies. music. reviews. food. style.

22 entertainment >>

Pile on the Fall Fun Trees are turning.

The weather’s getting colder. But autumn activities are just heating up. Here are a few suggestions to have a ball in fall.

Compiled by Meredith Boyd and Audrey Bailey Maddi Bourgerie / Photos

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Stuckey Farms Apple Orchard What’s a better way to kick off the fall season than to visit an apple orchard?

27 different types of apples and 4,000 trees Due to these numbers Stuckey Farms is sure to accommodate all apple preferences. Started by Gene and Rosalyn Stuckey, this market was once nothing more than a small farm with a few apple trees. As the years passed, however, a few trees became a stunning 4,000. Selling and growing not only apples, but pumpkins, strawberries, vegetables and other organic produce, Stuckey’s became not only a community market, but also a way to experience, first-hand, life on a farm. In 2005, Gene and Rosalyn retired, handing their orchard down to trusted Jeff and Shannon Pierce who have maintained Stuckey’s legacy ever since.

Cost? Price depends on what is purchased. A bag of apples costs anywhere from $5 to $10; for the most part prices are reasonable.

Location? 19975 Hamilton Boone County Rd. on the border of Hamilton and Boone County

Time?

Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday – Saturday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Www.stuckeyfarm.com / Source

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Www.stuckeyfarm.com/apples / Source

>>

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Pumpkin Carving 101

entertainment 23 Explorations Acres Corn Maze

There’s a technique to cutting up your Halloween gourd step one: the key to carving a pumpkin is simply picking step four: Tracing: After the preparation is complete, the the perfect one. In order to get the desired outcome the next step is to tape the selected stencil to the pumpkin. pumpkin should not be too ripe, a nice orange color should Make sure the stencil is smooth when applied. After this is be apparent along with no bruises or soft spots. No smell complete, use either an ice pick or a pin-point punch awl should be apparent. to carefully poke holes through the stencil. Keep in mind though, the Don’t let step two: Start off by cutting a circle more complex the stencil, the closer around the top of the pumpkin, with the holes should be. anything the stem in the center, undamaged. go to waste Once this step is complete, set the cut step five: When out piece, or the top, aside. carving, the type Throw the seeds in the oven with of knife makes step three: Discard the pulp and seasoning at 350 degrees for an hour, all the difference. tossing them every 15 minutes, and seeds from the inside. Then go back There is no need to the outcome is a delicious snack. in with a small scraper or putty knife grab the handy-dandy and get all the excess soft flesh from machete hanging in the inside, make sure not to damage the garage, instead, try using the wall of the pumpkin in the process. something smaller, something easier to maneuver. The perfect utensil is in fact, a X-Acto knife with a #5 knife blade along with a #15 keyhole saw. Use the X-Acto knife for intricate cuts and the saw for longer cuts.

what?

Lose yourself for hours in Exploration Acres giant corn maze. It sprawls over eight miles of cornfield. Those with adventurous spirits have the option to maneuver through the maze after dark. Along with the maze, Exploration Acres offers a five-acre pumpkin patch for finding that perfect pumpkin, hayrides and a pedal car track.

where?

Exploration Acres, 6042 Newcastle Rd. Lafayette, IN 47905

when?

Friday: 6 to 11 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday: noon to 7 p.m.

cost?

Ages 6 to 12: $6; ages 13 and up: $9 Www.exploration acres.com / Source

Headless Horseman Hayride

Looking for a good scare? Conner Prairie is the place for you

Alex Chandler / Submitted photo

Peace. love. Happiness: A unique theme adds to the tradition of carving pumpkins.

There are an infinite ways to be creative with the art of pumpkin carving.

Shirley Chen / Photos

On Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 Conner Prairie will host its 25th annual Headless Horseman hayride.

activities going on before the ride including a puppet show, a bonfire and live music.

During this event participants ride through the dark forest watching out for skeletons, ghosts and the infamous Headless Horseman. The gates are open for this event from 6 to 9 p.m., and rides run all evening.

Cost? Presale tickets are available at participating Marsh and O’Malia’s stores for $11; $13 for tickets at the door.

Location? Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Rd. Fishers, IN 46038

There are a number of other

when? Gates open from 6 to 9 p.m. but rides can run later. www.connerprairie.com / Source

24 sports >>

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Ready State Arjuna Capulong / Photo

ALL SMILES: Members of the football team cheer for their victorious teammates at the end of the Warren Central Homecoming game. The Hounds held off the Warriors’ fourth-quarter comeback bid and edged the Warriors 24-22, due to a field goal from kicker and junior Jordan Babcock with 4:20 remaining.

Despite loss of key graduates, football team still ranked number one going into second week of State tournament

L

By Ryan Duffy rduffy@hilite.org

Despite graduating several key players last year, the team still managed to pull through, finishing with an 8-1 regular season record.

ast Friday the varsity football team began its run for another State championship against Westfield, by beating the Shamrocks by a score of 21-7. The team will continue its schedule with another Sectional match tomorrow against Fishers at Fishers.

Quarterback and senior Adam Shaffer said he hasn’t been surprised by the turn-around success of the team. “Obviously we lost a lot of offensive starters, but we had a lot of talented guys behind them,” Shaffer said.

The team has been to the State championship game for the last three seasons, losing to Warren Central, beating Pike and losing to Center Grove, and is hopeful to make a fourth trip this season to play at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Shaffer also said he thinks the effort the team put forth is the main reason it had such a successful regular season. “I would attribute a lot of our success to all the hard work and preparation we put in,” Shaffer said, “both in practice during

the season and our off-season workouts.”

Head Coach Myron “Mo” Moriarity said he attributes the success to the whole team, but more specifically the play of the seniors. “I learned long ago that good senior play is the most important trait in determining the success of the team.” Moriarity said. “Players’ senior year is supposed to be their best year, and to this point we’ve been getting that.”

The team finished the regular season ranked Number-1 in the state for 5A, but Moriarity said the ranking means

Story continued on next page

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<< sports 25

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Sans Newton, Hounds still find success heading into tournament

parker myers Who knew, honestly?

When I first started covering Greyhound football this year, I struggled to be optimistic. I wrote of how good Morgan Newton was last year, and how much his presence was going to be missed in the offense.

And these fears were confirmed in the first game of the regular season against Cathedral. The offense looked miserable in a rain-soaked game, as it failed to score a touchdown. Carmel lost 7-3.

