3.13 Issue

(I,ITE . . .

CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL

inside the issue

• Food regulations to affect fundraising policies, Page 2 • Invisible Children benefit concert to occur tonight, Page 3 • Underage students have difficulty getting tattoos, B1

ACUMEN A diverse look at what our generation is leaving behind Section c

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520 E. Main Street

Monday’s closure of 136th Street to change traffic around school

TRAFFIC CHANGE: After March 16, students will no longer be able to come from the east on 136th Street.

The traffic seen here will be redirected to Main Street.

March 13, 2009

While Friday the 13th doesn’t directly affect economy, the “fear of fear” can have adverse effects

By Amy Flis aflis@hilite.org

ARJUNA CAPULONG / PHOTO

Volume 54, Issue 11

Down on Our Luck

An unlucky sign?

136th Street at Keystone is scheduled to close next Monday, which is the first week day following this Friday the 13th.

To manage the traffic, the administration has a plan to change traffic patterns at the school. The changes include closing the trail to all vehicle traffic, closing the gate at the stadium across from the trail and changing the bus pick-up locations to be at Main Street and on the drive east of the school (as there will no longer be buses at the Natatorium).

Principal John Williams said students need to be patient. “We all know that it’s not going to be the same. There’s going to have to be a lot of patience, time, and (putting) safety first,” Williams said.

Although sophomore Kirby Lynch said she doesn’t always drive to school, she said the construction will be inconvenient.

“I’ll think it’s a good idea when it’s done,” Lynch said. “But it’ll cause a lot of traffic problems, and I think they probably shouldn’t do it while school’s in session.”

The closure was originally scheduled to begin April 13, but the construction company changed the date. Keystone Avenue is still scheduled to close on April 13. “(The date change is) not necessarily a bad thing,” Assistant Principal Doug Bird said. “Because the city will have more time to complete the project—hopefully before the first home football game.”

When asked whether the bad luck of Friday the 13th has anything to do with the construction beginning, Williams said the opposite actually seems true in this case. Williams said, “It’s the last day you’ll be able to drive out of here without all of the construction.”

Carmel, IN 46032

13 facts about the number 13 1. Ancient Romans regarded the number 13 as a symbol of death, destruction and misfortune.

2. A witches coven consists of 13 members.

3. Tarot Card number 13 is the Death Card, depicting the Grim Reaper.

4. Hotels, floors of high rise buildings and highways rarely have a 13 number.

5. There are 13 knots in a hangman’s noose.

6. The blade of a guillotine falls 13 feet.

7. The driver of Princess Diana hit pillar #13 at Place de l’Alma when she was killed in Paris, France.

Arjuna Capulong / Photo Illustration

O

By Susie Chen susiechen@hilite.org

n Oct. 19, 1987, the stock market in the United States dropped 22.68 percent in the United States, the largest percent drop in stock market history. This day was termed Black Monday and although there were various explanations for why this drop happened, some stock traders blamed the three Friday’s that fell on the 13th back then.

This year, there are Friday the 13ths in February, March and November. The echoes of another Black Monday could inspire fear in both everyday citizens and stock traders, but AP Economics teacher Dan Bates said that although there is a fear of another Black Monday, it is the fear of the fear that could make it happen again.

“There are Friday the 13ths in every year, but because there are three this year, there might be a bigger impact.

There’s a lot of fear in the market right now and anything could set it off,” he said.

The drop in 1987 star ted in Hong Kong and proceeded to spread west, affecting other countries in the world. Because economic troubles are rampant all over

the world today, there is the possibility an economic crash this year could originate from another country, although Bates said the United States, more than other country, would be the nation to set off a chain.

“It is important to remember how international the market really is,” he said. “What influences one market could influence another.”

As evidenced by Black Monday, there are people in the society who think superstition influences the economy.

According to Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute, $700 to 800 billion are lost every year on every Friday the 13th because people will not travel, shop or take any risks. Bates, however, said that he does not think superstition affects the economy at all. “It’s all people reacting to how others react. I’m sure there are people who do think the economy is affected by superstitions, but it’d be a very small segment,” he said.

Although there is speculation an economic crash could possibly occur on a Friday the 13th this year, Bates said, “There are safeguards in place to prevent anything happening like it did in the past.

“If the stock market were to drop that precipitously again, we would stop trading,” he said. “They’d wait for emotions to subside, to calm down.”

8. President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th of any month, nor would he host 13 guests.

9. Fidel Castro was born on Friday, Aug. 13, 1926.

10. Quarterback Dan Marino (No. 13) never won a Super Bowl.

11. The ill-fated Apollo 13 launched at 13:13 CST. 12. Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.

13. Mark Twain once was the 13th guest at a dinner party. They only had food for 12. livescience.com / source

Japanese exchange students to visit CHS soon in sports activities, attending a professional sporting event, making a traditional meal, having an ice cream social, attending a swing dance lesson and having a community square dance and Western dinner.

Junior Gina McGauley also participated in the exchange program. “My oldest brother traveled and hosted in 2002 and 2004 respectively,” McGauley said. “In eighth grade, I was old enough to go and I really wanted to go. My mom encouraged me also because she knew it was such a good program.

My other brother and mom (as PTO/PTA exchange) ended up going as well with me the summer of 2006.” She then hosted a student in 2007. While she is not participating as a host this year, McGauley said she hopes to help students while they are here in various ways and that she would want to return to Japan in the future. “It is so fun to experience and live in a culture very different from ours,” she said. “It’s also an eye-opening experience to share our own culture.”

Tracy said he agrees. “I believe that it is

80 million

number of unpaid credit cards in the United States last year.

“It has fallen off a cliff.” The number ONE resolution this

year was to get out of debt, overtaking weight loss for the first time in history.

Warren Buffet,

chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and often called the world’s best investor, on the economy.

$8,000

average amount on each card ezinearticles.com, time magazine / source

helpful in a way since you gain a different perspective of the world,” he said. “Living on the other side of the globe makes you think a lot about who you are and what it is that you have to contribute to the world.”

According to Moshier, graduates of the program now live all over the world, work in international business and some have returned to Japan to attend school or visit fellow students.

She said, “The impact of this pr ogram on a student’s life is so positive, and life changing, gaining new life-long friends.”

Marcia Spaid / Submitted Photo

A list of some of the world’s most pressing headlines

Associated Press: “Woman OK after go online To read the bullet ends up in her hair weave” articles accompanying Chicago Tribune: “A surprising these headlines, brouhaha over the use of ‘meh’” visit us online for the links.

CNN: “Dora the Explorer going skank, moms fear” Dayton Daily News: “Breastfeeding while driving gets woman a ticket” Los Angeles Times: “Taxing pot could become a political toking point”

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know and tell

Ever y other year, a group of students here travels to Japan to participate in an exchange program with this school’s sister school, Seikyo Gakuen. Started in 1987, the exchange program allows students here to experience life in Japan with a student from Seikyo Gakuen. Over the summer, sophomore Gregory “Greg” Tracy participated.

“I traveled to Japan this summer on the exchange program and went to school there for a couple weeks,” Tracy said. “This year I am hosting the student that had hosted me when I was over in Japan.”

The partnership began 22 years ago as a student government project at Carmel Middle School, according to co-coordinator Barbara Moshier. A year after the first trip to Japan in 1988, high school students were added to the (exchange) program.”

Students here travel to Japan on even years. This year, 30 Seikyo Gakuen students

and four chaperones will travel here. “This year’s student exchange will be especially wor thwhile for our families, with the economy in both our countries changing so much, it will be enlightening for us to share how our lives have changed because of this,” Moshier said.

In addition, the program will receive its first grant this year, allowing it to involve the community aside from just schooling and home-life. Carmel and Kawachinagano City, the home of Seikyo Gakuen, officially became sister cities in 1994.

Currently, Tracy is preparing for this year’s exchange. Tracy became involved in the program while he was looking for a way to visit Japan. “ I’ve always wanted to go there,” he said. “Japan has everything that I want in my life, from the technology to the city life to the job of my dreams.”

According to Moshier, scheduled activities include learning about the host-student’s life and family, attending school, meeting other students at school or receptions, participating

recent Headlines

By Sara Rogers srogers@hilite.org

Page 2 • Friday, March 13, 2009 • News

Parking Passes According to Assistant Principal Sam Ruff there is a parking pass program for seniors currently in development.

The program is meant to reward 40 hard-working, involved seniors with the opportunity to win a parking pass in a drawing.

“The applications focus on achievements in academics, attendance and activities,” Ruff said. In order to be eligible for the program, a student must not have received any D’s or F’s on their most recent report card.

Junior Emerson Woerner is one student here who will have the opportunity to earn a parking pass.

“It’s going to reward the kids who work hard and make other kids want to work harder,” he said.

According to Ruff, the program came about as a result of all the empty parking spots around the building. Applications will be available in the Activities office starting at the end of this school year. By Reid Conner

CORRECTIONS and clarifications From previous issues The “Carmel alumna becomes CDO” news story in the 2.27 issue should have read “a few months ago,” instead of “a few years ago.”

The winter cheerleaders cheer for both the male and female basketball teams, which was not made clear in the 1.23 story “Cheerleaders look to light up winter season.”

Less than 30

aiser fundr

ite

ms

Doug Bird / Source Michelle Hu / Graphic

percent

calories from fat Drinks cannot be over

20 oz.

for

The district budget cuts stand at $1.5 million out of $90 million on the proposal recommended by Superintendent Barbara Underwood.

The school board will vote on this proposal on March 23.

Roger McMichael, Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs, said the cuts are necessary because “our revenue projections are less than our projected expenditures, and we have a minimum cash balance at this point.”

School board member Gregory Phillips said it’s “just basic financial good sense” to balance the district’s spending and income, but he is upset by the reasons behind this district’s decreasing income. “ We ’ r e i n t h e w e a l t h i e s t community in the state of Indiana, and we don’t have the local power to raise our own revenue. We are totally at the mercy of politicians that work downtown Indianapolis, and it’s a crying shame,” Phillips said.

Several changes have been made to the original budget cut proposal for the better, according to Underwood. One proposition that will no longer be carried out is the elimination of the keyboarding course. Underwood said she did not have accurate information about the enrollment and possible need of new equipment when she initially decided to eliminate it; therefore, this class will still be offered here.

Part of the budget cuts calls for more middle school and high school teachers to teach six periods instead of five so schools will not have to hire more teachers while class sizes will remain the same. At the school board meeting on Feb. 23, school board secretary Tricia Hackett said although she is still uncomfortable with that, she has not been able to come up with a better solution.

“I’ve asked questions, I’ve scoured the budget, I’ve researched, … and I personally can find, besides (Underwood’s) proposal, no viable, sustainable alternative that will help reach a reduction of $1.5 million,” Hackett said. “We need to reach that $1.5 million reduction. The economy is not getting any better, and it could get worse, and the Carmel Clay School district is not immune to this effect.”

McMichael said even with the current proposal, he expects the district to lose about $1 million in 2009. “We can’t make most of these reductions until the fall of 2009,” he said.

An unknown factor may still affect the budget. “We do not know yet what will be impacted by the stimulus package, but we can make other adjustments later. If there are more reductions for 2010, it would not affect teachers,” Underwood said.

The updated budget proposal can be viewed on the district Web site. By Brittani Wheeler and Cathy Chen

les

School Board

Administration begins enforcing food regulations for school fundraisers

No more than

Ru

GREYHOUND NEWS BRIEFS

35 percent

of mass may come from unnaturally occurring sugars

If ice cream has more than 210 calories, it cannot be over three

fluid ounces

At least 50

percent real

fruit or vegetable juice in drinks If a cookie has more than 210 calories, it cannot be over two ounces

Elizabeth Trancik / Photo

STRICT CONTROLS: Sophomore Anna Riebel buys a cupcake from sophomore Madison Kendig for an AVID fund-raiser. AVID, like other student groups, must now follow strict guidelines to sell food at school.

No more than 10 percent of calories can come from saturated or trans fats

Got an opinion?

See all of the food regulations and voice your thoughts online at

hilite.org

Clubs no longer allowed to sell candy due to 2006 state legislation

By Afra Hussain ahussain@hilite.org

did not know that selling candy and other unhealthy food items will no longer be allowed at school because of the enforcement of state legislation that was passed ophomore Daniel Smith is one of the top years ago. candy sellers for this year’s Band Boosters Now clubs and organizations at the school who wish candy sales to benefit the school’s band to fundraise must first fill out an application and make program. Having sold around $81 of candy sure the items they wish to sell follow the Indiana State this year at school, he said right before class Code of Nutrition. However, many of the clubs and starts is the best time to sell the treats. Smith said he organizations at the school have sold candy and other unhealthy items for many years.

As for the new food regulations, Assistant Principal Sam Ruff said it came from a routine investigation. He said, “The goal was originally to keep track of all our fundraisers but in the process of figuring that out, this came about.”

The 2006 law states that food or beverages sold to students must meet certain conditions, including they cannot have more than 30 percent of total calories derived from fat.

These qualifications instantly disqualify popular fundraising items such as candy. Smith said he was never aware of such restrictions and did not understand why such regulations came about. He said he also thinks that students will continue selling candy at school arjuna capulong / Photo even when they are not supposed to.

HEALTHY DIET: Sophomores Ross DeJohn (left) and Austin “I guess it’s not their job to control what Wang sell cupcakes for FCCLA at the main cafeteria on Mar. students eat, but I can’t do anything about 5. They must measure the calories in the cupcakes and make it so I don’t really care,” he said. Smith said he sold candy last year as well for the same sure less than 30 percent comes from fat. fundraiser. Smith is a participant of jazz band,

S

marching band, Wind Symphony I, full orchestra and The Ambassador backup band and said the fundraiser benefits the band program greatly.

Ruff said he understood these concerns. “I think, again, we are going to try to be reasonable in what we can and cannot allow,” Ruff said.

Smith said he does not see the point in the regulations because of the difficulty in enforcing them.

“It may stop some people, but a good amount of people will still keep doing it,” he said. He said he personally does not like the regulations himself.

Ruff said he acknowledges the regulations are difficult to enforce. “It would be impossible for us to police essentially a black market of candy,” he said. Students may not sell any of the unqualified items anytime during school. Similar regulations have been enforced with the vending machines at school. All of the new regulations are part of state law and federally mandated.

Smith suggested that teachers enforce the regulations because he noticed that during class was when the majority of the people bought his candy. “You walk into class and ask who wants candy and a bunch of people say, ‘I do’,” he said. According to him, even having teachers police every student during class could get to be a bit much. He said he was just upset with how the regulations targeted fundraisers.

Ruff said he feels sympathetic for the organizations, but said he has not seen widespread negative reactions toward the regulations. “I think the intent is great, it’s just the enforcement,” he said. “I feel bad for groups that have always done a candy fundraiser in the past. So, hopefully they will try to find other ways to fundraise.”

NHS induction A Night of Class: Jazz bands to perform at Indiana Roof Ballroom ceremony to be on March 29

By STEVEN CHEN stevenchen@hilite.org

Kate Grumme / Photo

STAY TUNED: Sophomore Nick Pfister (left) rehearses for an upcoming performance tonight at Jazz at the Roof. It is one of the most popular band events of the year, which features swing dancing and a sophisticated dinner.

By Hope Boyer hboyer@hilite.org As April approaches, the final days of March are filled with a multiple performances by the various performing arts groups at this school.

From choral competitions to the spring musical, arguably the most extravagant of these, according to Lexie Krohn, member of Jazz 1 and junior, is the Jazz at the Roof concert. It is performed by the three different jazz bands here at 8 tonight in the Indiana Roof Ballroom.

“Ever y year there is really

great dancing, awesome music and everyone who goes always has a lot of fun,” Krohn said.

The concert at the Ballroom is located at 140 W. Washington St. in Indianapolis. According to Performing Arts Director Andrew Cook, the Jazz at the Roof is an annual tradition. In addition to a dance, adults may attend a formal dinner. Typically, high school students only attend the dance.

Students will have access to a cash-only soft drink bar and the dance floor at the Indiana Roof Ballroom during the concert.

