12.14 Issue by HiLite News

DEC. 14 , 2012 I VOL. 77 I ISSUE 5

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

In a high-pressure educational environment, using supplements to improve focus and grades seems attractive, but is it effective?

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PAGE 2 | TABLE OF CONTENTS | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

Offbeat As the new year approaches, many people partake in family traditions and exchange gifts. But outside the United States, there are some unusual, fun or even scary customs that deﬁne a foreigner’s holiday season. Let’s take a look at a few... Iceland Children in Iceland have not one, but 13 giftgivers to expect during the holidays. In the days leading up to Christmas, gnomelike creatures called Yulemen leave gifts in the shoes of wellbehaved children, and potatoes in those of the naughty.

Japan Christmas is not a national holiday in most Asian countries, but many people still like to engage in its festivities. On Christmas Eve, Japanese familes gather together to eat “Christmas Cakes,” as well as “Christmas Chicken” dinners from American company Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Inside this issue: 5

Nifty fifty... one states? Puerto Rico is on the fast track to statehood. What’s the likelihood that our flag will have a new star?

NEWS SPORTS

More students are planning to graduate early to learn outside the classroom setting

FEATURE

Study Buddies As study supplements rise in prevalence, debate arises over the effectiveness and ethical considerations of their usage

COVER STORY

Good reviews for Bazbeaux Pizza promote business

ENTERTAINMENT

15 MINUTES Flip for these stories:

STUDENT SECTION Senior Race Johnson celebrates the holiday season through his favorite traditions 14

Austria In Austria and other alpine countries, Santa Claus has a helper in a monster named Krampus. He deals beatings and other punishments to children that behave badly that year. People often dress up as the beast on Dec. 5 for Krampus Day and jokingly scare friends and family. Towns even hold festivals in honor of the monster. ANTHONY KO / INFOGRAPHIC TANUTECH.COM, OPENJOURNEY.COM, TOPTENZ.NET / SOURCE

PERSPECTIVES The men’s basketball team hopes to follow up last year’s win with a second State Title

Reporter Pablo Paliza-Carre evaluates the effectiveness of drug education in schools 29

32 Junior Austin Thompson

participates in bicycle motocross, or “BMX” racing.

Managing editor Natalie Maier critiques the Common CORE and RISE programs 31

When other students are on winter break, athletes practice and participate in games OMEED MALEK / COVER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

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DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | JUST A MINUTE | PAGE 3

space age

Apocalyptists claim that humanity is facing doom next week on Dec. 21, 2012. But for those skeptical of black holes, solar maximums and planets called “Nibiru,” consider these predictions made by the mainstream scholarship on what will happen to the Earth far beyond 2013.

1,000,000 A.D.

LIANE YUE / GRAPHIC FUTURETIMELINE.NET, PBS.ORG / SOURCES

PAGE 4 | NEWS | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

NEWS Library opens west side dropbox

News Briefs Tomorrow House will host Smoothie Smashdown in the freshman cafeteria. Students can sample smoothies and build gingerbread houses at the annual event.

Public library installs new return box for easier access to patrons on west side of Carmel

Monday

BY ANNI ZHANG azhang@hilite.org

Final Exams for the first semester begin. See the bottom of this page for a full schedule that you can cut out and take with you throughout the week.

Tuesday The National Honor Society will sell Final Exam Survival Kits for $4 during all lunches. Kits include pencils and erasers, and all money will go to charity.

Wednesday Lifelines, a club dedicated to promoting awareness of the dangers of drugs and alcohol, will meet in the Community Room at 7 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 22 First day of break. The HiLite staff wishes you a happy holiday season and wonderful new year. Have a safe vacation.

Monday, Jan. 7 Students will not come to school this day. Monday will be a teacher work day and students will start the second semester on a Tuesday.

Scan this QR code to visit hilite.org, where you’ll find even more updates on clubs, activities and events at CHS. Stay tuned this season for updates on weather delay schedules and more winter-time news.

Towne Rd.

Shelbourne Rd.

n Oct. 29, The Carmel Clay Public Library (CCPL) installed a new library drop box at the CVS Pharmacy near the Village of West Clay. According to Beth Smietana, communications manager at the CCPL, the drop box was installed for the convenience of CCPL patrons who live on the west side of Carmel. CCPL librarians will pick up materials every day the library is opened, with the exceptions of the federal holidays, and return them to the library that same day. “It really was a matter of what was available, convenient for patrons and who would agree to let us put a box on their ANNI ZHANG / PHOTO property,” Smietana said. “With West Clay close by and other neighborhoods still to be constructed in the area, it ended up TURNING A NEW PAGE: Sophomore Margaret “Maggie” Rees returns a book at the public library’s new drop box on the making a lot of sense to locate there.” west side of Carmel. The box was installed as a convenient way For sophomore Margaret “Maggie” Rees, having a drop for people who live far from the library to return materials. box near her home is a huge convenience. Rees said she goes to the library almost every day after school and checks out materials every Where is it? other day. “I live about 20 minutes from the The dropbox CCPL, but only two minutes from CVS,” is located at Rees said. “I just went there yesterday to Main St. (131 St.) 13090 Pettigru drop off a book I read, and it saved 15 Drive next to CVS minutes of my time.” CVS Pharmacy Pharmacy. CVS is Rees said from now on she probably Dropbox not responsible won’t be stopping by at the library as for any lost often to drop books off, but will definitely materials. check out more materials due to the ease Village of West Clay of the CVS drop box. The drop box will “(The drop box) is so convenient be open 24/7 126th St. in my everyday life. I just take my and CCPL will books straight over and don’t have pick up materials N Creekside Middle School to go all the way down to the CCPL on days the every time,” Rees said. “I absolutely library is open. love the idea of having it two minutes ARUNI RANAWEERA / GRAPHIC H from my house.” CUT HERE

Final Exam Schedule Monday B1: Regular class B2: Regular class B3: Regular class B4: Regular class

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

G1: Regular class G2: Regular SRT G3: Regular class G3: Final

B1: Regular class B1: Final B3: Regular class B3: Final

G2: Regular SRT G1: Final G4: Regular class G4: Final

B2: Regular class B2: Final B4: Regular class B4: Final DOUG BIRD / SOURCE

DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | NEWS | PAGE 5

The Fifty-First State?

Did you know? Puerto Rico’s flag has just one star, but adding Puerto Rico as a state would require adding a 51st star to the U.S. flag.

Partisan, cultural factors may prevent Puerto Rican statehood despite majority vote to join United States BY LAUREN LU llu@hilite.org For over a century, Puerto Rico—or officially, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico—has been a United States territory. But in a two-part Nov. 6 referendum this year, 53 percent of Puerto Ricans voted for change from the territory’s current status. Sixty-five percent of those who responded to the second part of the referendum said they wanted to become a state. “Essentially, the process for becoming a state in the United States is not necessarily too complex,” government teacher James Ziegler said. “Why I think it might be difficult, at least in the near-term future, for Puerto Rico to become a state would just be more politics related than anything else, more partisanship related than anything else.” Ziegler said that the Republican House of Representatives is unlikely to vote Puerto Rico into statehood, since Puerto Rico will likely be solidly Democratic. Yet even before the barrier of partisan rivalries in America, there were obstacles in Puerto Rico. Sarina Salazar, Puerto Rican and senior, said, “I feel like it’s fine as is. I don’t really

know what the benefits are to becoming a commonwealth of the United States.” state. But as a country, in itself, I just feel like In addition to fear of cultural loss from the culture’s so rich, and the heritage and just assimilation, taxation is another controversial everything would be altered if we did become issue of potential statehood. a state.” “Right now a lot Salazar said of Puerto Ricans speaking English don’t pay an income would be a source of tax. They still pay cultural change. Social Security and “(If Puerto Rico Medicare taxes, but became a state) they don’t have to English would be the pay a federal income primary language,” tax,” Ziegler said. Salazar said. “And, Ziegler added Sarina Salazar you just lose so that Puerto Rico’s Puerto Rican and Senior much of that rich current tax situation culture that we have would change if the while independent while still benefitting territory were to become a state. from the United States.” Additionally, Puerto Rico is currently Spanish teacher Kay Vazquez said she treated as a separate entity from the United agreed with Salazar on the cultural aspects. States, giving it the ability to, for example, “They keep their cultural background send its own athletes to the Olympics. As in a way,” Vazquez said. “They already have a state, many of these opportunities would lost a lot, I think, just because they’re a be gone.

I guess I just wouldn’t want to lose everything that we’ve kind of grown up on.

Florida

Puerto Rico • Size: 3,400 sq. miles (size of RI) • Population: 3.7 million (pop. of AL) • Distance from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico: 1046 miles (Indianapolis to Miami: 1200 miles) • Became a U.S. territory in 1898 • Official languages: Spanish and English

Cuba

Dominican Republic Jamaica CARRIBEAN SEA

Haiti

Puerto Rico ARUNI RANAWEERA / GRAPHICS ABOUT.COM / SOURCE

Más Información Here are some facts about Puerto Rico: • More Puerto Ricans live in the United States (4 million) than in Puerto Rico (3.7 million) • Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens but can not vote in federal elections • Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico are subject to all U.S. laws • Puerto Rico has a seat in Congress but this representative can not vote WASHINGTON POST / SOURCE

Vazquez, however, said joining the United States could have economic benefits of Puerto Ricans, as well. “The infrastructure, the highways—they don’t have the federal money that other real states do,” Vazquez said. “In the long run, I have a feeling that economically it would be better for Puerto Rico.” Ziegler said he agrees and said both the United States and Puerto Rico would economically benefit. “Puerto Rico’s economy isn’t necessarily the strongest right now, and I think it would benefit from United States dollars going into it,” he said. “Maybe by having a more formal tie with Puerto Rico, having them more intertwined with our economy, it would help to build our trade relations with Southern and Central America even further.” For Salazar, it’s more personal than national politics. She said, “I guess I just wouldn’t want to lose everything that we’ve kind of grown H up on.”

Steps to Statehood

53% FOR STATEHOOD

47% AGAINST STATEHOOD HOUSE: SENATE: REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC

JENNA RUHAYEL / PHOTO

PUERTO RICAN PRIDE: Sarina Salazar, Puerto Rican and senior, poses in front of a map of the region. Puerto Rico is on the path toward statehood but faces obstacles like the Republican House of Representatives before it can become an official state.

Plebiscite

Congressional Approval

Puerto Ricans must take a direct plebiscite to agree to becoming a state.

Congress must approve of the new state. The House (R) opposes statehood for Puerto Rico (D) while the Senate (D) favors it. WASHINGTON POST / SOURCE

PAGE 6 | NEWS | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

ELECTION AFTERMATH

After Ritz win, CCS hopes to revisit high-perfoming district designation focused on low-performing schools. Doing so, she said, left out many students from high-performing school districts, such as Carmel Clay Schools. Glenda Ritz will be inaugurated as Indiana’s As for the future, Hackett said she hopes Superintendent for Public Instruction on the legislation is carried through so Carmel Jan. 14 in an election victory that CCS board Clay Schools is labeled a performancemember Tricia Hackett said “was a shock” qualified school district. She said Carmel has to the state. Hackett said Ritz connected met every state-set benchmark, including with the grassroots audience better than SAT and ACT scores and graduation rate. incumbent Tony Bennett, and that Bennett She said, “We (at Carmel Clay Schools) would utilize this title to loosen the mandates tied to funding so (we) can School Board on Ritz achieve more.” It seems Ritz has heard Newest school board members discuss what this call, and she indicated they think Glenda Ritz should do in office there may be some changes on the horizon for schools like Carmel. Ritz, who has been involved in education for 34 years, said via email, “All Indiana schools should strive to be high performing schools…I do believe there should be both flexibility and freedom from regulations if a school is deemed as having a ‘high performing’ school culture.” Kathie Freed, newly elected CCS board member and former math teacher at CHS, said she too hopes the state will recognize Carmel Clay Schools as Tricia Hackett Kathie Freed a performance-qualified CCS board member CCS board member school district. SCOTT LIU / PHOTOS When schools began JASON KLEIN / GRAPHIC to adapt to RISE and

BY MATT DEL BUSTO mdelbusto@hilite.org

(Ritz is) not (Ritz) will have responsible to try to make for (money for reforms (to CHS), but she those) Tony can affect it. Bennett made.

Scan this QR code to read about Glenda Ritz on hilite.org.