Up in the press booth, I dropped my headset, stunned. We all knew that Carmel would struggle this year, but let’s face it, Carmel fans have it good. The Greyhounds always find a way to triumph, kind of a story-book thing. That “L” on the scoreboard was painful, I’m not gonna lie.

But then something clicked, and after the Greyhounds

<< Story continued from previous page nothing to the team. “Any time you are ranked Number-1 you get a bull’s eye on your back, unfortunately,” he said.

“But we have been ranked Number-1 on and off for the past couple seasons, so we just know to tell the players it means nothing, and once Sectionals start it’s a new season.”

blew out Lebanon, they took on Center Grove in one of the biggest games of the entire season, a rematch of the previous year’s State title game. The veteran defense pulled out a huge game, and Carmel got their first big time win.

I have to give a lot of credit to Adam Shaffer. I played Carmel Dad’s Club sports with him when we were younger, and he has always been a team leader, exactly what Carmel will need in a do-or-die playoff match.

Two games later, in what would be one of the defining games of the season, the Greyhounds were caught completely off guard by Lawrence North.

Carmel opened up the tournament against Westfield.

Westfield was led by their quarterback Wade Burton, who was severely hampered by muddy field conditions. Carmel came away with the victory 21-7.

Nonetheless, Carmel turned it on in the second half and came away with a three-point victory. In my opinion, this was one of Carmel’s greatest victories of the season. The Greyhounds proved that they could pull through in the face of adversity.

And finally, as the season was nearing its end, the Greyhounds came face to face with one of the greatest offenses in the nation in Warren Central on Homecoming game night.

Yet somehow, someway, Carmel came out victorious again.

Thanks to the late-game heroics of Jordan Babcock, the team squeezed out a 24-22 victory and took control of the MIC conference.

Now, entering the tournament, Carmel is a top competitor, boasting the undisputable number one defense and one of the top five offenses in the MIC. The senior-led defense never allowed more than 22 points in a game.

But that’s the regular season, and the regular season means nothing in the “survival of the fittest” atmosphere of playoff football.

Nonetheless, you can never count the Greyhounds out.

They’ve proved this time and time again.

Lose the first game of the season? Win the next seven.

Surrender 200 kick return yards to Lawrence North and face a 14-point deficit in the first quarter? Get it done in the clutch. The Greyhounds have found a way, even if it is kind of storybook.

Parker Myers is a reporter for the HiLite. Contact him at pmyers@hilite.org.

Shaffer said the role the seniors will play in the tournament is even more crucial than it is in the regular season. “We have to be the guys who go out there and set the tone,” he said.

“We have to go out there and play as hard as we can every play and lead by example.”

The tournament is single elimination, which means one bad game and any team can be sent home. Teams have to win six games to become State champions, including three Sectional games.

Moriarity said the team doesn’t change much to prepare for its postseason games. “Nothing changes. We treat practice like the regular season,” he said. “The only thing that changes is the amount of time we’re on the field for practice. We cut back practice time so we can stay fresh for the game.”

OPEN FIELD: Wide receiver and senior Nicholas “Nick” Logan runs the ball in the Homecoming game. Logan had 20 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns on the regular season, and five catches for 85 yards and one touchdown against Westfield in the Sectional last Friday.

After that game, everything becomes unpredictable. That’s the nature of the playoffs. The Greyhounds have a great team this year. That fact is undisputable.

Shaffer said the team has a “do-or-die” attitude during the postseason. “You have to approach it like every game could be your last and take it one week at a time,” he said. “Our goal is obviously to win the State championship, but we don’t think about that too much until we get there.”

Moriarity said the team has just as good a shot as any at

Arjuna Capulong / Photos

QB SNEAK: Quarterback and senior Adam Shaffer gets ready to throw the ball as he eyes the field for a receiver. Shaffer finished 13-for-19 for 174 yards and two touchdowns against the Warriors. bringing home the title this year. “That is obviously our goal when we start the season,” he said. “We work really hard to have the opportunity to get to State.

“We can get there,” Moriarity said. “But it’s going to be a long, tough road.”

26 sports >>

Down, but not out

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Athletes recovering from injury find it hard to readjust after being out for a long period of time

J

By Faraz Majid fmajid@hilite.org

chances of playing soccer in college and being in game shape. “I’m also sort of worried about losing a scholarship,” Kittaka said.

unior Claire Kittaka was in soccer tryouts along with her other fellow teammates when she had tried to cut around another player. While doing so, she had planted her foot awkwardly and immediately felt a pop. That pop was a torn ACL.

Trainer Dawn Robertson said that fear is not uncommon.

“Yes, there is definitely a fear of losing a spot on the team and a scholarship,” Robertson said, “Junior athletes tend to be in more fear.”

Kittaka has been playing soccer her whole life. Before joining the CHS soccer squad, she spent seven years playing on Carmel United. She said before this incident she had never had an injury.

Robertson also added, however, that a player striving for a scholarship versus someone just playing for fun does not make a difference. She said that it just depends on the individual work ethic of that certain student athlete.

Now, after the injury, she said she is worried about her

A major injury like a torn ACL, which puts a player on the

bench for a season, can really take a toll on an athlete mentally. “Anytime you’re an athlete and you’re watching the game being played, you’re saddened,” varsity men’s soccer coach Shane Schmidt said.

Robertson agreed and said the mental aspect of the game is a major obstacle, “The number one thing is the mental obstacle of playing, because of the fear that it will happen again,” she said.

The reason injuries can be so tough mentally, according to Robertson, is because with that kind of injury the athlete is out for an extended period of time. “It is about a six-to ninemonth rehab and about one year before they are truly 100 percent,” Robertson said.

Story continued on next page

Most Common Sports Injuries compiled by Alex Mackall separated shoulder This injury occurs to the acromioclavicular joint, located on top of the shoulder, and is common in volleyball, swimming, and tennis. The three main things to do are to ice the shoulder, undergo physical therapy, and take anti-inflammatory medicine.

>>

concussion This is a brain injury cause by trauma to the head, and is common is soccer, volleyball, football, and other high impact sports. The key to treating a concussion is getting rest. Going back to playing a sport too early, could lead to very serious long-term effects for the athlete.

graphic perspective

tennis elbow This is when tendons in the arm or elbow tear because of the overuse of arm muscles. Tennis elbow is common in tennis and volleyball. To protect the hurt muscles, an athlete should wrap his upper forearm. Also, a physical therapist could perform an ultrasound to help heal the elbow. torn acl Tearing the ACL, one of the four major ligaments in the knee necessary for stability, is common in soccer, football, basketball, and other high demand sports. Most athletes are given a knee brace to wear for knee support, and some even get surgery.

www.sportsmedicine.com / Source David Zheng / Graphic

ankle sprain The ankle is twisted or turned into a painful position which causes the ligaments in the ankle to tear. This is very common in about every sport. The best way to heal a swollen ankle is by using the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) process.

