11.19 Issue

CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL 520 E. MAIN ST. CARMEL, IN 46032 WWW.HILITE.ORG

Kid Cudi launches to the moon Page 22

NOV. 19, 2010 | VOL. 56 | ISSUE 4

*CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT NEWSMAGAZINE

The Next Chapter

=

?

Schools throughout the nation are transitioning to digital forms of education. Is Carmel following the trend? — Page 16

Be a

riend, keep in

ouch.

Page 2 | Table of contents | hilite | hilite.org | Nov. 19, 2010

Table of Contents 4 News

After a recent Supreme Court decision, school organizations are required to accept anyone for membership, regardless of beliefs or status.

9 Feature

Students like junior Christen Helou elect to buy food from local farmers instead of supermarkets for Thanksgiving.

14 Student Section

4

9

14

16

20

24

Students share unique family customs and traditions they celebrate each year during the holiday season.

16 Cover Story

As e-readers become more popular in and out of the classroom, experts assess their educational value.

20 Entertainment

Arjuna Capulong reviews the new Kid Cudi CD, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager.

24 Sports

Despite both external and internal physical limitations, student athletes choose to overcome these obstacles.

28 Perspectives

The HiLite staff shares its thoughts on dressing appropriately.

32 15 Minutes

Junior David Isenberg creates and sells his own pens.

Arjuna Capulong / Cover Design and photo

32

nov. 19, 2010| hilite.org | hilite | just a minute | page 3

The numbers behind: THANKSGIVING DANIEL LI / ART AND DESIGN *** CENSUS.GOV AND HISTORY.COM / SOURCES

Did you know?

Top producers: 50

1000

800

The original Thanksgiving was celebrated sometime between September 21 and November 11, 1621. Unlike modern Thanksgiving, this feast lasted 3 days.

700 40

30

600 500

47

735

28

10

300 200

Minnesota

North Carolina

Arkansas

Turkey (millions)

0

945

400

193

100 0

600

400

31

20

800

Wisconsin

Massachusetts

Cranberry

(millions of lbs)

592

200

0

North Carolina

California

162 Louisiana

Sweet potato (millions of lbs)

The American Automobile Association estimated that 38.4 million Americans traveled 50 miles or more from home for Thanksgiving in 2009.

99.1%

$7.3 million

value of turkey imports 99.1% from Canada

-$3.9 million

trade deficit in live turkeys

62.1%

$5.5 million

value of sweet potato imports - 62.1% from Dominican Rep.

+$31.5 million

trade surplus in sweet potatoes

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln appointed the last Thursday in November as a day of thanksgiving. It was made a national holiday by Congress in 1941.

13.8

lbs

quantity of turkey consumed by a typical American per year.

=17,000

employed in poultry businesses with a primary product of turkey

Snoopy has appeared as a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade more often than any other character. He made his sixth appearance in 2006.

Daniel Li / Graphic

Page 4 | NEWS | hilite | HiLite.org | Nov. 19, 2010

NEWS Show me the money Upcoming events

submitnews@hilite.org | twitter.com /Hilite_news

Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 25 to 28 ‘Holiday Spectacular’: Dec. 1 to 5 Winter Break Awareness Week: Dec. 6 to 10 December ACT test: Dec. 11

Go online

For more news information and updated stories, go online to hilite.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Since the May 2010 referendum, many students wonder how the money has been spent BY shayan ahmad sahmad@hilite.org

different problems, he said, which were all countered According to Hackett, the general fund compromises with the referendum. most of the Carmel Clay budget. The fund includes the According to McMichael, the Carmel Clay School salaries of teachers and administration members, and the District was facing a $3 million budget increase in the budget went mostly to n May 4, Kern Vohra’s parents both voted for deficit at the end of last year. On top hiring more teachers. Ninety percent a referendum for Carmel Clay Schools, which, of that, at the end of 2009, the Indiana of the general fund goes to salaries through its passage, provided $12 million to state government made a total of $300 and benefits, 4 percent to supplies and the school district. Despite this, Vohra, for With these changes, we million worth of budget cuts to the materials and 3 percent to purchased the most part, said he does not know how this money is definitely see the school education department as a result of the services such as utilities and property being used. system as better off than recent recession. insurance. With the additional money “My parents voted for the referendum, and I think it’s it was before,” Hackett Because of these cuts, the school given to the general fund, the school a $12 million budget add-on, but aside from that I don’t said. “With the addition district lost another $3 million worth district hired more teachers to create really know much about it,” Vohra said. “I think they did it of state funding annually. Adding a more teacher friendly class size. of teachers and funds, we to make sure we didn’t have to make cuts on departments on to these deficits, a previous “The additional teachers have like the performing arts.” But, several months after the believe that we’ve created referendum worth $2 million a year is lowered our teacher-to-people vote, Vohra said he still does not know exactly how the a much better school also expiring in 2012, creating a total ratio and lowered our class sizes,” money is being used. district for our students. deficit of $8.8 million.

McMichael said.

The referendum According to Roger McMichael, Carmel Clay assistant School board president Tricia restored or added a total of 82 superintendant of business affairs, the main reason for Tricia Hackett Hackett said, “By passing the teacher positions and 43 instructional the referendum was to make up for the large budget cuts School board president referendum, we were able to offset assistants. At CHS, seven teaching which the school system was facing. the deficits we were facing and add on positions were restored and another “We were facing a few different budget cuts, and another $3.2 million. This $3.2 million almost all went to 11 were added. By passing the referendum, McMichael those all totaled up to $8.8 million,” McMichael said. our general fund.” said he believes that Carmel has created a much better This budget deficit was compromised of a number of environment for learning.

“Without the referendum, there would have been a dramatic increase in the average class size for Carmel schools,” Hackett said. “With it, we’ve actually been able to decrease the average class size across the board.”

According to the Carmel Clay Schools website, Since the passing of the referendum, the average student per class size for math classes at CHS has gone from 28.7 to 27.8. Also in the art department, the class size has gone from 27.7 to 26.1 students per class.

According to Sherri Pankratz, president of the Carmel Clay Education Association and English teacher, this also helps reduce the number of teachers who teach six classes instead of five. “There are fewer teachers who teach an extra course now,” she said.

Pankratz said this problem does remain for many teachers at the middle school level, though. “We’re still trying to mediate the middle school situation in terms of the number of students they see every day,” she said.

The referendum will, however, also make up for the projected increase of the number of students in the school district in the coming years. “We anticipate CCS enrollment will increase by 275 plus students by 2012, for which we hired additional staff,” Hackett said.

Hackett said she also sees the referendum as an improvement because it raises the Carmel Clay School District’s funding per student, which prior to the referendum’s passing was well below the average funding lizzy grubbs / photo per student in Indiana.

In the 2009-2010 school year, the average funding per top chef: Jessica Bowman, a foreign foods and adult roles and responsibilities teacher, instructs her 7th

O

‘‘

”

period nutrition and wellness class. New this year, Bowman was hired with the increase of funds due to the May referendum.

Story continued on next page > >

Nov. 19, 2010 | HiLite.org | hilite | NEWS | PagE 5

The game of

Start Here >>

Mixed results In the midterm elections on Nov. 2, many voters also decided on potential referundums for their respective schools.

Districts with referendums that did not pass

Districts with referendums that passed

Zionsville Southern Hancock County Mt. Vernon Center Grove Anderson Elwood Randolph Central Northwestern

Lebanon Brown County Hamilton Southeastern Westfield-Washington Monroe Country

End Here? daniel li / graphic

wthr.com / source

<< Story continued from previous page student in the state of Indiana was $6,553 per pupil, while Carmel’s was only $5,598. This represents a total difference of $955 per student. Hackett said she believes this problem was solved by the referendum.

Vohra said he only knew that the school district asked for the referendum to offset previous deficits, though. “I was only aware of what the money that made up for the money lost by the schools was used for,” he said. “I only learned a little bit about the referendum in band class, but no one has really informed me about how the rest of the money has been used.”

This mindset, according to Pankratz, is not unusual.

She said most of the communication relating to the referendum that has been made has been focused on the Carmel community rather than to faculty and students.

“There hasn’t been any official communication to teachers,” she said. “There’s been more communication as a whole to the community.”

Pankratz also said that during the next semester the school district will provide an update which will display how the referendum has been used. “In the spring, there will be an update for the community putting together a real program about what’s gone on and how the money has been used,” she said.

Although Pankratz said there hasn’t been too much communication so far for teachers and students, she said she is content with the plans for the future.

“I’m happy with the plan they have with the, ‘this is how the school system would have been’ and ‘this is how it is now’ explanation,” she said.

So far, all of the money which was gained through the referendum has been used or planned for use in the future.

“All of the money has been committed,” McMichael said.

Some of the money added by the referendum has also been used for savings in case of future problems.

“It’s like having a savings account versus not having one. It’s a little bit of money to fall back on,” McMichael said. “With this money, the school district can be prepared

for future dilemmas with its budget.”

McMichael said he does believe, however, that the referendum funding will be adequate for the near future.

“Referendum funding lasts for a maximum term of seven years, and that’s how we plan this one to go for,” he said. This will mean $12 million of income for the school through property tax for the years 2011 all the way through 2018.

McMichael also stated that once the referendum does expire in 2018, the school district would go back and ask taxpayers to renew the referendum.

“With these changes, we definitely see the school system as better off than it was before,” Hackett said. “With the addition of teachers and funds, we believe that we’ve created a much better school district for our students.”

Breakdown: 2010 projected expenditures

$63,375,358 Salaries

ed has s c r Pu rvice se

Supplies and Oth materials er

$17,870,753 Employee benefits

$2,078,070

Supplies and materials

$3,235,110 Purchases services

Employee benefits

Salaries

408,609 Other

$87,111,200 Total

steven chen / graphic www1.ccs.k12.in.us / source

Page 6 | NEWS | hilite | HiLite.org | nov. 19, 2010

Recent U.S. Supreme Court decision prohibits exclusion from school organizations CHS’s clubs, activities, which don’t restrict membership, to experience little, if any, change BY henry zhu hzhu@hilite.org While this school has a variety of faith-based clubs, senior Lyla Nassimi said it was not until she founded the Muslim Students Association (MSA) last year that there was an organization for those students of the Islamic faith.

“I felt that we Muslims here needed to have a place to get to know each other and our religion,” Nassimi said.

“We wanted to bring Muslims at Carmel closer together.”

Though MSA is primarily an Islam-centered organization, Nassimi said anyone, regardless of religion or culture, could join to learn more about the Islamic faith and culture. And that policy is in keeping with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

In the June 28 case of Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, the Supreme Court decided, 5-4, that public schools and colleges have the right to require student organizations to accept anybody who wishes to join. (See sidebar below for more information.)

As for the decision’s effect on this school, Jim Inskeep, athletics and activities director, said little would change at CHS because a similar policy is already in place, like the one students use for the MSA. “One of our main criteria when looking at new club applications is inclusivity,” Inskeep said. “We have not approved clubs that have been exclusive of one group or another. In our opinion, it is really for the best interest of the students. Once you start becoming exclusive, it can lead to more problems than being open.”

Nassimi said that, along with bringing Muslims at this school together, MSA also has a variety of other goals that would clash with such a restrictive stance concerning membership. Many of MSA’s objectives, Nassimi said, involve the general community as a whole in addition to Muslim students.

The facts Christian Legal Society v. Martinez When: 2010 Background: The Christian Legal Society (CLS) is a nationwide, non-denominational organization of Christian lawyers, judges and law students.

Although anyone is allowed to attend CLS meetings, voting members and those in a chapter’s leadership positions must sign and adhere to a “Statement of Faith,” affirming their commitment to the group’s Christian beliefs and values. University of California’s Hastings College of Law denied CLS’s request to form based on the school’s non-discrimination policy; CLS sued.

Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the school, 5-4.