“I went last year and it was a lot of fun to just get all dressed up in a

pretty dress and go dance to some real music with my friends,” senior Frances Morton said. “I am most definitely going to go again this year (to the concert).”

Krohn said, “The Jazz at the Roof is basically just a chance for lots of students and their closest friends to go out and listen to jazz while having a good time dancing.”

The money made from ticket sales will go mainly to renting out the ballroom for the night and the drinks, according to Cook.

Krohn said, “It should be a fun night, I’m really excited for it. My friends and I already know what we’re going to wear.”

The National Honor Society (NHS) induction ceremony for the juniors accepted into next year’s club will be on March 29 at 2 p.m. at the Dale E. Graham Auditorium.

“I want to join NHS because I think it’s a good opportunity to give back to the community,” said applicant and junior Jae Han. He has already turned in his application, which was due by March 11, and attended the preliminary call-out meetings.

Now, Han just has to wait for Jae Han his application to be reviewed by the three sponsors, Deborah Haire, Jennifer Marlow and Michele Satchwell, to decide if he can join. If Han does make the cut, then he will be inducted at the one hour long ceremony.

Haire said, “(The ceremony) is when all of those students who apply to be in NHS, and if they fulfill the requirements, then we recognize them at a ceremony that Sunday.”

The club just finished sending out the applications for students who have higher than a 3.0 GPA, which is the minimum GPA required for members according to the NHS national Web site. The number selected varies from year to year, and the club has approximately 283 seniors this year.

“We have to go through and make sure that they meet the requirements,” Haire said. “If they make the requirements and don’t have any discipline issues, then they’ll probably be selected.”

According to the NHS’s national Web site, each chapter or school for the nonprofit organization establishes rules for its own membership that are based upon a student’s outstanding performance in the areas of “scholarship, service, leadership, and character.”

“Pretty much you volunteer for a cer tain community service project and you have to have a required amount of hours to be an eligible member of NHS. You apply as early as this year because you’re getting accepted for your senior year,” Han said. “I’m applying because I feel NHS is a society that’s going to help me be true.”

NEWS • FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2009 • PAGE 3

Invisible Children to host benefit concert tonight for Ugandan youth

T

HISTORY OF THE WAR IN NORTHERN UGANDA

BY LAUREN BURDICK lburdick@hilite.org

onight from 6:30 to 9 p.m., this school’s chapter of Invisible Children will host its second annual benefit concert at this school. The club has been working hard to get ready for this charitable event.

“I’m personally excited because I know last year was the first year that we had the Invisible Children Club here, and we raised about $2,000 from the concert, and we have a lot more people involved than we did then, and I know that we’ve been planning a lot and organizing,” co-president and junior Cassandra “Cassie” Wild said.

From 6:30 to 7 p.m. during the concert, Invisible Children will show a video about a girl affected by the war in Uganda and the child soldiers. Once the video is over, the bands will begin to play.

All proceeds from the Invisible Children Benefit Concert will go toward building this school’s partner school, the St. Joseph Layibi Secondary School in northern Uganda, an area devastated by the 23-year long civil war. Invisible Children will be selling tote bags and T-shirts, as well as having a bake sale. Open donations are also encouraged.

Invisible Children is a national organization that began in 2003 when filmmakers went to the ravaged Uganda to film a documentary. Upon seeing the child army and the Ugandan civil war, the filmmakers created “Invisible Children: Rough Cut,” which has now been seen by millions worldwide. The Invisible Children organization was created as a charity stemming from the documentary. Various chapters of the parent organization now exist at schools nationwide.

According to invisiblechildren.com, the civil war in northern Uganda began in the 1980s, when the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) began fighting against the Ugandan government. The LRA began after one woman, Alice Lakwena, claimed that the Holy Spirit told her to overthrow the Ugandan government.

After she was exiled, the new leader of the LRA, Joseph Kony, began abducting children, which one statement claims made up 90 percent of the LRA army.

In 2001, the U.S. Patriot Act officially recognized the LRA as a terrorist organization, and in 2005 the International Criminals Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Kony and his top commanders. “(Kony) would go and basically massacre villages and take children ages 5 to15 because they’re the most malleable and basically make a child army,” co-president and junior Priya Patel said. “It stopped in Uganda, but they’re spreading into Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

The Juba Peace Talks, which took place from 2006 to 2008, ushered in the first conversations of stability between the LRA and the Ugandan government; however, children are still being forced into Kony’s army as the issue extends its reach to other countries.

Wild said, “Right now they’re trying to negotiate peace talks, but there’s a lot of pressure on the President (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni) because obviously the man leading the rebel army wants to be completely pardoned

Alice Lakwena, Ugandan woman, claims to witness prophecy to overthrow government for injustice to her people, begins Holy Spirit movement

Ugandan government evicts thousands from their homes to protect villages from LRA’s raids

US passes first legislation involving the war: Northern Uganda Crisis Response Act

Juba Peace Talks begin

1986

1996

2004

2006

1987

2001

2005

2008

Joseph Kony takes over movement after Lakwena is exiled, begins and leads Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA)

US Patriot Act labels LRA a terrorist organization

International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Kony

Kony shifts focus of LRA from Uganda to Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan

UGANDA This African country has the most youth in the world in terms of population percentage, has been wracked by a civil war that targeted young children.

SHIRLEY CHEN / PHOTO

HARD AT WORK: Junior Priya Patel (left), co-president of Invisible Children, speaks to a club member to plan the benefit concert. Tonight, the concert will be held in the auditorium and all proceeds will go toward displaced children in Sub-Saharan Uganda. before he stops fighting, but there’s a lot of pressure from international society to convict him for all his many crimes, and right now he’s fighting in a different country, so the fighting is no longer in Uganda, but there’s still some tension and warfare.”

Partner schools, like the St. Joseph Layibi School, represent much more than an institution of education for the students. “The schools represent a safe haven for these kids because they’re not safe in their own homes, and they are definitely susceptible to being captured anywhere they go,” Patel said.

The Invisible Children Benefit Concert will allow students to get involved with the club and learn more about the devastating happenings and current events in the wartorn African country.

At the second annual concert, attendees can look forward to the passion put into the event.

As sponsor Alicia Noneman said via e-mail, “Last year the students had a lot of fun organizing it, recruiting help, and watching the event be a success. I am excited to see a new group of students share this same enthusiasm.”

INVISIBLECHILDREN.COM / SOURCE MICHELLE HU / GRAPHIC

Model U.N. delegates head to IUPUI Conference

BY BEVERLY JENKINS bjenkins@hilite.org Next Thursday, students involved in the Model U.N. organization will leave for the IUPUI campus and remain there until the end of the following day.

Teams from schools statewide are invited to the conference; however, only centrally-located schools are expected to attend including Zionsville, Brebeuf and Cathedral, according to Tracy Hadden, sponsor of the Model U.N. team and social studies teacher.

Of the 450 students attending the conference overall, roughly 100 students will be from this school, Hadden said. Carmel also has several members among 14 leading countries.

For the two days, students will attend a conference and participate in a simulation similar to that of the actual United Nations.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEES Security Council General Assembly World Food Programme (WFP) Economic and Social Council Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) International Court of Justice AMUN.ORG / SOURCE

“The competition will simulate what the real United Nations might do,” Hadden said.

Hadden used the situation in Darfur as an example, explaining there will be a group of students from various schools on the committee for human rights who might discuss the situation in Darfur and confer on what actions should be taken.

Sophia Paliza-Carre, the first and current president of the Model UN and senior also explained that while the official title of the event is a conference, it is somewhat of a competition as well.

Awards will be granted at the end of the conference on Friday for a variety of reasons including “Best Delegate” and, similarly, “Best Delegation” for each committee of which there are around 10, PalizaCarre said.

“With cooperation as the goal, it’s hard to call it a competition, but there is incentive for students to do as well as possible,” Hadden said.

Regardless of the title, this will be the second conference CHS’s Model U.N. will have participated in this year. The first conference of 2009 took place in early January on Earlham College’s campus.

That particular conference has been hosted annually for years, although this was the first time Carmel’s team had attended, and, according to both Paliza-Carre and Hadden, they hope the team will attend more conferences in the future.

In fact, a third event called World Quest had been scheduled, but Paliza-Carre said the team had been misinformed of the date to attend.

“In the past,” Hadden said, “the Model U.N. used to be just a conference and meetings were held as needed to prepare for it, but now it’s become more of a club. Interest this year has increased.”

Accor ding to Paliza-Car r e, Hadden and she are talking about transforming the Model U.N. into more of an international relations club than just a team concentrating on one conference per year.

Though still in the planning stages, they said they hope the team will become more like a club by hosting meetings more regularly as opposed to as needed and schedule more events.

Even though the team in the past has only had one major event and hosted meetings as needed, it doesn’t mean team members weren’t working hard year-round.

“It can be difficult to be in Model U.N.,” Paliza-Carre said. Delegates must prepare extensive research on the topics they are assigned.

“You really need to have an interest in the countr y you’re representing. You need to know the politics it’s involved in and how it fits in with other countries,” Paliza -Carre said.

However, Paliza-Carre said being a member is gratifying. “As a part of (Model U.N.), you develop a better world view.”

Hadden concurred, saying that understanding global events and crises makes a citizen more globally aware, and it drives everything in.

Not only that, she said, but “being involved introduces you to international relations and how the U.N. works. It also helps students become better public speakers and helps with interpersonal communications.”

Although it is too late for students to enroll in Model U.N. for the 2008-2009 year, Hadden said she announces the call-out meeting at the beginning of every school year with flyers and on the morning announcements. Typically, teams are formed in the fall, but papers are not due until the next spring.

POOJA MATHUR / PHOTO

INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY: Sophia Paliza-Carre, president of Model UN and senior, evaluates and edits papers written by other delegates. The conference mimics an actual United Nations meeting, with two students representing one country for each subcategory.

Page 4 • Friday, March 13, 2009 • Beats / Ads

Rising Stars competing in State conference this weekend

By Stephanie Hodgin shodgin@hilite.org

Competition events Rising Stars members will compete in: • • • • • • • •

Monologues Duets Group scenes Solo musical Mime Short film Design Construction james peterson / source

T

oday through Sunday, Rising Stars is participating in a state conference at the University of Indianapolis, according to James Peterson, Rising Stars’ sponsor and drama teacher via email. In this competition, there are plenty of ways the Rising Stars members can participate and possibly earn scholarship money.

Peterson said, “Juniors can audition for colleges and seniors compete for three scholarships totaling about $2,000.”

One of the members participating this year is president and senior Sarah Donaldson. She said that she is competing in a few different categories, including advanced monologue and the cast competition.

“This year, there is much more competition. Instead of ‘here’s a ribbon,’ schools are getting placed in first, second and third places instead. The accolades are more

intense,” Donaldson said.

Despite the amount of competition from other schools, Rising Stars’ past at this conference provides evidence of their hard work.

“We’ve participated in almost every year I’ve been here. We typically do very well. In all the years we’ve participated, we have had a winner in each category and one year we won all three scholarships. Other schools were not happy with us. Last year Sarah Benedict won best of category in technical design. We won seven other ribbons as well,” Peterson said.

This year, Rising Stars will be performing a short one-act play for the cast competition.

“We will be performing a short one-act play by Christopher Durang…It’s called ‘For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls’. It stars Sarah Donaldson, (juniors) Devin Smith, Matthew Hook and Ashley Nief,” Peterson said.

He also said that parents and students are welcome to attend performances, but that tickets are only available on campus during the conference.

Evelyn forbes / photo

Prep for State: President and senior Sarah Donaldson talks to members about the upcoming conference. This is the second year Donaldson is participating in the state competition.

Clubs, Activities at a Glance

This Issue @ HiLite Online

For more info, go online to hilite.org and click on ‘Beats’

Tomorrow the winter guard is scheduled to travel to Ben Davis High School to compete in the Winter Guard International (WGI) Indianapolis Regional.

According to Andrew Cook, Associate Director of Bands, the winter guard is currently ranked fifth in the nation and will use the regional competition to gauge its progress so far this season.

“This competition is a good one to attend,” Cook said. “A lot of teams that are competing at regionals will also be at nationals so we have a chance to see how we stack up compared to them.”

Samantha Plummer, winter guard member and freshman, said her favorite parts of winter guard are the competitions. However, according to Plummer, getting ready to perform takes a lot of work.

“We clean the work and practice over and over and over and over. The repetition wears on you,” she said.

Like any other sports team, the winter guard has had to deal with injuries as it practices for upcoming competitions.

According to Plummer, about four members of the winter guard are currently sidelined due to injuries, herself included. Plummer said she injured her right shoulder.

She also said most of the injuries that occur involve the guard members’ shoulders or backs.

Plummer said she does not know if she will be allowed to perform at the WGI Indianapolis Regional.

Cook said he is not surprised at the injuries. “(Winter guard) is intense,” Cook said. “The girls practice so much that all the repetition probably starts to take a toll. I think this year’s winter guard is coming along very well. Hopefully all their hard work will pay off at regionals.”

By Nina Underman

Shirley chen / photo

practice: Winter guard members

practice the routine after school.

Techhounds After a successful showing the last weekend of Febr uar y, the TechHOUNDS team is gearing up for another competition next week, from Thursday to March 21 on their home turf at Purdue University.

Meera Chander, co-captain of the team and junior, said that the competition a few weekends ago in Cleveland turned out well, and they’re hoping for just as good of a competition next week. “(The competition) went so well,” she said. “After working so hard for so long, it was so neat to have everyone in the audience being able to see our robot work.”

Now, the team is anticipating both the Purdue University regional competition and the international Atlanta, Georgia competition instead of working after school each day since the six-week build season is over.

George Giltner, TechHOUNDS sponsor, said that in the meantime, the TechHOUNDS will still meet semi-regularly, but the team is not allowed to work on the robot except right before and during competitions.

“After a lot of work, we’re finally able to take a break,” Giltner said.

The final two competitions the TechHOUNDS will be enter for the season are the Purdue and Atlanta competitions, coming up on Thursday through March 21 and April 16 through 18 respectively. By Beverly Jenkins

For more information, check out the TechHOUNDS Web site at www.techhounds.com

Ambassadors With one grand champion trophy under their belt, the Ambassadors will compete again tomorrow at Pike High School. According to Ambassadors’ director Lamonte Kuskye, the Ambassadors will compete at 1:55 p.m. and students can buy tickets at the door for $10.

Kuskye strongly encourages students to come because this year, they have added a totally unique and unusual element in their competition set.

“We have actually incorporated strings, which is very unusual for show choirs,” Kuskye said. “The

Weekend patrol Saturday

Renaissance Faire at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum on Levels 1 and 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission is free for all members Big Men’s Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse starting at noon.

Tickets range from $30 to $75 Sunday

Hearthside Suppers at Conner Prairie from 6 to 9 p.m. Reservations are required. Tickets are $55 for non-members and $50 for members.

“

And much more

blogs

I was not looking forward to this year’s Oscars ceremony. The winners seemed awfully predictable...

I dreaded hearing the same speeches and seeing the same eyes tear up.

“

Winter Guard

catalyst for adding strings is the last two songs is our set (“Love Goes On” and “Virtuoso”).They are by the contemporary Christian artist, David Phelps. (These songs) are heavily based on strings and the music is really cool. It’s gotten rave reviews.”

Although this was an unusual move, Kuskye said that the strings were received incredibly well.

Other numbers in their set include “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Money, Money, Money” and “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.”

Bridgette Car ter, returning member of the Ambassadors and senior, said that their biggest competition at Pike High School will be the choir from Center Grove High School.

Carter also added that while most choirs tend to perform hip-hop songs like “Closer” by Ne-Yo, the CHS choir and choirs from Center Grove High School and Finley High School are in the same genre with songs that are a bit more classical.

Despite the tough competition, Carter is confident that they will pull through. She said, “I think that we are more experienced this year and the group as a whole is more connected.” By Min Qiao

For daily updates, photos, stories and calendar, go online now to www.hilite.org.

You can also subscribe to HiLite Online to receive notifications when new stories are posted.