Daniel Li / Art

<< sports 27

HiLite • October 29, 2009

<< Story continued from previous page Of course, for an athlete it is also difficult getting back into physical shape. “Fitness level decreases a little bit because they’re not training in games and matches,” Schmidt said.

Kittaka said she fits this assessment. “I am definitely worried about being in game shape,” she said. “Being out of shape and not having played for months, it will be hard to get back what I’ve lost.” Still, many athletes tend not to dwell in the unfortunate event of their injuries.

However, athletes do not tend to dwell in the unfortunate event of their injury. In fact, it seems they are determined to work hard and get back into game shape as soon as possible. Not only for the wellness of their team but also so they can keep that hope alive of playing at the next level.

Kittaka is no exception.

“Hopefully I can work hard this spring and it (playing in college) can still be a possibility,” she said.

An injury is never a good thing, especially for the individual having to deal with it. However, it is not always all bad when you look at it from a different perspective. “It is an opportunity for somebody else waiting in the wings to take the moment and run with it,” Schmidt said.

Gabrielle Bowers / Photo

ICE IS NICE: Sophomore trainer Kara Caskey helps freshman Jessica “Jessie” Habig ice her knee in the trainer’s office.

Habig overused her knee running cross-country, so she needed to ice it to prevent it from getting swollen.

Fans here catching the fever, but what about when we lose? season, I attended several Fever games. The balcony seats were always closed because the team wanted it to appear as if the arena was full. As the Fever continued to win this post-season, the entire arena began to sell out.

It is great that the fans are finally supporting the Fever, but what happens if the Fever begin to lose next year?

reuben warshawsky The Indiana Fever recently lost the WNBA championship, but whether they won or lost is irrelevant. What is relevant is that the Fever will remain in Indiana for at least one more year.

Before their season started, many people, including myself, believed this would be the final year of women’s basketball in Indiana. Why? Because the Fever had not won enough games, the Fever’s attendance was lagging, and the Fever were losing money for owner Herb Simon.

But winning solves everything. As the Fever began to win, fans slowly began to climb onto the bandwagon. The average attendance increased by 3 percent. Prior to this

The problem is: Indiana fans are bandwagon fans. For example, when the Indiana Pacers are winning, Conseco Fieldhouse is full regardless of whether the Pacers win with thugs or model citizens. Last year, the Pacers remodeled the team by adding players with good backgrounds and integrity. However, as the Pacers continued to lose, the fans continued to remain at home.

Also, the Colts are on a fantastic tear since Peyton Manning came to Indiana. Therefore, Lucas Oil Stadium is always soldout. So, what happens if the Fever are not successful next year? If Indiana fans remain bandwagon fans, they will stop coming out to the games. Consequently, the Fever will lose money and the question will persist if the Fever can ever become a stable and permanent franchise in Indiana.

Even here at CHS, we support the teams that win all of

the time as opposed to the teams that only win most of the time. For example, the football team has been to three consecutive state championships, and subsequently, the stadium is always packed with fans. However, the women’s volleyball team also has had a great season this year evidenced by its winning record, yet it struggled to fill the stands on a regular basis. Does that mean that if the football team begins losing that its attendance will mirror the volleyball team’s?

We can change the stereotype that Indiana fans are bandwagon fans. The ideal fan would be supportive of his team whether it wins or loses. I encourage every student to attend at least one game or sporting event of a team that did not win a state championship last year.

Many choices are available. For instance, the men’s and women’s basketball seasons are looming, and both teams did not finish last year as state champs. Out of loyalty to your fellow classmates who are participating in the sporting events, you should support them regardless if they win or lose.

Reuben Warshawsky is a reporter for the Hilite. Contact him at rwarshawsky@hilite.org

28 perspectives >>

HiLite • October 29, 2009

staff perspective

Students, take precautions to prevent spread of germs

A

s the weather gets colder, many students are used to getting their usual head colds or maybe even the flu. But with the recent media coverage surrounding the H1N1 virus, those head colds and flu symptoms have taken on new significance. The media have certainly done its share of giving the H1N1 virus prominence. Still, whether or not the virus has been overhyped in the media, it’s important for students to understand that the H1N1 virus is serious.

According to CNN.com, from Aug. 30 to Sept. 26, 1,379 deaths were associated with the H1N1 virus nationwide. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) send out reports that as of Oct. 3, H1N1 activity is surpassing expectations. To avoid catching the virus, it’s important for students to take the proper precautions.

better for sick students to stay home, get better and seek the teacher for help catching up once they’re feeling better.

Additionally, for all students, sick of not, it’s very important to keep washing your hands. As obvious as this may seem, the CDC still says it’s the number-one prevention technique, along with keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth; after all, any surface in the school could be covered with dangerous germs. Be sure to lather up well, too; the CDC said washing for less than 15 to 20 seconds doesn’t kill nearly enough of the germs found on hands.

Our stand

In the past, many students have opted to come to school, even if they were not feeling well so they didn’t ruin their chances in the Skipa-Final program or to avoid make-up work. However, this year especially, it’s important for students to stay home if they’re sick or getting sick.

H1N1 virus or otherwise, students can and must help keep infection at bay by using diligence and common sense.

If one person comes to school sick, dozens more could be infected by the end of the day.

And don’t think if there’s no fever, there’s no need to stay home; according to the CDC, not everyone with the flu will have a fever.

Also, if a student is just getting over being sick, it may be a good idea to rest up for the next couple of days.

Again, according to the CDC, people infected with the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus may be able to infect others starting one day before getting sick, until five to seven days after. Besides, if students are sick in class, they won’t be able to focus like they usually can, so they won’t absorb much information, anyway. It’s

That being said, when a sink isn’t available, a good substitute for washing up is a pocket-sized hand sanitizer. Make sure that it has at least 60 percent alcohol, or else it doesn’t do a valid job of killing germs, according to the CDC. The most effective way to avoid getting the H1N1 virus is getting vaccinated. According to a CNN.com/ Opinion Corp. poll in late August, two-thirds of Americans said they plan to get the H1N1 vaccination.