Bottom Line: School-sponsored organizations must allow all students to join regardless of beliefs or status. nytimes.com / source

gabrielle bowers / Photo

RIGHT TO MEET: Senior Lyla Nassimi (left), founder of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at this school, and other club members socialize during their meeting. Nassimi said the MSA is open to any student interested in the Islamic faith.

“We do a lot of community service as well as discussion of our faith in MSA,” Nassimi said. “Our faith is important but not central to our purpose. Through activities like our current Project Pakistan fundraiser where we are trying to get the whole school to help us raise money for flood victims in Pakistan, a lot of MSA is also about reaching out to the community and redefining misconceptions about Islam.”

Kathryn “Kate” Shanklin, Student Venture leader and junior, said Student Venture has similar policies and goals.

“Student Venture is a student-led Christian ministry at Carmel High School and the high school part of Campus Crusade for Christ,” Shanklin said. “It’s mostly Christian, but it’s open to anyone who wants to join and we don’t try to block people out or exclude them. Since our goal is to reach out to others, it really wouldn’t really work for us to shut people out.”

According to Student Venture sponsor Kim TenBrink, the very nature of Student Venture leads it to be open.

TenBrink said the reason Student Venture has no membership requirements and meets in the easilyaccessible Freshman Cafeteria is so interested students who may not be Christians can participate and ask questions if they want to.

“Student Venture is more about sharing personal testimonies and offering opinions rather than telling others how to live their lives,” TenBrink said. “Because it is student-led, we try to base our organization and messages on what issues are most relevant to students. I can’t imagine Student Venture ever chastising or excluding one group of

kids no matter who those kids are.”

According to Inskeep, clubs here that do set restrictions on membership usually do so because of either a numbers issue or competition eligibility issues. When clubs do restrict membership, Inskeep said, it most often would be by grade level so that everyone will get to participate within his or her high school career.

“Some clubs are senior groups for school spirit purposes, and it wouldn’t be a senior group if we opened it up to all four grades,” Inskeep said. “For others, it’s usually because the competition sets the requirements and the administration doesn’t have any control over that.”

Though the Supreme Court’s decision will have little effect here, it sparked national controversy over the conflict between religious freedoms and antidiscrimination policies. The reasoning for this statement seemed to be due to different interpretations of the principles involved. The Times article stated that, while the majority of the court believed the school had merely required clubs to be open to all students, the minority saw the school as basing the anti-discrimination policy off of select criteria, like sexual orientation, that placed an unfair burden on religious clubs and organizations.

However, Nassimi said she felt the Supreme Court made the right decision. She said differences in beliefs and viewpoints can only help rather than harm a religion.

“Even within religions there are differences of opinions,” Nassimi said. “However, listening and understanding the differences of every religion help you become more stronger in your own faith.”

nov. 19, 2010 | HiLite.org | hilite | NEWS | PagE 7

Lifelines organizes pre-break awareness week BY natalie maier nmaier@hilite.org

B

eginning on Dec. 6, and lasting throughout the week, CHS will participate in Winter Break Awareness Week. The goal of this week, which is coordinated annually at this school, is to encourage students to make positive decisions over winter break.

As that week approaches, LifeLines and the Winter Break Awareness Week Committee will work to organize several events that aim to create a safer winter break for students and the community.

“This is about encouraging students to make only good decisions over winter break and after the break. It’s kind of like Red Ribbon Week,” LifeLines sponsor Rebekah Overbey said. “We want the students to not only think of themselves when they’re making decisions, but to think of the community and their peers. They should think about making good choices and realize that these choices can impact others.”

Did you know?

Teens and alcohol

10.8 million

In 2005, about people ages 12 to 20 (28.2 percent of this age group) reported drinking alcohol in the past month.

7.2 million (18.8 percent) were In 2005, 39 percent of fatal crashes (all Nearly binge drinkers.

age groups) involved alcohol.

Teens and drugs

25.4 percent

Nationwide, of students had been offered, sold, or given an illegal drug by someone on school property during the 12 months preceding the survey.

50 percent of teens have tried an illicit drug by the time they finish high school.

sadd.org / source

As winter break falls over major holidays, there are more opportunities for students to make poor choices with drugs and alcohol, Overbey said.

Alec Rader, Winter Break Awareness Week Committee Head and junior said, “Obviously we want people to make good decisions over break. A big part of that is making sure no one makes a stupid decision because of drugs or alcohol.”

Fears about students making poor choices as a result of alcohol or drugs are not without reason. According to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than two in three high school students reported binge drinking in September 2010. The study also shows that drinking among adults and teenagers can lead to cassie dugan / photo an increased chance of car accidents, LIfe saver: Club sponsor Rebekah Overbey presides over a Lifelines which LifeLines wants to reduce through meeting. Overbey said Lifelines will plan an awareness week before its other programs. winter break to educate students about making good decisions.

Because the Winter Break Awareness Week is still weeks away, LifeLines is make and to make good decisions. These decisions, even starting to plan the numerous events and activities that will small ones, could end up saving their lives and the lives of take place within the week. In the past, the club showed a others. And at the end of the week last year, a true story was movie with an inspirational message during an SRT. Last passed out to the faculty. It was about a teenager that made year, among the movies LifeLines considered showing were a bad choice, resulting in his brother’s death. LifeLines “The Ultimate Gift” and “Just a Pinch.” The goal of showing suggested that the teachers read this to their SRTs. We the movie is to teach students about working together and might have a trivia contest for this year.” helping others, Overbey said.

While there are many events over the week, Rader said This year, LifeLines may show a movie, but members are he thinks the best event is the announcements and talking also considering showing an episode of “The Cosby Show” to students. in an SRT during the week, according to Rader.

Over the course of the week, there are chances for Although the movie is probably the most well-known students to become involved. “Students can watch the of the activities LifeLines’ puts together each year, other movie and the teachers might have follow-up discussion events are also part of the week. questions,” Overbey said, “With the trivia contests on Overbey said, “Banners with inspirational sayings are the announcements, they can participate. The goal is for usually placed around the school and left up until winter students to really get motivated to make good choices. break. A jar of candy was in the cafeterias, and that jar A simple reaction from students would be great, but if represented a statistic we were focusing on. We also tied something motivated someone to go to a food pantry, that bows around trees along the trail last year. The idea is that means even more.” our students will stop and think about the choices they

Garage sale begins Dance Marathon fundraising BY kendall harshberger kharshberger@hilite.org

chair of the garage sale, said she thinks the event will be productive and successful.

“I think garage sales’ success in general has gone up in House of Representative members will be having a garage this economy because everybody’s looking for a good deal,” sale this weekend to kick off Dance she said.

Marathon fundraising activities. The Wiegand said 100 percent of the proceeds event will take place in the main cafeteria. from this weekend’s event will go straight to If we personally as The sale starts tomorrow and goes from Dance Marathon.

9 to 4 p.m. It continues on Sunday from “This is a great way to reach out to a team feel we did noon to 4 p.m., according to House those people in the community who everything we could, sponsor Sarah Wolff. don’t necessarily have the opportunity to then we consider it a Dance Marathon, which typically takes get involved in Dance Marathon, maybe success. place in February each year, is one of this because they don’t have kids at Carmel or school’s largest events and raises money something like that,” she said. “They could Lauren Wiegand for Riley Hospital. Participants spend six come to this garage sale and get involved Cabinet member hours learning a line dance, listening to in that way.”

Riley speakers, and participating in other According to Wolff, the materials that activities such as crafts and games. will be sold at the garage sale come from donations from Senior Lauren Wiegand, Cabinet member and coHouse and Cabinet members. Cabinet members will sort

‘‘

”

through and organize the donated items after school on Thursday and Friday.

“The donations will be gently used household items like furniture and books,” she said.

Despite pressures to surpass last year’s earnings, Wiegand said that House is not trying to beat any monetary goals.

She said, “If we personally as a team feel we did everything we could, then we consider it a success.”

Online coverage For more To check out the latest updates and extensive coverage on Dance Marathon, go to hilite.org.

Are you interested in a career working with dogs?

If so, a career in professional dog grooming may be for you!

Grooming School of Indiana 2435 S. State Road 135 Greenwood, Indiana 46143 Call 317-919-5471 to schedule a tour or have an information packet mailed to you or visit our website at www.groomingschoolofindiana.com

Nov. 19, 2010 | hilite.org | HiLite | FEATURE | PagE 9

FEATURE ‘Waiving’ goodbye to P.E. Did you know?

submitfeature@hilite.org | twitter.com/Hilite_news

Modern day paintings of the “The Last Supper” portray plates of food larger than those depicted in art a thousand years ago:

Entrees have grown 69 percent

Plates have grown 66 percent

Bread has grown 23 percent newsweek / Source

Students take advantage of new waiver for physical education, but policy has little effect on overall student health despite national health trends

by Melinda Song msong@hilite.org

F

or Leslie Mills, flute player and freshman, marching band is more than a time-consuming extracurricular activity; playing and performing required intense physical ability and well-maintained fitness. “(Being in marching band) may not seem a lot because when most people think of the marching band, they think, ‘Oh, it’s just some person holding an instrument and walking in a straight line.’ Really, for the first three minutes of our show, we’re running across the field, and you’re out of breath by the first 10 counts,” Mills said.

“The summer practices were long, I should say, intense, and we had some nine-to-nines (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) so 12-hour days—not too great. You know, push-ups, crunches, jumping jacks every single day. It’s a lot of hard work.”

For Mills and many others at this school, her participation in marching band lets her waive a second semester of physical education. According to Kim TenBrink, physical education department chairperson, over 500 students have chosen the waiver option this school year.

“Last year, the Board of Education along with our state superintendent decided that each school could develop a waiver for students as an alternative means of earning credit,” TenBrink said. “So, our school had a committee, and what we came up with was all students had to take P.E. I, and they could take P.E. II by alternate means.”

However, waiving a second semester of physical education may seem counterproductive in the face of rising childhood obesity rates. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), childhood obesity has tripled since 1980, causing many schools to increase physical education requirements.

In a 2006 School Health Policies and Programs study, the CDC found that 79.3 percent of school districts required schools to follow national or state health standards, up from 68.8 percent in 2000.

But TenBrink said the new P.E. waiver policy hasn’t affected student exercise or general health here. In fact, she said P.E. class enrollments have increased this year.

“Our numbers, even with summer school, are still up, which is great because we have an epidemic of childhood obesity,” she said. “There is a decrease (in P.E. enrollment), obviously, but because our class sizes have been larger, we’ve been able to, in some of our classes, lower them.”

Mills said the fact that marching band fulfills the required gym credit did not influence her to join.

“I kind of like gym. So when they said they were getting rid of it, it didn’t really affect me that much,” Mills said.

Some students like Nina Sun, tennis player and sophomore, have chosen to fulfill the state-mandated requirement of two semesters of physical education, although they have the option to waive out of one.

“You never know what might come up. For some reason, maybe I won’t be able to play or not make the (tennis) team or something,” Sun said. “Since there has always been a

Kathryn Dawson / Photo

Marching for Gym: Freshman Leslie Mills practices her flute in marching band. Mills’ participation in marching band allows her to waive a second semester of physical education.

Alternative P.E. Participation in any of these IHSAAsanctioned sports qualifies as an alternate to conventional gym: 1. Marching band 2. Cheerleading 3. Coquettes and Charisma 4. Accents and Ambassadors Note: Because schools are given their own leisure with developing a waiver, policies vary across the state.

Kim TENBRINK / SOURCE

chance that summer gym would be cancelled, I took it last summer just in case. Gym isn’t really the most taxing subject, so I thought, ‘Why not just get it over with?’”

TenBrink said one way this school tries to improve student health and fight childhood obesity is by offering a variety of physical activities in P.E. I in order to interest students.

“We work really hard to teach students how to live a healthy lifestyle, and that’s through...the whole wellness circle: the mental, the social, the emotional (and) the physical,” she said. “So, it’s all about the whole person: exercising, making good lifestyle choices and nutrition.