By Sam Watermeier

Read Sam’s Oscar review blog online. Go to www. hilite.org to leave commets and read other blogs.

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Sports • Friday, March 13, 2009 • Page 7

Mental toughness defines great athletes midwest sports talk by daniyal habib

Seniors lead baseball team kaitlyn lampe / photo

TAKE CHARGE: Senior Christopher “Chris” Tillery throws pitches during practice. Coaches observe their players in order to make sure the technique of their throws is accurate. by maggie brandenburg mbrandenburg@hilite.org

A

PITCHING AWAY : Senior Brooks Fiala eyes his target before throwing a pitch during practice. kaitlyn lampe, lily zhao / photo illustration

very smart frog once said, “It’s not easy being green.” And today for Carmel athletes, it’s also no longer easy to be blue and gold. With the tradition of excellence in athletics this school has built over the past several decades, domination is no longer the exception, it’s the norm. And for the seniors on the baseball team, it is their last chance to leave the mark they want to on the school by capturing the Sectional tournament title for the first time since 2000.

“We’re just going to come out harder than last year and just more focused. Last year we got our first win against Noblesville and we kind of just laid down,” Kyle Lloyd, varsity player and senior, said.

According to Head Coach Eric Lentz, a tough Sectional division with teams

from the Hoosier Crossroads Conference and rivals like Westfield and Noblesville have stood in the way over the past few years of a tournament win. Also, replacing key players from last year who graduated has put a little more inexperience in certain spots.

“It’s very competitive, so I think that, you know, we just have to continue to do what we’re doing and hopefully we’ll have some breaks and good things will happen for us this year,” Lentz said.

Another key part to the success of this year’s team is the player’s experience especially with playing together. With 13 seniors going out for the team and stand outs like Lloyd and senior Brooks Fiala, the team has more leadership coming in this year than in previous years. According to Lentz, a large part of a successful baseball team has to do with the chemistry and how the team works together.

Lentz said, “Baseball in some ways is a grind in the sense that you’re playing a lot of games in a short period of time. You get little injuries here and there and people have to step up and keep guys positive.”

For Lloyd and Fiala, both said the key to success when the Sectional tournament comes around is getting focused. The team has consistently put up good regular season records and has had success in the MIC conference, they said, but just doesn’t seem to be mentally prepared for each tournament game.

Fiala said, “Last year we had a big win to get to the Sectional Championship and then we kind of just laid an egg and blew it, so I think we just need to concentrate.”

As spor ts fans, we ar e always looking for the “next” everything.

Kobe Bryant was the next Michael Jordan. Now, Lebron James is being touted as the next great number 23.

After the success of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in his rookie season last year, NFL executives are hoping to find the next version of him in this year’s NFL draft.

One scenario that may come up soon is Danny Granger of your Indiana Pacers being compared to former great Reggie Miller.

In ter ms of pur e statistics, Granger is already on Miller’s level.

Granger’s scoring average this season, roughly 26 points per game, surpasses Miller’s career high scoring average of 25. Same with rebounds and blocks. Miller is better so far in field goal percentage, assists and free throw percentage.

The next step in the evaluation is the intangibles. This is where Miller should have the big edge with his legendary late game performances. Miller had that end-of-the-game “you can’t stop me no matter what you do” attitude about him. Granger certainly has made big plays at the end of games, but we have yet to see him dominate games for stretches like Miller, and so many other legends, could do, simply by setting their mind to it.

Those intangibles are something that always seem to be overlooked in an athlete’s evaluation. So much of sports, especially basketball, is mental.

When you take a look at the all time NBA greats, a theme occurs.

Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and in modern times, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James.

All of them had or have the mental edge over their opponents.

As an opponent, you could go into a game confident of your ability, and telling yourself you will play well against one of those guys. But when crunch time came, they stared you in the eye, told you they were going to score, and you knew that you had really no chance.

Of course, part of that confidence comes from establishing a strong body of work. But part of that is just a player having that “it” factor that is impossible to specifically define.

That factor is something that develops early on, and is spotted even in high school. It’s the mental confidence that you will get done what needs to be done.

The Greyhounds football team exhibited that the past thr ee seasons. Game after game, if a key defensive play was needed, someone stepped up and made it.

I f M o rg a n N e w t o n h a d t o reach that extra two yards for the fourth quarter first down, he would get it done. Plays like that help a team make it to three consecutive state title games.

And those times when the Hounds weren’t able to make the play, it only strengthened their resolve to take advantage of the next opportunity.

P o s s i b l y t h e largest part of that mental toughness is bouncing back from failure. Reggie Miller could miss 10 consecutive shots, but every time he shot, he was 100 percent confident it was going in. Michael Jordan could play the worst game of his career, but when the pressure was greatest, he was always positive the game winning shot was going in.

Jordan once stated in a commercial, “I’ve missed almost 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twentysix times, I was trusted to make the game winning shot, and m i s s e d . I ’ v e f a i l e d o v e r, a n d over, and over again in my life.”

The final line of the commercial?

“And that is why I succeed.”

Daniyal is a sports reporter. Contact him at dhabib@hilite.org

Intangibles are something that always seem to be overlooked in an athlete’s evaluation.

Facing a Painful Decision

Injuries, though common in most sports, force some to quit or to play with pain by emma neukam eneukam@hilite.org

victoria weinkauf

She was practicing backbends with two of her fellow color guard members in March of her sophomore year when senior Elizabeth van Hoose went down, hitting the back of her neck as she fell.

Little did van Hoose know the severe pain and discomfort she suffered from after she fell were due to a Class C sprain in her back. “No matter what position I was in, it hurt,” van Hoose said.

According to Mor tality and Morbidity Weekly Report, an estimated two million injuries occurred in high school athletics and activities in the 2005-2006 school year. These injuries often have serious long-term consequences forces many students like van Hoose to realign their priorities or continue participating in spite of their injuries.

Victoria Weinkauf, a junior on the school’s club and swim teams, said she experiences constant back pain started at the end of her freshman year. “It’s just gradually started getting worse until we decided to go the doctor,” Weinkauf said.

After many visits to doctors to find out the cause of her sudden back pain, Weinkauf said they have finally come to the conclusion that the facet joints on the side of her spine are inflamed.

“My back pain, it’s always there, but it definitely intensifies with swimming,” Weinkauf said.

Dawn Robertson, assistant trainer at this school, works to repair injuries of students like van Hoose and Weinkauf, as well as prevent them from happening in the first place.

When students must make a decision to play through their pain or give up their activities, Robertson said they should follow the advice of their physicians and trainers.

“My advice would be if it’s an injury that’s going to cause problems

later in life, then you definitely tell the athletes the consequences and direct them into a different (activity),” she said.

Despite her pain, Weinkauf continues to swim about 25 hours per week, although many of her doctors have discouraged it with her back’s condition. However, she said giving up is not an option for her, and she chooses to swim through her injury.

If athletes defy trainers’ recommendations, Robertson said she would tell them they were putting themselves at risk for elevating the severity of their injuries and possibly risking further damage.

But for Weinkauf, she said she refuses to stop swimming. “It’s been in my life for such a long time, it would be weird to completely quit. Since I’ve grown to love the sport so much, I can’t really imagine not swimming during high school,” Weinkauf said.

Unlike Weinkauf, van Hoose decided that her best option would be to quit the color guard, after thinking that she fell behind the rest of the guard team as well as her doctor’s recommendation to refrain from participating.

“I knew that I was going to be behind, and I just decided that it wouldn’t be beneficial to the color guard if one member couldn’t do everything the guard was supposed to do,” van Hoose said.

For students like Weinkauf who play through their injuries, Robertson’s help is both beneficial and necessary. Robertson said if left untreated, injuries that occur during the teen years could lead to other more serious injuries as students get older, one example being unhealed stress fractures.

Rober tson said, “If a student athlete doesn’t treat a stress fracture with rest, it becomes a non-union fracture that will require surgery.”

Weinkauf, who sees Robertson

before every afternoon swim practice for a heating pad or ice pack for her back, said students who become injured should get help from trainers like Robertson but they should also learn to persevere. “You have to know the difference between good pain and bad pain,” she said. “It’s beneficial for me to know that I can push myself farther than I think I can.”

Va n H o o s e s a i d m a k i n g a pros and cons list is helpful when

students are faced with injuries that force them to decide between giving up activities and playing through their pain. “When you do that, you realize that the pros aren’t worth the cons of going through the pain. Take the time to make it better because it’s worth it in the end,” she said.

Weinkauf, however, continues to swim even with the inflammation of the joints in her back. “My

injur y’s definitely let me see my pain tolerance level; it’s a challenge I’ve been trying to overcome for a couple years.”

In van Hoose’s opinion, having to choose between sticking with a sport or giving it up after being faced with an injur y is a tough decision for many students to make.

She said, “It makes them think really hard about what they want to do in the future.”

The pain index: wrestling positions

Compiled by Lily Zhao and wrestler and sophomore Kevin Vanneman

The Reverse Bodylock

The Bearhug

bearable

The Headlock

mild

The Cradle

gut-wrenching arjuna capulong / photos

Page 8 • Friday, March 13, 2009 • Sports

With season-ending loss to HSE, team looks to rebuild next year CHS players among area leaders Numbers from Metro Indy, listed in stats per game

Seniors Paris Smith Morgan Newton 3.2 assists 17.6 points 8.5 rebounds John-Michael .536 FG accuracy Polley .466 FG accuracy underclassmen A.J. Hammons Scott Laskowski 2.5 blocks 6.6 rebounds Robert Kitzinger .467 FG accuracy .394 3-pt 0.7 blocks accuracy Alex Payne 2.7 assists indy star / source

by lily zhao and faith mwalwa lszhao@hilite.org, fmwalwa@hilite.org The men’s varsity basketball team’s 60-46 loss to Hamilton Southeastern during the Sectional Championship game last Saturday, ended the team’s season with a 17-6 record.

During that game, senior Morgan Newton scored a team-high 15 points, while junior Robert Kitzinger added 10 points. But even with some great scoring contributions from many players, what the team could not overcome was its poor shooting against the Royals.

“It was not our best game,” Head Coach Mark Galloway said. “We did not shoot the ball well.”

And now that the season is over, the team looks to move onto next season. But with the departure of five senior players — Paris Smith, Brandon Wojcik, Connor Lowe, John-Michael Polley and Newton — the fate of next year’s team will be in the hands of the

returning players: juniors Alex Payne, Kitzinger and Scott Laskowski and freshman A.J. Hammons.

As for the ability for those players to step up, Galloway said, “We will need the returning players with experience to take on different roles.”

Kitzinger said he agrees with Galloway’s assessment.

He said, “Seniors are in charge of guiding the underclassmen and even us juniors; they are there to guide us and to show us the right ways to do things.”

Furthermore, Wojcik said the senior leadership that next year’s players can bring to the team will be extremely valuable. He said, “(The seniors) bring experience and stability because they’ve (played in big-time games) before.”

And looking toward next season, Galloway said the team’s main focus is to try and commit to having more developed and game-aware players and, in turn, a better team.

Galloway said, “(We want) to be the best possible team that we can be.”

kaitlyn lampe / photo

LOCK-DOWN D: Forward and senior Morgan Newton (24) guards a Terre Haute South player during a varsity game earlier this season as forward and junior Scott Laskowski looks on. Newton, along with four other seniors, will graduate this year, leaving the underclassmen to fill in the gap.

spring Team in focus: Track and field previews

Women’s track team builds skills indoors by david zheng dzheng@hilte.org Although the outdoor season for the women’s track and field team doesn’t begin until the Wednesday before Spring Break, the team has been preparing for that season by running in indoor meets, the first of which occurred last Saturday, according to Head Coach Timothy Mylin.

The team runs back-to-back indoor meets this weekend. Tonight is the Metropolitan Interscholastic

shirley chen / photo

ALL IN STRIDE: Kelly McCurdy, varsity runner and senior, jogs during track practice. McCurdy looks to lead the women’s team to victory at the Hoosier State Relays at Purdue University on March 21.

Conferenc (MIC) Indoor Meet at DePauw University, and tomorrow the team will compete in the Patriot Indoor Invitational at Anderson University.

Because the outdoor season is after the indoor season, the team uses the indoor season as a stepping stone for when it begins to compete outdoors. “We only have about three weeks to get ready for the indoor season, so the girls are in moderate shape, but not peak shape by any means,” Mylin said. “So many schools are not in great shape at this time so it’s more or less a stepping stone in our conditioning and it gives the girls a chance to compete.

That’s pretty much how we approach it.”

According to Irene Gibson, varsity runner and sophomore, the team has been practicing timetrials and handoffs for relays. “You can’t really do time-trials when you’re getting in shape and have them (be) realistic,” Gibson said.

“We’re just trying to figure out where everyone fits in and the indoor meets are for doing that.”

Gibson said she agrees with Mylin in how the team uses indoor meets as preparation for the outdoor season. “It’s like a stepping stone because it’s not as big of an issue as outdoor, but it’s practice for the real thing,” Gibson said. “You get to compete with other schools in the area and see how other schools compete.”

Mylin said the indoor meets are generally more laid back than the outdoor ones, because they score based on individual results.

“They usually will give medals to the top six or eight individuals or relays and possibly some ribbons further down but that’s pretty much it,” Mylin said. “They don’t do any team awards. It’s more of an opportunity for the kids to compete without a lot of pressure in terms of team results and so forth because it is so early in the season.”

Gibson said, “We take (the indoor season) seriously, but it’s not important enough that we take it as seriously as the real outdoor track season. We’re just trying to figure out who’s supposed to be in what position right now. We still want to compete and win and do well, but we’re mainly excited.”

kate grumme / photo

DIRECTIONAL ADVICE: Will Ellery, new track and field Head Coach, talks with seniors (from right) Dean Weaver, Michael Spahn and Joseph “Joe” Rippe during practice. This is Ellery’s first head coaching job here, replacing longtime coach Chuck Koeppen.

New Beginnings

The men’s track and field team starts its season under new Head Coach Will Ellery Fresh faces Coaches new to track team

THROWING Justin Schneider SPRINTING Ryan Sarbinoff carmelhigh school.net / source

by mackenzie madison mmadison@hilite.org Chuck Koeppen retired after over 30 years of coaching both track and cross-country here last year. This season, Will Ellery is stepping in to take his place.

Joseph “Joe” Rippe, varsity track runner and senior, said he thinks Ellery is qualified to be head coach in place of Koeppen. “Ellery was my coach two years ago; he knows what he’s doing, he’s a really good replacement. He just has a lot of good qualities a head coach should have. He’s purely business when he needs to be,” Rippe said.

Although Rippe said he is excited to have Ellery as a head coach, he also said he will miss Koeppen. He

said, “ I loved Koeppen, he was just a fun guy to be around all the time.”

“We’re not trying to do things differently, we’re just trying to build on the strong foundation that was already here,” Ellery said. Although Eller y said he is tr ying to keep changes to a minimum, if any at all, he said he has started videotaping the team to help the runners improve on their technique or issues they would not be aware of otherwise.

“We have five video managers who film practices,” he said. “They take what they flim and give it to the event coaches and they review it at home, but sometimes with our athletes as well.”

Ellery said the competition in the MIC conference is tough and the main focus the team will be the State

meet in June. “In order to succeed we have to compete against the teams in our conference. For example, the top three teams in the State meet last year were from our conference.”

Rippe said he has an understanding of Eller y’s fellings about State. “(Ellery) expects a lot out of us to place well at State,” he said.

“The dif fer ence with track is you’re not competing against another team the way you do in other team sports,” Ellery said. You are just competing to achieve your best time, your best height, your best distance and that is a different type of competition really.”

“It is a lot of responsibility,” Ellery said. “But we’re just trying to build on the things Carmel has stood for, and that’s a tradition of excellence.”

Sports fact: dealing with pain for fame is just a part of the game Athletes are willing to bulk up or slim down in order to play their sport later on, but many do not, and end up harming themselves instead.

chompin’ at the bit

by Lily Zhao Just like getting a good grade in school or getting a promotion at work, some students will do just about anything to achieve their goals.

And like those students, athletes are no different.