CHS students will only need one dose (children 9 and under will need two).

According to CNN.com, the 2009 H1N1 Vaccine Task Force has promised there will be a vaccine for anyone who wants it. Vaccine makers will still produce 10 million to 20 million doses per week over the next couple of months and an ample supply of the injectable form was scheduled to be available by mid-October.

While there are many rumors regarding H1N1 and precautions against it, most of these are confusing or wrong. The best advice for students is to keep it simple: stay home if you are not feeling well, wash up well and get vaccinated. Using all three of these will help tremendously against H1N1 and keep this school functioning at its best.

speak up!

Compiled by Daniel Li and david zheng

What precautions have you taken to avoid getting the flu or H1N1?

“I’ve been using a lot of hand sanitizer lately and I’ve been staying away from sick people and the nurse’s office.”

Sophomore Kristin Dremonas “During APC, we have to use hand sanitizer when we enter or leave the weight room and then they sanitize after we leave.”

Junior Devin Surface “I’ve not been hugging or handshaking as much and I’ve been using hand sanitizer more. I also bring Clorox wipes to some classes and wipe my desk off.”

Senior Alexis “Lexy” Joseph

<< perspectives 29

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Business and philanthropy together can change the world It’s a fact of humanity that people seek dignity, not dependence. The problem with many well-intentioned aid programs is that they treat people as passive recipients of charity and not active participants in their own futures, promoting that very cycle of over-reliance. While traditional charity may often meet immediate needs, it fails to enable people to solve their own problems over the long term.

tim chai The story is always the same. Seeking to improve the lives of the impoverished, well-intentioned engineers and consultants bring millions of dollars of new infrastructure to developing countries. Fast-forward 10 years: abandoned mills, flooded croplands and overall lower standards of living.

Since 1960, the World Bank has spent roughly $1 trillion on giveaway programs in the developing world, but most of these countries are no better off today than before. More startling is the $200 billion, according to research, that has been squandered by corruption. After almost five decades, it’s clear that most long-term recipients of aid are still not achieving sustainable development.

Market-based approaches have the potential to nurture when charitable dollars run out, and they are integral to solving the big problem of poverty. Business is a powerful way to bring control and precision to philanthropic solutions that could instill a greater feeling of independence and choice among people too often regarded as invisible. In many ways the developing world needs more “patient” capital above anything else to stimulate its would-be capitalists. Patient investments have all the discipline of venture capital—demanding a profit, and therefore precision in how it is deployed—but has a more socially-conscious bottom line. Rather than the 35 percent return that venture capitalists typically expect, venture philanthropists look for the 5 to 10 percent range over an even longer payback period, buoying portfolios’ return on investment with

graphic perspective

measurable social impacts.

The Tanzanian manufacturer A to Z Textile Mills is an exemplary paradigm of what happens when you combine philanthrocapitalism, talent and innovation. After an initial investment of $325,000, A to Z has grown to become one of Tanzania’s largest employers, producing over 20 million mosquito nets per year and employing more than 7,000 women. More incredible are the social benefits from this enterprise. Not only does it directly lift 7,000 families out of poverty, A to Z also fills the critical need for affordable nets, one of the most effective means of preventing the transmission of malaria, for the nearly one million people in Africa who die every year from the affliction.

Martin Luther King Jr. was on to something when he said, “Power without love is reckless and abusive (but) love without power is sentimental and anemic.” We need to combine the power and rigor of the marketplace with the compassion innately embodied within charitable programs. Only through the combination of the praxes of business and philanthropy, can those in need be empowered. Tim Chai is front page editor for the HiLite. Contact him at tchai@hilite.org.

check out blogs Online www.hilite.org

grayson harbour Iran, do you believe?

alex mackall / Art

“Do you believe Iran possesses nuclear weapons? The correct answer is uncertain, but I think there is one thing we can be fairly certain of; the country is trying. In recent interviews, the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, seemed to avoid completely dispelling the rumor of having nuclear weapons in his possession.”

30 perspectives >>

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Forty million reasons why health insurance reform can’t wait

graphic perspective

of you who supported Bush’s foreign policies, that’s $1.2 trillion more than we spend last year on national defense.

michelle hu As humans, it’s difficult to visualize large amounts of anything. But while $829 billion dollars seems like a lot of money, when it’s spent over 10 years for 40 million uninsured Americans, it’s basically nothing.

The new health care plan promotes the spending of $829 billion over 10 years to pay for insurance for the United States and lower the rising health costs.

It’s pretty simple math: $82.9 billion each year, but it’s difficult for the average person to visualize that, so let’s look at some comparisons.

The sad part is that even though the United States has the highest GDP in the world, we have one of the worst health care systems of developed nations.

This is due to an outdated method of treating patients and not enough electronic information. Last year, when former President Bill Clinton gave a speech on the economy at our school, he cited a statistic that half of our money spent on health care goes toward paper records. In most European nations, this isn’t a problem because most patient information is recorded electronically, which also means doctors don’t have to try as many treatments to figure out what’s wrong with you.

“The sad part is that even though the United States has the highest GDP in the world, we have one of the worst health care systems of developed nations. “

The yearly GDP of the United States is $13.84 trillion. That’s 13 with 12 zeroes, and it’s the money the United States makes within the country. In terms of the health care plan, our yearly GDP could pay for just one year of the plan about 1,667 times.

Additionally, one of the biggest contributors to health care problems is fast food, which is high in calories and low in nutrients. Every year, according to the book Fast Food Nation, Americans spend $110 billion more on fast food than movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos and recorded music combined. If they spend $10.8 billion on movies, $34.6 billion on books, and $10.6 billion on recorded music, it’s safe to say Americans spend much more than $166 billion on fast food annually, twice the amount for the health care plan.

Daniel Li / Art

Last month, my dad contracted the H1N1 virus just as thousands of other people in Carmel did, and his painful symptoms were only relieved by the drug Tamiflu. Both of my parents work for Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical company, and they have relatively decent health insurance, but they still had to pay $80 for 10 Tamiflu pills. That’s after insurance paid its portion of $20. For an uninsured family struggling due to the recession, $100 could be used to pay for a week of groceries or pay the electric bill.

And there’s no better time than right now to implement reform. In the future, no matter which socioeconomic level you reside in, health care costs will increase exponentially. Already, we spend 16.6 percent of our annual GDP on health care ($2.3 trillion according to the AARP), the highest percentage for any sector. For those

Think about it: if you were trying to figure out a linear equation for math and you knew x, y and the slope, it’s easier than trying to figure it out with any variables. The old method was like Dr. House’s on “House, M.D.” – diagnosing every treatment possible before getting the right one. With more patient information, doctors will have a better chance of diagnosing it correctly the first time.