“Because really, when you think about it, being healthy, yes it includes your cardiovascular system, but you also have to find exercises and hobbies that help your stress level,” TenBrink said. “So, we do offer a variety of activities so hopefully students will find at least one thing that they like.

We expose them to a lot—maybe some of the things they haven’t been exposed to in middle school.”

Additionally, TenBrink said the school now offers new P.E. classes in order to improve student health. She said students who want to stay physically active should look into the elective courses this school offers.

“We’re having some new (electives) next year. We’re replacing (recreational) games and lifetime sports with a class called lifetime fitness. We’re also adding a sports medicine class, which is for students who are interested in going into some kind of sports medicine when they get out of high school. ” As for Mills, she said she plans to continue participation throughout her high school career even though she has completed her gym requirements. “(Marching band) takes up so much time, it’s like you really have no time to do anything else. When you’re in marching band, it’s like your life. That’s all you do: live, eat, breathe marching band,” she said. “(The most enjoyable part of playing is) the fulfillment of accomplishing something so big.”

Page 10 | FEATURE | HiLite | hilite.org | Nov. 19, 2010

Homegrown Thanksgiving Some students choose to buy local produce, support local farmers

By Chris Li cli@hilite.org

A

fter a Thanksgiving day spent with with relatives and preparing the dinner with family, junior Christen Helou will anxiously wait for the event that will top off the day: the food itself.

Her holiday will comprise of activities that would seem normal for this American holiday.

On her table will be all the traditional Thanksgiving foods, with the asparagus on one side of the table and apple pie on the other, and the turkey sitting right in the middle of the table, Helou’s dinner appears to be the same as that of everybody else.

Yet there is one major, underlying difference between her dinner and the typical Thanksgiving feast. In fact, most of Helou’s Thanksgiving dinner is made up of food grown right here in Indiana.

“Quite a bit of our Thanksgiving dinner is made up of locally grown foods. It’s often a tradition for us to buy locally grown foods for this holiday,” she said. According to Helou, most of the fruits and vegetables for her dinner are local.

One place that Helou buys her local produce from is the Carmel Farmers Market. Over the past few years, she has found the market to be an excellent place to buy such foods and has been going nearly every week during the summer.

A specific factor in Helou’s decision of buying locally grown foods rather than grocery bought foods is the better quality of food grown in one’s own region. Ron Carter, president of the Carmel Farmers Market, said he believes in the high quality of locally grown foods.

“Generally, the quality of locally grown foods is of far higher quality. A lot of the food at Carmel Farmers Market has only been out of the ground for 12 hours at

the most,” he said.

However, since the Carmel Farmers Market is open only until the middle of fall, Helou also tries to find other locations where she can continue her tradition of buying locally grown foods, such as from Broccoli Bill’s Fresh Produce Market.

“We’ve been going to Broccoli Bill’s for as long as I can remember. Basically, the store has all types of locally grown foods, from cantaloupes to potatoes and apples. Whatever food you want, you can find it there,” Helou said.

According to Melinda McIntyre, an employee at Broccoli Bill’s, the quality of local foods far surpasses that of grocery bought foods. “A number of our farmers have been working with us for the past 15 years, and we’ve always been able to guarantee high quality from the foods that they have been producing,” McIntyre said.

For this prominent reason, Helou said finds the aspect of buying local produce appealing. “I’ve always found that the food from Broccoli Bills, or rather locally grown food in general, is of much higher quality than the foods sold in other grocery stores,” she said.

However, customers also have to be willing to pay more for the higher quality of local produce.

McIntyre said, “The price is slightly higher, but it’s definitely worth it in terms of quality. When you go to other grocery stores, and compare locally grown foods to the food stacked there on the shelves, there’s an obvious size difference, there’s an obvious taste difference, there’s an obvious quality difference. It’s only a dollar or more so higher, but the quality is so much higher than the store-bought foods.”

For some, such as senior Divya Pathak, this slightly higher price difference is exactly what they are a little concerned about.

Thanksgiving:

Squash

Corn

Mexico

Indiana

From farm to table

Winter squash Indiana

Turkey

Missouri

Pecans

Missouri

Russet potatoes Green beans

Massachusetts

Idaho

Round white potatoes Missouri

Sweet potatoes Missouri

Sage

Illinois

Don’t pass the...

Americans name their least favorite Thanksgiving food

None / no opinion: 16%

Other: 17%

Sweet potatoes or yams: 11%

Cranberries / cranberry sauce: 21%

Turkey or stuffing: 12%

Vegetables: 17%

gallup / source

Caroline Zhang / graphic Green bean casserole: 3% Pumpkin pie: 3%

Although Pathak has never bought local produce before, she says that the higher price may be too high of a compensation the quality.

“The farmers aren’t producing in masses, so they would have to charge more for each unit item. For their relatively smaller pool of customers, the farmers would have to price their foods slightly higher,” Pathak said.

According to Carter, the higher prices come from a variety of factors. Although with locally grown foods the transportation cost is cut, the higher quality and the amount of produce that each farmer brings to the market is relatively small, so the farmer will be compelled to raise the price of his foods.

“The price ultimately depends on Apples the vendors. They charge what they Michigan want and what the market will allow.

Universally, the quality is better at the market, and most of the Cranberries Massachusettes times that will raise the prices,” Carter said.

Besides the price and quality differences, the fact that people want to support and participate in the local economy also plays a large role in people’s decisions whether to buy local produce. “Generally, whenever you buy foods locally, it not only helps the local farmers, but it also gives you a sense of community involvement,” Helou said.

The desire to know where one’s food originates from is also an integral part of this decision.

Especially now, more and more foods that Americans

Nathan Strom / Source, Tim Lu / Graphic

Story continued on next page >>

Nov. 19, 2010 | hilite.org | HiLite | FEATURE | PagE 11

<< Story continued from previous page consume are either produced or shipped from foreign states and nations.

“People are paying more attention. First and foremost, they want to make sure they know where their food comes from. People are also starting to gain more interest and knowledge in grown foods, which contributes to the increases in the number of people who buy locally grown foods,” Carter said.

Jill Birk, family and consumer science teacher, said she also believes that there is a sense of patriotism involved in the buying of locally grown foods.

“Both the desire to help out local farmers and a sense of patriotism that knowing where your food comes from play into the decision to buy locally grown foods,” Birk said.

In accordance with these views, the number of customers who buy locally grown foods has been dramatically increasing over the past few years, according to Carter.

“More and more people are visiting farmers markets. The number of customers, compared to last year’s, is up 12.4 percent,” he said.

Helou, however, does find one fault with buying locally grown foods; they are not always available.

“Locally grown foods are not year round. Carmel Farmers Market had closed during the month of October, and Broccoli Bill’s is soon to shut down for the winter. Essentially, that’s the only con I can find about buying locally grown foods,” she said.

Although she does not buy local produce herself, Pathak said it may be an option in the future when she has developed her own source of income.

She said she is able to see why people buy locally grown foods. “For my family, we’ve just always gone to the grocery stores. It’s just a custom for us,” she said. However, I understand the fact that people want to support their local farmers, which helps them be more involved in the community.”

emily puterbaugh / photo

Pick and choose: Junior Christen Helou chooses asparagus from Marsh. Helou said that one of the only drawbacks of buying locally grown produce was that farmer’s markets and stores like Broccoli Bills are usually closed in fall and winter.

More teens bargain shop outside of Black Friday

By Olivia Walker owalker@hilite.org

shopping all the time together, and so I just kind of picked up on her ways. I’m a little bit obsessed, which can be a little bad sometimes, since whenever I get my paycheck now it all goes straight to my shopping.”

On Friday November 26, teenagers will flock to stores to However, although saving money has always been a take advantage of the most discounted day of shopping in habit, Hicks said her paycheck also contributes to her need America: Black Friday. This day of deals marks the time to make the most of her dollars. where many adults begin their holiday shopping and many “My parents never give me money for clothes,” Hicks teenagers scavenge those same shelves in order capture said. “They believe in the whole ‘teaching responsibility’ and valuable shopping opportunities. Sophomore Bennett things like that. All my money that I use comes from my Dierckman will do exactly that. own pocket, which makes me need to “I go to the mall on Black Friday; get more for my money.” it can be pretty crazy. But it’s worth it But although the cheaper products ‘cause you get a lot of awesome stuff for may stretch money for a longer time, cheaper,” Dierckman said.

More stores have large the lifespan of the clothes themselves However, Black Friday is not the cannot be expected to follow the only day of the year when teenagers discounts before Black same trend. It is not a surprise that opt for the smarter buy. According to Friday to increase sales buying discount, or even second-hand both a 2007 and 2009 teenage shopping JC Penney clothing, increases the risk of damage analysis done in both The New York of the items.

Times and The Washington Post, more • “Huge Sale” Nov. 20 According to Dierckman, the • “Day before Thanksgiving teenagers have begun making the choice sale” Nov. 24 wise thing to do is to check clothes of bargain over brand. beforehand to avoid any stupid buys.

Gail Laminck, Carmel Goodwill Target “You’ve kinda gotta just look at it,” he assistant manager, said she also sees • Four-day sale Nov. 21 - 24 said. “Especially when you’re shopping this trend in her store. at Goodwill. I mean, check under the “I don’t know if it’s a matter of Staples.com sleeves, make sure there are no holes, economics so much as (students are) • Fifty percent off selected or it’s not majorly damaged.” learning the value of money, and they’re electronics Nov. 21 - 24 Still, for students like Dierckman understanding they can come and they and Hicks, a bad purchase every now can dress the way they want to dress for NeW York Times / Source and then still saves more money than a lot cheaper so they have the money to buying from most expensive brand do other things with,” she said. “I have stores. For Hicks and Dierckman, as well as many other a 19-year-old and that’s what I hear a lot: ‘Why spend a lot students here, bargain shopping is a question of choice as of money on clothes when I could take my girlfriend out to opposed to a need out of sheer desperation. dinner and surprise her?’”

Dierckman said, “(Buying at discount prices is) in style.

Junior Valerie Hicks fits this trend as well. She is a bargain It’s not like I’m poor or anything. It’s just that I like shopping shopper who takes advantages of discount buys, a habit at Goodwill because you can get the same clothes, or the that, according to Hicks, she has had since childhood. same idea of clothes, for a lot less money.”

“I get it from my mom,” she said. “We used to go

On sale now

Jenna Ruhayel / photo

What a bargain: Sophomore Bennett Dierckman browses for clothes at Goodwill. Dierckman said he goes bargain shopping more now in order to make his pay check stretch farther.

Page 12 | FEATURE | HiLite | hilite.org | Nov. 19, 2010

Generational Sandwich In tougher economic times, more parents take care of both children and elderly relatives Average cost of caring for an elderly relative: $5,531 annually

with the family, Cody’s great aunt plays more of a background role in the family because of both her age and the family’s full schedules.

“In any situation you’ve got multigenerational families living in the same house, there’s going to be some distance Groceries between the family members,” Mr. Rumple Medical Costs said. “A lot of times we’re all really busy with work or school, so it’s nice to have Transportation Child Care a person lend a hand around the house. s Edu Photo She helps out with the lightest of chores / Hou m o cat Malc sing like doing the dishes and dog-walking, but ion Amira College Tuition nothing too strenuous because of how Health care old she is.”

ONE BIG FAMILY: Junior Cody Rumple (below) As a result of the generation works on his homework as his great-aunt (above) Average cost of raising a child: $11,650 gap between not just two but three sets out a card game. Rumple said that despite some generations, Cody said there are some $13,530 annually family tensions, living with his great-aunt has minor disagreements and conflicts every been a beneficial experience. once in a while. However, he also said wSJ and New York Times / source that everybody has learned to adjust to Caroline Zhang / Graphic the structure of the family and thus such

By Henry Zhu and Melinda Song conflicts are few and far in between.