Some are willing to extend their bodies beyond limits in order to play that sport in college or even later on professionally.

Some high school football athletes, mainly the linemen, attempt to bulk up in order to fit the criteria for college, wrestlers look to eat less and exercise more to get into a lower weight

class, and some dancers diet in order to stay in shape for the dance season. However, a study done by suite101.com found that only 6 percent of football players compete at the college level, so the remaining 94 percent could potentially develop illnesses later on because of their current lifestyles. According to cornellsun.com, wrestlers and dancers also have a small chance of dancing professionally later on.

The underlying concern for these athletes and others is that if competing in that sport is not possible in college or in the future, the habits that they have developed for many years will affect their health when they are older, making them develop bad eating and dieting habits. Also, some medical concerns later on for these individuals are high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, proteindeficiency and even obesity and anorexia.

But according to healthmagazine.com, a way for athletes who do not make it professionally to

get their health on track, is to take time to adjust to a new lifestyle and consult a doctor on how to get well. This transition is pertinent in order to get healthy. Lily Zhao is a Sports editor. Contact her at lzhao@hilite.org.

want more?

For more sports and statistics regarding any of the winter sports, go online to:

www.hilite.org

nick johnson / photo

NEAR PERFECT: Senior Will Mascaro’s pain and hard work paid off with a third place finish.

CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL

3POT,ITE

STAGE FRIGHT Student overcomes her childhood fear of performing in front of an audience with practice See Page B7

WWW.HILITE.ORG

520 E. Main Street • Carmel, IN 46032 • Volume 54, Issue 11 • March 13, 2009

& underage

Although some students receive tattoos before age 18, shops don’t always consent even with guardian permission

S

BY RENNY LOGAN rlogan@hilite.org

enior Jacob “Jake” Landis got his first tattoo when he turned 17. The tattoo, directly over his right shoulder, depicts the band Sublime’s logo of a sun.

“I’d been saying I wanted the same tattoo for probably about a year and it just hadn’t changed,” Landis said. Finally, his parents caved in and gave their permission, which state law requires. “I’ve always wanted to get (a tattoo),” Landis said. “It’s a good way to express yourself artistically in an unconventional way.”

Over the years, tattoos have become more socially accepted as a form of self-expression.

Similarly, the number of underage individuals like Landis who want body art has increased.

One thing sets Landis apart, however; he got the tattoo with his parents’ permission.

According to Senate Bill No. 13, passed in 1997, Indiana law states that criminal penalties will be enforced on any tattoo artist that “provides tattoos to persons less than 18 years.” However, the bill further states that a minor may receive a tattoo if a parent or guardian is present and submits written consent.

But even with parent permission, selecting a tattoo parlor goes beyond that of the individual who wants a tattoo.

Certain tattoo parlors will refuse the work regardless, tattoo artist Wes McIlvain said. “Any reputable place isn’t going to put themselves morally out.”

When approached with such a situation, McIlvain said he uses discretion. “(Tattoo artists) do kind of have to pick and choose and it’s kind of mean and people don’t like it, but that’s part of the tattoo shop.”

After all, McIlvain said, tattooing involves risks that many people, especially minors, don’t consider.

Selecting the right parlor goes beyond sanitation and cleanliness, McIlvain said, saying that tattooing involves much more than drawing on skin with a needle.

“People think (tattooing) is really simple. It’s hard to get (the needle) in there efficiently without shredding the skin up,” McIlvain said.

Often, minors opt for second-rate shops or private homes in attempts to avoid tattoo laws, which can lead to not only injury and infection but dissatisfaction with the finished product as well.

But with 15 years of the industry under his belt, McIlvain has perfected a technique all his own and said the difference between a good tattoo artist and a bad one comes down to small

details. These details greatly affect the work that is done, McIlvain said.

“I still, by hand, groove and solder all my own needles,” he said. “People buy (needles) pre-made now with no thought of how they’re made, and without that knowledge, yo u l o s e a l i t t l e b i t o f understanding of how it works.”

Little things like how the needles are made can make all the difference when it comes to selecting a tattoo shop, McIlvain said, and minors looking for tattoos will most likely stumble on the second-rate ones.

McIlvain, who got his first tattoo at age 14, said, “(Parents) better inform (minors) before they (get a tattoo) themselves. And a lot of them do. In a situation where they’re underage or they want that tattoo, they’re probably gonna find it somewhere, and they don’t care (if the shop is reputable). I know out of my own personal experience. I’m glad I did, but in hindsight, boy it was stupid.”

McIlvain said that, among other things, the age restriction on tattoos helps to prevent poor choices that will leave a permanent mark that will remain with that person for the rest of his or her life.

“I don’t want to be the one that put ‘thug-life’ on some 17-year-old’s stomach,” he said. “The kid turns 25 and thinks ‘Jesus, I’m stuck with “thug-life” on me.’”

Landis said not only did he have parent permission for his tattoo but that also he put a lot of thought into his choice. He points out that the logo not only represents one of his favorite bands but also that the art itself had significance to him.

He said he had no set amount of time as a “waiting period” to decide on his tattoos, but said he that he thinks constantly about the tattoos he has planned out.

McIlvain said that the age restriction does aid in preventing minors from making split-second decisions on tattoos, but also said mistakes, as far as tattoo choices, can occur at any age.

“I have tattoos from when I was 23 that I regret,” he said. “The simple fact is that (tattoos) are gonna be with you forever.”

TAT IT UP: Senior Jacob “Jake” Landis shows off his Sublime-inspired tattoo. Landis, who received his tattoo just after turning 17, said although he was able to get a tattoo with parental permission, it is not always easy for underage teens to get them.

ARJUNA CAPULONG, SARAH SHEAFER / PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

Internet makes more obscure scholarship info available

BY CASSIE DUGAN cdugan@hilite.org

JOSEPH HELOU

“The scholarship search can be just as important as the college search.”

Tanna Hanger

Eleven thousand dollars. That’s 27 Gucci purses. That’s seven plasma HD televisions. That’s a used Volkswagen Beetle. However, for senior Joseph Helou, that $11,000 is his cumulative scholarship money for college.

Helou, who is attending Indiana University next school year, said he’s lost count of how many scholarships he has applied for, but that it has reached the dozens.

“I’ve been awarded one IU scholarship that kicks in automatically based on your SAT/ACT scores,” Helou said. “I also have been awarded another scholarship from the honors program at IU.” But aside from these two, Helou said he had to search for the remainder of his scholarship opportunities. The Internet was a helpful tool in finding such additional financial aid.

Helou said, “Almost all of my scholarships were found and submitted online. For two of them I had to fax some papers, but besides that all of them were online.”

Tanna Hanger, college adviser in the College and Career Resource Center, said the Internet has evolved into an extraordinarily useful way to seek and submit college scholarships.

“The Inter net is a great way to search for (scholarships). It eliminates the paper and time. The information you need and the actual application are right there at your fingertips,” Hanger said. “You can send your applications online and really that is how most of them are done now.”

More traditional scholarships, such as those awarded for high GPA and standardized test scores, can be found easily both online and in print sources.

However, the more “off-beat” scholarships are more exclusively found on the Internet.

An example of such a scholarship is the Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest. This contest invites students to design a prom dress and tuxedo made from duct tape. The best entry can win up to $12,000 in scholarship money.

Not a duct tape person? That’s fine. Sheep USA offers $1,000 to any student who can successfully and creatively construct an outfit consisting completely of wool.

Other non-academic scholarship opportunities that may be considered “strange” include having the ability to speak Klingon from “Star Trek,” being a member of the

National Rifle Association and writing an essay about fire sprinklers for the American Fire Sprinkler Association.

Hanger said although sometimes these “off-beat” scholarships may not come in large sums of money, applying for multiple ones can really add up, especially in this economy.

“Ask yourself questions. Ask yourself what special abilities you have. Ask ‘Do I have any disabilities or am I a minority?’” Hanger said. “A good way to find the more random ones is to just Google them. I like to call those ‘looking outside of the box scholarships.’”

Guidebooks and other information about scholarships are openly available in the CCRC located in the counseling office. Hanger added that collegeboard.com and fastweb.com are two Web sites that prove beneficial in the search process.

Helou said he took advantage of both online resources and the CCRC in his search for scholarships. He added that by using both of these he was able to find and submit scholarship applications that suited him best.

“The best thing to do is to go to those Web sites and get details. Then call the toll-free number. Just know that because you don’t have the highest GPA doesn’t mean there aren’t scholarships available,” Hanger said. “The scholarship search can be just as important as the college search.”

NOT SO COMMON SCHOLARSHIPS • Having a Confederate ancestor who fought in the Civil War • Being an amateur radio lover • Making a duct tape prom dress and tuxedo • Making the best wool outfits • Speaking Klingon from “Star Trek” • Being tall (over 6’2’’ for males and over 5’10’’ for females) • Playing the bagpipes • Skateboard and have above a 2.5 GPA • Writing an essay about fire sprinklers • Being overweight in New England STUDENTS-SOURCE.COM / SOURCE

CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF Search online for scholarships that can help pay your way through college during trying economic times. These Web sites might help.

Page B2 • Friday, March 13, 2009 • Feature / Ads

‘Spring’-ing into Allergy Season Students experiencing allergy symptoms this year, for the first time or not, must take precautions in order to tough out the potentially debilitating season

R

By Amanda ngyuen anguyen@hilite.org

unny nose. Itchy eyes. Sneezing. These are signs of spring for junior Anna Samland ever since she developed spring allergies a couple of years ago. She said, “I noticed that I was getting stuffed up and my eyes were getting red and watery.”

As the allergy season heats up, the ones Samland experiences can be distracting to students who haven’t had allergies before. Luckily, this isn’t the case for Samland. She’s been taking medicine for her allergies for years, and, she said, it seems to help.

According to medicine.net, allergic tendencies also group in families. If neither parent is allergic, the child will have a 15 percent chance of having allergies. If one parent is allergic, the chance of having allergies increases to 30 percent, and if both parents are allergic, the chance can increase to more than 60 percent.

People can also develop allergies because allergies are irregular responses of the immune system in which the body’s defenses react to certain substances. Many allergens can cause an allergic reaction, which can range from mild to fatal. Exposure to pollen from trees, grasses and weeds can prompt hay fever or seasonal allergies.

The top 10 most common triggers, according to the website, are pollen, animal dander, dust mites, insect bites, molds, food, latex, medication, fragrance and cockroaches.

School nurse Carol Gelatt said, “(With allergies) for some reason, the body’s immune system begins to reject the substance that is being inhaled or ingested as a foreign substance and therefore the body reacts to it.”

Let’s see some ID How to identify spring allergy symptoms so you can take care of them early on:

Common Allergy Symptoms: Sneezing Itchy, Watery Eyes Stuffed Nasal Passages Chest Tightness (Breathing Difficulty) Itchy, Sore Throat Ear Pain Runny Nose Fatigue Sleeplessness Fever Earaches Hives / Rash hay-fever-allergy.com / source

The immune system’s job, according to medicine. net, is to recognize and react to these foreign substances called antigens, which cause an allergic reaction and the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE). Antibodies are created to destroy the foreign substance, but a certain antibody, IgE, is produced in large amounts by an allergic person.

The sensitization time period between first contact with the allergen and the allergic reaction can range from months to years. In order to have an allergic reaction to a certain substance, the body must have had prior contact with the allergen for the immune system to react.

The site also stated that IgE antibody usually protects the body from parasites, but not from allergens. During the sensitization period, the body overproduces IgE, which could coat “potentially explosive cells that contain chemicals.”

These cells then could cause an allergic reaction from contact to the allergen because the IgE irritates the cells, which causes the cells to release different chemicals. The chemicals then cause inflammation and common allergy symptoms.

Gelatt said, “Because there are symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose and sometimes asthma, allergies affect schoolwork because students don’t feel well. They need to take medication to counteract the symptoms. Medications are generally started prior to the allergy season and are controlled by the doctor.”

Samland said, “I went to the doctor to check what the symptoms meant, and they turned out to be allergies. Normally my allergies are not that bad, but sometimes they can get worse. Most of the time, my allergies aren’t severe enough to take prescription medicines so I take over-the-counter medicines.”

According to medicine.net, common spring allergy symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion and itchy, watery eyes. Treatments for allergies include over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs and allergy shots.

Gelatt said, “Students should get with their healthcare provider and talk with them about what bothers them the most. A testing such as a prick test or immunotherapy can be done to find out what you’re allergic to. Prescription or over-thecounter medications can be taken, but you need to be diagnosed first.”

Samland said she usually gets congested and red, watery eyes when the spring time rolls around. “I’ve learned how to manage (my allergies). I’ve learned to recognize when my symptoms are worse than others so I know when to take my medicine,” she said.

Junior Kelly Rownd has a similar case to that of Samland. “I’ve had allergies since sixth grade. I’m allergic to grass, trees and ragweed,” Rownd said.

Rownd said she usually gets itchy eyes but uses eye drops to help alleviate the irritation. Because Rownd has had allergies for a while, she said they don’t bother her as much. She said, “It doesn’t affect my school work much because I take medicine for it.”

Samland said, “Although (allergies) can be kind of a pain, for me, I’ve learned how to cope with them so they don’t interfere with my daily routine.”

Stephanie Coleman / Photos Let it out: Junior Kelly Rownd stands up to get a tissue during class. The spring season is home to frustrating allergies for many. Some allergies can develop and manifest during the teen years.

Knock ’em Dead Different treatments work for different people. Here are some options:

• First-generation antihistamines: These are available over the counter. These medications are generally effective, but have some bothersome side effects. (Benadryl and Chlortrimeton).

• Leukotriene modifiers: • Second-generation It is used for both antihistmines: They allergies and asthma. are all highly effective It blocks leukotrienes, and can be taken on a another body chemical regular basis with very that is involved in few side effects. They the allergic response. also come in long(Singulair). lasting versions (Allegra, Zyrtec, and Claritin).

healthcentral.com / source

Local shoppers go against the grain Students buying from area stores better benefits community economics, study shows by kelsey binion kbinion@hilite.org For senior Kara Cifizzari shopping at local businesses, including the ones in the Carmel Arts and Design District, has been regular part of her routine. She said there are benefits to it.

“Name-brand stores sell their name and people buy their products for the name. With local shops, there is a lot less transportation and less energy used. It’s more independent and individual,” Cifizzari said.

In fact, in addition to the benefits Cif fizar ri mentioned, shopping at local retailers may a l s o h e l p t h e l o c a l e c o n o m y, more so than shopping at chain retailers. Economic Impact Analysis, a 2002 study done in Austin, Texas, compared the impact of shopping at local businesses with that at national chains. For every $100 spent at a local bookstore, $45 stayed in the local economy according to the study. However, for every $100 spent at Borders, a national chain, the local economic impact was only $13.

According to the article “The Importance of Buying Local” from expressmilwaukee.com, another study done in 2003 yielded similar results. Shopping locally kept three times more money in the local economy than shopping at chains.

M o d e s t c h a n g e s i n consumer spending habits can generate substantial local economic impact.

Also according to the Economic Impact Analysis, locally owned merchants generally have greater impacts on local economies than outlets of national change due to three classes of expenditure. First,

spending on local labor typically comprises a greater share of operating costs for a locally-owned establishment than for a national chain. Also, large national chains purchase fewer goods and service in the markets. Their products, advertising and supplies are usually procured at the national level.

However, local stores purchase a substantial portion of goods and services from local firms, keeping that money in the community.

Nate Roberts, a clerk at Good Earth in Broad Ripple, said, “Since we do not have the kind of money that large corporations have, which send out flyers in the newspapers, we have to rely on consumers’ trust and our history.”

In addition, the profits made from a nationally-owned store go directly to the headquarters outside the region. Owners of local stores, on the other hand, are members of the local community and tend to spend their earnings on goods and services locally or supporting local organizations.

Economics teacher Dan Bates said, “Larger stores have much greater revenues. Customer service is better with local stores. Local stores are more likely to support Carmel events than larger stores.”

Cifizzari said, “I feel better about where my money is going.