Fewer treatments means less money spent on health care, which benefits the average American.

It’s 2009 already. Presidents have been trying to put health care reform in place since the early 1900s, in the days of Teddy Roosevelt. It’s becoming unacceptable that the United States ranks number 33 for infant mortality rates, behind all the developed nations and developing countries such as Cuba and Slovenia. Without reform, the U.S health care system will forever stay behind the rest of the world, and the longer we wait, the more difficult it will be to change.

Michelle Hu is editor-in-chief for the HiLite. Contact her at mhu@hilite.org.

<< perspectives 31

HiLite • October 29, 2009 graphic perspective

More Opinions Online www.hilite.org

Well, if talking the talk is all you need...

ellie seta ‘Blue Zones’ provide examples for healthy living

Rebecca Xu / Art

“One key aspect of the blue zone societies is the absence of stress. Stress is probably the most unavoidable problem facing Americans today. Trying to balance school work and after school activities is enough to send most kids over the edge and that is without including a social life.”

Students drivers need to be responsible, slow down for teenagers to obtain their license. Just a few weeks ago I completely disagreed with the new law. I didn’t understand why the mistakes of a few teenagers had to affect us all.

julie kippenbrock In the past few weeks, I’ve learned student drivers at this school are horrible. They zoom through the parking lot, slam on their brakes and cut you off. They are notorious for tailgating and rear-ending people. Ever since the first day of parking down the trail, I realized this. What I didn’t realize was exactly how bad the situation is.

I always thought adults and politicians were ridiculous for generalizing all teenage drivers as careless and giving us all a bad rep. Recently, Indiana passed a new law making it harder

A month or so ago, my thoughts changed. I witnessed my first rear-end accident. It involved a fellow junior who, as he was waving to me, hit the back of the car in front of him as it stopped to turn. I chalked this accident up to him not paying close attention and probably driving too fast.

On the topic of speed, ask anyone who parks at the trail; it’s an everyday occurrence when some kid thinks it would be fun to zoom through the entire parking lot at high speeds, not paying attention to any other cars. I have seen near misses numerous times.

Not only does common sense come into play, but common courtesy does too. Student drivers at this school are selfish and rarely ever let other cars in or take turns when there is a long line to get out of the parking lot but conversely think that other people should let them in. It makes no sense. Or

there are the people who decide they are too good to wait in line like everyone else and cut in front of a long line.

It was right there in the stadium parking lot where the event that angered me the most happened. I was in my parents’ nice SUV (a car that they are always already hesitant to let me drive) when some girl hit the back of my car when I was stopped. The collision left no dent, thank goodness, and resulted in just a few scratches, but the fact that she wasn’t paying attention to my stationary car angered me.

How clueless do you have to be to hit a stopped car? When I looked back she was giggling about it to her friend in the car.

I have never been so mad before.

I know not all teenage drivers are horrible, nor am I saying I’m the best teenage driver out there, but I do try to be careful, to pay attention and to make careful decisions. It’s a courtesy I hope all of us can follow.

Julie Kippenbrock is perspectives editor for the HiLite. Contact her at jkippenbrock@hilite.org.

32 fifteen minutes >>

Staying Sharp on the Ice

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Junior Mary Kiray figure skates competitively

By Caroline Zhang When did you first start figure skating and why did you decide to participate in?

a really short dress, which is what you usually see figure skaters in.

My grandma tried to force us to the classes.

I was doing it with my sisters, but they quit since they didn’t like it but I stayed and have been doing it for 11 years now.

What are your plans for ice skating after high school?

What is your favorite part of ice skating?

My favorite is ice dancing, which is like ballroom dancing, but on ice. There are a total of about 20 ice dances, like tangos, waltzes, and you have a set pattern that you have to learn and compete in that level, then test to move on to the next level.

Where have you competed recently?

I just got back from a competition in Colorado. I was there for five days. It was the first ever solo ice dancing competition.

What do the judges look for at a figure skating competition?

They judge you on your overall technique, on how well you perform each individual task and then they judge you on your artistic interpretation of the music and your outfit. For technique, like jumps, if you don’t land right, if you don’t point your toe, if you over-rotate, if it doesn’t look smooth, you get deducted.

What is your practice routine?

I take a couple of laps around, stretch, get warmed up, then I go through spins and go over all my dances. I repeat that over and over again for practice.

What would you normally wear while figure skating?

Arjuna Capulong / photo illustration

When I practice, I just wear a practice skirt, tights, gloves and a jacket. When I compete I have about six different dresses. Some of them are long, since for ice dancing you have to wear long dresses to your knee, and then for freestyle you would wear

I’ve been competing almost all my life, but I don’t want it to become a profession. Right now I teach ice skating, and I’m probably just going to teach after this along with something else.

I’ll do it in college, but I’ll probably just teach my four-year olds as a part-time job afterwards.

What famous figure skaters you admire?

I admire figure skaters my age who are going out and competing in the senior levels of figure skating and the Olympics, such as Rachel Flatt.

They have school and everything, but they still practice a lot of hours every day.

Anatomy of a figure Skate Boot: shoe of skate Heel: elevates foot for better technique

Blade: balancing point of skate Toe pick: used for jumps and spins monica cheng and Beverly Jenkins / photo illustration

To submit nominations for 15 Minutes of Fame, e-mail Afra Hussain at ahussain@hilite.org

Engineering... Page 2 I Sports... Male Feminist... Page 3 I Breaking Stereotypes...

Page 4&5 I Music... Page 6 I Film Directors... Page 7 I Ask the Contributors... Page 8 Carmel High Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s news Magazine. Volume 6. Issue 1. October 29, 2009

02 acumen >>

Females in engineering fields increase

Contact information Mailing Address: 520 E. Main St., Carmel, IN 46032 Phone: (317) 846-7721, Ext. 7143 Web site: www.hilite.org/acumen E-mail: Staff members of the HiLite may be contacted by using their first initial and their last name appending @hilite.org. For example, Michelle Hu will receive mail sent to mhu@hilite.org.

Purpose

Acumen is an occasional publication serving to supplement the HiLite.

Acumen is distributed to the students, faculty and staff of Carmel High School. This publication operates as a public forum for the school and community. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily representative of those held by CHS, the Carmel Clay system faculty, staff or administration.