“She has different morals and priorities hzhu@hilite.org, msong@hilite.org because she was born in a different time families to stay hile many students may not see their period,” Cody said. “She’s more focused on together where they elderly relatives more than a few times a housework, and sometimes it’s difficult to would otherwise year, junior Cody Rumple comes home to talk to her about how I’m involved in school live apart,” Bates not only his parents but also his great aunt activities. As I’ve grown up, I’ve learned to said. “This can on a regular basis. respect her views even if I disagree and also sometimes result “I live with both my parents, but my great aunt also to give her some space when she needs it.” in old rules being stays with us for part of the year,” Cody said. “She started Despite these difficulties, Cody said the changed and famliving with us around five years ago, and it’s been like this benefits ultimately outweigh any of the troubles. ily structures undergoing difficult ever since.”

Living with those who grew up in a different time, changes, which in turn causes conflict between Although Cody’s family scenario may seem unusual, Cody said, helped give him a better understanding the members of the family.” it is hardly one-of-a-kind. A Sept. 9 study by the Pew of different perspectives.

A large part of this conflict, according to counselor Research Center, a nonpartisan organization that collects “Having (my great aunt) around while I was growing up Maria Cottone, might be due to the pressure on the information on current trends, indicates that one in 10 made me more aware of how family members can support generation in the middle to support both their children children in the United States now live with a grandparent each other,” Cody said. “Her presence also exposes me and elderly relatives. or elderly relative. Fifty-seven percent of these children to different views on how things are done and makes me “There’s been a new development where adults said they also lived with at least one parent in addition to more understanding of older generations.” increasingly have to support both their kids and their the elderly relative. parents or elderly relatives,” Cottone said. “Known as the Additionally, the Pew Research Center also cited ‘sandwich’ generation’, these adults have to balance the that this number, which has been increasing steadily needs of multiple generations. From personal experience, I throughout the decade, sharply rose in recent years know how hard it can be to support your kids on one hand because of economic conditions.

16.1 while watching out for your parents on the other.”

As for Cody, he said one of the main reasons why his Percent of households comprised of three or For the Rumple family, Cody said these pressures played great-aunt started living with his family was because of more generations a role in the decision for his great-aunt to live with three financial reasons. separate families for part of the year rather than one family “My great-aunt used to live with my grandparents, but 33 all the time. after they passed away we felt it would be best for her not to Percent increase of multigenerational “My great-aunt only lives with us for part of the year, live alone because of economic troubles,” Cody said. “She households since 1980 and then she spends the other part of the year with my was also getting on in years so we thought there should be 41 uncles and their families that live nearby,” Cody said. “It’s a somebody to help her if she ever needed it.”

Percent of children who are raised lot of responsibility for one family to take care of her all the Dan Bates, an economics and sociology teacher, said primarily by a grandparent time so we try to balance it between all three families, and tough economic times can often cause family members that way everybody can keep in touch too. I know my great who would otherwise live in separate households to live 15 aunt sometimes gets stressed because of how much she has under one roof. This difficult scenario, Bates said, could Percent increase in the cost of raising a child to move around, but I think she knows this situation is best potentially lead to personal and social inconveniences for to age 18 from 1960 to 2008 for everybody. ” those living together.

Cody’s father Brent Rumple said that, when she is living “Economic problems and money issues can often lead

W

By the numbers

pew research center / source

Page 14 | Student section |HILITE | HiLite.ORG |Nov. 19, 2010

STUDENT SECTION Traditionally Nontraditional Be a part of our next issue:

• Go to our Facebook page to answer our 12 Polls of the Holiday Season.

• Enter to win a $15 Visa gift card in our Christmas tree decorating contest.

Studentsection@hilite.org | twitter.com/Hilite_news

We asked you about your family traditions. Here are the submitted responses.

Family Videos

Survivor Event

SAVINI RANAWEERA (12)

ANDREW RILEY (12)

Selected Clips A look at a few scenes from the Ranaweeras’ video from two years ago

At 0:40

At 0:44

CONNeR GORDON / PHOTOs

Lights, camera, action: Senior Savini Ranaweera and her sister, Aruni Ranaweera, act out part of their Orbit Gum commercial. This Thanksgiving, the children in her family will record a video of the commercial and upload it to YouTube.

At 2:26

How did you come up with the idea of the “Survivor” event?

We just really liked the show, and all the neighbors were just really friendly, and the whole neighborhood was just really close.

It was just a bunch of families.

There were up to 25 people there, parents and kids included.

Can you describe the activities that you did?

We tried to recreate it. We had things like jalapeno eating contest, endurance type things, scavenger hunts in the woods. At the end of the day, we would all just hang out and stuff, like all the families.

Did this happen every summer?

We did it twice. We had a couple different traditions we did back then.

Did this bring your family closer together?

Yeah, and the whole neighborhood. It was just really great.

did our thing and there was the whole blooper thing. It was a very How did you come up with the idea of making family videos?

It first came the Thanksgiving of ‘08. We were really bored; the TV good bonding time. It really was. was on. All they kept playing was that one Guitar Hero World Tour commercial, and that song was stuck in all of our heads. We kept How do you decide what to record? humming it, and my sister came up with the idea. She’s like, “Why Usually we just pick, like, any commercial that really sticks out to us. Except last year we did the Michael Jackson, because he died that don’t we just make the video?” and we’re like “Okay.”

My sister says that a couple of years before that, we started a year, so it’s doing a tribute to Michael Jackson, because our family is a huge Michael Jackson fan. So like, this year, we’re random video, because we just had a video planning on doing the Orbit commercial, the one camera and we had all of our cousins over, and that goes with the lint-licker and cootie queen we just started videotaping like everything, one. ‘Cause that’s just hilarious. So that’s what we coming up with an idea when we had the more We had brooms for the usually base it off on, the commercials that are constructed Guitar Hero commercial thing. (It guitars, and chopsticks known and stuff. happened in) ’07.

‘‘

”

we had for the drumsticks

How did you prepare for the commercial?

Savini Ranaweera We got five pink shirts, and they were pretty big, Senior and then we put on white shorts, and we put baby powder on the hardwood floor, so, like, you could slide on it with socks on. And we would put in music in the background, and we would just slide in. We had brooms for the guitars, and chopsticks we had for the drumsticks. So we kind of just

Which one is your favorite?

My favorite is definitely the Guitar Hero one, because it was a lot more spontaneous. The Michael Jackson one, we just kinda said, “We need to do a video.” We forced ourselves to practice until midnight to get the Thriller dance down. The Guitar Hero one was a lot more fun. It was definitely my favorite. compiled by adele zhou

PHOTO MEMORIES: Junior Andrew Riley looks through pictures of one of the old “Survivor” events with his family.

Page 16 | Cover story | HiLite | hilite.org | nov. 19, 2010

The End S

enior Catherine “Catie” Surette reads. A lot. She reads novels and magazines, newspapers and poetry, catalogs and classics. Surette, however, reads on a Nook.

Barnes & Noble’s Nook is just one of many digital book reading devices that have recently flooded the market offering various educational opportunities.

According to a recent survey from the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), e-book sales jumped from 1.5 percent of total U.S. book sales in 2009 to 5 percent of the market in the first quarter of 2010.

Surette decided her Nook was a necessity after carefully considering her options.

“For me, it was a storage issue,” she said. “I have three bookshelves, one in my bedroom and two in my basement. The Nook has a lot of storage space and if necessary you can insert a memory card for more storage. It therefore has limitless storage.”

Surette, who uses her Nook in her novels class, said she is also noticing a general increase in the amount of technology used in education.

In July Amazon announced that it sold 140 e-books for every 100 hardcover books in the previous three months. In the last month, this statistic rose to 180 for every 100.

“The thing with my novels class is that we have to have a certain number of choice books to read,” Surette said. “I was in the middle of a fantastic series and I had purchased it on my Nook. I decided to use it because I was already reading it and it was convenient.”

Story continued on next page >>

By Ryan Zukerman

shokhi goel / photo

o

Sch of e

Nov. 19, 2010 | hilite.org | HiLite | Cover story | page 17

of Books?

hools throughout the country transition to digital forms education, but Carmel is slow to follow the trend

Page 18 | Cover story | HiLite | hilite.org | Nov. 19, 2010

<< Story continued from previous page According to media department chairperson Bonnie Grimble, the use of digital reading devices is on the rise in both recreational and educational use.

“I know several (students) have them here as well as many teachers, and I have one. It’s a matter of preference, a matter of use,” she said.

Clearwater Kindles

CHS is not the only school that has students and staff who utilize new technology in education. In September, a new program was introduced at Clearwater High School in Clearwater, FL, in which students had all of their textbooks replaced with Kindles, the digital book reading devices released by Amazon.

Clearwater High ordered 2,200 Kindles, enough for its 2,160 students and as well as its new students. The administration originally wanted to buy computers for each student, but that proved to be too expensive. Each Kindle cost $177.60, nearly $25 less than the $200 customers pay.

As for electronic textbooks, regular textbooks cost about $95, but they only cost about $80 on the Kindle.

The Kindles at Clearwater High came with electronic versions of math, English and extra science courses loaded onto their systems that are individually designed for each student. Students are also able to read novels and take notes as well as highlight parts of texts, and Kindles can read texts aloud in both male and female voices.

According to Surette, there would be many benefits in having digital book reading devices rather than textbooks. “(A digital reader) saves space in backpacks and lockers and there is a smaller chance of ‘I forgot my book at home,’” she said. “You can also mark your pages with important spots and jump to specific pages.”

Although she said the convenience of digital reading devices is hard to beat, English department chairperson Maureen Borto said this school has yet to consider this new alternative.

1. Sharing capabilities

Nook users can loan books to friends for two weeks. Lending the book makes it temporarily unavailable to its original owner, but it reverts back at the end of two weeks.

2. Connectivity

Nook offers both 3G and Wi-Fi. • The Nook 3G is available for $199.

• The Nook Wi-Fi is available for $149.

3. In-store browsing

Nook users can browse full-text books for free within Barnes & Noble stores.

4. Color touchscreen

Nook has a color capacitive touchscreen located in the lower portion of the device.

The touchscreen allows readers to browse through books by flicking through them. wired.com / source Daniel Li / Graphic

resources and to choose them specifically for Carmel High “(Replacing the textbooks) has not been a discussion School is a daunting task.” at all because we do textbook adoption,” she said. “Every “But we hopefully are doing a pretty good job of meeting department goes through it every six years. We (the students’ need. So to me it’s where the most recommended English department) don’t go through ours until 2014. So resources are found. They are the pre-approved, wellat this point to do it, we wouldn’t be able to replace them. documented, well-researched bits of information as We need to finish out that textbook adoption series.” opposed to the free Internet.”

However, Borto said teachers are constantly moving toward more digital-based learning.

“A lot of teachers now will reference The Sitting Nook students’ texts online like if it’s just a In addition to schools, many libraries short story or poem that they want throughout the country are starting to We’ve gone from the students to read,” she said. “We have go digital by offering readers e-books material world to the really moved away from the large for checkout. anthology textbooks because there is Last November, Fairleigh Dickinson digital world. Education so much available on the web.”

University in Madison, NJ, started is changing, just like However, Clearwater High faced allowing students to checkout digital everything else, to the challenges. Problems such as insurance book reading devices. next best thing. in the event of a lost or damaged Kindle The program allows students to had to be taken into account. check out a digital reader for one week.

Bonnie Grimble For insurance, students had the The readers come with reference books Media Department Chairperson option to purchase insurance for $20. and some novels already downloaded, In the event that a Kindle is stolen or but students can also download their lost, the school can track it and shut it own books. down if necessary.

According to Grimble, this idea is not new to CHS, but In addition to these logistical issues, Borto said CHS right now it is not an option. would face additional challenges too.

“We’ve researched (digital book reading devices) but The English department recently started stressing the right now it is financially not feasible,” she said. “If I want importance of marking and annotating texts in an attempt to get a classroom set of My Sister’s Keeper, which is being to teach students how to actively read. If books were used in one of the lit circles, every student will get a copy of replaced with digital book reading devices, students would that. I can probably pick that up for anywhere between $5 have to learn to do that electronically. to $7 dollars a copy.”