The Ritz List Glenda Ritz proposed five goals during her campaign against Tony Bennett for superintendent More t ime lea rning, le More c ss test ontrol ing t o local d Safety istricts at scho o l activit Raise t ies eacher li c ensing Quality standa vocatio rds nal edu cation

State Superintendent Ballot

Tony Bennett

Glenda Ritz

DENNIS YANG / GRAPHIC RITZ4EDUCATION / SOURCE

school districts began receiving grades, Freed said, “High success schools (had to) jump through the same hoops as lowerperforming schools.” She said Ritz was favored in the election because she is expected to try what Freed called “softening of the edges” of the new regulations for school districts. Hackett said she hopes the model for grading school districts “A to F” becomes clearer. She said people are confused and no one really knows how to obtain the grades; for example, Carmel Clay Schools recently earned an “A” but is unsure why. For her part, Ritz said, “It is my plan to work towards a growth model student assessment system that will then lead to a revised school accountability system. I am not in favor of the current ‘A-F’ model.” According to Hackett, while Carmel Clay Schools has met all necessary benchmarks, it has done so while receiving the third-lowest state funding.

Hackett said via email, “I look forward to the day we can all join hands and fight the real battle, the battle of adequate funding for the education of our youth.” Additionally, she said, “Carmel Clay Schools can’t keep (smaller) class size and pay bills until (it gets) more cash.” In the past two years, Hackett said the funding per pupil has decreased over $700 and that the funding situation makes it difficult to award exemplary teachers the compensation they deserve. Ritz said, “I want all schools to have funding they need to provide opportunities for their students.” She said the current state funding arrangement is partly based on Free and Reduced Lunch Programs, which is why Carmel Clay Schools has a lower funding rate. According to high-schools.com, 4 percent of students at CHS use the free and reduced lunch program as opposed to the H Indiana average of 28 percent.

TRANSPORTATION UPDATE

CHS adapts to atypical bus driver shortage BY CAROLINE HARBOUR charbour@hilite.org The school is experiencing a shortage of bus drivers, according to Ron Farrand, Director of Facilities and Transportation. Instead of a need for two or three drivers, which is normal, six to eight drivers are needed. CHS bus driver Sandy Piltz said that it can be a challenge for those who want to find a second job that can work around their morning and afternoon driving. “You

have to be able to find something else that fits your schedule,” Piltz said. If drivers have to start doubling up on routes, the students riding the bus may have to get up earlier to meet it so the driver can make the extra stops, or students could be forced to get to school later in the morning and get home later at night. This could decrease the amount of time students have before school to prepare for the day or meet with teachers. Getting home later could also affect their evening

schedule or the amount of time they have for homework. “I wouldn’t want them to double up on drivers because if I have a lot of homework and the bus ride takes longer, that takes time away from my studying,” David Phebus, regular bus rider and junior, said. According to Farrand, there are advertisements for new bus drivers in local media, including a recent issue of the Current in Carmel. Drivers can now earn H up to $33 an hour.

CRYSTAL CHEN / PHOTO

DRIVE: CHS bus driver Sandy Piltz waits for students to board the bus. Bus drivers like Piltz may need to start adding stops to their routes, which would make rides longer for students, unless new bus drivers are hired.

DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | NEWS | PAGE 7

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Deal or No Deal? Work day will increase from 7.5 to 8 hours a day.

How to Detect Natural Gas

CCS is the only school district in the state that hasn’t settled its teacher contract yet. What is the school board’s “last best offer”?

Teachers rated as Highly Effective or Effective will receive a bonus.

PIPE PROBLEMS 1

Salary schedule will be eliminated. No increase for experience will be given.

Every teacher receives a base salary increase at about 2.5%.

Improperly Maintained Pipes Periodically inspect gas pipes and keep clean to prevent corrosion.

The District will increase its payment for health insurance by 10%.

Personal business days will decrease from 4 days to 2 days.

A natural gas explosion, which killed two people, occurred in Indianapolis on Nov. 10. Another one occurred in Springfield, IL on Nov. 23. Make sure you know the warning signs of a danger like this.

Broken Seals If a broken seal is apparent, call a professional to fix the issue instead of finding a homemade solution.

Loose Valves Here’s a mnemonic device to remember when tightening pipes: righty tighty, lefty loosy.

USE YOUR SENSES

Natural gas odor*

ARUNI RANAWEERA, HAFSA RAZI / PHOTOS

FIRST AMENDMENT: CCS teachers demonstrate against the teacher contract in front of Woodbrook Elementary School and downtown Carmel. “We’re just trying to make the public aware of the fact that the Carmel teachers do not have a contract yet,” Peggy Loeffler, Carmel Clay Education Association Representative for Woodbrook Elementary, said. “(We are) trying to get some support from them to get the school board to look again at our proposal and come back to the table and make us a decent offer.”

Hissing, whistling or roaring sound

Water blown in air *Mercaptan is added to natural gas to give it a rotten egg smell for easier detection.

DETECTING NATURAL GAS WITH DISH SOAP

Key:

Carmel Clay School Board Carmel Clay Education Association

Mix a few tablespoons of dish soap in a bowl of water.

Turn on the gas to pressurize the system.

Soak sponge in soap solution, wet suspected parts and look for bubbles.

ROCHELLE BRUAL / PHOTO

Scan this QR code to read about teachers demonstrating for a better contract.

MONEY MATTERS: CCS board member Andrew Klein (far right) talks about the teacher contract dispute at the Nov. 26 school board meeting. According to CCS board member Tricia Hackett (second from left), CCS receives the third lowest state funding despite meeting all necessary benchmarks. CARMEL CLAY TEACHERS / SOURCE

DENNIS YANG / GRAPHIC EXPLOSION VICTIM RESOURCE CENTER, SOCALGAS, WIKIHOW / SOURCES

PAGE 8 | FEATURE | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

FEATURE

Early Birds

This year, students are graduating earlier, often to pursue other activities outside of school

Did you Know? 7% of high school students in the state of Indiana graduate early from school.

BY ASTER SAMUEL asamuel@hilite.org

CDE.STATE.CO.US / SOURCE

s the end of first semester approaches, the excitement for winter break and anticipation for the holidays is running high among the students.

Some, though, are a little more somber as the end of the year draws near, for the coming weeks will be their last here. This year, 65 seniors will graduate at the end of the semester on Dec. 21. Senior Connor Hitchcock is among this year’s early graduates. Hitchcock plans to go on his first mission trip with the organization Youth with a Mission (YWAM). According to counselor David Mikesell, the number of students graduating early is on the rise, although not dramatically. Students are increasingly taking advantage of the opportunity of early graduation to attend educational experiences that differ from the traditional classroom setting and prove beneficial in college years. Hitchcock said he will go to Salem, OR, for three months after he graduates to get trained to work at Christian organizations. Afterwards, he will be sent off to do mission work at one of the

centers across the world. He said he will not know where he will be sent until he goes to Oregon. Hitchcock said the organization has sent people to work across the world, from helping out in orphanages in Africa to working to end the red light districts in Thailand. “(The organization’s) motto is to know God and make him known,” Hitchcock said. “They talk a lot about (it) in the Bible, especially in the book of Galatians, where the apostle Paul says ‘Man can accomplish anything expressing himself through true love.’ And that’s what I’m doing here.” Hitchcock said, “The mission work could really range from anything. I’m not going to be able to control everything like I have my whole life.” Hitchcock had originally planned to take a gap year after high school to go on the mission trip and then attend college during

the second semester. But when his counselor suggested early graduation as an option, he decided to take it. “Graduating early does afford students kind of that time frame to do (mission trips and other such activities),” Mikesell said. “We hope that (students are) graduating early with a purpose, not just to graduate early to be done with their education in a shortened manner.” According to Mikesell, early graduates have various reasons for choosing to do so. “Everybody’s a little different,” Mikesell said. “Some students want to go to work;

maybe college is not in their future. Other students may want to get an early jump on college by taking classes at Ivy Tech, by even taking classes at IUPUI. Some students graduate early to enroll in a four-year school of their choice.” “A lot of students do it to become more fluent in another language, because they do have to immerse themselves,” Mikesell said. David Mikesell Mikesell said Counselor opportunities like mission trips prove to be beneficial for students after graduation during their college years. “You’re getting to experience life in a different culture,” Mikesell said. “So whether it’s to learn the language or to learn the culture, it’s something that (students) can bring back and put into their college experience.” When graduating early, students are still required to meet all requirements for graduating on time Mikesell said, and many students still graduate with academic honors diplomas mid-year and are then able to join their college’s student body early. “We have a lot of students who do it for athletic reasons,” Mikesell said. “They want to get on their college campus, start college classes, be able to practice with their respective teams. Those students are just going to enroll and be part of their student population right away.” Victoria “Tori” Doss, senior and soccer player, is among these students. Doss will graduate early for both her academic and athletic career. After she graduates, she plans to join Xavier University in the second semester and take classes there. Doss said the option of early graduation allows her to get a head start on her college education to make it easier on her in the fall when the soccer season starts. It will also allow her to train with the team in the spring and get accustomed to the university’s

Graduating early does afford students that time frame to do (mission trips and other such activities).

MIRIAM HU, OLIVIA WEPRICH / PHOTOS

PREPARATION: Above: Senior Connor Hitchcock searches for a sleeping bag to take on his mission trip. Hitchcock signed up, but is still unsure of where he is going. Left: Senior Victoria “Tori” Doss practices soccer, and she plans to graduate early to play at Xavier University.

DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | FEATURE | PAGE 9

The mission work could really range from anything. I’m not going to be able to control everything like I have my whole life. Connor Hitchcock

Early graduate and senior

Still stuck? For more pros and cons of graduating high school early, scan this QR code.

MIRIAM HU, OLIVIA WEPRICH / PHOTOS

HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE: Above: Senior Victoria “Tori” Doss runs on the field during practice. Right: Senior Connor Hitchcock examines a camping backpack for his training next semester. He said he will go to Oregon for training as the first step in his mission trip. athletics department. Doss said she thinks the early graduation program is extremely beneficial to students in situations like hers. “You get to train with your team, and you get an extra semester of training in the spring,” Doss said, “If you play a fall sport, spring season is important to help develop the team and so I think it’s a great opportunity. “You can also get a lot of your classes out

of the way to make your sports season lighter. And then, you also get used to the team so you don’t go in as a freshman, not knowing anything,” she said. Doss said she believes early graduation is a valuable opportunity for students in certain situations. “I think if (early graduation) works into what you want to do, like, it’ll work really well for you,” Doss said. “I think it works for certain people.”

However, there are drawbacks to graduating early, Mikesell said. According to Mikesell, participating in the early graduation option can be beneficial, although not necessarily for everyone. “It’s a great experience for those who go,” Mikesell said. “But for a lot of students, it may not be feasible, either for financial reasons, or for personal reasons. “The quicker you identify you know ‘hey, I want to graduate’ in my senior year, the

Questions to consider

Who, me?

Key information that will help when deciding whether to graduate early

Here is your guide to graduating early: why you should, why you shouldn’t and how to make it work

What is your reason for graduating early? You should have emotional and intellectual reasons for graduating early, as college requires maturity on both these levels to be successful. Are there any gaps in your education? If you find that you have knowledge gaps in specific subject matters, then you may want to wait before you head to college. Using your high school time wisely is a great way to develop a solid foundation for your future academic accomplishments. Can you accomplish your goals without graduating early? Often times if a student feels intellectually uninspired at high school, there are other options to stimulate academic development, such as AP classes or courses at community college. How early do you want to graduate? Keep in mind that the earlier you graduate from high school, the more difficult your transition to college, both emotionally and academically, will be. EHOW.COM / SOURCE

easier it is to schedule along the way.” “The downside of graduating at semester is, in my case, having to leave my friends and family early,” Hitchcock said. He has also had to fit his required classes into a shorter time period, which required taking two periods of English, to be eligible for early graduation. In addition, he dropped being part of the Pinnacle staff because he would not have been able to continue as an editor in his senior year. Hitchcock, however, said he has no regrets. “I’m going to miss my friends and family, but I’m really excited for the opportunity,” H Hitchcock said.

Activities after graduation

Pros Life experiences: experiences outside of school can be life-changing Early college: students can attend school earlier and graduate earlier Save money: working during a semester off can help pay for college tuition

Cons Missing out: not attending high school functions, like prom, if out of town Formal graduation: not attending graduation can be less symbolic

Travel: Early graduates can go on mission trips or visit other locations to experience culture Online courses: Students can get a head start on education while still remaining at home Earn money: Early graduates can work at a job to earn money for college tuitions, a plan that will pay off in the future

Local colleges: Students can earn credits at local universities.

