APRIL 27, 2011 I VOL. 76 I ISSUE 9
CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL I 520 E. MAIN ST. I CARMEL, IN I WWW.HILITE.ORG
*Carmel High School’s student newsmagazine
WHEN WE LOSE How long can CHS maintain its meteoric streak of success, and how will we cope in light of failure?
Join the conversation.
Acumen: The Movement Issue - See Insert
PAGE 2 | TABLE OF CONTENTS | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
Offbeat
cover story
With prom approaching on May 5, take a look at the history of the traditional school dance.
When Success Gives Way to Failure
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30
s,
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40
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Proms grew in popularity and were increasingly featured in high school yearbooks.
news
Student co-founds Free Syria Club to raise local awareness of the turbulent nation 4
feature
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19 s
A decade later, the concept of prom royalty sprouted through student body elections.
In 1975, President Gerald Ford’s daughter, Susan Ford, held her prom at the White House.
In an increasingly connected world, students realize the merits of bilingualism 8
entertainment
Costume crew prepares actors and actresses for “Les Misérables” run 21
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26
sports
Left-handed athletes may have an advantage on the playing field 26
perspectives 19 75
0s 80 e1
lat
How do students handle the pressures and expectations placed upon them by “Carmel-level” standards? Page 16
The first proms were reportedly staged by Ivy League universities.
PROMWORKS.COM / SOURCE MELINDA SONG / GRAPHICS
Staff urges students to not let media decide which issues are important 28
15 minutes
Junior Olivia Ross is a competitive rower 32
32
25 CONNER GORDON / COVER PHOTO
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | JUST A MINUTE | PAGE 3
Unbe‘leaf’able Trees
Today is National Arbor Day, according to arborday.org. This holiday aims to raise awareness about nature and the environment through the simple act of planting a tree. But did you know how surprisingly useful trees can be in our everyday lives?
By the numbers
Trees provide us with more than products, many of which we use daily.
5,000
Here are a few of the most commonly used treebased chemicals (called silvichemicals) and wood byproducts: Resin In nature, trees use wood resin as a protective coating for their wounds. The sticky goop forms a hard coating that keeps out insects and microorganisms. It can be processed into rosin and turpentine, which are used in items such as paint (4), chewing gum (3) and string instruments.
On the first Arbor Day, on April 10, 1872, an estimated 1 million trees were planted.
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1
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At maturity, these trees will absorb 15,000 tons of carbon dioxide and produce 10,000 tons of oxygen each year, meeting the needs of 45,000 people.
2 3 6 5
Cellulose This compound makes up the walls of tree cells. It is found in paper, but also has more unexpected uses in suntan lotion (8), eyeglass frames (5) and football helmets (7). Cellulose also helps thicken both for toothpaste (6) and ice cream (2). Nitrocellulose is used in nail polish and industrial explosives. Wood pulp This byproduct is used in cleaning formulas, cosmetics (1), artificial vanilla flavoring and more. In the pulping process, the wood sugars produced make the torula yeast found in imitation bacon and cereal.
4
There are more than 85 different types of trees in Indiana. The state itself is separated into 4 regions, which all have their own unique soil condition, animal life and vegetation.
Indiana’s state tree is the tulip tree, which can grow to be 100 feet tall. According to a study conducted by Texas A&M University, visual exposure to settings with trees is proven to significantly reduce stress, lower blood pressure and relieve muscle tension within 5 minutes. A healthy young tree has the same net cooling effect as ten room-size air conditioners operating for 20 hours a day.
LIANE YUE / GRAPHIC ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION, IDAHOFORESTS.ORG, TREESAREGOOD.COM, TAPPI.ORG / SOURCE
PAGE 4 | NEWS | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
NEWS
SUBMITNEWS@HILITE.ORG | TWITTER.COM/HILITE_NEWS
News Briefs
Updates on clubs, activities and events in the school. From last Wednesday to tomorrow, the TechHOUNDS robotics team will be in St. Louis to compete in the annual For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Championship Event.
Dates to Remember: May 5: Prom / Cinco de Mayo May 7: Flex Day May 13: Mother’s Day May 14: Yearbook distribution begins
Visit the Syrian Sunrise Foundation at ssfusa.org to find out how to help those affected by the uprising in Syria.
Students increase awareness for Syria
The performing arts department will show its spring musical, “Les Miserables” both today and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. All choirs will have their spring concert on May 15. According to choir director Lamonte Kuskye, tickets will be $5 for general seating in the auditorium. FCCLA members will participate in the Hamilton County March of Dimes for Babies Walk tomorrow at the Monon Center. Registration starts at noon. ISSMA State Qualifications will occur today and tomorrow. The Annual Fashion Show will be on May 14 during SRT. House will host a capture the flag event tomorrow. The cost is $3, which will cover drinks, water balloons and other supplies. Best Buddies will have a Friendship Walk on Sunday. According to president and junior Kyle Peeler, the club succeeded its goal of raising $2,100.
CONNER GORDON / PHOTO
“SOO” PASSIONATE: Symphony Orchestra Director Soo Han conducts a piece during the performing arts convocation. For more photos, visit http://hilite.org/archives/14800.
MIKAELA GEORGE / PHOTO
DIRECT ACTION: Leena Mossa-Basha (second from the right), Free Syria advocate and junior, talks with the Muslim Student Association (MSA). The MSA hosted a bake sale starting April 16 to raise money for aid.