“It takes us a while to actually get kids to mark in According to Grimble, purchasing a classroom set of their books,” she said. “That’s why we moved to a lot of books for 30 students would cost approximately $210. consumable novels, so students can write in their books, “For $210, I am lucky to buy one e-reader,” she said. which is really the best way to read and to learn. We would The library is not alone in going digital with textbooks. just have to transfer those skills to an electronic reader.”

In August, Barnes & Noble expanded on its revolutionary Borto said it is likely that this school will eventually NOOKstudy tool, a free program that allows students to discuss more digital options. download their rented textbooks to Macs and PCs. “I’m sure it will come up, but in terms of its feasibility, With the NOOKstudy application, students can get there are a lot of economic factors,” she said. “There instant access to thousands of e-textbooks, save up to 50 is a feasibility issue, there’s the technology issue, percent from regular textbooks, tag content and take and there’s the training issue. I think that if it becomes a highlight notes. priority, we will go ahead and do it.

Though CHS is not headed in that exact direction, “I think it absolutely will come up in discussion Grimble said she feels the possibilities of digital education because there are now, in addition to the use of the are endless, even in an online aspect.

Kindle or the iPad, a lot of apps that are academic“I can’t see any reason why, in the future, (students) based, like SAT vocab and other things like that. I would not have textbooks on their e-readers. Everyone just think that can be really beneficial as well.” would be given something like (laptops),” she said. “Here is your text, here is your extracurricular reading for English, here are your lit circle books.”

Digital Online No matter where digital education here goes, however, In addition to using digital reading devices for Grimble said she sees difficulties. textbooks, some schools are starting to move all “The school would own the e-reader, so it would be textbooks online. registered to them (the school), so they are the only ones In a pilot program started this fall in Farifax County that would be able to download. So how do I keep you public schools in Virginia, social studies classes at from getting online digitally and ordering something and six high school and six middle schools will distribute “netbooks” to their students.

These netbooks, which are smaller versions of laptops, will have online access to digital textbooks and a variety of other resources.

Although this school does not plan to adopt The Carmel Clay Public Library provides digital reading devices, CHS is following the non-fiction e-books via netLibrary. trend of allowing students to access more information online. According to Grimble, the 1. Visit the CCPL website library has purchased dozens of online databases 2. Click on “Online Databases” to aid students in research.

3. Click on “netLibrary eBooks” “The databases are resources that we purchase,” 4. Enter the barcode on the back of a valid CCPL Grimble said. “They are private access and we take library card and click “Continue” 5. Click on “Create a Free Account” great care in studying the various curriculums to make 6. Upload books onto your e-reader sure that what we purchase matches students’ need. There are literally thousands and thousands of online purchased

‘‘

”

Upload your e-book

carmel Clay public library / source

Nov. 19, 2010 | hilite.org | HiLite | Cover story | page 19

Comparisons and trends Compare and contrast features of different e-readers available in stores Amazon Kindle 3

Amazon Kindle DX

Barnes & Noble NOOK

Sony Reader Daily

Apple iPad

Diagonal Display

6”

9”

6”

7”

9”

Weight

8.7 oz

18.9 oz

11.2 oz

12.75 oz

1.6 oz

Price

$139 - $189

$379

$149 - $199

$299.99

$499 - $829

Battery Life

10 days

4 days

2 days

7 days

10 hours

Wi-Fi 3G Touchscreen Sharing capability

shokhi goel / photo

Digital reading: Senior Catie Surette reads from her Nook in the CHS media center. Surette said she purchased the Nook for its storage capabilities. charging it to the school? There are hurdles and things that can be worked out, but I think that we are right at the elementary level of (digital) education.”

Text-to-speech wireless-reading-device.net / source

Wholesale electronic book sales

Just the Beginning?

200

165.8 Revenue (millions)

Across the nation educational reform is in motion. Every day, new methods of teaching are being introduced, and as education changes, so does society.

According to Surette, we are making a big change in the world we are live in.

“We’ve gone from the material world to the digital world,” she said. “Education is changing, just like everything else, to the next best thing – the newest theories, styles of teaching, equipment. Younger kids are going to get their education in a different way than I did, just like I got a different one than my parents.”

However, as digital book reading devices are starting to become a larger part of our world, Grimble said she feels that they will never replace print.

“No matter what happens with it, in the world of just education and schools, I have a difficult time imagining it replacing the print completely,” she said.

Grimble cannot deny, however, that the use of digital book reading devices is on the rise. “For the very first time, e-books outsold print on Amazon this past summer,” she said. “So it’s a growing market, but it’s a growing market that has money.”

As for Surette, she said she agrees with Grimble that digital reading devices will never completely replace traditional books.

“I still read regular books in addition to my Nook. I still have magazines and subscriptions sent to my house and my textbooks are still heavy and large,” she said.

“Just because you get a Nook doesn’t mean you give up on print copies that you already have or want to have.”

150

100

2009 2010

Recent quarterly sales in millions $25.8

$37.6

$46.5

$55.9

$91.0

$88.7

$119.8

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

2009

2010

53.5

50

5.8

7.3

9.6

10.8

20

31.8

0 2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Year international digital publish forum / source Steven chen / graphics

Page 20 | Entertainment | HiLite | hilite.org |Nov. 19, 2010

Entertainment submitentertainment@hilite.org | twitter.com/Hilite_news

Upcoming Concerts:

• Chris Isaak: Dec. 10, Murat Theatre, Old National Center • Experience Hendrix: Saturday, Egyptian Room, Old National Center

Need to volunteer?

For a listing of places to volunteer during the holidays, visit www.hilite.org.

A ‘Spectacular’ Season Gear up for the holidays with the 10 choirs at this school as they prepare for their biggest show of the year, ‘Holiday Spectacular.’ Compiled by Meredith Boyd and Lauren Burdick

Anatomy of a ‘Spec’ student Jessamyn Anderson, Ambassadors co-president and senior, models the latest trends in choir-wear.

Spirit fingers.

Sparkles. The perfect complement to any of the 40 costume changes during the show.

Hair slicked back with no flyaways or static.

Fake eyelashes.

Note the bags under her eyes from a perpetual lack of sleep due to practices. And there’s no sleep in her future with five performances to put on.

Vocal chords vibrate during singing to produce sound.

They can vibrate 440 times per second while singing a middle C.

Microphone: always ready for some serenading. The choirs have been practicing their sweetest singing since late September.

The diaphragm contracts while singing. With 20 numbers in a show, that’s a lot of contractions.

Lungs, located on either side of the heart, transport oxygen to her bloodstream for when she sings.

emily puterbaugh / photo Illustration

nov. 19, 2010 | hilite.org | HiLite | Entertainment | PagE 21

emily puterbaugh / photo

LINE IT UP: Senior Olivia “Gracie” Maurer, who is in the Encores choir, purchases her performance tickets after school on Nov. 1. Holiday Spectacular has five performances over a four day period.

Show times and information Dates

Dec. 1 to Dec. 5, 2010

Times Amira malcom / photo

DANCING QUEEN: Senior Alicia Estes practices with the Ambassadors after school. The performing arts department showcases 10 choirs during “Holiday Spectacular’s” nine performances.

Dec. 1 to Dec. 3-7:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 and Dec. 5-2 p.m.

Location

Dale E. Graham Auditorium

Ticket prices vary by seating location, available at the bookstore

Great exSPECtations Sisters, Accent and senior Amy Marshall (left) and Counterpoint and freshman Laura Marshall (right), discuss expectations for ‘Holiday Spectacular’ Different Viewpoints

• A: “I’m kind of sad (that this is my last show) but I’m really looking

forward to competition and stuff we’re doing next semester even more. I really have enjoyed Holiday Spec. though, and I’m sad it’s my last one.”

• L: “I’m really excited for the dancing. It’s really different

from middle school because of the high expectations and because everyone is coming out to see it. People drive from different states.”

Sisterly Bonding

• A: I’m definitely going to (help my sister) especially be

cause it’s her first year and I know I would have loved to have an older sibling that was doing Spec. at the same time I was because it can be really stressful trying to do hair and makeup every night and trying to figure out how to get all your homework done.”

• L: (Amy) has helped me with my hair and makeup and learning to

sing better.

Wisdom of Age

• A: As I’ve become more involved, I started to see how (Holiday

Spectacular) came together more. It was really cool to see that.

And I see how hard the choir directors work to get the show together. It’s a big show to pull together but they always do a great job.

emily puterbaugh / photo Illustration

Page 22 | Entertainment | HiLite | hilite.org | Nov. 19, 2010

Lunar Landing

Rapper Kid Cudi’s newest album impresses fans, critics alike he’s all over the magazines and television. Mescudi hits again with no less strength in “Wild’n Cuz I’m Young,” one of his 100 percent rap songs; it doesn’t disappoint.

On “Act IV: The Transformation” one can find the “Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager” song “Mr. Rager” which could very well be this album’s is Scott Mescudi’s (better known as Kid Cudi) anthem. The chorus is easy to sing along to and the second album. While “Man on the Moon: The End beat is infectious. of the Day,” his debut album released in 2009, is Mescudi’s most emotional songs can be found in an illustration of his dream world, “The Legend of “Act V: You Live & You Learn.” Hopefully, by this Mr. Rager” is a narrative of his reality, including point, the listener is well prepared to hear him cry all the highs and lows. And it’s no rumor, Mescudi his soul out. Otherwise, this segment may come off has some issues. But unlike most celebrities, he’s as especially whiny. The final track, always been open to confessing the “Trapped In My Mind,” is a selfproblems in his life, and this album reflective song utilizing a toned is his confessional booth.

What listeners can expect down version of auto-tune. His The album is artfully divided into is a unique auditory singing effectively accompanies five acts, each addressing different experience from a the emotion, making this song a phases in his life. Mescudi’s “Act I: genuine human being. suitable and poignant closing to The World I Am Ruling” opens strong To fully appreciate the Cudi’s second album. with “Scott Mescudi vs. the World,” Legend of Mr. Rager, one Mescudi’s rhymes are not the a classically “Cudi- sounding” track most intricate and his singing can must be willing not only that establishes the tone for the sound monotonous. His album whole album and gives the audience to listen to Mescudi’s disregards the usual formula for a sense of what to expect. Cee-Lo story, but also become a successful album and comes off Green’s smooth vocals make for easy immersed in it. as avant-garde at times. He is far listening, but the album only goes from being the most skilled lyricist farther down the rabbit hole. or singer, and “The Legend of Mr. “Act II: A Stronger Trip” addresses Rager” is in no way a flawless album. Rather, what Mescudi’s drug habits. His signature psychedelic sound listeners can expect is a unique auditory experience kicks in with “Marijuana,” when he talks about what he from a genuine human being. needs “to keep him level up in his crazy head.”

To fully appreciate “The Legend of Mr. Rager,” Mescudi takes his listeners on a walk through his one must be willing to not only listen to Mescudi’s indulgent party life in “Act III: Party On.” His hit story but become immersed in it. This is the kind of single, “Erase Me,” takes the album on a turn toward album that grows on and rewards repeat listeners as alternative rock with him singing about women in his if blossoming a friendship with Mescudi himself. past who “keep on running” but can’t avoid him because

by arjuna capulong acapulong@hilite.org

‘‘

”

arjuna capulong / photos

MAN ON THE MOON: Kid Cudi performs at his concert last year. Cudi’s newest album, Man on the Moon II was released on Nov. 9 and was greatly anticipated by the hip hop community.

Nov. 19, 2010 | hilite.org | HiLite | Entertainment | PagE 23

All Things Past enjoys present success

conner gordon / photos

ROCK OUT: All Things Past practices its craft as a band. Although only one member of the band is a student here, the group has been able to garner a large fan base with students at this school.

All Things Past Band members

• Jon Benjamin: vocals, Justin Blackwell: guitar, Fernando Diaz: guitar,

Sean Dunaway: synth, Clayton Wimot: bass, Caleb Myers: drums

Sounds like

• Devil Wears Prada, Attack Attack, Asking Alexandria

A Match Made in Heaven

• Benjamin got involved with the band through a friend at church.