Responding to the Acumen

Letters in response to this issue of Acumen will be considered for publication in the HiLite. All letters must be submitted to Room C147, placed in the mailbox of Jim Streisel, e-mailed to letters@hilite.org or mailed to the school. Letters must be signed; names will be published.

(Letters submitted through e-mail will be taken to a student’s SRT for him or hers to sign.) Letters must not include personal attacks against an individual and may be subject to editing.

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Adviser Principal Superintendent

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Jinny Zhang Arjuna Capulong Andrew Browning Shirley Chen Monica Cheng Shokhi Goel Nick Johnson Priya Patel Erum Rizvi Katie Walstrom Caroline Zhang Michelle Hu Rosemary Boeglin Sarah Sheafer Jim Streisel John Williams Barbara Underwood

By Caroline Zhang czhang@hilite.org Senior Meera Chander knows what type of career she wants to pursue. She decided to join TechHOUNDS, a robotics team at this school, as a freshman and continues to participate in it. Chander said she plans to work in aerospace engineering.

“I have always had an inclination to solve problems and in TechHOUNDS you get to use your creativity to do so and engineering fits with those interests,” she said.

According to TechHOUNDS sponsor George Giltner, Chander is one of an increasing number of females on the TechHOUNDS. He said, “We started off the program with one or two girls. This year there’s around 10 girls out of 70 members, which is a significant increase.”

TechHOUNDS is not the sole example of growing numbers of women in engineering. According to engineeringtrends. com, the total number of engineering doctorates awarded to women is rising. All engineering faculty members of universities need such a doctorate. In 2005, women received over 1,100 doctorates. This number has risen significantly from 1984, when about 200 doctorates went to women.

Chander said she attributes this growth to the increasing exposure of women to engineering and technical fields.

“More and more women are getting exposed to what they can do and what is offered in the engineering fields.”

Chander said increased exposure is due to the decline of the stereotypical idea of males being more experienced in hands-on activities, which can discourage females from pursuing a career in engineering. “A girl may walk in here and see all these machines and think, ‘I don’t know how to use any of these power tools, but these guys do and they may feel really behind, but in reality everyone is starting from square one,” she said.

According to Chander, she became interested in engineering early in her high school career. “Engineering is the practical application of math and science. I was interested in science early on, but when I took my first industrial tech class as a freshman, I absolutely loved it and decided that this was what I wanted to do,” Chander said. “It was kind of intimidating, going to my first TechHOUNDS meeting, but the engineering itself drew me in.”

In This Issue Dear readers, When I told my female friend that this issue of the Acumen would have a woman theme, she told me she thought feminism is too much of a big deal. She said, “I’m tired of feminism. Women and men aren’t equal.

They are good at different things.” Her point is true. Men and women are generally good at and interested in different things. However, the purpose of this issue of the Acumen is to interview people who don’t fit into those conventional gender roles. The women featured demonstrate how although they stand out for being a female participating in a male dominated field, their situation will not be out of the ordinary in the future.

Acumen Editor Jinny Zhang Shokhi Goel / photo

Technical triumph: Meera Chander and Adam Wilmes, TechHOUNDS student team co-leaders and seniors, review a Cover>>Arjuna Capulong/ Photo Illustration

seminar that will be given to new members of the team. Chander plans to enter a career in aerospace engineering, a maledominated profession.

DID YOU KNOW? 89 percent of men and women are accepting of the woman in the household earning more money than the man.

time /Young source Michael

<< acumen 03

HiLite • October 29, 2009

i n k a g the Ice e r B

Q&A

Sophomore Emily Chandler doesn’t take the rink in figure skates, but instead suits up to play hockey with the boys

T

By Andrew browning abrowning@hilite.org

he Carmel Blue hockey team has proven year in and year out that it has the talent to compete with many of the state’s top A teams. Clearly a capable bunch with plenty of talent, the squad still has one player who stands out from the rest. It’s one of their right wings that often gets noticed, but it’s not because of exceptional size, speed or skill. Rather, it’s the blonde ponytail hanging out of sophomore Emily Chandler’s helmet that makes her unique among all her male comrades.

Onlookers and opponents shouldn’t be fooled by appearance.

Chandler is in her 10th year of organized hockey, all of which she’s played with boys, and she said she knows she doesn’t have any problem holding her own at the high school level − even if she is almost always the only girl on the ice.

“Obviously I don’t have as much muscle as them, but I think I’m at the same skill level almost,” Chandler said. “(Knowing I’m the only girl) makes me want to try a little harder, but I’m used to it now so it feels normal to me.”

Senior Michael Young expresses his opinions on feminism

By Monica Cheng

“I want to play for a girls’ team in college, intercollegiate or Division I team,” she said. “I would like to get a scholarship to play. I know some (college coaches) have contacted the Gold coach, but none me personally, so I’m just waiting.”

Although some type of women’s team is probably in Chandler’s not-too-distant future, she said she is more than happy playing with men for now.

“As I got older I got closer to the guys, and it became more fun,” Chandler said. “(Being the only girl) doesn’t really affect me.”

Not only is Chandler glad to be a part of Carmel Blue, but Kidd said the guys appreciate having her on the team.

“I think it’s a good experience for everyone to know that girls can play hockey,” Kidd said. “If a girl’s playing hockey people say, ‘Why? They should be figure skating.’ No. Girls can play hockey.”

Q: Define feminism in your own words.

A: I would say that feminism historically has been about women getting the rights they didn’t have before.

Modern feminism is a breakdown of stereotypical gender roles for both men and women.

Q: Describe the prejudices women may face.

A: People are socialized to believe that men are more dominant than women. And women are believed to be more dependent on other people.

Q: Are women the only ones who experience prejudice?

A: It’s about women and men, especially nowadays.

Men sometimes have expected roles that they don’t necessarily identify with. The world for women has now become less polarized and less specific while expectations of men haven’t changed that much. For example, the idea of stay at home dads isn’t really accepted in society as much as stay at home moms.

Brandon Kidd, right wing and senior, said many people perceive that the only girl on the team is bound to be the team’s least talented player, but that is not the case with Chandler.

“She’s not the best, but she’s not the worst either,” Kidd said. “There’s different ranges of skill on the team, but she’s definitely not the worst.”

Q: How do you express your support for equal rights for both men and women?