BY ROCHELLE BRUAL rbrual@hilite.org
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lthough the Syrian government cut off electricity and the Internet to silence its citizens, Leena Mossa-Basha, Free Syria advocate and junior, said she hears horror stories leaked out from her family members still living in Syria. According to Leena, one day her aunt glanced out the window and found people burying dead bodies in her garden. Civilians often avoid graveyards, her aunt said, because security forces shoot those who visit them. Another day a bomb dropped on her cousin’s car, but she couldn’t examine the damage in fear of nearby snipers. As a Syrian-American, Leena said she keeps herself informed about the Syrian Revolution. However, she said most high school students have no idea what’s happening in a Middle Eastern country on the other side of the world. To raise awareness, Leena said she spends about two to three hours a day posting articles on mar15.info, the first English website dedicated to bringing people constant and current news about the Syrian Revolution. She also plans to start the Free Syria Club next year with junior Hiranmayi “Heera” Vemaganti.
“Fellow humans don’t want to see other humans being slaughtered and massacred every day,” Leena said. “As human beings, we should all care about what’s happening, not just what’s happening in the U.S.” According to Leena, the Free Syria Club’s main goal will be to raise awareness. Its members plan to make flyers and pamphlets to inform CHS students about the Syrian Revolution. Although it is not set in stone, she said the club might organize a flash mob or conduct a protest. Leena is also treasurer of the Muslim Student Association (MSA), where club members can discuss which countries they should help. The MSA held a bake sale starting April 16 during the school lunches to raise money for humanitarian aid for Syria. Nora Mossa-Basha, mar15.info co-creator and Leena’s sister, said via email, “There are numerous strategical reasons why Americans should take extra note to the atrocities happening in Syria. The Assad regime is highly toxic to freedom and democracy across the world. The regime (not the people) support terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. The regime also supports Iran. The highly antiAmerican regime in Iran has one CONTINUED single friend in the Middle East and ON NEXT PAGE that friend is Syria. If the Syrian regime
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | NEWS | PAGE 5
Take Action What can the average high school student do to help? Be informed Stay informed about the situation. Read about what’s happening and then tell your family and friends about it. Spread the word Donate a tweet or Facebook status update every now and then to help raise awareness about the Syrian Revolution. Give humanitarian aid Host a bake sale or gather money from family and friends and donate it to an organization like the Syrian Sunrise Foundation, which gives relief directly to the victims inside Syria. Get political Students can always contact their representatives and the White House. Tell them Americans are in favor of the U.S. taking action against the Assad regime to save the lives of civilians. NORA MOSSA-BASHA / SOURCE SSFUSA.ORG / SOURCE
is ousted, and a new government takes over, Iran will slowly lose its legitimacy and power. In addition, something that most people don’t know about is that Bashar al-Assad and his regime allowed Hezbollah and other terrorists to cross into Iraq to kill American troops during the Iraqi war. That alone should be a reason for the American government to take action against him.” After former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad died in 2000, the Syrian Parliament changed the constitution to lower the minimum presidency age for current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to take over. Bashar previously worked as an eye doctor, and therefore he had no background to be a government official, according to Leena. When the Arab Spring, democratic uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa that started in December 2010, inspired the Syrian people to rise up against their own oppressive government, Bashar responded with tanks, missiles, rockets and snipers. Nora said the current death toll is around 12,000, but the true number could be thrice that amount. According to Leena, about 900 of these victims are children. According to international relations teacher Peter O’Hara, the United States has avoided the subject of Syria for a reason. First of all, it’s a secular nation. Christians are free to practice their religion, and they are also close to the Assad government. However, Leena said the government kills both Christians and Muslims. It demolishes centuriesold churches as well as mosques. “We’ve got soldiers involved throughout the Middle East. We’ve got people coming home now, trying to (recuperate). We have soldiers in four or five tours in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Iraq,” O’Hara said. “You cannot sustain that sort of tempo. Tempo is a military term for being deployed a lot or being engaged in some sort of combat operation.” U.N. members Russia and China have trade and CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
economic ties with Syria, and they used their veto power to prevent physical intervention, but Leena said this isn’t an excuse to sit back and watch the slaughter. Although the United Nations has not intervened physically, O’Hara said it has taken steps toward peace. For example, Kofi Annan, former U.N. Secretary-General, created a ceasefire agreement which was implemented on April 12. As for the United States, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama have expressed public disapproval of Assad. However, Leena said she wants the United States to do more because condemning Bashar won’t do anything since he doesn’t care what the world thinks of his actions. O’Hara said, “If Al-Qaeda or the Taliban were to get into Syria, and they were to take over the country, that could be the only way we would ever (intervene physically). And that’s not the issue right now in Syria. The issue is the Assad government.” According to Nora, the key to winning against Assad and his regime is to spread awareness. Syrian civilians have suffered for over 40 years, and now they risk their own lives to film and document the atrocities taking place in hopes that other countries will take action. Nora said her goal is to use social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to get media outlets to base their pieces on Syria and stir up pressure on diplomats worldwide to act. “What’s happening in Syria has gotten to the scale of what happened in Bosnia and Rwanda,” Nora said. “We are going to look back at Syria 10 years from now and ask ourselves, ‘How did we let this happen without doing anything about it?’”