Tune In

• All Things Past’s EP is available on iTunes. The band plans to

release a full length album this summer.

Follow the Band

• Website: allthingspastlovesyou.weebly.com • myspace.com/allthingspastband • facebook.com/allthingspastoffi-

cal

Venues

• The Dojo, Smoky Row Poolhouse,

Emerson Theater, ES Jungle

Compiled by Katie Walstrom

Want to see your band here?

Each issue, we profile a student group. Contact us at submitentertainment@hilite.org.

Next month: Held By Terror.

Page 24 | SPORTS |HILITE | HiLite.ORG | NOV. 19, 2O1O

SPORTS

submitsports@hilite.org | twitter.com/Hilite_news

Go online

For sports scores, updates, additional photos and more.

www.hilite.org

Women’s Varsity Basketball

• v. Terre Haute North tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.

Men’s Varsity Wrestling

• Lawrence Central Invitational

Did you know?

This year is the first time in the last five years that the Varsity football team will not be at State.

Athletes choose to compete despite chronic medical conditions “At first (the doctors) thought I had Long QT Syndrome, which meant I would have had to stop participating in pretty much all sports because it would be too dangerous,” Kinn said. “Thankfully, though, it wasn’t that serious, but It’s all about heart I still had to get the defibrillator to be safe.”

Junior Eric Kinn was nearing the end of sixth grade Having the defibrillator inside of him is helpful, but when he had to have nose tumor surrunning is still dangerous after the gery. During the eight-hour operation, surgery because of the possibility that Kinn’s heart stopped beating, and dochis heart will stop again. tors had to revive him in order to keep This led Kinn and his family to face I wanted to keep him alive. After that, doctors decided a decision about whether he should running, and the that it would be best to insert a heart continue running. doctors said that I defibrillator inside of him for precauUltimately, his passion for running would still be allowed tionary reasons. trumped the possible danger he faced The defibrillator was put there so to. My parents were a by continuing to do what he enjoyed. that, if his heart were to stop beating “I wanted to keep running, and little uneasy about it. again, it could shock him and restart the doctors said that I would still be the blood flow.

Eric Kinn allowed to. My parents were a little Men’s cross country runner But despite these setbacks, Kinn uneasy about it, but they always has been a dedicated runner since fifth listened to what the doctors said and grade, and he said there was no way went along with it,” Kinn said. that a condition such as this was going to stop him from Certified athletic trainer Dawn Ellington said she participating in a sport that he enjoyed. thinks it is good for athletes to look for sporting options

By Charlie Browning cbrowning@hilite.org

‘‘

”

that provide the least amount of risk.

“We tell any athlete that any sport is potentially harmful or dangerous for them,” Ellington said. “Choosing a sport with the least amount of risk is their best option, especially for athletes who have pre-existing conditions that could possibly limit their participation.”

Kinn is allowed to continue running, but only on certain terms. For example, throughout middle school and even up through races in his sophomore year, Kinn had to wear a heart rate monitor that would monitor how his heart was doing and would help him know if he was entering a dangerous heart rate.

“I had to wear it, and if it reached 210 beats per minute, I had to stop activity and take a break,” Kinn said.

This extra precaution he took also helped ease the minds of his parents.

“I think it helped them be a lot less apprehensive about me running because they knew that I was able to monitor myself and I would stop if I got to a certain heart rate,” Kinn said.

Ellington and other athletic trainers’ presence also

Story continued on next page >>

Famous athletes High school student athletes are not the only ones with chronic internal illnesses Basketball players with diabetes Adam Morrison: Gonzaga University star was selected third overall in the 2006 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. He is currently a shooting guard on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Chris Dudley: Yale University star was selected with the sixth pick in the fourth round of the 1987 NBA draft. He played center for five teams over sixteen seasons and was known for his defensive prowess.

Athletes with asthma Basketball player Isiah Thomas was a star in the NBA for 14 seasons. He is a two-time NBA champion and twelve-time allstar.

emily puterbaugh / photo

STRETCH IT OUT: Junior Eric Kinn stretches before running during cross-country practice on Nov. 2. Kinn has run with a heart defibrillator since sixth grade as a precaution after his heart stopped beating during nose tumor surgery.

Football player Jerome Bettis was selected tenth overall in the 1993 NFL draft. He is fifth overall on the all-time rushing list. He retired after his Super Bowl victory in 2006.

Nba.com and nfl.com / source

NOV. 19, 2010 | hilite.org | HiLite | SPORTS | PagE 25

<< Story continued from previous page

“It was really tough at first,” Curts said. “I had to take breaks a lot when (my blood sugar was) low, and I had to help ease the minds of parents. make sure I had something with me that had sugar in it “With athletes who have conditions that are more incase my blood sugar started to drop.” involved, they are directly monitored by their physician,” Curts, like Kinn, was able to adjust to his condition Ellington said. “We know about (the and overcome it, making it a normal conditions) and are here to help enforce part of his life. the guidelines set by the physicians.”

“It’s just a normal part of me now,” Kinn had to run with a heart monitor Curts said. “I don’t ever think about for four years after the surgery, but, It’s just a normal it while I’m playing and it doesn’t feel starting this year, he said he hasn’t had to part of me now. I different anymore.” worry about how many times his heart is When Curts found out he had don’t ever think beating per minute. diabetes, he knew he wanted to continue about it while I’m “After the surgery, it took me about two playing basketball, and he did not let playing. years to get back into the kind of shape such a condition stop him.

I was before,” Kinn said. “Then I had “I knew I wanted to keep playing, and Samuel Curts to run with the heart rate monitor for a I feel fortunate that I am still able to play Junior basketball player while after that just to make sure I wasn’t basketball as much as I want without going too hard. Now my resting heart rate harming myself,” he said. is so low that it’s not even that much of “The only difference now is I have to a problem for me anymore. I don’t even think about it check up on myself every now and then to make sure I’m anymore during races or anything.” doing all right.”

Last month, Kinn competed in the cross-country State “It took a little getting used to, but it feels so normal Finals for the Greyhounds and finished in third place on now that I don’t even really notice it or think about it.” the team.

Kinn and Curts both had obstacles thrown at them Kinn isn’t alone in having to face the task of overcoming that could have potentially limited their participation or the obstacle of participating in athletics with a potentially achievement in athletics that they enjoy playing. dangerous condition.

Neither of them, though, let their respective condition get the best of them.

“When the doctor diagnosed me with diabetes, I was Diabetes doesn’t hold him back upset, but I knew that I could still play basketball. All I Samuel Curts, basketball player and junior, has been had to do was be a little more cautious at first and monitor playing basketball for as long as he can remember. myself as I felt like I was getting low,” Curts said. “It never In eighth grade, though, he was diagnosed with even crossed my mind to quit playing.” diabetes.

‘‘

”

LIZZY GRUBBS / PHOTO

TRUE WARRIOR: Guard and junior Samuel Curts gets in a defensive stance in a game against Fishers last year. Despite being a diabetic, Curts played significant minutes on the varsity men’s basketball team.

PAGE 26 | SPORTS |HILITE | HILITE.ORG | NOV. 19, 2010

Rebuilding Men’s Basketball

With a new coach, few veterans and the loss of its star center, team must adjust this season plays, we try to develop better players.” Defensively, he said, the team will try to play a lot of man-to-man and try to be tough and aggressive. Offensively, he added, the team n light of last January’s alleged hazing and bullying will strive to play up-tempo, push the ball, run more of a Scrimmage incident, challenges for this year’s men’s basketball motion offense and give teammates the freedom to make team include equal measures of • Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at Lawrence Central plays. on-the-court and off-the-court Heady said he is ready for the team Games adjustments. to move on from the mistakes of the The first of those changes is the past.

“I think we just move forward,” • Nov. 24 v. Brownsburg at 7:30 p.m.

We’re just going out and team’s new head coach, Scott Heady, • Dec. 3 at Noblesville at 7:30 p.m. he said. “The administration has taken having a lot of fun, just • Dec. 4 v. Tech at 7:30 p.m. who said he looks forward to the job. a lot of very positive steps to move getting to know everybody.

• Dec. 10 at North Central at 7:30 p.m.

“The opportunity to coach for forward, and not just the basketball • Dec. 17 at Fishers at 7:30 p.m.

Carmel, I think it’s the top place to program and athletic program, but Josh Baldridge • Dec. 18 at Avon at 7:30 p.m. coach in Indiana,” he said. “When you the entire school as well. All we can Varsity guard • Dec. 21 at Bloomington South at 7:30 p.m. think just about the community, all do is take the administration’s lead • Dec. 22 v. Penn at 7:30 p.m. the student athletes you’ve got here, and move forward, learn from what the administrative support and the facilities, and it’s got happened and that’s really all you can do. You try to turn to be one of the best basketball jobs in Indiana. It was an that negative into a positive and just move forward.” carmel high school / source opportunity that I could not pass up.”

Heady said he runs a fast-paced offense and man-to-man defense.

His experience includes coaching roles at Warren Central for 13 years and Connersville High School for two years. These past two years he served as an assistant coach at Anderson University.

Another change the team must face is adjusting to a lack of veterans. Only two varsity players from last year who had significant playing time are returning, senior Joshua “Josh” Baldridge and junior Benjamin “Ben” Gardner.

Baldridge said of the team’s attempt to find chemistry, “We’re just going out and having a lot of fun, just getting to know everybody.”

Gardner said he thinks the ideal team chemistry is almost there. “It’s getting there,” he said. “We’ve all been practicing and working pretty hard and we’re getting to know each other a little better.”

Other changes include the loss of Rivals.com top 100 player AJ Hammons, who transferred to the well-known prep school basketball powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. The 6-foot, 11inch center provided size that Carmel needed in the post.

According to Heady, the loss of Hammons will create a hole in the post that this school will have to fill.

“I think anytime you lose a player that size, you have to adjust,” he said.

Despite the changes, Heady said he thinks CHS will be able to overcome CONNER GORDON / PHOTO the losses and be able to have a good guiding Hand: Benjamin “Ben” Gardner, varsity point guard and junior, directs his teammates during the Sectional tournament season. He said the team will focus last year.

The team won the opening game of Sectional play against Fishers and then lost to Westfield in the next game. Gardner said on player development over the the team hopes to build on last year’s success in an attempt to win Sectional this year.

AJ Hammons, far left, will not be returning this development of plays.

Heady said, “We don’t run a lot of season because he is attending the prep school Oak Hill Academy.

Upcoming schedule

By Matt Barnthouse mbarnthouse@hilite.org

I

‘‘

”

NOV. 19, 2010 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | SPORTS | PAGE 27

New Big Game leaders preach improved school spirit for Class of 2011

By Ryan Duffy rduffy@hilite.org

Every year, the Senior Class carries on the tradition of Big Game and Wild Bunch by attending as many sporting events as it can to cheer on the various sports team at our school. This year, seniors Zane Anderson and Justin Batten are co-presidents of Big Game who said they’re making an effort to improve the spirit of this year’s Senior Class. They said they have big plans to make Big Game even better this year than last.

Batten said he and Anderson are putting a lot of emphasis on getting more students involved in sporting events this school year.

“We’re planning to get the group more involved in all the sporting events outside of just the main events, like football and basketball,” he said. “I think by having a good attitude and also being open to new ideas, we can get more guys interested and involved in the club this year.”

Anderson said he hopes to expand involvement in the club by having more events than the group did last year.

“We’re planning to make every tailgate better than the last year’s group, and we’re really striving to hit the club sports with as many fans as the bigger sports,” he said.

“We’re also going to be collaborating with Wild Bunch on tailgates and social events a lot for this year.”

Each club at this school has a sponsor, usually being a teacher or other staff member. Big Game is sponsored once again this year by science teacher Dale Herr. Herr said that even though he is the sponsor of the club, he likes to let the students handle most of the work, because it is indeed a student club.