Carmel’s 6% ofclass of 2013 is graduating early

SHEEN ZHENG / GRAPHICS COMMUNITY.SPARKNOTES.COM / SOURCE

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DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | FEATURE | PAGE 11

‘Tis the Season for Self-Gifting As holiday sales continue to increase and spending becomes more impulsive, self-gifting is on the rise as a nationwide trend BY HELENA MA hma@hilite.org

Economics teacher Justin Quick said he agrees that selfgifting drives satisfaction. “From an economic point ath & Body Works, Forever of view, self-gifting maximizes 21, Sephora, Urban Outfitters: utility — which is like satisfaction sophomore Kathleen Muloma — in the economy better because shops for gifts at all her favorite people know what they like or stores during the holiday season. Though want,” Quick said. she buys many presents for her friends According to Muloma, society’s and family, she said most of her purchases outlook also drives the trend of are for herself. self-purchasing. “I buy myself a bunch of stuff I want for “I think the American the Christmas season, and I’ll still get stuff mentality (is that) people are for my friends and family, too, but not as always like, ‘We want the new much,” Muloma said. “It’s so tempting to iPhone, the new gadgets.’ A lot of get cute stuff for yourself.” the mainstream and main popular Muloma has joined the shoppers who culture is telling you to get more engage in the rapidly growing tradition and more stuff for yourself,” of self-gifting. According to a Nov. 2 Muloma said. “Everyone wants TIME magazine article titled “Why the new style so they’ll go out and Holiday Season ‘Self-Gifting’ Is Such a buy it. They’re not like, ‘I want Huge Retail Trend,” a large percentage of this for my friend,’ they want it young consumers engage in self-gifting. for themselves.” Compared to other age groups, they One of the largest contributors are also more likely to make impulsive to this trend is that fact that sales HEEJUNG KIM / PHOTO purchases for themselves. are getting bigger and better. Muloma said roughly six out of 10 Muloma said she bears witness to purchases will be for herself this holiday the fact that sales are increasing SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP: At Francesca’s Collection in Clay Terrace, sophomore Kathleen Muloma shopping season. from previous years. examines a scarf. Self-gifting is on the rise, especially among young adults this year, according to TIME. “You always know you’re going to “Last year, the sales were like (the purchases). There’s no question definitely a lot higher than the more on yourself.” and more willing to make impulsive and of ‘How do I respond if I don’t like it?’” year before,” she said. “You can get more Along with bigger sales, Muloma said self-rewarding purchases during the Muloma said. “There’s always the assurance stuff on sale, so if you save your money she also agrees with TIME’s proposal that holiday shopping season than (any) other that you’re going to like it and wear it and until when it’s on sale and get the same Americans are more mentally vulnerable time of the year. that the money was for good use.” amount of stuff, then you can spend “I feel like Americans are more easily (succumbing) to the Holiday Shopping Statistics propaganda used by marketers,” According to shopping trends, the holidays are the biggest retail season of the year Muloma said. “Stores definitely put more out there during the Christmas season because they know people are Self-Gifting Holiday Spending $150 In 2012, 20 $750 more willing to buy for themselves.” percent of 75 percent Despite her self-purchases, the average of shoppers Muloma said she still appreciates the shopper’s anticipate sentimental value that comes with gifts purchases are “great deals $100 $500 from others and feels the responsibility expected to be this season,” when shopping for herself. self-entitled. 20% compared to 75% “Sometimes I prefer getting 62 percent things from other people because last year. $250 it means more, but there’s always $50 that assurance of ‘I like it’ if you buy things for yourself,” she said. “I think Christmas should be people 60% giving to other people, but I feel like 72% with the popular culture of people giving to themselves, but it has to be in moderation. You can get yourself 6 out of 10 shoppers one or two things, but if everything 72 percent of young plan to make purchases Year Year is for yourself, then there’s something consumers engage this holiday season for wrong with that picture. You have to RACHEL CHEN / GRAPHIC in self-gifting. to gift to themselves. H NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION, BIGINSIGHT / SOURCE keep a good perspective.” 2010 2011

2009

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2005 2006 2007

2011

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Dollars spent

PAGE 12 | FEATURE | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

There’s a Health App for That Students contribute to a rise in the use of mobile health apps on smartphones BY OLIVIA WALKER owalker@hilite.org

s of Nov. 11, the Apple app store has reached a total of 727,983 active available apps, according to 148Apps.com. This growth is coupled with an increase in app downloads, which passed the 25 billion mark in March and continues to expand, as cited by USA Today. The plethora of choices available for smartphones has opened up horizons for creators and users alike, particularly in the field of health and fitness. This app genre now encompasses more than 10,000 of the 727,983 apps, based on information from Float Mobile Learning. However, this broad scope of horizons has given way to an even more specific genre of mobile health — applications that target the community and reward systems to motivate their users. These applications, such as Nike Run, Eatery and EveryMove utilize Facebook, Twitter and connecting with other users to create a virtual support system. In return, users can earn “reward” points and effectively track their progress. Such is the case for Michael Schmitt, recreational runner and senior, who began to use the Nike Run app after he started to run in his free time. The app’s multiple features include the ability to track times, routes and calories and ultimately share those with other users. Schmitt said the visibility of his progress, which he shares over Facebook,

pressures him to have a more successful run. “The fact that it’s public motivates me to continue,” Schmitt said. “It’s not really about the responses, but because it goes to a public place you are thinking of that as you keep track of the run.” According to Kim TenBrink, physical education coordinator, this kind of positive peer pressure can improve workouts, even when the influence is purely virtual. TenBrink said although every person can be unique in his or her exercise habits, strong evidence suggests that any type of team activity, whether concrete or mental, promotes a more productive routine. “Some people, they need to be physically with a group of people, others that intrinsic motivation is enough. It works to just try and keep up with “Suzie” who lives in Dallas, and try and beat her,” TenBrink said. “But I do know that research has shown that if you have a partner, or you work out in a group, whether virtual or physical you do better, because it’s someone to be accountable for you.” For Schmitt that someone is his older brother. Although Schmitt says he rarely matches his brother’s speed, the comparison plays a factor in his own run lengths. “I look at my older brother’s runs to where he’s gone and how far he’s been going. That’s why I have (the app). I can’t match his time, but it motivates me to keep going,” Schmitt said. While Schmitt’s motivation is solely for recreational purposes, sophomore Emma McCausland utilizes the app

in correlation with competitive running to increase her standing on the cross-country and track teams. By tracking times and pace and using that to constantly improve her scores, McCausland said the app has increased her running performance. However, unlike Schmitt, McCausland ignores the app’s community feature, saying she is more successful running with her teammates in real life than virtually receiving their encouragement. “I definitely feel more successful in a group,” McCausland said. “(Teammates) can push you to go harder and it motivates you to go faster.” According to TenBrink, although certain people are drawn to certain workout preferences, these preferences are subject to change. However, some aspects, such as recording time and workout variation, are always important to keep in mind for a successful workout. “It depends where you are in your workout, but it can always change. What works for you today might not work for you a year from now,” TenBrink said. “Intensity, time and type of exercise should always be a focus though. And you should log that. You do better when you measure, and that has been statistically proven over and over again. If you really want to improve your fitness, lose weight, whatever it is, you need to record it — whether it’s an app, a piece of paper, or communicating with a buddy... I think because more and more companies are seeing (that people work in groups, they are) adding those features because some H people do work better with a buddy.”

Available Mobile Health Apps on the Market Here are some applications that utilize elements from video games to encourage users to improve their health EveryMove The Eatery Available for: iPhone Description: Users of this app take and post photos of their daily diets. Members of the website then rate them based on healthiness and nutrition.

Dreamboard Mobile Nike+ Running Available for: iPhone, Android Description: This app allows you to map and track your runs using GPS and compete with other runnings on an online community.

Available for: iPhone, Android in progress Desciption: Have trouble remembering your dreams? This app allows you to record your dreams in a private journal and analyzes trends in them.

Zombies, Run! Available for: iPhone, Android Desciption: The story of this zombie apocalypse themed storyline unfolds through your headphones as your run. The more you run, the more missions you unlock.

Available for: iPhone, Android Desciption: Retailers reward users with points for tracking their physical activity. Earned points can be redeemed at participating businesses.

RACHEL CHEN / GRAPHIC APPLE.COM / SOURCE

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PAGE 14 | STUDENT SECTION | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

STUDENT SECTION

Santa’s Little Helper Senior Race Johnson shares his love for Christmas BY TAYLOR ACTON tacton@hilite.org Unlike many students who fall into the “postholiday slump” on Dec. 26 when it’s time to take down the tree and put away the decorations, senior Race Johnson begins his countdown of 364 days until the next Christmas.

Johnson claims to be the biggest Christmas fanatic at CHS. From wearing his elf costume to school for superhero day during Homecoming week to consistently knowing the exact number of days until Christmas, his claim may be accurate. “I love Christmas because it’s amazing and it brings the best cheer out of everyone,” Johnson said. “It makes people feel good

about themselves and if your life isn’t so great, it doesn’t even matter. Christmas brings joy to all and helps them remember to celebrate.” Johnson never fails to know the countdown to Christmas. “In case people can’t remember, I tweet about it and constantly remind everyone I see,” he said. “It’s my favorite thing to do and I don’t plan on stopping any time soon.” H

‘Tis the Season

Johnson loves to gear up for his favorite holiday HOLIDAY CHEER: (Clockwise from bottom left): Senior Race Johnson said he goes the extra mile to decorate his family’s shed with lights. Johnson attaches lights to his house in preparation for the Christmas season. Johnson’s family also has two Christmas trees that he helps decorate each year.

Johnson’s Favorites

“I don’t go caroling because I can’t sing, but my favorite Christmas song is ‘Oh Holy Night’; it’s beautiful.” “The best thing in the world is giving. Giving presents and seeing how happy you can make others is the best gift of all. “ “My top three (Christmas movies) have got to be ‘Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer,’ ‘A Year Without Santa Claus’ and ‘Miracle on 34th Street.”

KATHLEEN BERTSCH / PHOTOS

The HiLite Guide to Holiday Troubleshooting

MAYOCLINIC.COM / SOURCE TONY TAN / GRAPHIC

As the holiday season creeps closer, an unwelcome visitor may make its way into your life: stress. It’s often difficult to meet all of the demands that pile up but have no fear— the HiLite is here to help. Keep these practical tips in mind to minimize your burdens and make the most out of the most wonderful time of the year.

DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | STUDENT SECTION | PAGE 15

Ask the Experts Get to know history teachers Will and Jennifer Ellery better this holiday season. Compiled by Joseph Lee What are some holiday traditions the Ellery family has?

on our banister. J.E.: We have lights all over the inside of our house. W.E.: We have lights that are garland in our kitchen. You could light our house without using traditional lights. Solely by the Christmas lights, you can read without any additional light. Oh yes, we participate in all of that. Am I guilty of being jolly and happy? Yes, that I am.

Will Ellery: We decorate our tree collectively. We do Christmas cookies. My wife makes our kids decorate. Jennifer Ellery: We have a village. W.E.: A decorative holiday village. Decorative houses, people and trees. J.E.: We decorate the house, put lights outside and go On a scale of one to ten how spirited are you? to church on Christmas Eve. J.E.: Probably a nine or a ten. We’re not Griswold crazy, but… W.E.: Pretty traditional American standards. W.E.: Without preparing for this interview J.E.: The kids do an advent calendar. today, I’m wearing my third Christmas This year, we also started doing “Elf tie of the week on the third day of the on a Shelf.” It’s a toy elf that was sent week. We are festive. We’re going to go to your home by Santa, and it sits in see Santa this Saturday. I like the Clark a specific spot all day long. At night Griswold reference. We’re not Clark it leaves your house, and it reports to Griswold, but we are as close to that if you Santa if you’ve been good or bad. It could be and still be normal. comes back in the middle of the night and hides in a new spot. Kids are not allowed to touch him, or else they So it’s Christmas morning, what are put on the naughty list. So in the does the Ellery house look like? morning, the kids have to find it. I don’t W.E.: You can’t see the floor. know other people who have done it, J.E.: Covered. Everywhere you look, but it’s a book that you can buy. So I Will Ellery presents. think it’s becoming trendier, but it’s a W.E.: Literally you can’t see the floor. The Social studies teacher new holiday item. kids have to find a place to step, in order to not crush something. But at the same When do you put up your time, we try to control chaos. I bring in big trash bags so that as they open up presents, I try to keep up with the decorations? wrapping papers and the boxes to keep at least nominally W.E.: She makes me wait ‘til after Thanksgiving to put under control. It’s pretty chaotic, in a good way. them up. J.E.: He had the Christmas tree up in our garage, because it’s a fake tree. How does your Christmas usually end? W.E.: I wanted to make sure that it was all aligned and W.E.: Exhausted. We open presents all morning, maybe ready to go. stopping for breakfast. J.E.: On Halloween. W.E.: We’ve got four kids with mounds of presents, plus, W.E.: Shortly after Halloween. whatever we have for one another and whatever Santa J.E.: I had to put my foot down so that it didn’t come in brings. So it extends into the early afternoon. the house. J.E.: The kids play with toys and play video games. W.E.: We have reindeer, icicle lights, lights all in the W.E.: My wife makes a Christmas dinner, while I try to backyard and lights all in the front yard. We have lights assemble whatever they received, and that’s complicated

I’m wearing my third Christmas tie of the week on the third day of the week. We are festive.