After so many years, Chandler has proven herself capable in the sport. In fact, she is just one team below the person who taught her the game. Sophomore Brandon Krumper, now a goaltender for Carmel Gold, sparked Chandler’s enthusiasm for the game over 10 years ago.

A: I’ve been a member of the Amnesty International Club since I was a sophomore. One event that supports equal rights is the Night of Rights. We put up posters that describe human rights issues, and we also have petitions that people can sign.

“We used to always play outside on his driveway,” Chandler said. “So that led into (my interest in hockey), and then I started playing.”

That early childhood ambition could pay off soon, as Chandler has hopes of taking her game to the next level. Chandler said she wants to play women’s hockey in college, and that dream may not be far off because college coaches are already starting to take notice of the sophomore forward.

with a male feminist

Nick Johnson / photo

Light on her feet: Sophomore Emily Chandler skates during practice for the Carmel Icehounds Blue team.

Chandler is the only girl on the squad and hopes to continue playing hockey in college.

DID YOU KNOW? 100 year old Ruth Frith broke a world record in the shot put at the World Masters Games in Sydney in 2009.

Men don’t think feminism really applies to them. Men are afraid to appear weak.

Michael Young

Yahoo! News / source

04 acumen >>

Some women break stereotypes by partic

By Priya

Myth: women cannot follow sports.

False Senior Colleen Thomas has been watching football for as long as she can remember. At the age of six, she began watching University of Michigan and Detroit Lions football games with her dad. She falls amongst the few women who are able to express their interest in the world of sports.

“Most of the girls don’t care as much about sports, and it’s hard to contain my excitement about sports because they don’t understand what I’m talking about. With the guys, I can really get in depth and have long discussions because they are as passionate as I am,” Thomas said.

Thomas says she enjoys sports for the excitement and discussion possibilities, and hopes to become a sportscaster.

“Since sports are so competitive and fans get so involved in sports these days, I get Colleen Thomas caught up and like to discuss sports,” Thomas said. “My dream job would be to anchor on ESPN because who wouldn’t want to analyze sports all day?”

arjuna capulong / photo illustration sarah sheafer / graphic

She said that sportscasters like Andrea Kremer and Ann Meyers give her encouragement to follow her dream. An article

by Sports Illustrated magazine stated that in 1991, of the 630 networks, only 50 of the sportscasters were women.

However, a recent study done by USA Today, found that 127 women held positions on on-air shows on the three major networks. Despite how few women sportscasters there are in the industry, Thomas will still continue to dream big.

DID YOU KNOW? 23 percent of women and 12 percent of men agree that men continue to have it better in life than women do.

time / source

<< acumen 05 Myth: Women are not capable of leadership.

False

cipating in uncommon jobs or activities a Patel Myth: Women do not Fit into male dominated careers.

FALSE Following her dreams, senior Mallory Kuersteiner isn’t letting tradition hold her back. She has her future all mapped out for herself. After graduation, she plans to join the Air Force, train to be a K-9 officer and become a paramedic.

Working with the Boy Scouts of America, Kuersteiner has been training to become a police officer for almost four years. “The police officers train us in what they do,” Kuersteiner said.

Training consists of duties such as working sporting events, helping the city of Carmel with events and sometimes even helping with events in Noblesville.

Out of the 18 students in this training group, only two are women. In the professional field, female police officers are just as scarce. According to Chief Mike Fogarty with the Carmel Police Department, of the 106 sworn officers, only eight are assigned to the uniform road patrol, and two are detectives. From the eight uniformed officers, two have the title of sergeant. However, despite what remains largely to be a male dominated field, Kuersteiner does not find this prospect disconcerting. “They (the male police officers) give us a hard time, but it’s just for fun,” she said.

As well as officer training, Kuersteiner is involved in another program also run by Boy Scouts of America, called Fire Explorer. There are two programs involved with the fire explorer post: emergency medical technician (EMT) or firefighter. In following with the other part of her post-graduation plans, Kuersteiner is working in the EMT group. Riding with them and doing 24-hour shifts at the fire station give her exposure to the environment as well as a feel for the future.

She feels this training is extremely beneficial and is helping to prepare her for the coming years.

shirley chen / photo

lead the way: Freshman Reagan Brown and Senate sponsor Michelle Foutz discuss upcoming senate events. Foutz believes that society is beginning to accept more female leaders.

Women in leadership positions seem to be a rare, but growing trend in the world, but at this school, women are making their place as leaders. Freshman Regan Brown says she truly values her role as a member of our Senate. After hearing about the Senate at this school, she decided to take the challenge to run.

“I lik e to be involved in student government, and last year, I was really involved, so when I heard about this, I decided to run and won,” Brown said.

Currently in the school Senate, 12 of the 25 senators are females. While the United States Senate does not have as high a percentage of female senators currently serving, the numbers have increased over the years as well.

Mallory kuersteiner / submitted photo

Fingerprints: Senior Mallory

Kuersteiner documents the fingerprints of a child for identification records in case the child goes missing. Kuersteiner has “It’s basically a prerequisite to what I want to do,” been training to become a police Kuersteiner said. officer for almost four years.

DID YOU KNOW? A woman is statistically more likely to work as CEOs than as police officers.

In her 14 years of teaching here, Head Senate Sponsor, Michelle Foutz, has found that, while the amount of female senators involved at the school senate have remained relatively static, career aspirations of women leaders are increasing.

“Just as many females are taking on the leadership positions, but I am seeing more of the females with higher career ambitions. Today, I have female students who want to work on Wall Street, become doctors, become executives for large corporations; I’ve always had female students with high career goals, but the types of positions that women are seeking is changing, broadening,” Foutz said.

Brown strongly believes that women are as capable of doing the same jobs as men. Foutz agrees with Brown, saying that the stereotype is just a stereotype.

“Society is changing, and people are beginning to accept women leaders.

There are more females in top leadership positions than ever before…female CEOs and females in top government positions, such as Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton. These women are setting a great example for young females, they are showing young women that no position is outside their reach,” Foutz said.

american police beat / source

06 acumen >>

F

HiLite • October 29, 2009

emale musicians continue to amaze the world with their talent while proving they are just as good as any man, sometimes better.

Queens of Rock ‘N Roll

By Katie Walstrom

starpulse.com / photos starpulse.com and nytimes.com / photos

Rock out: Clockwise from left: female artists Janis Joplin, Gwen Stefani of No Doubt, Joan Jett and Courtney Love of Hole. These women impacted their generation through their music.

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

The ‘60s was an era when women really began to come into their own, whereas women in the ‘50s were mostly seen as housewives.