“I set some basic parameters concerning things like expectations of behavior and the scope of the club,” Herr

said, “and then turn it over to the students. This is their club, not mine.”

Batten and Anderson said they have reached out to social networking sites to help increase the involvement in the club for this school year.

“We’re making the club more accessible with a Facebook group and possibly a Twitter account to let everyone be able to have all the information about the next game or event without having to take too much effort to know about events,” Anderson said.

Batten said he also wants to break down social barriers We’re planning to get the group for the club this year and get more involved in a different assortment of guys to come out. all the sporting “I really want to see events outside Big Game outreach more of just the main to different types of social events, like groups,” Batten said. “Last year the group was geared football and more toward one group basketball. of guys, and that’s not fair, because it’s everyone’s senior Zane Anderson Big Game president year, and we all need to be out there enjoying it.”

Anderson said his main point of emphasis is to get the group to get more involved in club sports for this year. Anderson was a member of the lacrosse team last year, which is a club sport he hopes to see more Big Game members attending.

“We really want to make the sports that people don’t usually go to as much, like hockey, rugby, lacrosse, track, volleyball, and baseball and softball, just as fun and

‘‘

”

CONNER GORDON / PHOTO

WE’ve got spirit: Members of Big Game cheer on the senior trike teams on Sept. 24. Zane Anderson, club president and senior, said he wants to continue to improve the school spirit, especially through getting more students involved. enjoyable for the senior guys as football and basketball games have been,” he said. “As seniors we need to know our responsibility to lead the way in everything, including having a good time and having support for all of our athletic teams.”

Herr said he expects the leadership and members of Big Game to do a good job with the club this year.

He said, “My expectations of Big Game is that the membership should seek out other athletic venues, other than the major football and basketball games, to show school support and spirit. I hope to see just as much spirit from the 2010-2011 Big Game Club as I saw last year, but with a bit more panache.”

FROM THE staff

James

Benedict

Playing with Parity. Despite lack of “power schools” in this year’s State tournament, football finals still exciting to watch

While tonight’s Semistate football matchup doesn’t include Carmel, or other familiar teams from the past years, fans of the game still have something to look forward to. Parity is at an all-time high this year at both the high school level and in the NFL. In the NFL, 18 teams have above a .500 record, and in high school, the playoffs are missing three familiar faces after Carmel, Warren Central and Center Grove all lost in the first two rounds of their respective Sectional tournaments. Football this year demonstrated its greatest factor—the parity of each individual game. Teams that look great on paper, have all the right players and normally dominate games don’t always win, and this makes every single football game a unique experience to watch.

The Colts, Patriots and Steelers have dominated the AFC,

and one of these three teams has represented the AFC in the Super Bowl for the past seven years. This year, however none of these teams show the same domination that they have in the past. The same was true for the Indiana 5A football playoffs. Since 2003 either Carmel, Center Grove or Warren have played in and won the 5A title, but this year all three are out of the playoffs before even making it to the third round.

Teams like Valparaiso, Fishers, Bloomington North and Lawrence Central are what are left in the playoffs. They are all new faces this far into the playoffs, with none of these teams having won a championship in the last 20 years.

I have always and will always love football. It is the most interesting sport, not necessarily because of the big hits, deep passes or amazing feats of athleticism (although those do help) but because in football, anything can happen and

change the entire season in a second. Football mirrors life in that working hard and making smart decisions can pay off in the end, but as in life a lot of it comes down to luck.

Last year’s NFL Broncos-Bengals game always sticks in my mind as the best example. The Broncos were in their own end zone with 28 seconds left in the game. Then, Kyle Orton threw a ball, which was tipped by a Bengals defensive back’s hand, and Broncos receiver Brandon Stokely ended up with the ball running 87 yards to win the game.

Parity is what keeps football fresh and exciting, and this year parity is everywhere, giving true fans of football something unique and interesting to watch.

James Benedict is a reporter for the HiLite. Contact him at jbenedict@hilite.org.

Page 28 | perspectives | HiLite | hilite.org |Nov. 19, 2010

PERSPECTIVES submitperspectives@hilite.org | twitter.com/Hilite_news

Check out the blogs: For blogs and more, visit the HiLite website at www.hilite.org.

Have an opinion?

To be featured as a guest writer in the next issue, send your column to perspectives@hilite.org.

Speak Up

Staff Perspective

compiled by melinda song

Students should take initiative to dress Do you think summer attire is appropriate appropriately, especially in winter

As the fashion industry becomes geared more keep them warm and comfortable. toward teenagers, the way students look has Second, and perhaps more importantly, never been more important to them. From clothing that is distasteful can have a negatrying out the latest trends to reading fashion tive effect on students’ peers and teachers. magazines and seeing what the celebrities are The first impression someone makes when he wearing this season, the way students dress meets someone new is the way he looks and is not only done to impress others, but also to carries himself. By dressing inappropriately, express individual style. students send a negative image to everyone Despite the trends, students should around them. remember to take the initiative to dress apNot only do other students’ look at those propriately and remain aware of the impresstudents differently, but teachers lose respect sion their clothing makes on those around for those students as well. By dressing in a them. As the winter season is approaching, way that is classy and respectable, students dressing in a way that is classy and fitting show others that they respect themselves, for both the weather and school is somewhich in turn guarantees they will receive thing that all students, regardless of genrespect from their peers. der, should consider.

Furthermore, when teachers see a violaIssues regarding students’ tion of the dress code, they wardrobes are not new. The are put in an uncomfortable way students dress has position, as they don’t want always been something over to embarrass students by which administrators, teachsending them to the dean’s Students must ers and students have debatoffice, but they are required ed. Questions about where to to enforce the dress code. be aware that draw the line between student By following guidelines and it is not only expression and being inapdressing appropriately, stupropriate has come up numerdents will save themselves peers who judge ous times, resulting in several from unnecessar y confrontathose who dress changes in the dress code tions with their teacher, and inappropriately, but salvage relationships with policy and its enforcement over the years. those around them. teachers, parents But policies shouldn’t be Finally, in addition to keepand administrators the driving factor of dress ing warm in the winter months code. Rather, students and making a good impresas well. should be the ones to take sion on those around them, on the responsibility of dressstudents should take the ing in a way that is suitable for school and initiative to dress appropriately because above be aware of how their clothing impacts other everything else, school is here to provide them people’s views about them. with an education.

From a practical standpoint, the weather School is not a fashion show. School is outside is getting much colder, and students practice for college and beyond, not just acashould realize the need for warmer clothes. demically, but socially as well. Overall, stuDespite the fact that the temperature inside dents should remember the main objective at the school is the same, students should school is to prepare for life after high school. dress for what the weather is outside.

Students should treat wardrobes as anothSummer clothing, such as shorts and minier responsibility that they must fulfill. Dressing skirts, are not appropriate for 40 or 50 degree well will not only keep students comfortable weather. By dressing in summer clothes for the in the winter months, but also can create a winter, students not only look ridiculous, but better impression on other people, especially they also put themselves in danger of getting teachers. While looking good and dressing sick or getting frostbite. As a general rule, fashionably is important to many, students students should always assume the school will should remember to dress in a way that is apbe cool in the winter and dress in ways that will propriate and classy.

for winter?

“If you’re inside, then yes. But if you’re going to be outside, then wear winter clothes over that.”

junior katelyn blackthorn

Our Stand

“No, they made winter attire for a reason -- to wear in the winter.”

freshman shaail abbas

“I think if you want to wear that, then it’s fine, but I think it’s a little too cold to wear (summer attire).”

junior dennis grishin

Nov. 19, 2010 | hilite.org | HiLite | perspectives | Page 29

Graphic Perspective

From the Editor

Sara

Rogers Political satire keeps America in check opposing viewpoints. Colbert and Stewart seem to The American political stratum and its respective politicians elucidate sensitive topics and use humor to illustrate are somewhat laughable. In the past month leading up to American politics, in general, as ridiculous. the Nov. 2 congressional elections, broadcast and print According to a 2010 study by the Pew Research media were littered with petty and hostile slander between Center, perception of the credibility of the top 14 candidates. From Ohio’s Republican candidate Rich Iott’s major news organizations has declined since 1998.

Nazi officer imitation photographs to Maine’s Tea Party Credibility ratings for CNN dropped from 42 percent candidate Christine O’Donnell’s witchcraft accusations, in 1998 to 29 percent in 2010. The Wall Street Journal the skyrocketing popularity of political satirists such as fell from 41 to 25 percent. National Public Radio Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert comes as no surprise to (NPR) is the only news organization to experience me. Frankly and ironically, both comedians seem to have a rise in credibility since 1998, going from 19 to 28 emerged as rational voices amid the kaleidoscope of red percent this year. and blue turmoil.

So, if Americans doubt even those news sources The popularity of this growing news genre is undeniable. claiming to be objective, I don’t see During the month of October, Stewart’s why news satirists get written off as “The Daily Show” averaged 3.5 million unreliable sources of information. viewers during its 11 p.m. broadcast While much of the information and subsequent airing the following during a show is opinionated and day. This puts Stewart’s viewership in Subjectivity in the some completely fabricated, there the same league as David Letterman news is unavoidable. is an indisputable combination of and Jay Leno. In fact, Stewart was Even news outlets news and entertainment that helps proclaimed the most influential man of viewers understand and interpret 2010, according to AskMen.com’s fifth claiming to be current events in simpler language. annual “Top 49 Most Influential Men” purely unbiased and Besides, anyone payin attention to poll, putting him ahead of Bill Gates, objective choose American politics is probably in Mark Zuckerberg and President Barack what stories and need of a good laugh.

Obama himself. angles to cover. With In fact, a 2007 Pew Research Last month, Colbert and Stewart all the hostile and study weighed the public partnered to host a “Rally to Restore underhanded business knowledge of current news and Sanity and/or Fear” on the National Mall in Washington, the information based on different in Washington D.C. The rally, formed to news outlets. The study gave a show that “the loudest voices shouldn’t American people series of tests, asking participants be the only ones that get heard,” drew deserve public figures various questions regarding an estimated 250,000 participants. willing to monitor and current events, political issues The crowd, praised by Stewart and keep legislators and and public figures. Overall, the Colbert as incredibly “diverse” in both the executive focused audiences of “The Daily Show” views and backgrounds, represents the on the good of their and “The Colbert Report” had a undeniable presence of dissatisfaction constituents. total of 54 percent of participants in media coverage and partisan politics in the “high knowledge group,” in general. tying with the audience of major Even those who are quick to shrug newspaper websites. Of those off political satire as “pseudo-news” or who receive most of their information from CNN, “liberal garbage” will have a hard time downplaying the only 41 percent qualified for the “high knowledge large scope of its influence. group.” Network evening news viewers achieved a Of course, political comedians are not always credible mere 38 percent. and unbiased. Colbert and Stewart base their episodes on Subjectivity in the news is unavoidable. Even news discussing current events, showing clips and addressing outlets claiming to be purely unbiased and objective national issues while adding in personal and guest choose what stories and angles to cover. With all the commentary. While the majority of their jabs may lean hostile and underhanded business in Washington, toward the right side of the political system, the left is not the American people deserve public figures willing left to sit on a pedestal. to monitor and keep legislators and the executive That being said, Stewart and Colbert use their voices in focused on the good of their constituents. order to expose some of the more ludicrous and corrupt actions of American politicians and public figures.

Sara Rogers is the editor-in-chief for the HiLite. Contact Contrary to conventional network news, political satire her at srogers@hilite.org. does not glorify partisan politics and trivial spats between

‘‘

”

Rebecca xu / Art

Got something to say?

The HiLite provides several ways for you to get involved Submit a letter to the editor

If you’d like your letter in our Dec. 13 issue, then send it any time before Dec. 1 to be considered for publication.

You can e-mail it to submitperspectives@hilite.org or drop it off in Room C147.