Ligh

the m ten ood

Reac

h ou

If there is a lot of tension within your family, try to lighten the mood by watching movies or reminiscing on good times. Try to do something nice for someone else; there’s no better way to spread cheer than by being in a good mood.

If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events. They can offer support and companionship. Volunteering your time to help others also is a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.

Be re

alist

Sti

to ackb

udge

The holidays don’t have to be perfect or “just like last year.” As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to and be open to creating new ones. For example, if your older siblings or relatives can’t come to your house, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing emails or videos.

Before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don’t try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Try these alternatives: donate to a charity in someone’s name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.

HAILEY MEYER / PHOTO

usually. That’s about it. It becomes a pleasant family day.

How long do you leave the lights up? W.E.: We’re actually quite efficient. Honestly, taking down the outside stuff is a function of weather. We’ll turn them off right after Christmas, but taking them down is whenever it’s not minus 100 degrees and windy. Inside we tend to, because we’re teachers, and we’re very busy, use the second week of break to dismantle the Christmas stuff. J.E.: Before school starts, it’s back to normal. Otherwise we don’t have time to do it. Maybe until spring break or whenever we have time away from school. W.E.: We teach advanced placement history. We grade all the time, so our free time is pretty much gone after that. But we take it down pretty quickly after Christmas. H

Plan

ahea

Le to saarn y

Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list. That will help prevent lastminute scrambling to buy forgotten ingredients. Also, make sure to line up help for party prep and cleanup.

Saying “yes” when you should say “no” can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can’t participate in every activity. If it’s not possible to say no when someone asks you for your time, try to remove something else from your agenda to make up.

PAGE 16 | COVER STORY | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

COVER STORY

Boost Me Up

OMEED MALEK / PHOTO

DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | COVER STORY | PAGE 17

As finals week approaches, many students use energy supplements to focus and improve grades despite potential dangers, sparking debate over the ethics and effectiveness of “study drugs”

By Rushi Patel rpatel@hilite.org

enior Jacob Richey climbs the stairs to his room with a can of Red Bull in one hand and his books in the other.

Yawning widely, he sits down at his desk and takes his homework out of his backpack. Before attempting to do any work, however, Richey takes a couple swigs out of the can for energy. According to Richey, this routine is regular. He said he likes to take some sort of energy stimulant before beginning his homework to help maintain focus while studying. Monster, 5-Hour Energy and Red Bull are his favorite study supplements. “(These drinks) stimulate both your body and mind with highly concentrated shots of energy,” Richey said. Richey’s use of energy supplements to help him study is not unusual, especially as students prepare for their final exams. According to market research firm SymphonyIRI Group, energy drink sales increased 17.6 percent between 2010 and

2011, part of a trend of exponential growth in the past several years. However, this increase in usage may come with consequences. On Nov. 16, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) disclosed injury filings from the past eight years that are possibly associated with the energy drinks Red Bull, Monster Energy, Rockstar and 5-Hour Energy. The list includes 18 deaths. Then, in a letter released on Nov. 27, the FDA announced that it would reevaluate the regulation of energy drinks in light of these reports, noting the potential risks for consumers, especially teenagers. Abuse of prescription ADHD drugs, among college and high school students in particular, has also been on the rise according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services CONTINUED Administration. ON NEXT PAGE

PAGE 18 | COVER STORY | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012 CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

“Study Drugs”

According to Richey, study supplements play a major role in his performance at school. Because of the boost in energy and focus that products like energy drinks and coffee provide, it’s no accident that students like Richey frequently take these supplements to help them in their studies. However, many students, like senior Emily Roberts, said they have a different mindset about using such supplements. According to Roberts, she has never taken energy supplements to help her study, nor does she have any intention of ever doing so. Brittany Maloney, pediatric resident at IU Health North Hospital, said she sees the negative impacts of energy supplements firsthand in her patients. “I’ve seen a lot of kids come into my office that just (use) the supplements because it’s kind of the thing to do...to help them study,” Maloney said. However, Maloney said, using these energy supplements can have a harmful effect on a student’s work rather than enhancing it. Regardless of this criticism, Richey said he has seen his studying abilities improve greatly when he uses energy supplements. “I’ve been able to stay up longer, and so I’ve been able to raise my grades by completing all of my assignments,” Richey said. There are, however, students who actually need to take study supplements. Children with ADHD or another attention deficiency disorder often need to use different kinds of prescription supplements such as Adderall, Vyvanse, Focalin and Daytrana to help them study, according to Maloney. Sophomore Zachary “Zack” Santee is one

of these students. Diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade, Santee said prescription drugs, specifically Daytrana, were the only way he could keep up academically with other kids. “What all that medication does is get me up to the 50 percent that everybody else is at. So, instead of it actually helping me (study), it’s more boosting me up to the point where I’m like any other kid,” Santee said. “It’s not magic like, ‘Hey now you’re going to focus and study, and you’re going to be awesome.’ No, my grades would definitely say otherwise.”

The Evils of Extra Energy

According to Maloney, taking energy and focus supplements has few advantages. She said students can have a brief time period where their focus and energy increase because of the caffeine, but she emphasized that this benefit is not substantial. Regardless of the short time span of its effectiveness, Richey said he still thinks the caffeine is useful. With frequent hours of work after school, Richey said study supplements with caffeine help him accomplish everything on his schedule. According to Maloney, however, the harms caused by caffeine outweigh the benefits. All of the supplements that students use to aid studying contain caffeine, the main source of study supplements’ side effects. “I highly discourage kids from even having caffeine. I don’t like for my kids to drink soda. I definitely don’t want them to start drinking coffee at this point in their lives because it interrupts their sleep patterns, and so when you are in high school, it’s very important for them to avoid those things,” Maloney said. “The energy drinks are dangerous; they can cause you to have fast heart rates and things

like that. If any of my patients were to come in and tell me that they were doing energy drinks, I would highly discourage those...It’s just empty calories.” However, Richey said he doesn’t feel these kinds of negative effects. According to him, nervousness and headaches are practically nonexistent as is drowsiness. The one issue he has had, however, is dependence. “I’ve found myself addicted to drinking them. I drink them when I don’t need them, and they’re expensive,” Richey said. Even more so than caffeine, ADHD drugs have side effects that make them distinct from other study supplements like energy drinks, according to Maloney. “The (prescription supplements) have a lot of side effects, so they have to be monitored and (patients) have to come back to the doctor at least every three months to be evaluated while they are on the medication,” Maloney said. “In non-prescription energy supplements, the side effects aren’t as harsh so you don’t need to be evaluated for that.” According to Santee, those who take prescription drugs feel much more intense side effects than students who take nonprescription supplements do. Mood swings and lack of sleep, he said, are frequent. “Sometimes it’s horrible,” Santee said. “My eighth grade wellness teacher told me what happened this one time when he took Adderall on accident. He was hanging out (at) a friend’s house. He went to go take his medication. He took what he thought was the normal amount. Then he looked at the bottle and saw that it was his friend’s Adderall and he was like, ‘Oh crud.’ And in the next 36 hours, he could not fall asleep.” This is why both Maloney and Santee

What’s Inside A comparison of the most common energy supplements and their impact on American teenagers Energy drinks

Caffeine (ranges from 125 mg. per 16 oz. in a mocha to 40-75 mg. per 1 oz. in espresso)

Ingredients

Antioxidants Cream, sugar (optional)

Percent of 18-24 year-olds who drink coffee

Studies suggest links to lower rates of Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, liver cancer

Taurine (an amino acid)

Examples

A d d e r a ll

R it a lin

Dexedrine Concerta

34% Percent of 18-24 year-olds who use energy drinks

Long-term or excess use may lead to weight gain (due to sugar amounts), insomnia, rapid heartbeat, increased blood pressure Reported to cause serious injury and even death, especially in young adults and people with pre-existing medical conditions

*No data available for number of teens who abuse ADHD drugs

The stimulant drug methylphenidate, dextroamphetamineamphetamine, or dextroamphetamine (varies with each brand) Short-term treatment of ADHD symptoms, such as inattentiveness, impulsivity, hyperactivity

D a y tr a n a

Temporary energy boost

Effects

54%

Sugar

Herbal supplements which often contain unlisted amounts of caffeine

Temporary energy boost Excess use may lead to increased risk of heart disease in people with a common genetic mutation, weight gain (from cream and sugar), insomnia, anxiety

Caffeine (ranges from 50 mg. per 8 oz. in Vault to 207 mg. per 2 oz. in 5-Hour Energy)

Effects

Ingredients

Coffee beans

ADHD drugs Ingredients

Coffee

May cause insomnia, loss of appetite, irritability When not used medically, may result in tolerance, psychological dependence If overdosing occurs, may cause seizures, acute dehydration, nausea

CONNIE CHU / GRAPHICS MAYO CLINIC, SIMMONS RESEARCH, PEDIATRICS, PRESCRIPTIONDRUGABUSE.ORG / SOURCES

DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | COVER STORY | PAGE 19

Focus In For the exhausted or easily distracted, here are some ways for students to stay engaged while studying or during class Snack on something healthy. Avoid sugar, which will give you only a short rush before you crash.

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Schedule your studying for when you are most alert and do your most difficult tasks then.

The motion in your jaw will keep you awake.

Drink water as you study, to help keep you alert.

Take a stretch break. When you’re sitting down, blood flows away from your brain, so some light exercise will help get your mind refocused.

Take notes or doodle to help you pay attention in class.

Set up a reward system. Organize a large workload into smaller chunks and reward yourself when you reach a checkpoint.

Designate a workspace in your house that is just for studying and nothing else. Clear it of distractions.

Sit up straight – don’t give yourself the opportunity to fall asleep.

said intense school pressure could also play a part in study supplement usage. However, like Williams, Maloney said she believes time management is the best way around reliance on study supplements. “I know it’s tough with (final exams), but that’s why it’s important to have good schedules and things like that to catch up on your sleep,” Maloney said, “but if you get into a cycle of relying on coffee and things like these Monster drinks, you’re going to become kind of dependent on it and if you don’t get it, you’re going to be even more tired and less able to function.”

An Unfair Advantage?

The popularity of study supplements has also raised some ethical inquiries. Some students, including CONNIE CHU / GRAPHICS Roberts, believe that the use STUDENT HACKS, EDUCATION INSIGHTS, THE COLLEGEBOUND NETWORK / SOURCES of such study supplements gives students an unfair said students who don’t have a prescription “I think (supplement abuse) is a growing advantage over others who don’t get extra should never, under any circumstance, problem. There’s nothing illegal about (using energy from outside sources. take prescription drugs to help them study. some study supplements), but it hurts their “If you use it once or twice I think it’s Compared to other drugs, like alcohol and schedule or ability to manage time because okay, but I think if you come to rely on it on marijuana, ADHD drug abuse is very low, especially if you get into the real world, I feel a daily basis, I don’t (think that’s ethical),” and there are few recent studies showing how like using those supplements isn’t necessarily Roberts said. “I think it gives you an unfair many students actually abuse these drugs. a viable option to get done everything that advantage over some of the other people However, reports of students taking drugs you need to do,” Roberts said. who are just so busy and can’t really do like Adderall to improve grades and focus Richey too said that the overuse of study anything to lessen their workload. I think abound in college newspapers and a June supplements is a significant issue. for them it’s kind of unfair that article in The New York Times. These reveal “If you just constantly use them, it’s not these other people are getting students getting drugs from friends who very healthy for your body. Your body can’t more time when those who have prescriptions or even faking symptoms only run on caffeine,” Richey said. don’t use supplements aren’t to get a prescription from their doctor. However, Principal John Williams said he able to find any more time at “We do see abuse with children (giving) disagrees with the assessments of students like all.” their ADHD medication (to) other people Roberts who say this school has a supplement Santee said he has mixed and that’s why they need to be seen regularly abuse problem. According to him, neither he feelings about students who use and that’s why we don’t just give out nor the nurses have seen students sick from study supplements. (prescriptions) for a year,” Maloney said. overuse of energy supplements. “People who take Monster According to Santee, students should Still, according to Williams, it is possible — it’s not wrong. It’s not never take ADHD drugs that haven’t been that some students may still be overusing smart, but sure, ethically it’s prescribed for them. energy supplements, even if they don’t show fine,” Santee said. “People who “People taking Adderall to study (is) an up at the nurse’s office. purposely take prescription incredibly bad idea, an incredibly stupid “Certainly there could be kids who are using medication — that kind of stuff idea, and one that can end up killing you,” more than they should with caffeine,” Williams (is) horribly ethically wrong.” Santee said. said. “I hope as they listen to the messages that John Williams Richey said what he does is doctors and parents are giving that they realize Principal different from using prescribed while in moderation, these things might be In These Hallways supplements. According to fine...but if you have to drink eight cups of As awareness of the increased supplement him, the use of prescription coffee so you can stay awake through your use has grown across the nation, students supplements is unethical and potentially morning classes, there’s a problem.” have also noticed a problem growing at this dangerous. Still, Richey maintains that his According to Williams, developing time school regarding the increasing influence use of non-prescription supplements is fine. management skills is key for students to of study supplement use. Students like “(Using prescription supplements) is not avoid creating a problem. Roberts said they have realized that more ethical because without the guidance of a “I hope our kids realize that there are no and more of their peers are resorting to doctor, dangerous prescription drugs could be shortcuts,” Williams said, “that to be healthy, using supplements to account for losing abused,” Richey said. “Everyone can take (nonyou have to do (your work) and find ways in time with large quantities of homework, prescription study supplements) so (they’re) your day to do the other things you need to do.” extracurricular activities and, in some not that unethical. It’s up to you whether (you H With final exams coming up, Maloney cases, part-time jobs. want) to take (them) or not.”