Women-empowering bands and musicians such as Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane with lead singer Grace Slick and The Mamas and the Papas with vocalists Cass Elliott and Michelle Phillips served as role models for women who dreamed to perform.

In the ‘70s, bands such as Heart and Fleetwood Mac hit the charts and their popularity continued throughout the ‘80s. In Heart, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson sang while Nancy played guitar. In Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie sang while McVie played piano. The voices of Nancy Wilson and Stevie Nicks were the unique voices of the generation, along with Linda Ronstadt. Ronstadt introduced the west coast rock sound that became a dominant force in the music industry.

Along with the ‘70s artists who continued to write and perform rock music in the ‘80s, singers Lita Ford, Joan Jett, Pat Benatar and Blondie took control of the music scene. Ford, Jett, Blondie and Benatar all possessed the tough, rocker-girl image. They were raw and extreme with their lyrics and music. Tough as nails, they were just as talented as any male rock star.

The ‘90s was the era of grunge, a style of rock music that incorporated punk rock and heavy metal with lyrics exhibiting dissatisfaction, apathy, destruction of the social system and denial of authority.

The Cranberries, PJ Harvey, The Donnas, Concrete Blonde, Babes in Toyland, L7, Garbage and Hole are examples of girl grunge bands.

More mainstream women rock bands in the ‘90s were No Doubt, Dixie Chicks, Alanis Morissette, Liz Phair and Sheryl Crow. All of these artists continue their popularity into modern times.

Music today has changed immensely. Popular female musicians included Paramore, Flyleaf, Evanescence and Lacuna Coil. The lyrics and music by these artists are much darker and intense than ever before. The lyrics are deep and have meanings that reach people around the world.

Women have made significant contributions to the music industry and continue to do so today.

DID YOU KNOW? 58 percent of women and 62 percent of men disagree that men have lost the battle of the sexes.

time / source

<< acumen 07

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Impact of Female Directors

Nora Ephron 1941-

Although there are not many women in the film directing industry, the few in it tend to be successful such as the ones below.

By Erum Rizvi

American film director, producer, novelist and triple nominee for the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay Significant work: Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, Bewitched, Julie & Julia

Leni Riefenstahl 1902-2003 German film director, actor, producer and reporter Significant work: Triumph des Willens, a propaganda film chronicling the 1934 Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg Leni Riefenstahl’s greatest success was with the documentary film “Triumph des Willens” named after the Reich Party Congress 1934 in Nuremberg. This film received gold medals in Venice in 1935 and at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1937. However, at the end of the war, this film destroyed Leni Riefenstahl’s career, for now it had no longer been recognized as a piece of art but been condemned as a National Socialist propaganda film.

imdb.com / photo

In 1992, the documentary film “Die Macht der Bilder” received several international awards as well as the “Emmy Award” in the USA.

Nora Ephron has written screenplays for several popular films, all featuring strong female characters, such as anti-nuclear activist Karen Silkwood. Ephron’s hardheaded sensibilities make Rob Reiner’s “When Harry Met Sally” (1989) a clear view of modern romance, and she earned an Oscar nomination for her original screenplay.

Many of Riefenstahl’s films have heavy-handed depictions of the destructive impact of female ambition and materialism on marriage. Too often, as with “The Fisherman’s Wife”, the female protagonists find contentment only when they renounce materialism and worldly aspirations to embrace a conservative definition of the role of mother and wife.

She made her directorial debut with the comedy “This is my Life” (1992). Ephron also famously directed “Bewitched” in 2005 and just recently in August, “Julie and Julia”. She has had great success with the movies she has directed and wrote screenplay for and her passion for film shows through her outstanding work. She once said, “Most of us live our lives devoid of cinematic moments.”

britannica.com / photo

SoFia Coppola 1971Producer, screenwriter, actor and only American woman nominated for the Academy Award for directing Significant work: The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette Coppola began her career when her father cast her for a significant role in “The Godfather Part III”, even though she was an inexperienced actor. After a few years of acting, Coppola began directing.

Her film “Lost in Translation” (2003) won the Academy Award for original screenplay and three Golden Globe Awards including Best Picture.

empireonline.com / photo

She is the third female director, and only American woman, to be nominated for an Oscar for best director. No female has ever won an Oscar, and Coppola’s nomination showed her dedication. Regardless of whether her next film will prove to be a continuation of her similar themes involving female significance, her ability as a filmmaker to weave form and content into a singularly visual style continues to make her stand out as an important female artist in the world of cinema.

DID YOU KNOW? Of about 13,400 members of the Directors Guild of America, only about 7 percent are female directors.

msnbc.com / source

08 acumen >>

Ask the Contributors

HiLite • October 29, 2009

Acumen reporters and photographers of this issue share their favorite female role models

“I'm not necessarily a guy who has a lot of female role models, but one woman who I really enjoy is Ellen DeGeneres. She is a fantastic comedian and a great person, as well as an individual who doesn't try to be anyone but herself. And who could ever forget her role as Dori in Finding Nemo?”

“A woman in history I admire is Queen Elizabeth I of England. She's recognized for pretty much single-handedly ruling a country without a husband in a time when women were regarded as naturally inferior to men and I think that deserves respect.”

"Although she's not a real person, Lisa Simpson has always been one of my favorite role models. She's bright, witty and always has a good attitude, even when things go south. On top of that, she always stands out from the crowd with her crazy hairdo."

By sophomore Caroline Zhang, reporter By senior Nick Johnson, photographer

By senior Andrew Browning, reporter

“Serving through the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale, ‘The Lady With the Lamp,’ ensured that all the sick and wounded were nursed back to good health in civilized conditions. Florence Nightingale set a precedence for modernized nursing, and even from her sickbed, she advised governments on army reform, sanitation and hospital design.”

"Maybe I'm just biased because I was named after her, but Shirley Temple is definitely a woman role model I look up to. Not only was she one of the most successful child actresses in her time, but she also left her legacy with those cute ‘Shirley Temple Curls’ and that adorable pug nose. And who could resist those dimples?”

“I believe Marie Curie is an influential person in history. The only one to win two Nobel prizes in two science fields, physics and chemistry, Curie was the first to discover the theory of radioactivity. Because of her invaluable contributions in the sciences, Curie should be a female role model for aspiring woman scientists across the world.”

By senior Shirley Chen, photographer

By sophomore Monica Cheng, reporter

By junior Shokhi Goel, photographer arjuna capulong / photos