Write a guest column

Got an area of expertise? Let us know. Or, you never know, we may come to you to help out if we know you’re particularly knowledgeable about a newsworthy topic.

Converse on Facebook

We’ve got nearly 1,100 fans and we want to hear from them. Comment on the links we provide or start discussion strands of your own by posting on our wall.

Find us on Twitter

Sure, we’ll keep you up-to-date with regular tweets throughout the day, but you can tweet, too. We encourage it. Just make sure you send your tweets to @HiLite_news.

Page 30 | perspectives | HiLite | hilite.org |nov. 19, 2010

from the STAFF

Darlene

Pham

The usage of derogatory names as a joke can be harmful to groups Lately, as I’ve walked through the hallways here, I’ve heard various girls calling each other derogatory names, using the b-word and such. I’m sure if any adults heard them, they would expect these derogatory comments to be complete with hair pulling and scratching… a complete cat fight.

However, these exchanges happens so often, they don’t even faze me anymore.

Often, these offensive name-callings are intended as jokes, meant to be endearing. While they are not meant to be harmful, casually throwing around insulting names could endorse their usage even more.

In the past few weeks, The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) scrutinized director Ron Howard for his new movie “The Dilemma”. In the movie, a character says a joke using the word “gay”. Although Howard refuses to remove the gay joke, arguing his right to freedom of speech, GLAAD maintains that keeping the joke contributes to this growing problem.

While some might argue that saying, “That’s so gay” is not intended to be insulting to homosexuals and has a different connotation when used in a different context, there is a double standard; no one says, “That’s so straight.”

Ethnic groups often use racial slurs towards one another.

Some might argue that such usage is okay because those who utter them use the slurs toward their close friends and they are just “joking around.” But what happens when that usage trickles away from the intended group? What happens when that usage is no longer endearing, but hateful and harmful?

On Nov. 1, the usage of racial slurs at Indiana University turned into a hate crime. Even though IU is extremely diverse, with students of all different races and coming from all over the country and globe, the slurs resulted in violence and robbery. The victims, a group of AsianAmerican students, were taunted and insults were thrown at them, such as “Here comes Chinatown.”

Several movies have addressed this problem, such as “Coach Carter” and “Mean Girls.” Both movies argue that using offensive terms casually allows racism and hatred to exist. Why is it okay for African Americans to use the n-word towards each other, but it’s not for other races? This insulting slur should not be used at all.

Using insulting names or words is never harmless, as many people defend their usage. Saying those names as jokes only endorses their use for others; it sanctions racism and discrimination. It is insensitive to groups these names attack, whether they are homosexual or from a different ethnic groups or female.

So students, stop using these words casually. They aren’t casual and they aren’t harmless. It is never okay to call someone a name.

Darlene Pham is a special projects editor for the HiLite. Contact her at dpham@hilite.org.

from the STAFF

Henry

Zhu

No one should die over disagreements As I was watching the Colts’ game against the Texans a couple of weeks ago, I recalled that the last line of our national anthem states, “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” However, I question the extent to which this claim is true today. From Houston to New Jersey to our Hoosier State, there have been a startling number of young students who have taken their own lives.

Even worse is these teens are killing themselves over something they have little control over: society’s reaction to their sexuality. If teenagers are choosing to commit suicide rather than live in our “free” society, I feel that we need to change either that line of the song or the way we act.

Data from the Trevor Project, the leading national suicide prevention organization among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, shows that LGBTQ youth are four times as likely to kill themselves as heterosexuals, with over one-third of such teens reporting that they have attempted suicide. This number does not include those who have considered but never attempted suicide. Considering that suicide is the third-leading cause of

death among 15 to 24 year-olds according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we have a responsibility to treat our fellow students like the human beings they are.

If there is a silver lining in the events of the last few weeks, it is that the public is finally becoming aware of this problem.

Journalist Dan Savage founded the “It Gets Better Project” in response to the recent suicides as a way to encourage teens, and many public figures from Ellen DeGeneres to Neil Patrick Harris to Ricky Martin have rallied to the cause. Across the nation, this new movement is beginning to make an impact: a bigoted school board member in Arkansas was forced to resign after actually encouraging homosexuals to commit suicide. Oct. 20 was a “spirit day” to remember those who died and New Jersey introduced an “anti-bullying bill of rights” to prevent such unfortunate events from occurring again.

No one, regardless of gender, race, creed or sexual orientation, should be driven to commit or even attempt such an act. Whether homosexuality is a choice or gay marriage should be legal is irrelevant; far too many are dying because of society’s indifference to bigotry.

Though the majority of us are not the bullies who make life terrible for those with different sexual orientations, apathy to such actions allow those who do bully to continue. Rafiki said in “The Lion King” that “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” and someone has to be brave enough to take that first step to confront the bullies and tell others to stop using words like “faggot” or “gay.” Change will happen if enough people stand up to fight for what they know is right.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has declared tomorrow, Nov. 20, the 12th annual National Survivors of Suicide Day. On this day, I hope that some of us still possess enough humanity to work to prevent another person from going through such an experience.

The next time I hear the national anthem, I will remember that for some this land is not free and the brave ones are those who endure every painful day hoping that maybe, just maybe, the next one will be better.

Henry Zhu is a reporter for the HiLite. Contact him at hzhu@ hilite.org.

Nov. 19, 2010 | HiLite.org | hilite | perspectives | Page 31

From the editor

Contact information

Steven

Chen

Technology should play larger role in learning environment In this time of economic need, schools must manage their the whiteboard just makes it worse. This wake-up call for dwindling budget like none other. all schools emphasizes a necessity to However, much of the teaching in schools integrate all the gizmos we see every day is still based on the age-old traditional and into the classroom. manner of using the obsolete overhead However, these items need to be projector or the dusty chalkboard. It is specific for an educational purpose.

Technology does not time for the school system to play catchThink about it: mindless purchasing mean more movies up with the rest of society by investing of tech products would lead to utter or more PowerPoint what little money it has left to provide chaos. Sure, college students bring their slides. It means new forms of interactive learning. laptops into class, but the transition stage fully incorporating In the hallways of every high school, between middle school and secondary there is at least one teenager either education would seemingly vanish. As every new advantage plugged into his or her iPod or texting.

Spider-Man has taught us, “With great Silicon Valley has to According to the Pew Research Center, power comes great responsibility.” offer and bringing a nonpartisan research organization, Harvard University recently reached them to the aid of 54 percent of all teenagers text and 75 out to neighboring high schools in America’s best and percent of 18-28 year olds possess an Boston and Cambridge to become the brightest–us students. mp3 player. While the ramifications of forerunner in using technology as a this type of behavior are debatable, one learning tool. The university will share its conclusion is clear: We students are the high-speed Internet network with all 148 new generation of learners; the 21st century guinea pigs for public schools along with Cisco’s TelePresence equipment the educational system. Wake up, baby-boomers. to a few schools. TelePresence incorporates real-time video With all the technological advances engulfing mankind in and audio interaction along with other technologies to its grasp, a new medium of information and communication link classrooms to teachers, experts and other students has become the norm. Forcing students to pay attention to across the globe. One notable use is access to science experiments held in university laboratories. Not only does this innovation allow students to connect with others, but Graphic perspective it also introduces real-world situations and learning not experience inside the tangible classroom.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan pointed out an unsurprising fact at a speech on the topic: “Right now, many students’ learning experiences in school don’t match the reality outside of school.” He argues that educators should strategically integrate technology into students’ daily academic lives. Many colleges have already begun to do so. The trend needs to pick up speed so that it can permeate into high schools.

Technology is on the road to student success. One note of caution: technology does not mean more movies or more PowerPoint slides. It means fully incorporating every new advantage Silicon Valley has to offer and bringing them to the aid of America’s best and brightest–us students. Some change has already occurred here–overhead projectors have been installed in almost every classroom, but some teachers are not utilizing them as much.

Students have a variety of learning styles and it is up to the teacher to figure them out. The hard part about this task is actually going through a process to decide which style(s) are best. But perhaps what all teachers can and should do is tap into how we students communicate with each other outside of class – something that we are familiar with – and turn that into a tool to facilitate learning.

“All right, class, get out your iPads and

‘‘

”

Finding the right balance

turn to Lesson 3.”

Steven Chen / Art

Steven Chen is a managing editor for the HiLite. Contact him at stevenchen@hilite.org.

Mailing Address: 520 E. Main St., Carmel, IN 46032 Phone: (317) 846-7721, Ext. 7143 Website: 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, Sara Rogers will receive mail sent to srogers@hilite.org.

Responding to the HiLite Letters to the editor will be accepted for the Dec. 13 issue no later than Dec. 1. 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.

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 Sara Rogers Managing Editors Steven Chen

Mackenzie Madison

Rebecca Xu

David Zheng Accountant Pat O’Neill Acumen Monica Cheng

Ellie Seta 15 Minutes of Fame Yameen Hameed Artist Meredith Boyd

Daniel Li

Alex Mackall

Rebecca Xu Business Manager Patrick Bryant Beats/Calendar Rachel Boyd

Melinda Song

Victor Xu

Sarah Yun

Ryan Zukerman Cover Story Laura Peng Entertainment Lauren Burdick

Meredith Boyd Feature Afra Hussain

Caroline Zhang Front Page Arjuna Capulong

Daniel Li Graphics Daniel Li

Tim Lu

Danielle Yin News Tracy Sun

Nina Underman Perspectives Emma Neukam

Jade Schwarting Photography Arjuna Capulong

Lizzy Grubbs Special Projects Katie Norman

Darlene Pham

Jackson Whiteker

Sports

Stuart Jackson Reuben Warshawsky Student Section Shokhi Goel Web Steven Chen

Yusheng Zhu

Reporters Shayan Ahmad Nick Andrews Audrey Bailey Matt Barnthouse James Benedict Katie Bourgerie Rachel Boyd Hope Boyer Charlie Browning Marianna Cooper Audrey Courter Kathryn Dawson Eric Dick John Du Ryan Duffy Cassie Dugan Grayson Harbour Kendall Harshberger Blaine Herbst

Kush Joseph Julie Kippenbrock Lindsay Lehman Chris Li Ben Lu Natalie Maier Alex Mackall Amira Malcom Lauren Mugavin Dhruti Patel Thalib Razi Erum Rizvi Tony Tan Olivia Walker Katie Walstrom Jerry Xu Andy Yang Adele Zhou Henry Zhu

Photographers Kathleen Bertsch Katie Bougerie Gabrielle Bowers Brandon Candis

Conner Gordon Mary Brooke Johnson Emily Puterbaugh Jenna Ruhayel

Adviser Jim Streisel Principal John Williams Superintendent Jeff Swensson

Page 32 | 15 MINUTES | HiLite | hilite.org | Nov. 19, 2010

15 MINUTES OF FAME 15Minutes@hilite.org | twitter.com /Hilite_news

‘Like’ Us

To submit nominations for 15 Minutes of Fame, post on our Facebook page: ‘HiLite Online’

Good Penmanship

Junior David Isenberg makes and sells pens By henry zhu hzhu@hilite.org How do you make the pens?

I first take blocks of either wood or plastic and I cut it in half. Then I drill a hole in the center and glue a pen tube inside. I then put it on a spindle to shape the pen. Then I use progressively rougher sandpaper to smooth the pens out.

How long does it take to make a pen?

On average, it takes about an hour from start to finish. The shortest it has taken was 30 minutes while the longest was about two hours.

Where did you get the idea to start making pens?

I came across this pen-making catalogue and I asked my dad if I could try it. He agreed, and then we went out and got the supplies. It was kind of spur-of-the-moment.

Why do you make pens?

Originally it was just as a fun hobby, but more recently I’m making and selling them to fund my Eagle Project for Boy Scouts. I’m trying to raise at least $500 for materials to build rolling costume racks for the drama and costume departments here.

kathryn dawson / photo

A thrill to drill: Junior David Isenberg works on a pen in his dad’s office. Isenberg said he has made $200 by selling his handcrafted writing utensils. kathryn dawson / photo