I don’t know where my money is going with Wal-Mart (for example).

With local stores, I know where my money is going and how it’s going to make an impact.”

Rober ts said, “Independent stores are far more personable. We care more about the individual.

Large corporations don’t really draw in the direct contact, but that is what we strive for.”

Cifizzari said the stores make me feel good about investing in certain products. “The main thing is the connection with people,” she said.

“It’s more personal; since it’s part of the community, they want to help the people there.”

“I like to support independent businesses because it’s more personal. I know the people who

work there (Good Earth), and they care about me as a person and not what’s in my wallet,” Cifizzari said.

However with the struggling e c o n o m y, l o c a l a n d n a t i o n a l business are challenged because fewer people are spending money.

“The smaller merchants have more trouble weathering the recession,” Bates said. “If there’s a

50 percent drop in sales, then their income drops 50 percent as well.”

Cifizzari said residents here should consider shopping locally more often.

Cifizzari said, “If you want a bigger impact in the community and greater awareness of the earth and people, then you should look into local stores.”

stephanie coleman /photos

locally bought: Senior Kara Cifizzari pours nuts into a bag at local store, Good Earth. Cifizzari prefers to shop at local stores because she said she knows where the money goes, versus shopping at chain stores where the money goes outside the community.

Entertainment • Friday, March 13, 2009 • Page B3

Looking for the perfect path to that desired spring break figure? The HiLite offers valuable tips to eat great and lose weight. Story and photos by Bennett Fuson and Lexi Muir

EATNOT THIS THAT pa r a d i s e b a k e r y

CARMEL STYLE

ham and Brie panini Sometimes the best things in life are grilled. The ham and Brie panini is not one of those things. While the sandwich is certainly delicious (essentially a gourmet version of the grilled ham and cheese sandwich, with apple garnish), the panini packs a whopping 790 calories into one plate – about 1/3 of the daily amount of

calories. The panini also loads 19 grams of saturated fat (95 percent of the daily recommended intake for fats) and 1580 milligrams of sodium (66 percent of the daily recommended intake for sodium), making it the tastiest heart attack on Paradise Bakery’s menu. Plus, the sandwich comes with one of Paradise’s famous cookies, a surefire solution to any unclogged arteries remaining.

mixed green salad This would be an obvious choice. After all, why wouldn’t it be healthy to eat mainly vegetation? But the mixed green salad at Paradise Bakery sets itself apart by upholding fine quality on a basic dish. The vegetables are crisp and fresh, while the raspberry vinaigrette (the healthiest dressing offered) is light and sweet, yet flavorful enough to leave a lasting impression.

b e v e r a g e s • s ta r b u c k s c o f f e e

DRINK THIS Tazo Green Tea

The portion is an added benefit; while a normal small salad at any other restaurant amounts to three or four leaves of lettuce with scarce garnish, Paradise’s is easily the equivalent size of a large salad stacked up against its competitors.

At approximately 80 calories (30 for the salad, 50 for the dressing) costing $4.49, this is a well-picked meal.

QDoba mexican grill

EAT THIS

NOT THAT

Shaken Iced Tea

A brief spoiler: Technically, this isn’t the best thing on the menu. That honor goes to the Caffe Americana, or, as explained by a Starbucks employee, hot water mixed with an expresso shot. For a more full-bodied beverage, the Tazo Shaken Iced Teas are a safe choice. Only 80 calories, these drinks have the option of being sweetened or unsweetened, with the option of sweetening with Splenda. Each of the teas has the same nutritional facts; however, green tea naturally has antioxidants and is generally regarded as a highly nutritious, healthy tea.

Steak Queso Burrito with Pinto Beans

NOT THAT

salted caramel signature hot chocolate

Starbucks debuted this sugary, chocolaty concoction this winter as part of their special holiday menu. The item stuck, giving customers the option to destroy their bodies 365 days of the year. This 640 calorie monster of a drink has 20 grams of saturated fat – almost a full day’s worth. What is frightening about this drink is the fact that 640 calories and 20 grams of saturated fat only fill a grande size drink.

Naked vegetarian taco salad

When most people think Qdoba, they think about the burritos, quesadillas and/or nachos. Yet Qdoba also offers a rather extensive menu for those hoping to eat a bit healthier, including “naked” (no tortilla) versions of all burritos and taco salads. The healthiest option is the Naked Vegetarian Taco Salad. With black bean and corn salsa, tomatoes and fat-free picante ranch dressing, the salad tastes… healthy. There

were very few (read: none) vegetables besides the lettuce, making the salad rather sparce. (A peculiar thing, given that it is a vegetarian taco salad.) It’s obviously designed to be a calorieconscious meal, clocking in at around 200 calories, but the need for health outweighs the need for taste. If you’re looking for a a healthy, tasty meal, it would probably be best to try elsewhere.

This dish is literally death-by-Mexicanfood. Not surprisingly, the steak queso burrito is one of the most popular menu items. And why wouldn’t it be?

Smothered in queso and loaded with steak and pinto beans, the burrito oozes with cheesy goodness. Yet all that oozy, cheesy goodness comes fully loaded with 910 calories. (Take a minute and recover from that statement.) Not to be outdone by calories, the steak queso burrito also packs 20 grams of saturated fat and 2010 milligrams of sodium. It might be a fiesta in the stomach, but it’s a killer to the heart.

d e s s e r t s • c o l d s to n e c r e a m e r y

Sinless Sans Fat Sweet Cream with Strawberries Ice cream is generally regarded as an indulgence, but there’s nothing wrong with engaging the sweet tooth every once in a while. Fortunately, Cold Stone Creamery, one of the more popular ice cream parlors, offers a pretty adequate amount of health-conscious options. By far the best is the Sinless Sans Fat Sweet Cream mixed with strawberries. There’s very little difference in taste between the Sinless and regular Sweet Creams, even though at 170 calories it is half the regular. Plus, the strawberries mixed in essentially make strawberry ice cream.

EAT THIS NOT THAT

Cake Batter with Cookie Dough Cake batter: by far the most popular flavor offered by Cold Stone. Yet this 340 calorie, 12 grams of saturated fat, 32 grams of sugar dish sets a base for early onset diabetes. On top of that is the cookie dough: clocking in at 180 calories, this is the most unhealthy topping offered.

Together, these two make one of the worst sweet treats around. But honestly, you just can’t beat the taste. Still, side by side, the Sinless Sweet Cream is as good as the Cake Batter, without the calories.

Page B4 • Friday, March 13, 2009 • Entertainment

Reviews

Books. Movies. Food. Music. Shopping. Previews.

‘Watchmen’ first pleases, then disappoints

By Sam Watermeier swatermeier@hilite.org For a fleeting period during “Watchmen,” I felt like I was experiencing a great film. This feeling arose during the opening credit sequence in which Bob Dylan’s “Times They Are a-Changin’” plays while freeze-frame images of superheroes involved in historical events (the moon landing, Vietnam protests) are displayed.

This three-minute sequence alone not only perfectly sets the tone of the film and successfully transports viewers to a specific time and place, but, more importantly, completely deconstructs the superhero image. Dressed in full attire (masks and capes), the superheroes look rather awkward and silly in these images, and in this sense, the film daringly exposes the absurdity behind the notion of them altogether.

If only the rest of “Watchmen” was this bold.

While much of the first half of the film has an effective, radical approach, the second half unfortunately falls victim to genre conventions due to the misguided direction from Zack Snyder (“300”).

The first act of “Watchmen” is an anti-comic book film, refusing to play to audience expectations. There are no major action set pieces or gaudy character introductions.

Instead, time is devoted to developing the characters and talk about superheroes in general. The film takes place in an alternate 1985 where Nixon is still president and superheroes are cast in a negative light. There is an especially poignant scene in which a retired cop speaks of the glor y days when superheroes not only fought crime, but felt exhilarated doing so, not having to endure pressure from the people or their government. We see other characters like Rorschach, a corrupt vigilante with an everchanging inkblot mask, (played with a wonderfully

pulpy voice-over by Jackie Earle Haley) skulk through the streets trying to recapture this feeling.

These intimate, dramatic scenes demystify superheroes, stripping them of their romantic quality and bringing them down to a human level. Director Zack Snyder’s emphasis on dialogue scenes and resistance to take the more traditional route filled with non-stop action and spectacle is pleasantly surprising considering he helmed the garish “300.” His restraint does not last long, however.

The second half of “Watchmen” plays out like a bad sequel to the first half, exchanging substance for style. Snyder makes up for the lack of action scenes by stylizing brief moments of brutal violence that should have remained harshly realistic and repulsive as the graphic novel intended. By stylizing these moments, Snyder makes the superheroes characters look larger than life and exciting, thus going against the idea of deconstructing the superhero image. I liken this second half to “The Matrix Reloaded” in that it is a diluted, popcorn version of what precedes it.

Critics are already comparing this film to “The Dark Knight,” praising it as “rich” and “cerebral.” This praise is invalid because it really ought to be paid solely to the acclaimed graphic novel upon which the film is based. The thoughtful quality of the film stems directly from its source material, not the director or actors (none of whose per for mances are worth noting besides Haley’s). If only it had not conformed to expectations of superhero movies in the end, “Watchmen” would have come close to reaching the same level of greatness as “The Dark Knight.” Unfortunately, Hollywood movies like “Watchmen” will always be thought of as products before art, at least when they are left in the hands of Zack Snyder.

‘Watchmen’ Directed by: Zack Snyder

Starring: Malin Akerman, Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson Rated: R

Released: March 7 Overall: B

Rottentomatoes.com / Photos

Wiesel’s new novel inspires ‘a mad desire’ to read By tracy sun tsun@hilite.org Over half a century since the publication of Night and more than 50 other books, Elie Wiesel returns with his latest fictional novel, A Mad Desire to Dance. One of the most profound and provocative writers of all time, Wiesel survived the Holocaust, Nazi cruelty and even Nadoff ’s ponzi scheme which stole from his life savings and $15 million from his charity.

His most recent book explores the avenues he is so familiar with, a self-diagnosed madman haunted by the painful memories of his past.

However, although emotionally powerful, the novel centers around an unlikable character and tries to do too much at once.

The 60-year-old protagonist, Doriel Waldman, survives the Holocaust as a young child, only to be troubled by his memories; all of his nuclear family is deceased. Feeling defeated and insane, he goes to therapist Thérèse Goldschmidt to uncover the mysteries of his past. Uncooperative and stubborn, most of their sessions consist of arguments about psychology and philosophy.

While Waldman wonders whether he is truly mad and why most of his relationships rarely last, Goldschmidt provides some insight and advice on his life experiences. After numerous discussions about his mother, a Jewish Resistance officer, and his father who died with her in a car accident, Waldman and Goldschmidt finally progress after coming to a shocking realization that changes his life forever.

Like most of the stories he has written, Wiesel takes the reader through a plethora of emotions.

From sadness and grief to laughter and joy, no emotion is left untouched. However, the most commanding and piercing passages speak about the brutality of Jewish persecution and Waldman’s recollections of his mother before her death. “The days were alike, and the nights even more so.

Twice a neighbor informed on us, lured by the reward of a kilo of sugar per arrested Jew; we were forced to desert our refuge and take shelter in a hut in the middle of the forest. We slept on straw.”

The pace of the beginning is fairly slow, but the plot picks up quickly after the first 100 pages and is worth the wait. The unexpected ending leaves the reader with a sense of hopefulness and refreshing optimism.

Though Wiesel’s ideas are spot on, the execution of his writing overshadows his sentiments. Too incoherent and full of ideologies, the text can be ver y confusing and hard to follow. Easily irritated and rude, the central character of Doriel Waldman makes it difficult for readers to relate and like him. Obviously hardened by his experiences, Waldman creates a shell so impenetrable, readers lose their sense of

identification with him; only until the last fourth of the novel does he redeem himself.

With a slow start and a roller coaster of emotions and ideals, only committed readers of Wiesel should approach this book. It is not his best work, but still worth the read; fans of his literature should be pleased.

A Mad Desire to Dance Genre: Historical Fiction

Quality of Writing: C+

Page count: 274

Characters: B

plot: B+

Recommend: Yes Overall: B

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Student Section • Friday, March 13, 2009 • Page B7

Spotlight on Stage Fright Now an Ambassador, senior Emma Mullins talks about overcoming childhood fears of the stage

Arjuna Capulong/ Photo

Arjuna Capulong / Photo Illustration

T

By jackson whiteker jwhiteker@hilite.org

hen 6-year-old Emma Mullins stepped onto the stage. She started to sing the song that she had been practicing for months. Suddenly, forgetting her words, she cried herself off the stage. “That was a very bad experience, but I learned a lot from it,” Mullins, now a senior and member of the Ambassador, said.

For people like Mullins, stage fright can greatly affect even those who have studied drama, choir or any performing art for many years. Practice, in many cases, can only decrease the chance of freezing up while performing.

According to choral director Lamonte Kuskye, many people have stage fright and have to deal with it for all of their life.

“These problems come on and off and can become a huge problem for some people,” Kuskye said.

Jim Peterson, director of theater and film, has his own interesting views of stage fright. “Everyone has some stage fright or anxiety. It is good to have some, but it gets to be a problem when it starts to become a problem,” Peterson said.

Speech teacher John Love said that stage fright has become a big problem for students because it is so unpredictable. “One person’s nerves might make them decrease eye contact and another person might be calm and cool on the outside but have butterflies on the inside,” Love said.

Peterson also has seen many interesting reactions

happen to performers affected by stage fright. “The worst case is a total freeze. Sometimes forgetting dialogue or blocking on stage can occur. I’ve also seen stage fright raise an actor’s voice,” Peterson said.

However, many performing arts teachers said that there are ways to combat stage fright.

“The best way to overcome stage fright is practice and being prepared. Stage fright happens when the performer thinks more about what they look like than what they’re doing. This can cause huge problems for the performer,” Peterson said.

“Being than you think you need to be is a good way to make yourself ready,” Peterson said. “It may sound a little bit clichéd but it’s the truth and is an almost foolproof way of helping with stage fright.”

Mullins, having completed many successful shows, said, “The real challenge is that you have to give your all to lots of people that you don’t know. This has gotten easier for me over the years. Although, at times it still becomes hard and I have to use all of the skills that I have learned in my performing career to suppress stage fright.”

Love has similar views on combating stage fright. “The more that you practice and the more that you put yourself in a position to speak determines how good you will be,” Love said. “For instance, the first time you dribbled a basketball you probably weren’t very good.”

Mullins said.“What makes it worth it is when you’re performing and all the lights are on. It proves to you that your hard work has paid off. That is why it is worth the risk of getting up there and freezing. That alone makes it worth it for me.”

Students struggle with performance anxiety can interfere with concentration and memory, without it students would lack the motivation to succeed academically. But researchers also warned that a severe While many try to relieve stress, studies show stress amount can be harmful. And it is this caveat that has helps improve academic performance. Most high caused many, like McGill, to question how much school students would say they are a little stressed, academic anxiety is too much. trying to juggle after school activities and maybe an According to McGill, she has always suffered from academic anxiety. But she said her anxiety has escalated AP class or two.

But for junior Kelley McGill this does not even begin tremendously since she got to high school. to cover it. McGill said she suffers from academic anxiety, “I could be taking easier classes,” McGill said. “But but with good reason. This year McGill is taking AP U.S. I like pushing myself. It can be hard and stressful but History, AP Literature and Composition, AP Chemistry, when I work hard and get a good grade to me it is all physics and honors pre-calculus and is a member of the worth it.” competitive marching band. But contrary to popular Along the lines of the Cornell University study belief, her parents are not the catalyst for McGill’s suggesting that anxiety is necessary to motivate a student, interpersonal relations teacher Lila Torp said a little anxiety. She said it is mostly of her own doing.

“I put way too much pressure on myself,” McGill pressure is what provides the motivation to succeed. said. “My parents care about my grades but really just “Without pressure most of us would not do as much,” Torp said. want me to succeed and do well.”