Want more? Scan this QR Code to visit the Syrian Youth Movement and to read more about the events happening in Syria.
Timeline of the Syrian Uprising A “Day of Dignity” demonstration in Damascus demands the release of political prisoners. About 35 protestors are arrested. At a “Day of Rage” rally in the southern city of Deraa, security forces open fire on protestors trying to destroy a statue of the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, leaving civilians dead. March 2011 May 2011 The Syrian government deploys army tanks to Deraa, Banyas, Homs and Damascus to suppress anti-regime protests. The United States tightens economic sanctions in response to the Syrian government’s crackdown on protests, and the European Union follows suit days later.
The United States, Canada, France, Germany and United Kingdom call for President Bashar al-Assad to step down. A U.N. report states that the Syrian regime may have committed crimes against humanity. August 2011
The UN Security Council endorses a non-binding peace plan drafted by Kofi Annan, UN-Arab League envoy to Syria. China and Russia agree to back the plan after an earlier, stricter draft is modified. The UN statement, however, is not a formal resolution. March 2012 February 2012
Russia and China veto a UN Security Council draft resolution on Syria. Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, calls the actions of these two countries “disgusting and shameful.” Meanwhile, the Syrian regime escalates its bombardment of Homs and other rebellious cities. MELINDA SONG / GRAPHIC BBC, TIME, THE GUARDIAN / SOURCES
PAGE 6 | NEWS | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
Indiana primary on May 8
Students make decisions to vote for first time, participate in politics
BY CAITLIN MULLER cmuller@hilite.org
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Where to vote
Before you vote Students should know the following before going to vote on May 8 Words to know • Closed primaries: Indiana uses closed primaries. When voters sign in, clerks will ask them which political party ballot they prefer. They vote only for candidates on this ballot. •
HENRY JACKSON/ PHOTO
REPRESENT US: Steve Braun, an Indiana state representative candidate, presents his views at a Republican debate. Students can vote for candidates such as Braun in the upcoming election.
Absentee voting: Voters with special circumstances of illness, disability, etc. can choose to be absentee voters and vote on an alternate day.
CONNIE CHU / GRAPHIC IN.GOV, TIMEDATE.COM / SOURCES
Gray Rd
Keystone Pkwy
Rangeline Rd
Guilford Rd
tudents here will have their first opportunities to participate in state and national elections on May 8 when the Indiana primary takes place. A primary election is a preliminary vote used to determine which candidate will receive the official nomination of his or her party for a general election. Because President Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee for president, only nominees for the Republican party will run in this year’s presidential primaries. However, both Democratic and Republican candidates will be running in state elections. Voting-age students here have varied opinions toward the opportunity to vote. Senior Mitchell “Mitch” Stickford said he will be participating in the primary. “Yes, I will definitely be voting,” Stickford said. “I want to express my rights as an American citizen. It is fun to have a say in what goes on in America these days. Since I’m of voting age, I think it’s sort of my duty to follow politics a little and make my own educated decision instead of just voting for the same people my parents are. However, I will more be voting because I want to use my rights rather than because I’m an avid follower of politics.” John R. Hammond III, Republican Party Chairman of the 7th Congressional District Committee, said he encourages all students to get involved with politics in their youth.
Hammond is a volunteer on behalf of several Republican campaigns including the Romney for President effort in Indiana, but his participation You can find out where your official polling place in politics started when he was younger. is online at the Hamilton County Clerk’s website. “My involvement dates back to my high school days when I assisted Here are some polling locations near CHS. my parents in local get-out-the-vote efforts in our community,” Hammond 136th St. said. “I have been involved in statewide Republican campaigns ever since.” Unlike Stickford and Hammond, Carmel High School Carmel Carmel High Main St. however, senior Emily Garman said Middle School School Carmel she will not participate in the primary Mohawk Trails Middle School Carmel this year. Elementary Carmel “I am not registered to vote, which is Elementary Elementary my first issue,” Garman said. “I am also Mohawk not really involved in politics. I usually 126th St. Clay Middle School Trails do not really pay attention to what is going with the election, but now I wish I had gotten involved earlier.” According to Garman, she plans to vote in the next election, which will be Woodbrook in 2016. Elementary Woodbrook 116th St. “Next election, I will definitely try Elementary to get more involved. I understand that a part of being a citizen of the United States is voting. I regret now ARUNI RANAWEERA / GRAPHIC that I did not register; I guess now I HAMILTONCOUNTY.IN.GOV / SOURCE don’t really have a say in politics at all,” said Garman. Hammond said he has advice for difference in your community, state and nation by making students who plan on voting in the upcoming primary. sure you cast your vote and have your voice heard. Our “The most important thing is to actually show up and vote republic will only endure if we, the people, participate in an if you are 18 years old and voting for the first time. You will active and engaged way in the electoral process,” Hammond find it to be exciting and a point of real civic pride once you said. “If you are eligible to vote, do it.” cast your ballot officially for the first time. You can make a real
st Voters mu tered have regis by April 9
Requirements • U.S. citizenship • Indiana residency • 18 years or older • Registered to vote at home residence Reminders • Bring state or federal-issued photo ID • Polling sites are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. • Be sure to update your voter registration information online at indianavoters.in.gov
PAGE 8 | FEATURE | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
FEATURE Pensez sur ce! Think about this! SUBMITFEATURE@HILITE.ORG | TWITTER.COM/HILITE_NEWS
Did you know? The top three most useful languages (after English) for businesses are Mandarin Chinese, French and Arabic. ABCNEWS / SOURCE
Want more? For more stories from the HiLite about foreign language, scan this QR code.