I hope our kids realize that there are no shortcuts, that to be healthy, you have to do (your work) and find ways in your day to do the other things you need to do.

PAGE 20 | ENTERTAINMENT | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

ENTERTAINMENT Positive reviews help local of restaurants gain customers

Battle the Tablets Tablets being the popular choice this holiday season, we compare two of the most prominent ones. Compiled by Madison Adzema The Nexus 7

Created by Google, is the same size as an iPad and is available at a price of $199, which is cheaper than the iPad. The Nexus is built more specifically for gaming. The Nexus also has a higher resolution screen. Thousands of apps and games

Half as thick as an iPad

Tegra Games

vs. JIVA CAPULONG / GRAPHICS

The iPad mini

is the latest product by Apple. The tablet provides the same features as the iPad 2, such as an improved battery life and wireless carriers. The new model includes many new features for a lower cost of $329. New features include: Sprint as a network carrier Siri

Lightning adapter identical to the iPhone 5 iSight, which is a higher resolution camera

BY CHRISHAN FERNANDO cfernando@hilite.org Television chef Guy Fieri has become famous for his appearances to cook on various television shows, as well as for his abnormal haircut. However, many people’s perception of him changed last month when the New York Times’ Pete Wells wrote a negative review of Fieri’s restaurant in New York City, Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar. The media pounced on word of the review, raising questions as to the validity of Fieri as a professional chef. The thought that a little-known writer such as Wells could bring Fieri to shame demonstrates the power of a review to hurt or help a restaurant. There are several restaurants in Carmel that show the benefits from positive reviews, including Bazbeaux Pizza, a well-known pizza parlor located in downtown Carmel. Bazbeaux Pizza has received several positive reviews from various sites and people. Review aggregator Zagat gives it 27 out of 30 points, one of the highest ratings for all restaurants in Carmel. According to Liz Altman, Bazbeaux Pizza customer service representative, Bazbeaux Pizza does a lot to garner such high reviews. Altman said that one of the actions it takes to get good reviews is to prepare its food fresh, daily. Altman also said that the positive reviews and word-of-mouth Bazbeaux Pizza receives brings in a lot of attention from customers. “(The positive reviews) bring us more customers,” Altman said. According to Altman, however, customer service is a big part of Bazbeaux Pizza’s superior reviews. She said that Bazbeaux Pizza tries to make customers happy, and it recieves good reviews as a result. However, Sophomore Noah Khamliche said that he likes Bazbeaux Pizza for its quality. According to Khamliche, the pizza Bazbeaux Pizza serves tastes better than that served by many larger pizza corporations. “(Bazbeaux Pizza’s pizza) tastes

HAILEY MEYER / PHOTO

TAKE A BITE: Sophomore Noah Khamliche is one of the many students who enjoy Bazbeaux Pizza. Their good reviews have brought in more business. better than (the pizza sold at) most of the big chains,” Khamliche said. Bazbeaux Pizza’s reviews reflect Khamliche’s ideas of the quality of pizza served there. On Zagat, out of Top Rated Carmel the categories for “Food,” Restaurants “Décor” and “Service,” 1. Petite Chou Bazbeaux Pizza scores 2. Bub’s Burgers the highest in “Food.” 3. Bazbeaux Pizza 4. Chick-Fil-A Khamliche, however, 5. Mudbugs Cajun Cafe like many other customers of Bazbeaux Pizza continue to write good reviews of it and its food. “(Bazbeaux Pizza) is fantastically H delicious,” Khamliche said.

DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | ENTERTAINMENT | PAGE 21

The Last Man disappoints

Vince Flynn’s latest action thriller not up to previous books’ standards BY RUSHI PATEL rpatel@hilite.org

fter the success of books like Consent to Kill and Extreme Measures, the low quality of Vince Flynn’s newest novel The Last Man was disappointing. The creative plot that Flynn usually employs in his novels was missing and the characters, flashy and personalized, were overdramatic and,

Flynn uses Mitch Rapp, a CIA operative, to illustrate a small, war-ravaged Afghanistan town in which another CIA agent, Joe Rickman works and lives. As one of the top agents in the CIA, Rickman is privy to many secrets and classified information. So, when Rickman is kidnapped by an unknown organization, many CIA secrets that need to be kept secrets for the safety of its agents and workers could be leaked if Rickman cracks under interrogation. Rapp’s job is to find Rickman before he reveals critical information to his interrogators and

potentially ruins the CIA for decades to come. Through brutal questioning with locals, gunfights on the streets, and arguments with Afghani police, Rapp employs every mean of investigation to locate Rickman in one of the most important manhunts in CIA history, all while Rickman reveals more and more information because of cruel torture at the hands of criminals who will stop at nothing to cripple and defame the CIA. The Last Man had the potential to be one of those thrillers in which the die-hard spy saves the victim, kills all who stand in his way and

becomes the hero, but it wasn’t. Even with the unique topic, the actual book was unrealistic, unoriginal and boring. Most books fail to captivate reader interest as the story continues. There is no difference here. The Last Man’s plot slowed down considerably, it was a long read at 448 pages and Flynn didn’t have enough enthralling scenes to keep the reader interested. Basically, even though this book could have been much more, it was a flop. Flynn uncharacteristically didn’t do a good job with this book and it was all in all H not an enjoyable read. Rating: 2 out of 5

Other popular Like the book?books Here are some suggestions for novels you may enjoy: The Bourne Identity Robert Ludlum Jason Bourne is a CIA operative who needs to complete an important mission. It’s kind of difficult to work if you’ve lost all memory of your past, though.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Stieg Larson Mikael Blomkvist needs to solve a nearly impossible murder mystery. Don’t worry, it’s better than the movie.

Deception Point

Prey

Dan Brown Rachel Sexton just found a meteorite in the Arctic Circle. Her job, however, is to prevent anyone else from finding out.

Michael Crichton Jack Forman needs to kill a living nanobot swarm before it goes out of control. The only problem: it’s trying to kill him first. GOODREADS.COM / SOURCE

‘Les Mis’ movie scheduled for Christmas release Students from CHS’s ‘Les Mis’ express their excitement for the film version

it sells millions and millions of tickets. I hope it’s so great that it will go up for an Oscar so it can bring in more attention back to musicals,” Kuske said. With the film version of “Les Misérables” Senior Carolyn Keller played one of the (“Les Mis”) scheduled for release in theaters major roles, “Cosette”, in the musical last on Christmas day, CHS actors and directors year and said “Les Misérables” instantly who took part in the school production of became one of her favorite shows of all time. “Les Misérables” this past spring said they “Being on stage and performing (“Les are excited to see the story being Mis”), it became something told on film. magical,” she said. “(“Les Choral director Lamonte Mis”) is a very sad story, Kuskye directed the musical last but there is always this little year and said “Les Mis” is a movie light of hope throughout the full of hope and inspiration. entire story and that’s what I He says the moral of the story love to see.” is that even when people are in Keller said she cannot great poverty, they can rise to the wait to see how the directors occasion and try to make a better Director Kuskye portray the characters in the life for them and their children. movie compared to how the Choral Director From the trailers he has seen CHS directors portrayed the so far, Kuske said the movie will characters. incorporate many elements of the story “I’ve seen little snippets from the trailers line and might tell the story better than the and from backstage things, so I’m really musical. But despite the differences, he still excited to see the full picture of what the has many hopes for the movie. actors can do,” she said. “(‘Les Mis’) is “I hope (‘Les Misérables’) is one of the definitely going to one of the best movies of H most popular movies of all time. I hope that the year.”

BY ANNI ZHANG azhang@hilite.org

“Les Mis” is a movie full of hope and inspiration.

‘Les Mis’ Info:

Student Expressions

Premiere: Dec. 25 Director: Tom Hooper Plot Overview:

French, choir, and theater students express their excitement for the new movie

In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever.

Cast: Hugh Jackman-Jean Valjean Russell Crowe-Javert Anne Hathaway-Fantine Amanda Seyfried-Cosette Sacha Cohen-Thénardier Helena Carter-Madame Thénardier Eddie Redmayne-Marius Aaron Tveit-Enjolras Samantha Barks-Éponine Daniel HuttlestoneGavroche Isabelle Allen-Young Cosette Colm Wilkinson-Bishop Georgie Glen-Madame Baptistine

“I am really excited for the movie to come out. I’ve been watching the trailers and reading up on (“Les Mis”) and it looks like it’ll be a fantastic movie. I don’t know if I’ll get to see it on Christmas, but I know I will probably be seeing it more than once.

Carolyn Keller, Senior, in Amassadors choir, last year’s lead role in “Les Miserables”

“I’m looking forward to seeing how the musical translates onto the movie screen. It’s really intriguing that there will be no lip-singing. I’m excited to see Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean.”

Emily Tatum, sophomore, part of Accents choir

“I have an intrigue into how (“Les Mis”) was “I I’m really excited to be done since our school able to share that with my did such a fabulous French III students because production of it last that’s where we study “Les year, and I have studied Misérables. I love how the it in French class. I am story of “Les Mis” is able curious to see how this to reach anyone, anywhere one will turn out and in the world, any point in how it will compare to history because everyone other productions I have can identify with at least seen.” one of the characters.” Frankie Salzman,

Leslie McCarty French teacher

senior, part of theater productions

PAGE 22 | ENTERTAINMENT | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

Holiday Classics

Students discuss their favorite holiday entertainment. Graphic by Jiva Capulong

“(The Little Match Girl) was made a long time ago. It’s a very, very touching book. It made me cry. It’s a very good book.”

“I like The Velveteen Rabbit because he’s cast aside, which is really sad, but then he finds a new life among actual rabbits, and it’s really sweet.

Freshman Aaron Bunting

Senior Brynna Webb

“I really love any Christmas song, but overall my favorite is ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ by Mariah Carey. It’s so catchy and makes me feel like it’s Christmas every single time.”

“My all time favorite Christmas music is Michael Bublé. Well, I listen to him all year round, but who doesn’t love more of him The album was at Christmas time?”

Sophomore Colleen Duffy

Elf Released 2003 A human named Buddy was raised by elves in the north pole and travels to New York in search of his real father.

Sophomore Brielle Saggese

“I like ‘The Santa Clause’ movie because it portrays the story of a man bonding with his son, and it shows the true meaning of Christmas.”

Freshman Ryan Middleton

released on Oct. 24, 2011 and includes 15 tracks.

A Christmas Carol Released 1843 Ebenezer Scrooge is an old man who has no Christmas spirit until three ghosts visit him on Christmas Eve.

A Jolly Christmas Released 1957 Released by Capitol Records, this was Sinatra’s first fulllength Christmas album. It was re-issued in 1963 with a new title, “The Sinatra Christmas Album.”

Gremlins Released 1984 A young man receives a creature known as a mogwai for Christmas. Produced by Stephen Spielberg.

DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | ENTERTAINMENT | PAGE 23

Disney purchases ‘Star Wars’ Students, teachers react to the enterprise change BY KYLE WALKER kwalker@hilite.org

s Yoda would say, “Star Wars” Disney owns. Disney’s recent acquisition of the “Star Wars” franchise for $4.05 billion has received mixed reactions from fans, which range from disappointment in what they see as former producer Lucasfilm’s greed to anticipation for what comes next. Peter Beck, “Star Wars” fan and calculus teacher, said he has enjoyed the books and movies since he was a child. “I wouldn’t go so far as saying ‘geekdom,’” he said. “My wife puts up with it.” Beck said he is a little wary of what will happen next, although he expects to see better acting and directing in upcoming films. “If they take it more too kid-friendly and less of the “Star Wars” universe, I’ll be a little

disappointed,” he said. According to Beck, Disney should continue the greatest aspect of the films: the storyline, which begins with the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker and continues with the adventures of his son, Luke. “It’s like with any other epic story,” Beck said. “‘Harry Potter’ (is) all about an epic story. The “Star Wars” universe, the original trilogy, was Luke growing up and then overcoming his battles.” On the other hand, sophomore Jack Coleman, who describes himself as a “hardcore ‘Star Wars’ purist,” said the “biggest event in nerd history” is definitely a good thing for the franchise. “I don’t understand why people are complaining. They say Disney will turn ‘Star Wars’ into a baby toy when they don’t realize that it already has become one,” he said. “People talk about “Star Wars’s” fall from grace as if it has not yet happened, when in reality,

Disney’s Recent Acquisitions 1993 JACOB BOTKIN / GRAPHIC

Miramax

1996 ABC

Baby Einstein Company

1999

it fell from grace in 1997 with the release of the “Special Edition,” George Lucas’s first act of artistic terrorism.” Coleman said while he isn’t quite sure what to expect from Disney, which has announced plans to release a new trilogy, he said will see the new movies, “if only for heckling rights.” “Hopefully, the new movies will actually have plots and won’t be pure fan service and ‘Lucasian’ dialogue. As for merchandising, there’s really nothing that would surprise me,” he said. “The films have been cheapened enough that I don’t think the franchise can sink much lower. It can only go up from “The Clone Wars.” According to him, Lucas’s lack of involvement with future “Star Wars” films will mean great things for the franchise. In the meantime, he said he hopes fans can see eye to eye on the Disney issue. Coleman said,“May the Force—not the H midi-chlorians—be with you.” Club Penguin

2005

2002 Pixar

2008

2011Marvel

Lucasfilms

HAILEY MEYER / PHOTO

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU: Calculus teacher Peter Beck poses by ObiWan Kenobi, his favorite Star Wars character.

PAGE 24 | SPORTS | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

SPORTS

Ready to Rebound Men’s basketball team begins season as defending State Champions looking for new identity

players stepping into new roles. “The identity is something that’s a process,” he said. “We have a lot of players in different roles. We have some returning players obviously with (senior) Michael Volovic and McRoberts leading the way. or the first time since 1977, the men’s basketball team Zach is playing a whole different role this year; will begin the season looking to defend its Class 4A we’re expecting him to score more for us this State Championship. However, Head Coach Scott year. James Crowley and James Volovic (two Heady said this won’t change things very much for other returning players and how other teams prepare to play his team. seniors) are now starting “I’ve always felt like having Carmel instead of coming off of the on your uniform, you’re going to get bench. That identity is going everybody’s best shot, in any sport,” to take some time.” Heady said. “The success we had last McRoberts said he agrees year obviously adds to that. Those teams that the team will have to find that are playing you, not only are they the style that works best for them playing Carmel but they’re playing the to win, but he thinks this year’s State Champions, but we’ve talked to team will be similar to last year’s our guys, and to us it’s not about that. It’s team in terms of how it scores. about understanding that we’re going to Zach McRoberts “Surprisingly, I think we’re get everybody’s best shot.” Varsity men’s basketball player going to shoot it more this year,” Zachary “Zach” McRoberts, varsity McRoberts said. “It’s hard to men’s basketball player and junior, said match what we did last year, but he agrees with Heady about how teams I think we are going to be an even better shooting approach playing against Carmel. team than last year. We’re going to play hard every “Some people still aren’t respecting what we did since we night, and that’s a good thing to have. Everybody’s lost so many people,” he said. “Being the State Champs and going to bring their best every night. We’re always being Carmel, we’re going to get everybody’s best shot.” going to be tough. Nothing’s ever going to be handed According to Heady, this year’s team needs to find an to us; we have to go out and take it.” identity for how it will win games, and this will include Heady said another characteristic that defines this team is the lack of a Year: Senior true superstar, similar to the way last Michael Volovic Position: Guard year’s team played. Heady’s comments on “We don’t have the big time Division Michael: “I think Mike 1 recruit right now,” he said. “We don’t is one of the best point have the marquee guy, so in a way it’s guards in Indiana and the same situation as last year. I think definitely one of the we still have the ingredients to be a top two or three in pretty good team and hopefully surprise central Indiana.” some people.” Heady said he thinks the way the team played last year will help them to succeed again this year. “We hope that some of the things we established in the last year in terms of how we play will be consistent,” Heady said. “How we defend. We’ve got great teammates; they’re going to be unselfish. Those are all the reasons we won last year: toughness, coachable, great teammates. I like our team. We have a lot of the same characteristics that we had last year. It’s not about defending anything; that’s all KYLE CRAWFORD / PHOTO H done. It’s about pursuing the next one.”

BY BOBBY BROWNING bbrowning@hilite.org

James Volovic Year: Senior Position: Guard Heady’s comments: See right (with comments on Crowley)

Nothing’s ever going to be handed to us; we have to go out and take it.

MARY BROOKE JOHNSON / PHOTO

SHOOTING STAR: Senior James Volovic prepares to drive to the basket during a practice. According to Head Coach Scott Heady, James will need to step up as a starter this season.

DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | SPORTS | PAGE 25

Get to know the starters Five varsity players (Cline, Crowley, McRoberts and the Volovics) return from last year’s State Championship team. Here is an inside look at some of the starters for this year’s men’s basketball team.

James Crowley

Zach McRoberts

Ryan Cline

Year: Senior Position: Guard Heady’s comments about James Volovic and Crowley: “With Crowley and James, I know they can shoot it, but what we’re really emphasizing to them is that they have to play great floor games. They have to be great defensively, make good decisions, get some assists, rebound for us and just play a total game and not just be scorers. There will be nights when they don’t score much, and that’s okay. They can still have a major impact on the game and not really score much.”

Year: Junior Position: Forward Heady’s comments on McRoberts: “We want Zach to score more this year. He’s got to come out and get 12, 14, 16 points and eight or 10 rebounds, he’s got to be a good solid defender inside. He’s always going to be the guy that will get loose balls and make the unselfish play, make the extra pass, make the hustle plays. We’re expecting him to be a little bit more assertive offensively and be a guy that can really score for us.”

Year: Sophomore Position: Guard Heady’s comments on Cline: “I think Ryan is probably our best shooter consistently. The thing about Ryan is that he has grown three inches since last year, he has put on some weight and strength and has become a more complete player. He has improved defensively and all-around as a player. He can shoot it, and he can shoot it deep.”

Upcoming men’s basketball games: Tonight At Fishers (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 21 Home v. Marion (7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 28 At Avon (7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 4 At Center Grove (7:30 p.m.)

Game Recap: Carmel 50, North Central 49: With time running out in the game on Dec. 7, Cline missed a 3 pointer with the team trailing by 2 points. McRoberts secured the rebound and passed it to Michael Volovic at the top of the key. Volovic took a few dribbles and made a 3 pointer, giving CHS a 50-49 victory. Crowley led the team in scoring with 18 points, Michael scored 16, and McRoberts had 12 points to go along with 11 rebounds.

KYLE CRAWFORD / PHOTOS

Go Online Scan the QR Code below to watch the final play of the CHS v. North Central game.

PAGE 26 | SPORTS | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

Despite break from school, some athletes must attend practices contributed to the men’s swimming and diving team’s State championship victory last year. “(Winter break practices) will help our team to get in shape,” Cooper said. “(The practices) also will help me to improve my technique.” uring winter break, most kids will be relaxing Chris Plumb, head coach of the men’s and women’s and spending their free time casually. However, swimming and diving teams, stated that the main reason he swimmer and junior Mitch Cooper is going to holds practices over winter break is because the teams have attend mandatory practices throughout winter high goals and high expectations for the season. break from 6 to 8 a.m. and from 2 to 5 p.m. Plumb believes it is ideal to hold practices over winter This is a part of many teams’ plans to practice during break since students will have less academic stress over break winter break. Despite the fact that the athletes are on a break because there will be no school. In addition, Plumb wants from school, they still have to attend mandatory practices the team to maintain its momentum towards the end of the and games. season and said winter break “I’m fine with practicing over practices will only help the team winter break. I wish I had a little bit to do that. of more rest,” Cooper said. Plumb said he is aware the Cooper has to wake up for swimmers might get overworked. winter break practices early. Cooper In order to ensure his athletes said the practices are beneficial for do not get injured, he raises the him since they will help him stay in intensity of winter break practices shape over the course of the season. gradually to prepare the team for Cooper said this is not the first time he will have to attend Chris Plumb its meets. “I think that (practice over winter break practices. He has Head coach of men’s and women’s swimming break is) integral. We get high previously attended winter break and diving team quality workouts over winter practices during his freshman break. It is essential for the push and sophomore years on the near the end of the season for the State championship,” swimming team. Plumb said. According to Cooper, his only breaks from winter break Like Plumb, Michael Volovic, varsity guard for the men’s practices are on Sundays, Christmas and Christmas Eve. basketball team and senior, is a firm supporter of winter Along with the practices over winter break, Cooper break practices. Volovic’s winter break schedule includes additionally has meets over winter break as well. He said he attending the mandatory practices for all of winter break needs more rest, but the winter break practices are helpful except for four days. during the later part of the season. The main reason Volovic said he believes winter break Cooper also said he thinks winter break practices unify practices are necessary is because he does not want the the team. Cooper believes that the winter break practices team to fall behind, since the team has games during winter break as well. Like Cooper, Volovic said that practicing over winter break was one of the major keys for the team to win the State Championship last year. He also said he doesn’t feel overworked since the team’s winter break practices only take up two and a half hours of the day and they make up for shortened practices later on in the season. Volovic’s main goal for this year’s season is to help the team improve, and he is confident that the winter break practices will help him and the team achieve that goal. “We continue to get better and don’t take a step KATHLEEN BERTSCH / PHOTO back,” Volovic said. “We STAY IN SHAPE: Swimmer and junior Mitch Cooper swims during a practice. According to continue to stay in shape Head Coach Chris Plumb, practices over winter break help keep the team prepared for the rest of while other kids are being the year. H lazy at home.”

BY ARSALAN SIDDIQUI asiddiqui@hilite.org

Ask a Swimmer Swimmer and junior Mitch Cooper shares his thoughts about attending practices over winter break

I think that (practice over break is) integral. We get high quality workouts over winter break.

KYLE CRAWFORD / PHOTO

How do you feel about other kids when they’re relaxing over winter break while you’re practicing? It kind of stinks when I see other kids relax over winter break while I’m working.

Do you worry about getting overworked or injured during winter break? I’m not really worried about injuries since we have a good injury prevention program here in our school. I do feel a little overworked however.

How much of a role do winter break practices play in your regular life? My winter break revolves around (the practices), and they build the team together. Without them I feel like we wouldn’t be as close as we are by the end of the season, so we spend all of winter break together.

What are the disadvantages of having winter break practices? They take a lot of time, and they are the most difficult practices over the year.

Are your morning practices different than your afternoon practices? Our morning practices are more relaxed, and we do the hard sets in the afternoon. We go to the weight room during the morning.

Is there anything you would change about winter break practices? I wish we had a few less over winter break. ARSALAN SIDDIQUI / REPORTER

DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | SPORTS | PAGE 27

Pay and Play Top revenue sports’ profits support all teams, entire athletic department

-$4,052.55

-$3,308.32

Men’s Golf

Women’s Golf

Women’s Swimming

-$2,985.15

Men’s Swimming

-$2,985.15

-$1,949.91

-$1,553.13

Women’s Tennis

Wrestling

-$586.78

Men’s Tennis

-$501.49

Women’s Cross-Country

Women’s Basketball

-$101.19

$953.90

$14,220.13

Men’s Cross-Country

Men’s Basketball

Football

Hundreds of fans lined up to purchase tickets at the Nov. 21 men’s home basketball game against Brownsburg. As a result of its large fan base, men’s basketball is a top revenue sport at this school. Even though men’s basketball is a top revenue sport at this school, it is second to football year after year, according to Assistant Athletics Director Bruce Wolf. Wolf said, “It’s obvious when you go to a football game and you look in the stands. Each of those people paid $5 or bought a sports pass. We’re talking about 5,000 to 6,000 people a game compared to the next highest, which is boy’s basketball, which if 1,500 to 2,000 people come it is a good amount.” Although most sports charge admission to games and have fundraisers, many do not make more money than they spend on equipment and other fees. Only football, men’s basketball, volleyball, and men’s cross country had profitable revenue in the 2011-2012 school year. As a result, the money earned by top revenue sports is distributed to other sports to pay for uniforms and equipment, according to Wolf. Wolf said, “The reality is, if we only gave money made by sports only to those sports, pretty quickly we would only be sponsoring three or four sports instead of 21.” According to Wolf, most of the money a sport makes is from its admission. Typically, the home team receives all of the admission, so usually the school that hosts the game alternates. However, there are some exceptions. Wolf said, “In some cases, one school or the other will agree to play the contest multiple years in a row at the same place. For example, we played Cathedral four years in a row and they always played here.”