However while conventional wisdom might suggest Although McGill said she realizes the benefits to students avoid putting too much pressure on themselves succeeding, she said sometimes her anxiety gets the best of academically, a recent study by the Center of Learning her. She said her parents are usually the ones who calm her and Teaching at Cornell University shows that academic down and help her get through a tough situation instead of anxiety is actually beneficial to learning. In this study, adding to her pressure. She said one of the ways she tries to researchers concluded that although academic anxiety reduce her stress is to plan out her time better and to avoid cramming last minute for tests.

In fact, according to the same study by Cornell University, the main components of academic anxiety include, worry, emotionality, taskgenerated interference and study skills deficits. But for McGill, she said worry is the main factor in her anxiety.

Although one of the best ways to avoid academic anxiety, Torp said it is important to keep in mind the quality of time usage.

“It’s not just about not wasting time,” Torp said. “It is about knowing how to use your time effectively and (improving) poor study skills.”

As for McGill, she said she hopes her anxiety will improve next year, but Arjuna Capulong / Photo she has her doubts.

“I know people that take similar Test Jitters: Junior Kelley McGill fills out a review packet for an classes as I do and are not stressed,” upcoming Spanish test. McGill has had terrible cases of nerves before McGill said. “I wish I could be that way, but I can’t help it.” exams since elementary school.

Kuskye, who has mastered the art of performing,said he still has problems. “You run into problems when you become more obsessed about what you’re going to do wrong, other than excited about what you’re going to do right,” Kuskye said.

As for Love, he said some know how to react and some don’t though and that’s a hard thing to learn.

“The key is definitely starting young, though,” Love said. That’s why I encourage my children to speak in front of people. I do it because when they’re older it is a much harder thing to learn.”

Peterson said he whole-heartedly agrees with this.

“I think it’s that they get too worried about themselves than what’s going on. It makes them nervous when they worry about what other people are doing rather than their own performance,” Peterson said. “This is a common case for many high school performers.”

Love has similar views. “Focusing on the negative aspects is bound to make you more nervous,” Love said.

Many performance teachers, including Love, said stage fright is completely normal and happens to almost everyone. “If you can somehow turn that nervous energy into positive energy it will help you make the performance better. If you realize that everyone is nervous it might help you find some sense of calming,” Love said.

As a 6-year-old, Mullins was naive about her performing talent,but as she got older, she became a much better performer. “Pushing yourself at in-school and after-school practices is important. If you don’t, you won’t perform like you wanted to” Mullins said. “We work our hardest to make sure that we don’t get stunned by stage fright.”

Everybody Has a story According to the HiLite student name list, there were 4,199 students registered at CHS as of the first day of school. We plan to cover some of them randomly. This week, we feature number

2,607 For more information on our selection process, visit www.hilite.org

AP test advice from a veteran Guest Columnist Peter Hua

BY Ellie Seta eseta@hilite.org

It’s a nagging thought that gets more bothersome as the year progresses.

It’s a timeless ordeal that strikes fear into the hearts of all men and women. It’s challenging and almost as fun as brushing your teeth with a cheese grater. Yes, friends, I refer to the AP tests that loom over the horizon of another slow six weeks, the ones many of us have joyfully signed up for in eager anticipation.

While not all of us choose to subject ourselves to Advanced Punishment, we each choose our own poison. AP testing can earn some hefty extra college credits, and what AP student doesn’t drool at the mention of extra credit?

It also prepares students for college-level learning, so taking a class in a subject completely unrelated to one’s future field is not a bad idea. AP courses can be rewarding endeavors.

The test itself is a completely different animal. Even as I rush to complete this column before the onslaught of a stampeding deadline, I am reminded of all the things that went wrong in preparation.

As an AP veteran, there are a few things I’ve learned about time management to ease the minds of

the newly initiated.

First, doing things by the book may be safe but time-consuming.

The proverbial book recommends preparation well in advance, but to study for the AP test months in advance is madness, and in some cases, to do it many weeks in advance borders on insanity. For the most part, most tests take only two to three weeks to prepare for (some of the history ones are rare but important exceptions).

In fact, there are some that can be crammed in the week of the test, based on personal judgment. The book also endorses the fact that you can’t really study for a test the day before and do well, but that idea is more or less unconditionally and irrevocably false. Let’s not pretend like we don’t do that for most of the tests in the school year.

Speaking of which, the AP test is not such a big deal. It is like any other test, except bigger. On the bright side, you’ve already learned the material, and you’ll most likely have known the answers to every question on the test at one point in time. A simple sift through past papers usually does the trick in bringing those points back.

And finally, if you’re absolutely out of time, the key is psychological readiness. A calm mindset can work charms on subjects like the calculus exam. You envision yourself taking the test and acing it without any actual preparation. On test day, as a good luck charm, you mutter some irrelevant Zen saying to yourself like, “The universe is the mind,” and get down with taking the test in a way that doesn’t involve your freaking out halfway through.

N o w, a r m e d w i t h t h e s e possibly effective purely anecdotal techniques, there’s no way you can fail any of the tests. The AP Test is a winnable battle, and as a wise man once said, good luck, and may God bless!

Ap dates Today is the deadline for any changes to AP test registrations, with full refunds.

After today changes to AP test registrations will be a partial refund minus $13.

After May 1st any changes made will not be refundable.

Want more?

To have your voice heard or to submit your own column, contact the Student Section editor at mqiao@ hilite.org.

“

PAGE B8 • FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2009 • PERSPECTIVES STAFF PERSPECTIVE

SPEAK UP

Limits on candy fundraising good idea on paper, not at CHS

Compiled by Maria LaMagna and Mackenzie Madison

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST ABOUT SPRING?

I

n a matter of weeks, the omnipresent plastic bags full of inexpensive candy should, in theory, disappear from this school’s hallways and classrooms. According to a new regulation, clubs will have to substitute their lucrative candy fundraising for something a little more on the healthy side. This presents a predicament for many clubs and activities, and it appears to be a problem not readily solved. While fundraising with “healthy food” is easily morally justified, it will fail to provide the amount of money generated from current fundraising operations.

The Hershey’s Fundraising motto states “America’s Best Loved Brands and Best Fundraising Value!”

Fortunately for the company, the statistics don’t lie.

According to the Hershey’s Web site, last year $40 million was generated for clubs, schools, churches and other businesses through Hershey’s fundraising. Of course, even this statistic barely scratches the surface of how lucrative candy fundraising really is.

The math makes sense. Put copious amounts of sleep-deprived and stressed teenagers in a high school for six hours every day, and they will use spare change to buy food. Whether it is out of hunger, exhaustion, anxiety or boredom, many find the simple pleasure of a candy bar to be a typical aspect of high school life. Generally speaking, most students would probably not scrounge in their pockets and wallets for a granola bar or dried fruit, thereby decreasing the profits for the clubs. These profits are essential for them to stay afloat and active in our consumer-driven and economically struggling society.

That is not to say that the new regulation doesn’t deserve some credit. According to Hershey’s Fundraising, the lowest caloric amount in a candy bar in their “Standard Bars” is 210. The traditional Hershey’s Bar, along with 210 calories, boasts 20 percent of the recommended daily amount of fat and 23 grams of sugar. These appalling numbers have unfortunately become the norm in our society, however, and there are few fundraising consumers that are unaware of the dangerous risk these sugarcoated treats impose on their bodies. Anymore, not only are candy fundraisers vital to the clubs that profit from them, they are a comforting normality

REBECCA XU / ART

for the students who consume them.

The credibility of this regulation also leaves questions. Although this state regulation was implemented in 2006, this school has chosen to delay beginning the program until now. With no consequences dealt to this school for thus far for not following the regulation, what are the benefits of hurting club funding today? Additionally, this school does not adequately represent the obesity of Indiana.

The relatively low number of overweight students here does not compare to the 58.7 percent of overweight people statewide. There is little hope that this new regulation will at all decrease this sobering statistic.

Although selling T-shirts and other non-edible items may help supplement necessary costs for clubs, candy and bake sales have long been the bread and butter of a club’s existence. While regulating what can and cannot be sold to students is a great idea in theory, it fails to take into account the spending habits of teens. Candy fundraising began in the first place because it recognized exactly what students want between the arrival and dismissal bell, and nothing can financially replace the institution that is candy fundraising at this school.

OUR STAND While fundraising with “healthy food” is morally justified, it will fail to provide the amount of money generated from current fundraising operations.

All can benefit from experiencing hunger HU’S THERE?

BY MICHELLE HU Last weekend, my church and I went without food for 30 hours for two reasons: to fast and to experience the hunger 963 million people around the world feel every day. The event was aptly called 30 Hour Famine and is a nationwide effort by teenagers to raise funds for World Vision, a Christian organization which teaches villages to become self-sufficient.

I urge everyone to participate in an activity similar to 30 Hour Famine, even if you are not religious, simply because it is selfish and

ignorant to not experience hunger for more than a day. As Americans, we are part of a small percentage of people that has the luxury of enjoying three meals per day, if not more. It is embarrassing that we as a nation consume and consume but fail to give attention to others’ plights around the world.

What surprises me the most is that there is not a food shortage in the world, according to the U.N.’s World Food Programme. In fact, the United States alone produces enough to feed every person in the world with an adequate diet.

Just like energy, however, we use up a higher proportion than the rest of the world simply because we are Americans.

It seems as we become more and more wealthy, the poor become more and more hungr y. Since

1990, the number of malnourished people around the world has risen by four million annually, which means today, one of every seven people do not have enough to eat.

Imagine, in your class (yes, the one you’re sitting in right now) around five people are starving and barely even have the strength to walk. Of course, this rarely happens in the United States. It is unfortunate that our isolation from hunger has veiled the issue.

Even worse is the statistic of a child dying every six seconds from hunger. Imagine, once again, that your class is in a situation 963 million others are in. Assuming you live in an area that severely lacks food, everyone in your class would perish within three-and-a-half minutes. Sound improbable? It’s not.

With competition on the rise, college admissions decisions could make the next few months especially stressful MOST SELECTIVE U.S. COLLEGES 8.8 % - Harvard 8.9 % - Yale 9.7 % - Princeton 10.2 % - Olin College 10.3 % - Stanford 10.4 % - College of the Ozarks 10.7 % - Cooper Union 11.6 % - Columbia 11.8 % - Annapolis (U.S. Naval Academy) 12.5 % - MIT COLLEGEAPPS.ABOUT.COM/SOURCE

DANCING THRU LIFE

BY AMY FLIS After pouring my heart into a 500word essay, spending hours filling in the countless tiny blank boxes and trying fruitlessly to infuse in a fivepage document some personality that might be a reflection of my own personality and accomplishment, it’s incredibly disheartening to open up my Gmail to an e-mail that very succinctly rejects me. It has happened more than once already, and I still live in fear of another one of those oh-too-polite messages from a college or scholarship committee.

The season is nearing when more of those decisions, if they haven’t come yet, will be here. With everything from college admission decisions to financial aid and coming up, the anticipation and nerves are

certainly present in the Senior Class, excluding the lucky few who were admitted early or who have already decided where they will be next year.

As more students apply for college and more people return to school after loosing their jobs, college admission has become increasingly more competitive.

Even Petersen’s, a Nelnet company which produces review books and other student aid materials, admitted this in its online advice on overcoming college competition.

“Even with your best efforts, you could still be turned away not due to any deficits, but solely to volume,” the Web site stated.

This is true not just for college admission but for everything that goes along with that, including financial aid and scholarships. Add in the present economy, and you have the recipe for a very stressful year to be applying for college.

With all this on the table, I would like to offer a few words of caution to those who are still waiting and

” “ ” “ ” “

Think about this next time you make a midnight trip with friends to the local fast food joint. You might say, “Even if I don’t eat something, it doesn’t mean a child in Africa can eat it.” Well, yes, he can. The money you save from buying those fries can feed a child for a few days.

Feeding a malnourished child costs a mere $1 each day.

I no longer have an excuse to ignore the crippling effects of hunger worldwide. It’s something 963 million people must face.

That means, for every American, there are three people around the world who are malnourished. I certainly will consider this every day from now on. The question is, will you? And will you do something about it? Michelle Hu is a News editor for the HiLite.

Contact her at mhu@hilite.org.

Consolation for the disappointed

I’m looking forward to spring break.

I’m going to Siesta Key with my friends.

consolation to those who have already been disappointed. If you are like me, the mass e-mail sent to all rejected applicants just isn’t satisfying enough an explanation, and although the explanation of increased competition may not be enough either, I’d like to re-iterate to those rejected applicants that a negative response does not mean your accomplishments are any less valuable, and you are no less worthy an individual, but it is simply impossible to convey all that a person is and offers on a piece of paper.

Especially concerning the most competitive schools and scholarships, per fect academic r ecor ds and extensive extracurricular activities will only buy you a ticket to the raffle; luck is the only assurance you have of actually getting your name drawn from that bin of qualified applicants. Keep all this in mind as you receive the rest of your college and scholarship decisions, and I wish you good luck. Amy Flis is the editor in chief of the HiLite. Contact her at aflis@hilite.org.

SOPHOMORE JESSICA TANELLA

I really like the rain and flowers. They make me want to go outside.

JUNIOR CHARLIE DANKERT

I’m sick of the cold weather and being indoors.

I’m looking forward to just seeing the sunshine.

SENIOR KAYLA VAUGHN

I’m going to a Jeff Beck concert in Scranton, PA, on April 5.

I’m looking forward to that the most.

FRESHMAN KYLE IMPINI

Perspectives • Friday, March 13, 2009 • Page B9

Media misconstrues situation in Gaza april fool’s baby by sarah sheafer In the summer of 2005, Israel, on its own accord, evacuated all of the Israeli citizens and its last military outpost in the Gaza Strip. It hoped to ease the tension with Palestinian forces in Gaza. However, on June 25, 2006, Palestinian terrorists crossed from Gaza into Israel and kidnapped an Israeli soldier. Israel responded on June 29 with an invasion of the Gaza Strip. A cease-fire was established that November. However, thousands of Palestinian rockets have been launched from Gaza into Israel, hitting Israeli civilian targets since the pullout.

People do not understand the full situation occurring in the Gaza Strip. I have heard many of my friends question Israel’s reasons for beginning to attack Hamas this past December. I do not blame anyone for seeing Israel as the aggressor because it is portrayed this way by the media. Much of the mainstream media has misconstrued the information coming out of the Gaza Strip. I only ask that individuals listen to the Israeli citizens’ point of view, who have been under daily rocket attacks from Gaza against southern Israeli cities such as Sderot since the Israeli pullout of Gaza.

Since Israel gave Gaza to the Palestinians, it received rocket attacks on its civilians in exchange. The rockets began falling on the small city Sderot, Israel, and life changed forever for its residents. Death, terror, the sound of daily air-raid sirens, families running for the bomb shelter, children with post traumatic stress syndrome: this is what Israel has received in return for its attempt at peace when it pulled out of Gaza in 2005. The world had remained silent. However, in Dec. 2008, when a six-month cease-fire expired (even though Hamas had been continually firing rockets but at a lower rate), Hamas increased its rocket attacks.

Israel could no longer ignore the situation and finally counterattacked by targeting terrorist positions.

Although the media reports deaths on both sides, it does not explain why Palestinians are being killed. Cameras in Israeli aircrafts have captured footage of Hamas firing from or near homes, mosques and hospitals with Palestinian civilians in the vicinity.

Hamas has sometimes prevented its civilians from leaving the premises.

This has forced Israel into a position that makes it appear as the aggressor because it cannot avoid hitting these civilians. However, Israel has made an effort to warn the citizens to escape by dropping leaflets and placing calls to mobile phones owned by Gazans to tell them to leave the line of fire. Even though this has been done, the civilians are sometimes prevented from leaving

by Hamas. The media has not reported very much on Hamas’ strategy of using human flesh as sandbag bunkers.

What other nations in the world (besides Israel) in the midst of war, allows the shipment of hundreds of tons of humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, to be given to their enemy daily? None.

Gaza’s wounded are even being treated in Israel’s hospitals, yet we hear accusations of “human rights violations” leveled against Israel.

Israel also supports a two-state plan: an Israeli state and a Palestinian state. Why would Hamas call for the destruction of this nation? Israel has never intended to occupy Gaza, so why should Hamas continually fire rockets at Israel’s innocent civilians?