Translation: Think about this!
Bilingualism offers students advantages in cognitive control BY JULIE XU jxu@hilite.org
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luent in both French and English, junior Eleanor Spolyar considers herself to be a bilingual. At home, Spolyar’s mom speaks to her in French while her dad speaks to her in English. Spolyar said, “When I come home from school, my mom might say, ‘Oh, how are you?’ in French, and then my dad
PARLEZ-VOUS: Junior Eleanor Spolyar exercises her bilingualism when she speaks to her mother in French at home (left) and when she speaks to her friends in English at school. According to Spolyar, speaking two different languages to her parents has become a normality. HENRY ZHU / PHOTOS
might say the same thing in English. I’ll answer my dad in English, and then, I’ll answer my mom in French. I don’t really realize the difference (between the languages) or think about it; it just comes like naturally. I think that means I’m flexible, and it’s an advantage.” Spolyar is not alone. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, bilingualism is on the rise with 21 percent of school-aged children in America currently speaking a language other than English at home. Flexibility is just one of the many advantages bilinguals have. According to Fred Genesee, a psychology professor at McGill University, bilinguals also have advantages in areas related to spacial processing or numeric processing, so it is not specific to language, and they have better executive control functions in their brain than monolinguals. When a person learns two languages, Genesee said, he has to be vigilant in which language he is hearing, and in learning two languages he has to control their attention, inhibit and divert their attention in other cases selectively intended. Genesee said, “As they are listening to language...they aren’t doing it subconsciously; they have to be sensitive to which language is being
used and which language they use. There’s a kind of mental agility that is involved when you learn and use two languages. Because there are two of them, it’s that kind of mental agility and flexibility that gives you an advantage.” Spolyar said the switch from speaking English to French in her household demonstrates her mental flexibility. She said, “I do agree that being bilingual can give someone an increased flexibility because it shows at my house. When I talk to my parents, I just respond in both languages and (don’t) have to stop and think about it. I’m pretty good at multitasking, like juggling things around.” Junior Ana Carolina Corey, who speaks both Portuguese and English fluently and also takes French IV here, said she agrees that knowing more than one language can make a person more flexible as shown through her ability to switch languages quickly and in her multitasking. “My mom speaks Portuguese, and my dad speaks just English, so I’ll be going back and forth with them. In being bilingual, you always have multiple languages running through your brain, so I guess it helps with multitasking, and I multitask a lot,” Corey said. “I have friends that speak only one language who have trouble thinking about multiple things at once. I’ll think about two or three different things at the same time, and it’s not overwhelming.” Genesee said another area in which bilinguals are significantly better than monolinguals is in tasks where they have to inhibit attention to information which is misleading and concentrate on information that is relevant to the task. Bilinguals, he said, are better at solving puzzles if there is conflicting information that they need to ignore, so they can better focus their attention on relevant information. Genesee said, “Most evidence in favor from differences comes from experimental procedures, and if the problems in the experiment require ruling out alternatives that are misleading and focusing on the right answer, then, yes, bilinguals might be better than monolinguals in that situation. Being bilingual has a potential cognitive advantage in problem solving to be more focused.” Corey said she personally is able to ignore distractions well and focus on what is important. She said, “If there was a screaming kid in the backseat while I was driving, I think I’d be able to ignore him and drive safely. When I study, I’m fairly good at ignoring distractions.” Spolyar said she is also able to easily avoid distractions and stay focused. “If I need to get something done, I get it done,” Spolyar said. “I’m not going to CONTINUED let myself get distracted by other things. ON NEXT PAGE
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | FEATURE | PAGE 9
A Taste of Multilingualism Use these common phrases to experience multilingualism for yourself English Greeting: Hello Farewell: Goodbye To express appreciation: Thank you To get someone’s attention: Excuse me Apologies: Sorry Formalities: Please
German Greeting: Guten Tag (“gooten-tah-g”) Farewell: Auf wiedersehen (“auf vee-der-zeen”) To express appreciation: Danke (“dahn-kuh”) To get someone’s attention: Entschuldigen Sie (“ent-shool-dih-guhn-zee”) Apologies: Entschuldigung (“ent-shool-dih-goong”) Formalities: Bitte (“bih-tuh”)
Italian Greeting: Ciao (“chow”) Farewell: Ciao (“chow”) To express appreciation: Grazie (“gra-tzee-ay”) To get someone’s attention: Scusi (“scoo-see”) Apologies: Scusa (“scoo-sa”) Formalities: Per favore (“pear-fah-voh-ray”) Spanish Greeting: Hola (“oh-la”) Farewell: Adios (“ah-dee-ohs”) To express appreciation: Gracias (“gra-see-ahs”) To get someone’s attention: Perdóname (“pear-dohn-en-meh”) Apologies: Lo siento (“low-see-en-toe”) Formalities: Por favor (“pour-fah-vore”)
If I’m in a room full people who are talking, I usually try to block them out and try to focus on what I’m doing.” According to Genesee, another way in which bilinguals perform better than monolinguals is in cognitive ability. If a person asks to solve a problem or see alternative responses to a question, bilinguals often think more creatively than monolinguals, who can also do those types of tasks. Bilinguals, he said, may have a greater cognitive ability because they have more perspective and thus show more divergent thinking. Genesee said, “Knowing more than one language can give you more perspective, which allows you to see the world in different ways and broadens people’s perspective, which makes them more insightful.” Spolyar said she also believes that having more perspective CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Knowing more than one language can give you more perspective, which allows you to see the world in different ways and broadens people’s perspective, which makes them more insightful. Fred Genesee
Psychology professor at McGill University