According to Wolf, in order to make more money for the team, some sports have parent Net Income by Sport support groups that go out and do fundraisers through discount cards or car washes. Below is a bar graph of the profit Wolf said, “A lot of (sports) will go out generated by various sports teams during and raise money for (their) program which is the 2011-2012 season. typically to buy things over and beyond the necessities that (the school) provides.” According to Jeremy Hargraves, junior varsity wrestler and junior, the wrestling team has already had the take-down-athon as a fundraiser. Hargraves said, “It really benefits the team. It provided us with our warm-up gear: sweatshirts, pants, shirts and shorts.” According to Parker Bernhold, varsity basketball player and junior, in order to make more money to fund the men’s basketball team, parents volunteer to help, and players take part in fundraisers. Bernhold said, “We had Mike’s Car Wash tickets (all the players) had to collect. We were each given eight and we sold them for $10 each. We use that money to buy equipment.” According to Wolf, Carmel Athletics is in a little better shape than most of the other BRUCE WOLF / SOURCE school’s athletics around us and it can provide CONNIE CHU / GRAPHIC the needs for its programs. Wolf said, “We experienced some bad weather football games, so our revenue from the football season, which is an important part like if you compared us to everybody around us who also had of our revenue, is down considerably so we might have to do those bad weather games, we’re probably in pretty good shape H a bit more budgeting than we would normally do. Still, I feel and probably a little better shape than they are.” $21,294.84

BY ISAAC WARSHAWSKY iwarshawsky@hilite.org

MATT

WEHNER Where’s the beef? I’ve played sports for as long as I can remember, and there was nothing worse than a coach yelling at me for something I did wrong. I admit I made mistakes, but was it really necessary for coaches to yell at me during the middle of the game? It wasn’t that I couldn’t take it. I had brothers who yelled at me and teased me. But the problem was that the coaches would embarrass me in the middle of the field in front of everybody. Through the history of college and professional sports, there have been several high-profile cases of players getting yelled at, and sometimes those situations escalated more than they needed to. Bob Knight, former Indiana basketball head coach, famously yelled at a player on his team and allegedly hit him during practice. Even more recently, Sean Woods, Morehead State basketball head coach, yelled at a player during a widely televised basketball game against Kentucky. The player almost cried, according to the USA Today. But one doesn’t need to watch high-profile collegiate events to see evidence of the detrimental effects of yelling. After

reporter / mwehner@hilite.org

Coaches should reduce yelling. Yelling at players is common, but is it right? watching many high school sporting events, I have noticed that yelling at players continues to be quite common. In fact, in some cases it’s the norm. When talking to some of my friends, some say yelling motivates them, and in some cases, I can see that. But on the other hand, I can also see how yelling can depreciate a player’s motivation to play for that coach. A coach and player’s relationship should evolve first as a friendship. Once they establish themselves as friends, there is no reason a coach should have to yell at a kid to do something. Nine times out of 10, the player knows the mistake that he or she has made and doesn’t need to be scolded. When I was upset because of a coach’s treatment toward me, my dad gave me the same advice every time. He told me to listen to the message the coach is conveying, not the words he is using. That allowed me to conquer my fear of yelling coaches. By the time I was 12 or 13, I could look a coach in the eyes when he would unleash his wrath and not be intimidated. Despite that advice, though, I still don’t believe it’s right

or moral for coaches to scold players. Even in high school, players still have a lot to learn about the game and don’t need coaches to scold them at every game or practice. I hate to see players experience the embarrassment that I endured when I was younger. The best advice I have for players who hate getting yelled at is what my dad told me. Don’t let coaches get in your head. They are here to help, not hinder. But sometimes they get caught up in the moment just like the rest of us. For the coaches, realize what it felt like to get yelled at when you were younger. Yelling may have motivated you, but it’s always totally embarrassing. Sometimes I think about all the times I’ve been yelled at and I realized that those experiences have built my character. But I also remember, at the time, how upset I was and my resentment towards those coaches. I don’t feel like I ever gave those coaches very much respect, but I blame them for that. Maybe if they had treated me with more respect, I would have H had more respect for them.

PAGE 28 | PERSPECTIVES | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

PERSPECTIVES Staff Perspective

Candidates should modernize politics, follow Ritz’s example On Nov. 6, Democrat Glenda Ritz was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction, defeating the incumbent, Tony Bennett, previous State Superintendent and Republican. Ritz’s election came as a shock to many Indiana residents, as her campaign was neither as popular nor as heavily advertised as Bennett’s. However, Ritz’s campaign showed that elections are not always about the money spent during the campaign; rather, her victory focused on two key elements—a good message followed by an effective use of grassroots efforts to spread that message. Before the start of the campaign, Ritz was relatively unknown to most voters. She is a veteran teacher, having taught for 33 years, and is the president of the Washington Township Education Association. She currently works at Crooked Creek Elementary School in Washington Township. Ritz’s run for office differed from her opponent’s campaign because hers was strictly a “grassroots campaign.” A grassroots campaign, by definition, is a movement that is driven by the politics of a community. What this means is that the nominee starts his or her campaign with people on a local level, similar to grass growing from roots. Ritz acquired votes by speaking to people individually as well as using social networking to her advantage to win the election. She turned her focus to winning the votes of

teachers, as well as gaining the support of the Indiana State Teacher’s Association and teacher’s unions. To contrast that approach, according to stateimpact. npr.org, Bennett’s campaign spent over $1 million more than Ritz’s campaign, with most of that money coming from large, out-of-state donors. Ritz’s campaign relied on small-dollar donations to win, and she also utilized a strong aspect of today’s society—social networking, which, interestingly, requires little to no money to use. Much of Ritz’s campaign advertising came through the use of Facebook. Being a teacher herself, Ritz encouraged teachers to spread the “antiBennett” message through word-ofmouth. Every person who donated to Ritz’s campaign received a “campaign-ina-box,” which included a yard sign, five bumper stickers and campaign postcards, with the idea that the donors would distribute these materials to friends and family members in order to encourage them to vote for Ritz. Through her use of grassroots campaigning and social networking, Ritz should be admired for representing the modernization of politics. Instead of advertising on a large scale and a large budget, her campaign focused on the more personalized, low-cost approach of receiving votes, symbolizing a slight shift in today’s politics. Other politicians have recognized this shift. The use of social networking can also be seen in presidential campaigns, such as that of President Barack Obama. According to

With as much money as they can involve today, good campaigns are still based on good messages.

Speak Up!

journalism.com, President Obama’s campaign advertised four times as much as Mitt Romney’s campaign on social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Obama’s campaigning was evidently successful and the utilization of social networking may have played a key role in his re-election bid. However, these low-cost and modern campaigning strategies alone were not the only reason Ritz won the election. Her stance on the wellbeing of Indiana schools was important as well. Although Ritz’s campaign was neither as expensive nor as flashy as Bennett’s campaign, her ideas for Indiana schools seemed to ring true with Indiana voters. Some of her campaign ideas include the readjustment of the teacher evaluations program, as well as the ranking of Indiana schools. Ritz’s low cost, high impact campaign allowed her to deliver her standpoints to Indiana citizens effectively. Her campaign symbolizes the idea that money doesn’t buy elections; the power of a message wins them. Whatever your political affiliation, Glenda Ritz’s successful campaign illuminates key points about modern-day elections. With as much money as they can involve today, good campaigns are still based on good messages. Ritz focused on a message that rang true for Indiana voters, and she found a way to spread that message using modern methods that do not rely on huge amounts of money till won by a significant margin. That’s a message that politicians should follow in years H to come.

COMPILED BY MICHAELA CARPENTER

Should the administration seek to change the new RISE curriculum? Yes, because it would be more effective for students to focus on content.

No, I think we’re doing fine (with) how we are.

Freshman Abigail Guest Sophomore Paige Thompson

Yes, they should keep the data. I think it helps.

Junior Michael Jeffers

Yes, we should focus more on the curriculum than the data.

Senior Brandon Phelps

Yes, teacher evaluation is necessary, but current RISE policies are too complicated.

English teacher Cathy Shoup

DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | PERSPECTIVES | PAGE 29

Can we time travel?

PABLO

PALIZA-CARRE reporter / ppaliza@hilite.org

Scared straight. Drug education should focus on harm reduction instead of scare tactics. The words “detention” or “see me after class” still held weight when I was in eighth grade at Creekside Middle School. The face of the person being called out might flush red, or perhaps he or she would get uneasy and break into a cold sweat as though he or she were going to be questioned about a murder. Hence, when my eighth-grade wellness teacher called me over to “have a word,” I was less than thrilled about my suddenly and imminently doomed future. Evidently, she wanted to discuss a reflection I had completed in regards to a board game that was a new part of the D.A.R.E. (Drug Awareness Resistance Education) curriculum. In her words, I had been “really bitter” in my responses about the game’s effectiveness and what I had learned from it. To her credit, the questioning was brief and minimally awkward, and she was tolerant and understanding of my perspective on the game. In my opinion, this is the manner in which drug education should be handled with students. This is in sharp contrast to the ideology behind the board game “It’s Party Time” and D.A.R.E, the broader anti-drug program that is in place in 75 percent of our nation’s school districts, according to the D.A.R.E. America website. “It’s Party Time” is a “realistic” Monopoly-style game in which groups are assigned a specific drug to be addicted to while trying to balance their finances and their health. Each square represents a situation, in which bad luck and irresponsibility mesh, which results in losing your cell phone or not paying your taxes. Strangely, most of these scenarios cost the same amount: $200. Included in an accompanying PowerPoint are even stranger events involving six-foot bongs and arson. The problem with “It’s Party Time” is that it symbolizes a larger trend in drug education: using unrealistic situations and inaccurate or manipulated information. Many would argue that it doesn’t matter how we prevent adolescent drug abuse, as long as it works. However, that is precisely the issue with D.A.R.E.—simply put, it doesn’t work. Since 1998, the Department of Education has forbidden schools from spending any of their funding on D.A.R.E. because of the program’s ineffectiveness and lack of scientific basis. Over 30 studies have reported that D.A.R.E. does not

In contrast to D.A.R.E, harm-reduction groups like DanceSafe help the community by disseminating information about drug effects and safety. For example, DanceSafe offers MDMA pill testing kits to test for adulterants in tablets of unknown purity. They also circulate potentially life-saving information about MDMA and other drugs in a more accessible, friendly and scientifically-based environment than D.A.R.E. With the recent popular votes to legalize marijuana in Colorado and Washington, as well as the addition of a permanent drug dog here, drug education in schools is rapidly becoming more relevant than ever. If we fail to learn from our mistakes, as the D.A.R.E. program and “It’s Party Time” have H proven to be, we are certainly doomed to repeat them.

Graphic Perspective Ok Ted, its your turn. Go ahead and pick a scenario.

Wait.... What...?

Sure!

Month 2 Marijuana You and your friends get the munchies, but when you go to make some microwave burritos, you burn down the house.

The Facts According to a study conducted on students participating in a D.A.R.E program in Houston, there was a...

29% 34%

prevent drug use, and in some cases can have a boomerang effect, increasing drug use among its graduates. Groups and individuals such as the American Psychological Association, the National Institute of Justice, the California Department of Education and former Surgeon General David Satcher have spoken out about the ineffectiveness of D.A.R.E. as a program. Gilbert Botvin, a doctor from Cornell Medical Center said, “It’s well-established that D.A.R.E. doesn’t work.” Former Salt Lake City mayor Rocky Anderson called it “a fraud on the people of America.” In fact, the original 1992 study that showed hallucinogenic drug use to significantly increase among D.A.R.E. graduates versus non-graduates came from IU. The list goes on.

increase in drug usage after D.A.R.E program’s completion

How is this supposed to help when it makes no sense...