When I was in Ashkelon, Israel in 2007, my family and I stopped at a shopping mall. A few days later, after we had left Ashkelon, we heard that a rocket from Gaza had hit the shopping mall. If we had been there just days later, my family and I may not have been here now. This realization of never being completely safe runs through the minds of Israeli citizens every day. I only ask that individuals support Israel’s efforts of peace and no longer judge the nation only by what the media portrays.

If the United States had been attacked by rockets from border nations, it would never had refrained from responding militarily for over three years and after thousands of unannounced attacks. Israel upheld the cease-fire, but when it expired, it finally did what it should had done years before: defend itself. Sarah Sheafer is a Feature editor for the HiLite. Contact her at ssheafer@hilite.org.

Republicans cannot reject change by principle alone oh yes he did! by bennett fuson I’ve been tr ying to cut back on my political columns as of late (see previous issues), but with President Obama’s administration plunging headfirst into the economic crisis recently, I think it’s time to pick up an old habit.

I don’t know how many out there listened to Obama’s “address to the joint sessions of Congress” (also known as the unofficial State of the Union), but I’m guessing/hoping it was a decent amount. What probably flew slightly further under the radar was the Republican response by GOP wunderkind Bobby Jindal, current governor of Louisiana and aspiring Messiah to the elephant party. If Jindal is the second coming for the GOP, Republicans had better not plan on a bright and shiny future.

It’s not that I have a problem with Jindal. He’s af fable, well-spoken and genuinely sincere. But he has the air of communication most people reser ve for speaking to third graders. Don’t believe me? Go back and listen to his speech and tell me you don’t feel slightly patronized when he says, “As Americans, we can do anything.”

Listening to Jindal, I couldn’t help but think

the GOP is out of tricks. In a party now apparently ruled by Rush Limbaugh, higher-up Republicans have decided the best way to help regain favor with the American public is to fire out the same hate speech from new and improved “politically acceptable” puppets. Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve always thought the best way to rebound off an embarrassing oust in Washington was to change your game plan, not just your players.

See, it’s kind of like football, a game I have been intimately familiar with for years. If you can’t beat a team with your players, beat them with your tactics. The Republicans, after losing pretty much everything but the Lone Star state, could have taken full advantage of their loss to reevaluate their tactics.

Instead, they continue to fight literally everything the Democrats do, with very little room for compromise. I don’t know if anyone else noticed, but the only time House Republicans recognized Obama’s ef for ts was when he arose the prospect of anything militar y. They sat through health care, they sat through economic stimulus, they sat through education. Three subjects that would obviously benefit all Americans were shunned because the Republicans had to protest out of principle.

This has to end. We are far beyond the time for petty arguments over principle. At this point, it is the civil duty of the Republican Party to cast aside its petty gripes and pursue change with the rest of the country. Right now is when we need unity the most, and nothing, especially not quarreling, should stand in its path. Bennett Fuson is an Entertainment editor for the HiLite. Contact him at bfuson@hilite.org.

It is the civil duty of the Republican Party to cast aside its petty gripes and pursue change with the rest of the country. Right now is when we need unity the most.

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

Responding to the HiLite

Letters to the editor will be accepted for the April 2 issue no later than March 24. Letters may be submitted in Room C147, placed in the mailbox of Jim Streisel, e-mailed to letters@hilite.org or mailed to school. All letters must be signed.

Names will be published. (Letters sent via e-mail will be taken to a student’s SRT for him to sign.)

Letters must not contain personal attacks against an individual and may be edited.

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

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

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

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Accountant Acumen 15 Minutes of Fame Ads Manager Artist Beats/Calendar Entertainment Feature Front Page Graphics News Perspectives Photography Sports

min qiao / art

It’s not just gym any more Physical Education teacher Kim TenBrink clarifies the evolving goals of gym in school

I have to admit it, I am a “gym” major (my diploma from OSU reads “Bachelor of Science, Education”). My Physical Education curriculum included a n a t o m y, p h y s i o l o g y, a n d kinesiology – these are some of the same classes that premed, pre-vet, pre-nursing, and occupational and physical therapy majors had to take. But, enough about my academic background, let’s talk about the state of kids today.

More than nine million American children and adolescents are overweight and the Department of Health and Human Services estimates that by 2010 one in five children in the U.S. will be obese.

Unfor tunately, over weight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.

There is also research that supports the cognitive benefits of engaging in str uctured physical activity. When one exercises, the brain goes into a homeostatic state, balancing brain chemicals, hormones and system functions. Movement, p h y s i c a l a c t i v i t y, a n d e x e r c i s e c h a n g e t h e learning state into one appropriate for retention and retrieval of memory. Exercise engages the

emotions. Emotion drives attention which drives learning. In the brain, the amygdale (the brain’s emotional filter) touches the basal ganglia which interprets movement. Therefore, motion and emotion are connected physiologically. According to Eric Jenson, who has authored several books on the brain and body, movement can foster self-discipline, improve self-esteem, increase creativity, and enhance emotional expression through social games.

Physical Education classes have evolved into much more than just “gym”. Carmel High School’s Physical Education curriculum includes students learning how to set S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely) fitness goals, assessing their own fitness levels using a variety of assessment tools (including heart rate monitors) and then analyzing these results to design a fitness program that meets their own individual needs and interests. The ultimate goal is now health and fitness and giving the students tools, skills and experiences so they can be physically active for the rest of their lives. After a student successfully completes P.E. I and II, there are a wide variety of elective classes to take.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that a mind is a terrible thing to waste…so is the other 90 percent of your body.

The ultimate goal is now health and fitness and giving the students tools, skills and experiences so they can be physically active for the rest of their lives.

Kim TenBrink Physical Education Department Chair

Student Section Videographer Web Writing Coaches Adviser Principal Superintendent

Amy Flis Cathy Chen Brittani Wheeler Charlie Duncan Ariel Aisen Jinny Zhang Stephanie Hodgin Beth Brookie Renny Logan Hera Ashraf Bennett Fuson Jade Luo Rosemary Boeglin Sarah Sheafer Tim Chai Matthew Kanitra Steven Chen Michelle Hu Michael Wang Reid Conner Maria LaMagna Evelyn Forbes Kaitlyn Lampe Andrew Browning Lily Zhao Min Qiao Brian Bondus Yon-Sue Choi Shireen Korkzan Renny Logan Jim Streisel John Williams Barbara Underwood

Reporters Meher Ahmad Aili Arnell Kelsey Binion Maddi Bourgerie Hope Boyer Maggie Brandenburg

Lexi Muir Faith Mwalwa Amanda Nguyen Tatum Outlaw Monica Rice Mitch Ringenberg

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Jade Schwarting

Ryan Duffy Ellie Seta Cassie Dugan

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Daniyal Habib

Mallory St. Claire

Jon Haslam Afra Hussain Beverly Jenkins Julie Kippenbrock Erin Lowe

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Photographers Arjuna Capulong

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Elizabeth Trancik Owen Williamson

Webmasters Michael Luo Mike Jiang Nishanth Samala

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Page B10 • Friday, March 13, 2009 • 15 Minutes of Fame

CUT IT

BEFORE

AFTER

OUT

Sophomore Chase Acton expresses himself by editing and creating YouTube videos using custommade special effects by tommy sneider tsneider@hilite.org

afra hussain, kaitlyn lampe / photo illustration

What kinds of videos do you make?

It’s for my classes and they’re like action and things like that. I’ve done it for TV lab.

What type of equipment do you use?

I just use a normal camera and then just throw it on my computer and edit it.

How did you start making videos?

To submit nominations for 15 Minutes of Fame, email Stephanie Hodgin at shodgin@hilite.org

I got into it through friends a couple of years ago.

We just decided to just make a video.

What do you like most about making videos?

Everybody likes them and everybody’s reactions.

I usually get pretty good reactions; they’re pretty entertained by them.

And least?

Probably when something gets messed up.

Sometimes I’ve had a shot for a video and the tape got messed up so I had to remake it.

In general, how long are the videos that you make?

They’re usually five to 10 minutes.

How much time does it usually take to make a video?

It takes a couple days depending on how long it is.

Where did you learn how to make videos?

It was at school and I kind of just learned by myself when I was doing it.

Do you plan to become a professional or is it just more of a hobby?

It’s just a hobby right now. I might consider it in the future.

Is there any way to get better at making movies or is it more a natural talent?

The more you make, the better you get like for editing and that kind of stuff.

What types of special effects do you use?

I don’t have a whole lot of special effects but just like cool titles. It’s like some 3-D titles and stuff like that.

Who is your favorite movie director and why?

I really don’t have one.

What is the most exciting part about making the videos?

Just after you edit it and when it all comes together and it looks good.

What advice do you have for others who want to get interested in it?

Just don’t worry if your first couple movies don’t come out good. Just keep practicing.

Do you have any goals for yourself for making other videos?

It’s pretty much just whatever. I just shoot one whenever I feel like making one.

5 steps to creating your own film

BEFORE

YouTube.com / Photos

AFTER

1 2 3 4 5

Development: This is where the idea gets turned into a script.

Pre-production: This is where all the planning happens; storyboards, casting, location scouting, contracts and shot lists are all taken care of.

Production: This is the actual shooting of the film on location or in a studio.

Post-production: This is where the film is edited. Sound is fixed and added.

Titles and credits are added.

Distribution or Exhibition: This is where the film is shown at a festival, sold or distributed to theaters or video stores.

James Peterson / Source

Carmel High School’s News Magazine

Footprints

Social... Page 2 I Technological... Page 3 I Environmental... Pages 4 & 5 I Vegetarian... Page 6 I Film & Society... Page 7 I Your Footprints... Page 8 Carmel High School . Volume 5 . Issue 5 . March 13, 2009

Page C2 • Friday, March 13, 2009

A New Generation of Tolerance

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

Responding to Acumen Letters in response to this issue of Acumen will be considered for publication in the HiLite.

All letters must be submitted to Room C147, placed in the mailbox of Jim Streisel, e-mailed to letters@hilite.org or mailed to the school.

Letters must be signed; names will be published.

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

Staff Editor Associate Editor

Writers / Photographers

Ariel Aisen Jinny Zhang Evelyn Forbes Kate Grumme Afra Hussain Shireen Korkzan Kaitlyn Lampe Renny Logan Erin Lowe Mac Madison Pooja Mathur Lauren Mugavin Tommy Sneider Tracy Sun Elizabeth Trancik Sam Watermeier HiLite Editor in chief Amy Flis HiLite Managing editors Cathy Chen Brittani Wheeler Adviser Jim Streisel Principal John Williams Superintendent Barbara Underwood

Corrections From the 2.6 issue In “Artist/Photographer,” senior Breana Whitaker actually said she thought other mediums besides photojournalism are more artistic; additionally, at the time, she’d only been accepted into one art school, and was waiting to hear from other schools.

In “Tips for better photographs,” photojournalism teacher Cathy Shoup said that the tips she gave were for digital photography only; additionally, the tips she provided were not accurately portrayed. View the correct information online at hilite.org.

Cover Design: Photo illustration by Ariel Aisen, Evelyn Forbes, Ryan Duffy and David Zheng.

ACUMEN

Poll: Today’s adults more accepting of homosexuality

S

By Erin Lowe and Lauren Mugavin elowe@hilite.org, lmugavin@hilite.org

enior Evan Cain is one of many homosexual students who attend this school. He said he revealed his homosexual preferences to the public when he was a freshman. According to Cain, it wasn’t hard to “come out,” and when he confided his decision to his friend, she wasn’t surprised, he said.

And that friend’s reaction, according to a recent national survey from Harris Interactive, is becoming the norm. The survey shows that 87 percent of heterosexuals would react positively or neutral if someone were to come out to them, and it wouldn’t change the way they saw homosexuals.

“It was definitely easier to come out due to the social environment of today,” Cain said. “I think people and teens are more accepting of gays today.”

Counselor Kris Hartman had a slightly different view, though. “I do think there is more of a tolerance, but not an acceptance,” she said. “I don’t know if people necessarily accept on the large scale. And I don’t think the U.S has a high tolerance. Some areas have more tolerance, but others have little. It depends on where.

Other countries have a bigger tolerance.”

Still, Hartman said “coming out” in order to be honest is a good policy, regardless of surveys or polls. “It’s healthy to be who you are. Hiding who you are can be very painful,” she said.

Also according to the same Harris Interactive survey, two out of three heterosexual adults agreed that if someone they knew was gay or lesbian, they’d want the individual to be open about it.

When reacting to a person coming out, Hartman said, “The best way is to remember they are the same person they were

before they told. Offer your support and be there for them.”

Even though it was easy for Cain to reveal his sexual preference, he said a few of his family members who were also homosexuals had a harder time dealing with people’s reactions.

“They were basically banned from the family because they were gay,” Cain said.

For Cain, teasing was part of his middle school life, but when he came out to the public in high school, people stopped making fun of him. “I think they stopped because they decided there wasn’t anything to make fun of,” Cain said.

more from the harris interactive survey “Please rate your agreement with the following statement — If someone I know is gay or lesbian, I’d want that individual to be open and honest with me about it, rather than feel the need to hide who he or she really is.”

% Agree (net)

67 Strongly agree 46 Somewhat agree 21 Neither agree nor disagree 19 Disagree (net) 8 Somewhat disagree

3 Strongly disagree 5 Not sure 2 Decline to answer 3 Note: These are the responses of people who identified themselves as heterosexual.

Evelyn forbes / photo

OUT LOUD: Senior Evan Cain practices a dance number for Ambassadors with his dance partner, senior Lauren Carpenter. Cain, who said he came out as openly gay during his freshman year, said he finds that most people are accepting of his sexual orientation.

ACUMEN

Friday, March 13, 2009 • Page C3

New technology brings change in media

By Shireen Korkzan skorkzan@hilite.org

N

ot long ago, The Indianapolis Star issued two newspapers a day.

Now it’s only one. In the near future? Probably none. Instead, The Indy Star might be exclusively online, like many other newspapers across the country have become recently.

Printed news is not the only medium to switch to the Internet. Hulu.com, a Web site providing free access to a variety of movies, shows, and more, is reeling in more television and movie viewers. Now more people than ever are watching their favorite television shows and movies online instead of on the tube itself. This adds convenience to people who missed watching their show at its scheduled time and is free unlike Digital Video Recorders (DVR) such as TiVo. Plus, the Internet is virtually commercial free.

Music has evolved over the past couple of centuries, from inventor Thomas Edison’s phonograph to the boom box to Apple’s iPhone. Brian Bauman, a Web Master in Tech Hounds and junior, said all forms of media and entertainment are evolving tremendously with modern technology development. Bauman, who wants to be a professional Web site designer after college, has been a Web Master since last year and was a computer programmer his freshman year. He gets paid for making Web sites and is currently on a contract for the Journey of Hope Church in Zionsville.

“Cable stops being an actual entertainment medium and people will start going more towards the Internet,” Bauman said. “The Internet is becoming more industrialized. Like the radio, the Internet is not the free frontier it used to be, but it’s still a slow process. Nothing will disappear; content will change for different types of audiences.”

Bauman referenced the radio because of its role in entertainment throughout history. Between 1933 and 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt’s used the radio to

distribute his “fireside chats” to the American people. Soap operas were common via radio during the 1950’s, but over time people began switching to television for their soap opera entertainment. Television has since been the premiere medium for viewer entertainment and radio is mostly used for listening to music and the occasional sporting event. The Internet is now taking television’s place for viewer entertainment as well as print journalism; however, Bauman said, there will still be a role for television and print media.

They will have to adapt like radio has over the years. Alex Case, supervisor of the Best Buy on North Meridian Street, said television sales remain high despite having less people coming in and buying cable and satellite. Blu-Ray and High Definition television have helped, and DVD sales are soaring.

“The DVD industry is trying to adapt to the computer industry,” Case said. “That’s why you see more computers with DVD players attached.

Some already have Blu-Ray players installed.”

Case also said there’s more convergence with entertainment products.