can help bilinguals in having an advantage to problem solving. Spolyar said, “I really like Sudokus or just a regular puzzle. I solve them easily, and it could be related to being bilingual in just looking outside the box because I think bilingualism helps open your mind to new concepts and different cultures. Like when you are faced with a problem, most people, if they are born in one household, only look in the way that their parents brought them up to be. But I know French and English, so it gives me two different aspects on how things should be viewed, which is good. It helps me be more aware of the world and a less biased point of view.” Corey said even as a kid, she loved solving crossword puzzles because she solved them easily, and she said she agrees that her increased perspective may be connected to her ability to solve these puzzles easily. “Being bilingual gives you a different perspective, a different way to think than the normal way. You not only have a totally different language, but also you have a totally different culture that you are familiar with, so for me it’s American culture and Brazilian culture,” Corey said. “One who only knows one language who grew up in a single culture may only know one way to figure a problem, but with different backgrounds, there are different perspectives to help figure that out.” Although bilingualism offers potential cognitive advantages in problem solving and in staying more focused, Genesee said, in some ways neurocognitive advantages are not nearly as important as the advantages of knowing two languages in being able to communicate with more people. Genesee said, “The big advantage of bilingualism that seems to be getting the least amount of attention nowadays is that when you know two languages, is that you can speak to more people and understand more people. The other
French Greeting: Bonjour (“bawn-zhoor”) Farewell: Au revoir (“aw-rhe-vwah”) To express appreciation: Merci (“mair-see”) To get someone’s attention: Excusez-moi (“excusea-mwah”) Apologies: Désolé (“daze-oh-lay”) Formalities: S’il vous plaît (“sill-voo-play”)
TONY TAN / GRAPHIC OMNIGLOT.COM AND GOOGLE TRANSLATE / SOURCES
advantages are real and important, but we should also recognize that language is ultimately about communication, so if you can communicate in two languages, you have lot of advantages that other people don’t have.”
Demographics According to the National Center for Educational statistics... More than one in five school-aged children (21 percent) speak a language other than English at home.
JIVA CAPULONG / GRAPHIC NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION / SOURCE
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | FEATURE | PAGE 11
An Unfair Advantage? Legacy preferences still play a significant role in college admissions process BY CLAUDIA HUANG chuang@hilite.org
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Overview
What are legacy admissions?
Normal Rates vs. Legacy Rates
45.1 25.4
I don’t think (admission) should have anything to do with the parents. Getting into college is based off of what the students have done, not what the parents have given to the colleges.
Normal
By the Numbers
6.2% 7.4% 8.5%
Legacy
A comparison between overall acceptance rates and enior Rebecca “Becca” Meltzer The practice of giving preferential treatment to a acceptance rates of legacy applicants in 2011 received an acceptance letter college applicant because someone in his family from Emory University, attended the college located in Atlanta, this April. Princeton Yale Harvard When she opened her acceptance letter, University University University though, she was slightly surprised by the writing awaiting her. “In my acceptance letter, (the university) mentioned several times they hoped that I would continue percent increase in chances the legacy at Emory,” she said. “So of admission by being the obviously they knew that I was a child of an undergraduate legacy there; my dad went there. alumnus or alumna They seemed to stress that in the acceptance letter.” percent in donations While it was an exciting moment for given by alumni to higher her, she said she would have enjoyed education the acceptance more if that information were withheld from her. ABOUT.COM, HARVARD.EDU, PRINCETON.EDU, “I don’t think I should have an YALE.EDU, THE NEW YORK TIMES / SOURCES CONNIE CHU AND CLAUDIA HUANG / GRAPHIC advantage over others because my dad went there,” she said. “Even though it’s a good thing that I got in, it would be even more satisfying to know that I got in on my own.” are usually contributors financially to the school. So the Sophomore Tyler Meinz is an example of someone According to a 2011 study conducted by the Harvard bottom line (is) to keep the income flowing.” who could potentially be subject to the benefits of Graduate School of Education at 30 highly selective Also, another reason why colleges are so willing to accept legacy preferences because his father went to Princeton colleges, legacy applicants continue to gain a large legacy applicants is because of the idea of tradition, according University, located in Princeton, NJ. However, regardless advantage over non-legacy applicants. Those with a family to Meltzer. of this, Meinz said he has not considered the school as one connection to the university have seven times the chance of “I think they like to have traditions of families at the of his main choices. gaining acceptance to the school. Also, on average, legacy college. It definitely looks good for them to say that they have Meinz said, “My dad told me to go to a school that I want applicants get an advantage equivalent to a 160-point boost a large alumni population,” Meltzer said. to major in. And although Princeton’s a great school — on the SAT, according to The New York Times. This practice, In addition, the fairness of legacy admissions has been everyone knows that—it’s not something that I’m looking into which began after World War I, has gradually become a questioned. Meltzer said she did not agree with legacy that much right now because it’s more of an economics and controversial tradition, even seen as “affirmative action for preferences and found those preferences to be unjust. engineering school. That’s what it’s mainly known for. And the rich” by its harshest critics. “I don’t think (admission) should have anything to do I’m looking into kinesiology, and so he said to find a great According to college and career counselor Harry with the parents. Getting into college is based off of what the school in that.” Pettibone, legacy preferences still occur mainly because students have done, not what the parents have given to the While Meltzer has decided to attend Vanderbilt of financial benefits the university receives. Alumni colleges,” Meltzer said. University in Nashville, TN, in the fall, she said she was are