Game Over

increase in tobacco usage after D.A.R.E program’s completion

WWW.ALCOHOLFACTS.ORG / SOURCE ANTHONY KO / GRAPHIC

PAGE 30 | PERSPECTIVES | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

RYAN

ZUKERMAN Hello, Newman. On the first day of my AP Government class, my teacher, Joe Stuelpe, introduced a book report assignment; we were to read a book with government ties in order to forge a connection with one, if not multiple, of the units covered in class. After some internal debate, I ultimately decided upon Decision Points by President George W. Bush. (Ironically, last year I decided to buy Life by Keith Richards instead.) Whereas I was only able to read the first 100 pages of Richard’s extravagant tales—many of which the validity of is still unproven—I was surprised by how easily I was able to read Bush’s memoir. As the book is titled Decision Points, it focuses on all of the major decisions Bush has made in his life, including the decision to stop drinking, to run for office and his point of view of the events of 9/11, and when I started the book several weeks ago, I was immediately struck by how candid everything that Bush wrote about was. In the memoir, I read about the liberation of Iraq, the first free Afghani elections and Bush’s personal responses to 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina —two of the deadliest events to ever occur on American soil. Ultimately, reading Decision Points helped me to better understand the decision-making process on many levels. First, I was able to examine the decision-making process of the leader of the free world at that time. For every major decision Bush

La vie en rose

managing editor / rzukerman@hilite.org

Check your math. Without fully understanding both sides of a debated topic, errors in judgement are inevitable. made, he carefully weighed all options—even the options across party lines. Most of the lasting successes from his time in office came after much deliberation and compromise; he took in all information and made what he said he thought were the best decisions for the American people. The second was on a more personal level; as I read, I came to several points that I simply did not agree with, yet it was refreshing to truly learn Bush’s rationale for making the decisions he made because it gave me more justification as to why I did not agree. Reading the other side of decisions that I did not agree with helped me form my own ideas. As I continued through the book, I realized that many of the decisions I have made throughout my life had not been informed. It’s not that I didn’t make good choices; rather, the choices I made were not fully understood, and as I thought about it, I blame this trend on the media. In today’s world of instant gratification and short attention spans, the news has changed dramatically. The information delivered to us as news gatherers simply does not convey an entire story. Key points and details are lost in a translation that is often skewed and

twisted toward a particular bias. As a reader, it is important to understand that each news outlet has its own agenda. Fox News, for example, is staunchly conservative while The New York Times swings farther toward the left. Even the BBC, the British Broadcasting Company, has its own bias toward American politics – though it is much less marginalized. Although I feel that most people have some understanding of rampant media biases, not enough news-gatherers try to completely understand any topic. Instead of gathering all of the facts and making the informed decision, people too often rely on a single, biased news source that then leaves them with a single, biased side of the story. This, however, has got to change. One of the biggest problems in Bush’s presidency was the delayed response to Hurricane Katrina, yet in the book he attributed it to flaws in his decision-making process. Flaws in our decision-making process, particularly as we all prepare for the college choice (the largest decision in our lives thus far), will only lead us to wrong conclusions and bad decisions. Without fully understanding both sides of any equation, we are destined H to make errors.

People too often rely on a single, biased news source.

JULIE

acumen editor / jxu@hilite.org

Affirmative Action. Colleges should stop using race as a determinant for admissions. When our Founding Fathers created this nation, they hoped to create a country where “all men are created equal…with certain unalienable rights.” Yet today in society, despite how far we’ve come, this policy is still not held evident, as shown by affirmative action in college admissions. According to The New York Times, in 2008 a white applicant named Abigail Fischer sued the University of Texas on the basis that other less qualified students of African American and Latino descent were accepted into the university when she was denied. Early in 2012, the Supreme Court approved to hear this case, which would become known as Fischer v. University of Texas, in which the court would decide on whether or not colleges can use race as a determinant for admissions. Since then, much controversy has erupted over the issue of affirmative action. In fact, according to a 2012 The New York Times article, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating this matter due to numerous protests that Princeton University and Harvard University discriminate against Asian American applicants. In fact, I witnessed such concern over the issue this summer when I went on a college visit to Harvard. During my tour, several individuals asked the admissions officer if the college used race as a factor in admissions, and the officer continually replied no. However, although numerous

colleges claim they do not use affirmative action, much evidence contradicts such statements. Through research of admission histories from 30 various colleges, Thomas Espenshade—the author of No Longer Separate, Not Yet Equal: Race and Class in Elite College Admission and Campus Life and a Princeton University sociologist—found that Asian Americans were required to achieve a SAT score approximately 140 points higher than that of white students and 450 points greater than that of African American students to be accepted into top American universities. These statistics, combined with the fact that top colleges, which embrace race-blind admissions, encompass a significantly greater amount of Asians attending their colleges, demonstrate how prominent affirmative action has become. At the California Institute of Technology, Asians constitute 30 percent of the population. Furthermore, the University of California, Berkeley reveals the change some top universities may experience if the court rules in favor of Fischer. About 20 percent of this college’s students were Asian, but after a law was passed that banned race as a factor for admissions, Asians comprised more than 40 percent of the students. Such results provide the backbone as to why many support affirmative action. Major proponents of affirmative

action believe it accounts for the diversity at colleges, which induces a dynamic environment at these institutions. Of these supporters are IU and Purdue University, which according to the New England Cable News, both signed an amicus brief that supports the University of Texas in the case. However, despite this, colleges should not use race as the basis of diversity. This falsely stereotypes that all members of a particular race share the same characteristics and personality. Even a Yahoo! News article states that critics assume that many top colleges dismiss Asian students because they are not evaluated as individuals, but as Asian Americans who are typified “boring, academic robots.” Diversity is important and creates an engaging aspect of campus life; however, colleges can still be diverse in other factors, not just in the racial makeup of the students. Imagine a group of white students with dissimilar personalities ranging from an intense athlete to a theatre fanatic. Is it fair to say they are not diverse just because they all are from the same race? I think not. Within the college admissions process diversity can be achieved by other means, such as defining personality through submitted essays or the activities in which the applicant has participated, a much more accurate and fair way to H ensure a well-rounded and varied student body.

DEC. 14, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | PERSPECTIVES | PAGE 31

What goes around comes around.

NATALIE

MAIER

managing editor / nmaier@hilite.org

Commercializing Christmas. Holidays should be about spending time with family and friends, not buying them expensive presents. Every December since I can remember, I’ve volunteered at my church’s Holy Walk through Bethlehem. Holy Walk offers families in the community the opportunity to travel back in time to the night Jesus was born. Of course, the event is completed with Biblical costumes and a strong faith in the holiday season. While I volunteered at my church a few weeks ago, I realized how much Christmas has changed from what the event was originally intended to be. It should be a holiday to celebrate and embrace the Christian religion; it’s now dominated by gifts adorned with green and red wrapping paper under the tree. Sometime over the years, the holiday message has changed. I am not sure how or why it did, but it probably has to do with the commercialization of Christmas and other holidays. According to the National Federation of Retailers, holiday sales alone make up 19.5 percent of all retail sales per year. In some industries, 40 percent of sales occur during the Christmas season. Although the numbers are certainly higher than I expected them to be, I can’t say I’m completely surprised. Every retail store has started sending out holiday-themed catalogues in November. r friendship ou Target and Walmart are busting at the seams with fanatic shoppers, holiday decorations and begging children who are told to be good for Santa Claus. In fact, holiday sales have gotten so insane that on the radio one morning, a caller told the DJs that she had already spent $4,000 on gifts alone. She said she didn’t know if she would be able to pay some of her bills this month. Why anyone would want to start a new year in debt is beyond me. But I also can’t understand why people feel the

need to spend so much money simply to impress people who already love them. From a religious perspective, Christmas should be a cherished holiday. From a modern perspective, the holiday is more about spending time with loved ones than religion for many people. Either way, spending hundreds of dollars on a new iPhone for Johnny Appleseed has nothing to do with it. So take a step back. Instead of buying numerous gifts for your friends and You know i’ve been thinking family, think about what they about this for a while..these the holidays have been so materialistic. really want. Make Grandma a scrapbook or buy your cousin a nice dinner and catch up. However, there is a certain degree of thoughtfulness you have to take with this approach. Don’t bombard your best friends with shirts they won’t wear or get your grandparents technology that they don’t understand. So instead why not give your It’s not the quantity of friends the greatest gift of all? presents you give or receive; it’s the quality. If your family must buy expensive presents for everyone, mention drawing names for a gift exchange. Instead of emptying your wallet to purchase gifts for all of your cousins, now you only have to buy a present for one of them. That way, everyone saves money, and ...You forgot my you are less likely to get an present, didn’t you. odd gift from someone you haven’t seen for 10 years. The best way to celebrate Christmas, or any holiday, is with the people you love. Gifts and material items shouldn’t matter as much as your family does. In fact, holiday spirit is free. It doesn’t grow on CONNIE CHU / GRAPHIC Christmas trees or from the sound of swiping credit cards at the mall. However, holiday spirit does come from performing random acts of kindness or watching Christmas movies. H

Graphic Perspective

Contact information 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, Victor Xu will receive mail sent to vxu@hilite.org.

Responding to the HiLite Letters to the editor will be accepted for the Jan. 24 issue no later than Jan. 11. Letters may be submitted in Room C147, placed in the mailbox of Jim Streisel, emailed to letters@hilite.org or mailed to school. All letters must be signed. Names will be published. (Letters sent via email 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.

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Editor in Chief Victor Xu Managing Editors Natalie Maier Tony Tan Melinda Song Ryan Zukerman Accountant Brendan Roddy Acumen Dhruti Patel Julie Xu Ads Team Ken Li Garrett Sullivan Lucy Terhune Matt Wehner 15 Minutes of Fame Henry Jackson Beats/Calendar Linsu Han Miriam Hu Helena Ma Lauren Lu Naomi Reibold Cynthia Wu Cover Story Hafsa Razi Entertainment Jacob Botkin Mikaela George Feature Claudia Huang Sheen Zheng Front Page Omeed Malek Liane Yue Graphics Jiva Capulong Rachel Chen Connie Chu Anthony Ko Melinda Song Liane Yue GMN Liaison James Benedict News Rochelle Brual Aruni Ranaweera Perspectives David Choe Eric He Photography Mary Brooke Johnson Hailey Meyer Sports Bobby Browning Andrew Wang

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Adviser Jim Streisel Principal John Williams Superintendent Jeff Swensson

PAGE 32 | 15 MINUTES OF FAME | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | DEC. 14, 2012

15 MINUTES OF FAME AUSTIN THOMPSON / SUBMITTED PHOTOS

WHEELS OFF: Thompson practices tricks using an old bike frame and his trampoline.

Bicycle Brilliance

Junior Austin Thompson is an avid participant in bicycle motocross BY HENRY JACKSON hjackson@hilite.org When did you first started doing bicycle motocross (BMX)? I’d say I’ve been riding for about five years, so probably about 10 or 11 (years old). Who first got you interested in BMX? When I first got my bike for Christmas, I was really excited and started riding a lot. I had a couple friends who owned mountain bikes, and they got me really into it. Who is your greatest inspiration? Oh, too many. I like Kyle Baldock and Brett Banasiewicz, who is from Indiana. Do you ever attend any BMX races or competitions? I used to race, so I guess I would attend those, but I don’t any more. I haven’t seen a competition in forever, but I try whenever I can. What kinds of styles of BMX are there? Traditionally there is like freestyle BMX, that’s like people going to skate parks doing tricks. There is flatland, which is people riding on the flat land and doing wheelies and all this crazy stuff, and then there is dirt, which I like to do. I build big jumps in the woods. What makes dirt BMX more fun for you? Oh, adrenaline; it’s all about adrenaline.

See him in action Scan this QR code to see Thompson riding his bike and a full video interview on YouTube.

How do you build your jumps for dirt riding? Over at my friend’s house in his yard we built a bunch of dirt jumps. We cut down a bunch of trees and used the (logs) to build dirt jumps. Just recently, we bought some plywood and built some kickers to send us even higher. Have you ever gotten injured during BMX? What was the worst injury you have sustained? Yes, quite frequently. Gee, I don’t know - probably my arm. I got stitches and needed to have surgery. How often do you practice for BMX? Lately its been cold in Indiana, so you really only ride in the summer and the spring. When it gets cold like this, we try to go to Raise, which is an indoor BMX facility. There is one in Cleveland and Milwaukee. (My friends from North Central and I) try to ride every weekend or in the summer every day if we can. What has been your most proud moment thus far in BMX? Probably the first time I landed a 360 I was pretty happy (and) pretty stoked. That was probably nine months ago in the spring,. What inspires you to continue riding? Just the happiness that it gives me. I really want that H good feeling.

BMX Photo Gallery Scan this QR code to go to the story on hilite.org to find an entire photo gallery of Thompson riding.