The Apple iPhone is one such example by including a portable phone, music player and the Internet into one device. Television sales also haven’t decreased because more video and PC game players are hooking computers to their television sets to get the “bigger screen” feel, which cannot be found on a computer screen. But instead of speaking with an employee to receive inquiry on an entertainment product, users now study the inquired product online before even coming into the store. Many people, according to Case, only come in to directly buy the product and only have a couple of questions before officially buying the product. There are also product reviews online like Expotv. com, which also help users in deciding what to buy. YouTube channels are also common when researching entertainment products. A lot of these reviews are professionals because there is an entire industry of reviewing products.

However, Bauman said, the Internet will probably still win for a while because “the new generation is expecting more, faster.”

Kaitlyn Lampe, Jinny Zhang / photo illustration

Altruism impacts lives in immeasurable ways Made in Italy

By Tommy Sneider Every day, people’s lives end and other people’s lives begin.

Some will be remembered for what they did, and others might think about what they could have done had they lived longer. I have often heard from other people older than me not to have any regrets about what I could have or should have done. Or, as some say in Italy, where my family is from, “Ogni mancata e’ persa,” which translates to “every opportunity missed is an opportunity lost.” However, what I have come to realize is that it’s not only what you get to experience for yourself, but also how one impacts other people’s lives.

I have always believed, and still believe, that one can make someone’s day better each and every day just by doing some small act of kindness. Even a little smile can change

someone’s day. I personally do not do as much as I should to impact other people’s lives. The most I have done is to help get supplies, whether T-shirts, textbooks or any item I can get my hands on, for the Kuaba Foundation which in turn sends it to Africa for people to wear. That is relatively little to what others do each and every day. Rick Reilly, for example, used one of his articles in Sports Illustrated to help the foundation Nothing But Nets get money for nets to help kids in Africa.

But making a difference and making an impact in someone’s life does not have to be material. Any one person can leave a footprint in one person’s life at one time or another.

Impacting other people’s lives can be seen through all of the different clubs, such as Key Club, National Honor Society (NHS), Best Buddies and so on, that this school offers. Some students at this school regularly volunteer around the community. Although it may not always seem apparent, any act done to make someone else’s life a little bit better has a positive impact on that person’s life.

The poem “The Dash” by Linda Ellis perfectly explains what the whole point of this column is about. People are not going to remember someone for much wealth or property or how successful one is. Rather, people will remember someone who has left a positive impact, a footprint in someone else’s life. Tommy Sneider is a reporter for the HiLite. Contact him at tsneider@hilite.org.

Jinny zhang / photo

HELPING OUT: Senior Stephanie Wright awards a Smoky Row Elementary student with Mardi Gras beads during a carnival. She is involved in Cabinet and the National Honor Society.

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PAGE C4 • FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2009

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2009 • PAGE C5

Lack of reducing minimizes impact of recycling and reusing

R

BY RENNY LOGAN rlogan@hilite.org

achel “Rachelle” Johnson, The Healthy Environment club co-president and senior, said when she packs her lunch each day she utilizes reusable plastic containers. She also owns a sturdy plastic water bottle that she refills, rather than using disposable ones.

In these two ways, Johnson does her part to help the environment. She doesn’t just recycle, she said, but also reuses.

While she acknowledges efforts like Johnson’s to recycle and reuse, Fran Rushing, AP Environmental Science teacher, said the American s o c i e t y o f t e n f o rg e t s t h e t h i r d “R” of conser vation – “reduce” – and this oversight contributes to the environmental quagmire through over consumption even when purchasing “green products.”

“It takes energy and it takes resources to make all those products.” Rushing said. “Are these companies that are making these so-called green products really doing you a favor or are they not?”

She points out that such companies could be producing just as many emissions, just as much water pollution and using just as many resources unbeknownst to consumers.

On the other hand, Johnson looks at the issue of reduction in respect to American society and the current economy. She said that reduction, especially in this economy, is not the best choice for the country.

Johnson recognizes the

nature of our culture, “I understand that we are a consumer society, and I don’t think it’s reasonable that we’re going to cut back. But we should be using things we can reuse or recycling what we do use.”

According to a 20-minute documentary titled “The Story of Stuff,” by environmental activist Annie Leonard, Americans should focus on the real issue: our rate of consumption. In the film, Leonard leads the viewer through each step of production to showing how environmental and social problems arise.

While Johnson acknowledges the rate of consumption causes environmental issues, she also said humans don’t “give back.” She said our society has become accustomed to current rates of consumption and that reduction goes against this trend.

“I think people should reduce, but (reusing and recycling) are more reasonable,” Johnson said. “I think (reusing and recycling) are better for our economy.”

Rushing said she agrees with this sentiment. “Our economy is geared for consumption, that’s the way it works,” she said.

However, because recycling can involve just as much energy usage as production, Rushing said she suggests that recycling does not compensate for the absence of reducing and reusing. She said the inefficiency of current recycling methods contributes to the inability of recycling to adequately resolve the situation. Instead, to have the best impact, Rushing said she advises a combination of reduction, reuse and recycling.

“We definitely don’t reuse most things,” she said. “That goes with what (“Story of Stuff”) was explaining; that we’ve designed our culture in the last 50 years to not do that. Throw it away, buy a new one, throw it away, buy a new one.”

In “Story of Stuff,” Leonard also explained the concepts of planned and perceived obsolescence. The term “planned obsolescence” describes when companies specifically design a product to break after a certain amount of time in order to keep consumers buying.

“Some products are not made to last; they‘re made to just be okay for a couple of years maybe and then they’ll start falling apart. And you’ll go ‘Oh, I have to buy a new one,’” Rushing said.

Similar to planned obsolescence, “perceived obsolescence,” has the same affect; it keeps consumers buying, but on a much more subconscious level, as Leonard explains. Perceived obsolescence occurs through advertising, which emphasizes fashion trends and chic new technological devices as necessities.

“Advertising is a component or something that contributes to the problem (of consumption),”

economics teacher Michelle Foutz said. “You turn on the TV, and you see ads for bigger and better products than what you currently have. Then you want them more.”

Between advertising and planned obsolescence, consumption rates have soared since the 1950s, when these concepts arose, and to present times.

“The U.S. has more of a problem with consumption than just about any other country in the world,” Foutz said. “I think the (negative savings rate of the United States) is a sign of how much we consume.

“With a negative savings rate, our priority is consumption now. It’s not thinking about ‘are we going to have enough to sustain us in the future?’

It’s just ‘live for the moment,’” Foutz said. “It’s just spend right now, and not even spend what you have, but spend what you don’t have.”

ELIZABETH TRANCIK / PHOTO

TIPS TO CONSERVE WATER Compiled by Mackenzie Madison

POOJA MATHUR / PHOTO

UNPLUGGED: Environmental Science teacher Fran Rushing shuts off her classroom equipment.

This is one method to help conserve energy.

Water is the most precious of earth’s resources. Unfortunately water is not something that human’s have an unlimited supply of.

• Water usage can be reduced up to 50 percent without significantly changing normal lifestyles.

• In order to reach the United States’ health standards, water needs to be purified to a certain extent. In order to reach these standards, water is sent to plants that use energy. This isn’t just the water we drink, this is the water that fills our pools, waters our flowers, even the water that goes in the toilet.

Some ways to change that: • While in the shower, and not in need of the water (letting conditioner set, shaving, etc.), turn off the water, not only will you be helping the environment, but you will also see a significant change in your water bill.

• Make sure your neighborhood has a storm drain. If your neighborhood does not, you can write the mayor requesting you get one. Storm drains feed directly back into our water supply instead of letting rainwater flood.

• Water is a very vulnerable resource, so make sure harmful products are disposed of properly; oil, wax, propane, paint, and cleaning supplies should not be dumped into any water supplies and instead can be taken to special locations to be taken care of correctly.

• Do not overuse pesticides and fertilizers. Hazardous chemicals from the substances can seep into the ground and into the water supply.

EPA.GOV / SOURCE

PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE V. PERCEIVED OBSOLESCENCE Planned obsolescence: the process of a product becoming obsolete after a certain amount of time, as designed by the manufacturer. This is so the consumer must purchase a new product from the same manufacturer as a replacement when the

original item breaks. For example, an electronic device may intentionally break after a few years so the consumer must purchase the new model.

This results in too many items being purchased and more waste being produced.

Perceived obsolescence: when a consumer considers something is obsolete because of what society tells him/her. Therefore, the consumer is constantly purchasing more items to feel satisfied.

For example, the changing trends of fashion tell

people what to wear. Many consumers listen, and therefore buy more each year. This also results in too many things being purchased and more waste being produced.

STORYOFSTUFF.COM / SOURCE

RECYCLING IN CARMEL Items that can be recycled: Aluminum/metal cans Newspapers/printed paper Magazines/catalogs Cardboard Plastic Glass Phone books Locations to drop off recycling: PrimeLife Enrichment Center 1078 Third Avenue SW Carmel High School 520 E. Main St. Sam’s Club 7235 E. 96th St. (Indianapolis) CI.CARMEL.IN.US / SOURCE ARIEL AISEN, EVELYN FORBES AND JINNY ZHANG / GRAPHICS

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Page C6 • Friday, March 13, 2009

Vegetarian Spaghetti Recipe Taking the ‘eat’ out of meat

Compiled by Jinny Zhang

Ingredients 1 (16 ounce) package uncooked whole wheat spaghetti 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons garlic, minced 3 large tomatoes, diced 1 red onion, chopped 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped

1

1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 cup zucchini, chopped 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese

2

Directions 1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes; drain.

2. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat, and saute the garlic until lightly browned. Mix in the tomatoes, onion, yellow bell pepper, red bell pepper, zucchini and mushrooms.

Cook and stir until tender.

3

3. Mix the balsamic vinegar into the skillet. Toss with the cooked spaghetti, and sprinkle with feta cheese to serve.

Jinny zhang / photos allrecipes.com / source

As harmful effects of meat consumption rise, students look to vegetarianism

By Tracy Sun tsun@hilite.org It is estimated to contribute to a fifth of the world’s greenhouse gases. It is easily attainable and it is a part of most people’s daily lives. It’s not gasoline, not the plane, not even the car. It is livestock production; in a word: meat.

According to a New York Times article titled “Rethinking the Meat-Guzzler” (January 2008), the problem of meat consumption is on the rise. Meat factories use large amounts of energy, create water pollution, produce greenhouse gas emissions and require great amounts of land that lead to the destruction of rainforests.

However, students like Lauren Wiegand, vegetarian and sophomore, help to make a positive impact on the environment. Originally, Wiegand decided to become a vegetarian in sixth grade after researching animal cruelty for a project but said the effect of vegetarianism on the environment is an added bonus of incentive.

“I also am big on helping to save the environment,” Wiegand said. “Growing vegetables takes less land and resources. It wasn’t my main reason (to become vegetarian), but it’s a big plus.”

Fran Rushing, AP Environmental Science teacher, said the effects of livestock production create numerous issues.

Rushing said, “To raise cattle, you need a lot of resources to raise them. There’s a huge amount of water consumption, a huge amount of waste. If not disposed of properly, this can cause groundwater contamination and problems of exposure to untreated waste,” “Energy wise, when animals eat plants, 90 percent of the energy from the producers (organisms able to produce their own food) is lost. When we eat cows, we only receive 10 percent of the energy. Eating plants is more energy efficient,” she said.

According to the United Nations, in 1961, the world’s total meat supply was estimated to be 71 million tons.

In 2007, it rose to an estimated 284 million tons, and world meat consumption is predicted to double by 2050.

Americans eat about eight ounces of meat a day, twice the global average, and grow and kill 10 billion animals a year, 15 percent of the world’s total. This also means poorer nations will have to pay more for food staples once the demand and prices for meat goes up.

Rushing said she encourages students to find out their contribution to the problem.

“One person might not be able to make a difference,” Rushing said. “But if you can educate other people about the problem and share your information with people, you can make a significant change.”

Despite the increasing trend of meat consumption, the purchasing of environmentally friendly and vegetarian products is also on the rise, as well as knowledge of the problem.

“When I started as a vegetarian, the environment wasn’t as big as a deal as it is now,” Wiegand said. “It’s grown to be something huge. I’m proud that what I’m doing has such a positive impact on the environment.”

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Friday, March 13, 2009 • Page C7

5 Movies that Changed the World

Movies easily shape and influence other movies, but they rarely change the world.

Here are a few that did ‘2001: Space Odyssey’ (1968) “It looks exactly like 2001,” Apollo 11 astronauts said shortly after landing on the surface of the moon. Keep in mind that “2001” was released not only before the moon landing, but before the first picture of Earth from space was even available. It is a benchmark film in terms of inspiring NASA with its vision of the future and depiction of space technology. Although it looks quite different, some of the technology created in the film such as the space station is now a reality.

To this day, “2001” is chillingly realistic. Its realism and impeccable technical aspects add to the popular criticism that director Stanley Kubrick’s films focus too much on style and too little on human emotion. However, this cold, detached style works for “2001” since machines are in the foreground on its story.

Naysayers fail to realize that the point of the film is intended to convey that humans will become blindly obedient to technology. This point is enhanced by the fact that the film is a slave to its own technological aspects..

‘The Thin Blue Line’ (1988) The film that set a convicted man free. As a result of this documentary’s stunning evidence, overall credibility and overwhelming publicity, Randall Dale Adams’ conviction of murder and life sentence was overturned. Few films can claim that kind of impact.

By Sam Watermeier ‘Supersize me’ (2004) Everyone knows that McDonald’s food is unhealthy. Therefore, this documentary exposing the detrimental effects of a month-long McDonald’s binge seemed pointless. However, “Super Size Me” turned out to be the most involving and insightful piece of muckraking since Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle.” It shows fast food’s addictive qualities and the extent to which our lives revolve around it. It is also one of the few documentaries that is now ingrained in our culture and forever associated with its subject matter. It is virtually impossible to think of McDonald’s or fast food in general without thinking about this film.

‘The passion of the Christ’ (2004) Neither the film community, nor mass audiences for that matter, were remotely interested in the cinematic exploration of religion until this film came along. It brought people from all different sects, religious and non-religious, together in an unprecedented way. It shows that religion is not such a taboo subject matter after all.

‘Easy Rider’ (1969) A cornerstone film of the “New Hollywood phase,” “Easy Rider” is one of the most revolutionary movies of all time. It breaks down the classic narrative structure of Hollywood films, providing a refreshingly sloppy, episodic style. It flows as freely as the hippie, open-spirited characters at its forefront. From it stemmed several avant-garde filmmakers and a whole new attitude regarding storytelling. Movies were no longer just about big set-pieces and escapism, but the harsh realities of everyday life and living it on the open road.

imdb.com / photos

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Page C8 • Friday, March 13, 2009

Ways to reduce your carbon footprint Compiled by Afra Hussain

1. Reduce fossil fuel consumption a. When finished using an b. Encourage parents to use electronic device, unplug it alternative energy at home from the outlet. Electricity by installing solar panels. still runs though it if it is plugged into the wall regardless if it is on.

2. Reduce Water Consumption

a. Install low-flow shower heads and adapters in faucets that allow less water through the shower head or faucet and automatically reduce the amount of water used.

b. Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge for cold water to cut down on how long the faucet runs before the water turns cold.

Fran rushing / source

Ways to increase your social impact 1. How to Contact Senators about Public Policy ISsues a. Go to www.senate.gov and in the top right corner type name of the senator you wish to email. Or, click on the red box that says “Senators” and use the search option: choose Indiana or find senators alphabetically. Indiana’s senators are Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh.

b. Under the address of the Senator there should be a web contact address.

Clicking on it will take you to contact the senator via a web form. Be sure to write your email address if you would like a response back. c. If there is no web form, an email address will be listed. senate.gov / source

2. Donate to help families In need a. Provide small contributions to feed a child and their family. Visit www.feedthechildren.org and click on “Please Help Now” under “Heat or Eat?”

b. Under options, indicate who much you would like to donate. Minimum donations are $14. Follow the rest of the procedure until Confirmation. feedthechildren.org / source

Ariel Aisen / Graphic