typically the primary donors to a university’s However, while Pettibone said he agreed preference seriously considering Emory University as one of her endowment fund. for legacies is an unfair practice, he also said it will not be potential options. When she was making her college Pettibone said, “It keeps the alumni happy and the alumni eradicated anytime soon. decision, she said she tried to remain impartial to all of “I don’t know if it’s fair, but it’s realistic. I think I would look her choices. at it that way because the colleges have to sustain themselves, “I think (the fact that I am a legacy applicant) will affect my and what better way to do it than to keep the supporters in choice a little bit just because (my dad) obviously is pushing line,” Pettibone said. “But the unfairness comes if Susie or it a little bit because he liked (Emory) so much,” Meltzer said. Johnny got a 2.5 and gets admitted over a non-legacy with a “And also, because he knows a lot about it, it’s easier to be 3.8. There are pros and cons to (the practice).” informed about the college. But I’m trying to be neutral about Despite the advantage that legacy hopefuls gain when (my choice) and not have a leaning towards (Emory) because applying, students do not normally show a preference for the he went there. I want to make the decision on my own without school, according to Pettibone. that influencing me.” “Usually, if mom and dad are alumni of a highly selective school, students will probably look at those schools, but it’s more prevalent for parents to say to Want more? students, ‘Well, I went there and liked and enjoyed it, Scan this QR code to read but the choice is yours,’” Pettibone said. “And that’s how more about the myths I think that’s the way it should be. Yeah, follow suit with of legacy preferences in Rebecca “Becca” Meltzer mom or dad, but you are your own individual and you college admissions. Senior have your own choices.”
30%
25%
33%
PAGE 12 | FEATURE | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
Students prefer caffeinated drinks for their tastes, benefits BY ERIC HE ehe@hilite.org
F
or junior Steven Gaw, the shot of Monster that he drinks in the morning is not only a part of his morning routine to wake up, but also the reason he is able to stay focused and alert throughout the day.
According to Gaw, he started drinking caffeinated beverages for the energy boost when he entered high school. “It’s really just a way for me to get up and keep awake. When I’m at home, I mostly drink caffeinated beverages so that I can finish my homework, and it is also another way to give me a lot of energy throughout the day,” Gaw said. According to The New York Times, new research from
Caught on Caffeine
How much caffeine is in your favorite drink? Keep in mind the FDA’s official limit for 12 oz cola and pepper soft drinks is 71 mg. Coffee, generic brew Like all coffee drinks, caffeine levels vary greatly due to variations in coffee blend and brewing techniques. The amount of caffeine in brewed coffee therefore averages between 80 and 135 mg per cup. Brewed coffee means the water is in contact with the grinds for a long time, leading to a higher caffeine concentration. Mountain Dew, regular or diet What surprises many people is the level of caffeine in Mountain Dew. At 55 mg, it is significantly higher than Coca-Cola. In most countries outside the United States, however, Mountain Dew contains no caffeine. Within the United States, PepsiCo does make a caffeine-free version.
135 mg
Diet Coke Diet Coke is possibly the most popular lowcalorie soda worldwide. At 47 mg, the Diet Coke range actually contains about 40 percent more caffeine per fluid ounce than Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola Classic Coca-Cola could be considered the earliest energy drink, although not marketed as one. It was one of the first carbonated drinks to contain caffeine. It has 35 mg of caffeine. Snapple Most Snapple teas contain 21 mg of caffeine per 8 oz serving. Since most bottles are 16 oz, this makes the total caffeine content 42 mg. ENERGYFIEND.COM / SOURCE
55 mg 47 mg 21 mg 35 mg
LIANE YUE AND RYAN ZUKERMAN / GRAPHIC
the University at Buffalo concluded that adding caffeine to beverages increases the appeal to young people. When a group of young people was unknowingly given drinks with caffeine and drinks without caffeine and asked to rate them, the ratings for drinks with caffeine were consistently higher. Lila Torp, family and consumer science teacher, said students tend to drink caffeinated beverages because of both taste and the energy from caffeine. “I think students drink caffeinated beverages because of the various effects,” Torp said. “Some people need the extra boost of energy to make it through the day.” English teacher Karin Uhlenhop also said she consumes caffeinated drinks on a daily basis and understands why some students might need the caffeine. “For me, (drinking caffeinated beverages) started in college, when you have to find a way to stay awake to study for midterms and maintain your mental acuity in stressful situations. Caffeine keeps my eyes open, makes my mind clearer, and I’m more in tune with things in school,” she said. Despite the fact that he drinks caffeinated beverages mainly for the energy boost, Gaw said he chooses some beverages because of his taste preference. Gaw said, “I prefer the taste of sodas like Mountain Dew... and Mellow-Yellow in comparison to other drinks, so I normally drink those. Mainly I drink those things for the energy boost, but the taste is just another benefit.” Like Gaw, Uhlenhop said she preferred Mountain Dew when she was in college but added that she now drinks coffee because she prefers the taste. “I once spent a year abroad in Italy, which is where I discovered coffee. While living in Italy, I fell in love with coffee; I loved the taste and the warm feeling of coffee. That’s when the switch from soda to coffee happened,” Uhlenhop said. “It became not only the benefits from caffeine but also the flavor and comfort that coffee gave me.” Despite the benefits of caffeine and taste that comes with drinking caffeinated beverages, Gaw said he has also heard of the negative effects. “Most people tell me I’m crazy because I drink so much caffeine, but really I have never crashed before. The worst that will happen is that I get tired when I don’t drink caffeine in school,” Gaw said. Uhlenhop said that in the end, drinking caffeine might not be more a preference of taste but of convenience. “It’s really become something of an expectation that people are ‘go, go, go’ in our culture all the time. Compared to other cultures, we drink a lot more caffeinated beverages,” Uhlenhop said. “Caffeine just allows people to keep their energy up, which is why it’s more of an acceptable type of addiction.”
Want more? Scan this QR code for more information about caffeine and a quiz about the health benefits of consuming it.
PAGE 14 | STUDENT SECTION | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
STUDENT SECTION Reading up on Tweets
Want more? Follow this QR code to the HiLite Twitter page for quick news updates daily.
STUDENTSECTION@HILITE.ORG | TWITTER.COM/HILITE_NEWS
Media manager Judy Miller tweets through the CHS media center Twitter page to promote events and communicate with students BY SARAH YUN syun@hilite.org What is the media center Twitter page?
It is mostly a way for us to promote the different activities that we have. Like, a few weeks ago, we promoted The Hunger Games. It will help us to promote our ice cream prizes that will be given out in May. We have to collaborate with the cafeteria for that to work. It is also used to promote events like National Library Week.
How do you hope to impact students using the Twitter page?
I’m hoping that as we get more and more followers and more people learn about it, they will be able to learn about the new books and other events that take place in the library. I’m just hoping that it will be a better way to communicate with the students. It will allow us to better interact with the students, and we could ask them questions about what new books the library should order and other events and activities students would like the library to have. Media department chairperson Bonnie Grimble also suggested that we do an “Ask a Librarian”
on Twitter, where students can ask any question they want to a librarian. We will probably filter those questions out by having students use the hash tag. We will probably ask them to direct their questions to #askalibrarian.
How often do you update the page?
I usually try to update every day. We post pictures and things going on in the library. During a late start, there was a boy playing guitar in the library, so I took a picture and tweeted that. I also tweeted the art displays that were out in the hallway, and the Carmel Clay Schools Twitter retweeted that, which allowed many people to see it.
How and why was the media center Twitter page started?
We started it right before The Hunger Games. We wanted to promote The Hunger Games and the activities we were doing for that. And we realized it was a very good promotional tool for the library. And we started giving away treats on Twitter to promote the new Twitter page.
What are the goals you have for the page? I want to communicate and interact with students more.
The Face Behind the Tweets Each issue, we’ll highlight a particularly newsworthy Tweeter from this school. This Issue’s Twitter account: @chs_media Who runs it: Media manager Judy Miller What it is: Official Twitter account for the CHS media center. Get updates and information about the media center. Followers: 79 Describe yourself in 140 characters: I like to have fun, and I want the students to have fun at school.
CHSMediaCenter @chs_media Showing thru May 4th mixed media acrylic paintings by CHS senior Pat Milescu titled Cosmic Epiphany. Such Talent! pic.twitter.com/X3sYs4RJ 24 April
CHSMediaCenter @chs_media @BLugar18 Because you follow us & you mentioned us, claim some sweets for your tweet! See Mrs. Martin at the south information desk. 24 April
CHSMediaCenter @chs_media Jen Bubp’s drawing class in the Freshman hallway erects a whimsical display with recycled paper sacks as texture. 24 April
CHSMediaCenter @chs_media Overheard in the Media Center, a student assistant noticed that “the Library has EVERYTHING!” 24 April
CHSMediaCenter @chs_media Mylin’s Cherry Tree 4th/5th graders visit CHS Planetarium & stopped in the library to touch a bit of outer space rubber. pic.twitter.com/1prCNalh 24 April
CHSMediaCenter @chs_media Also showing, senior Collin Walker’s “Urban Dreamcatchers” which earned honorable mention in Scholastic Art & Writing. pic.twitter.com/6YbcqUAr 24 April
CHSMediaCenter @chs_media Attention CHS Staff! 5th annual coffeehouse offers $300+ in prizes besides good company, treats, & a great place to relax. See you Thursday! 24 April
SARAH YUN / PHOTO
CHSMediaCenter @chs_media @carmelartdesign Thanks for the shout out! Art teachers love the fact you picked this up and retweeted it. 24 April
PAGE 16 | COVER STORY | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
When the tradition is
success,
ho CONNER GORDON, STUART JACKSON, HEEJUNG KIM, AMANDA MERK / PHOTOS
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | COVER STORY | PAGE 17
With such high achievement in academics and in sports, the school has set a standard of winning. But how will students react when they fail to reach “Carmellevel” standards? BY SHEEN ZHENG szheng@hilite.org
ow do we handle
failure?
PAGE 18 | COVER STORY | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
H
e laid on the court in tears. Teammates gathered around him, trying to offer him comfort as they swallowed their own anguish. “Remember this court,” his coach had said. “Remember this feeling because we’ll be back next year. I want you to remember what this feels like because when we win, you’ll remember what it felt like to get there.” Three years ago, Mihir Kumar, men’s tennis cocaptain and senior, stepped onto the high school tennis courts as a freshman, knowing the rules of the game like a second language. It was here that he rose to the position of number one singles player. It was here that he nurtured the dream of winning individual state and a chance to carry a team on his shoulders. It was here that Kumar learned what it meant to be part of a team, to have teammates catch him when he fell and to see his failures as their failures. And it was here that he recovered from the devastating loss that denied him the championship that would leave his mark on this school. For Kumar, the school’s long-standing tradition of fostering excellence at times added to the pressure to win, to succeed, to excel. “You want to be one of those people,” he said. “You want to be recognized. At this school, when you see so many others enjoying success, you think back to your sport and your team. To be so close and to not have that is incredibly difficult.” Success is by no means a rarity at Carmel. This year alone, seven sports teams won State Championships while 50 students qualified as National Merit Semifinalists, a record high for the school. Carmel’s Dance Marathon shattered the previous year’s donations by raising $261,229.48 for the kids at Riley Hospital. At a school where winning may feel like the norm, losing can at times seem like a distant possibility, one that isn’t even on the horizon. On countless occasions, students have muttered in passing, “Oh, of course they won. It’s Carmel.” And in such an environment, the pressure to avoid losing and the devastation of perceived failure can result in the unexpected. But according to principal John Williams, winning should never serve as the sole motivator at Carmel. Rather, it should prove to be the byproduct of the school’s efforts and resources. “We are clear to our coaches,” Williams said. “We celebrate success, and we honor their commitment. But never should winning take precedence over our values. If kids only measure success by winning, then we’ve failed our job.”
All I Do Is Win
With 26 state championships under the belt of the women’s swimming team, the team’s success embodies “Carmel-level” success. Each year, they return from the State Final victorious with another trophy in their hands. And with so much achievement in the past,
senior Margaret Ramsey said she feels that losing isn’t as clear while she’s in the water. “To be honest, it’s kind of a distant possibility,” she said. “We try to focus on getting better each time and getting our personal best instead of focusing on the win, but it just kind of comes along for the ride.” But upholding such success may one day reach its pinnacle. At some point, the swimmers may not come home with another championship. And for Ramsey, the idea is a difficult one to digest. “I honestly think it’ll be a shock,” she said. “I know it’ll be hard for the girls to be part of the team that didn’t win a championship. But I think Carmel will handle it with grace and poise. There’s always next year and we’ll come back with a vengeance.” Ramsey said the pressure is there, serving as a constant reminder in the form of record boards and a school’s expectations. “Each year, it’s harder to succeed and it’s harder to move forward,” she said. “But we do. And I think that’s what speaks volumes...And I think it extends to more than just winning.”
“This was during the fall of my freshman year. You know, I had really good results the summer before. But the winter after, I struggled, which I think had to do with that match. It was always in the back of my mind.” The pressure Kumar felt, he said, originated from his drive to constantly better himself. But another factor and source of pressure was Carmel’s custom of breeding success. He said, “That was the first time I had been in such a situation. You’d think high school tennis isn’t that serious, but really, it was a lot of pressure for me.” But Kumar eventually recovered. And although his individual matches at the State Final fell short during his junior and senior year, the team managed to return home triumphant. In his junior year, Kumar returned to North Central, with the memories of the events that transpired two years before vivid in his mind. “I remembered what that feeling was like,” Kumar said. “I kept that in mind. And I managed to win the match.”
Back with a Vengeance
Carmel stands as one of the largest hosts of a Dance Marathon in the nation, outnumbering others in both participants and donations. Each year, the total swells to a new level, often bringing some of the dancers to tears. But the possibility of the cards raising next winter and showing a lower number than that of the previous year is always a thought, one that worries some members of the student government. Allison “Allie” McCan, 2012 Dance Marathon chair and senior, said there is an unspoken agreement in student government. “I think it’s kind of an unwritten policy (to raise more money), especially being the chair,” she said. “Everyone wants to beat the total from last year. It’s unspoken, but at the same time everyone says, ‘We need more money. We need more money.’
After an undefeated season in 2008, the men’s tennis team climbed the bracket with high hopes. But at the Regional, scheduled at North Central, the team’s lineup changed, as did the circumstances. In the end, it came down to Kumar’s court. And in the final set, the youthful prodigy faced a crushing defeat with the score of 6-0, leaving his team short of a state title. “That was the year I wanted it the most because I had never played before,” Kumar said as he recollected the match. “I just remember the whole team saying, ‘Hey, don’t worry about it.’ But really, in my mind, it was my fault.” The loss proved to sit on his shoulders long after the season as he struggled to rebound. “It stuck with me for a while, I think,” he said.
Noble Goals
You want to be recognized. At this school, when you see so many others enjoying success, you think back to your sport and your team. To be so close and to not have that is incredibly difficult. Mihir Kumar
Men’s tennis team co-captain and senior
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | COVER STORY | PAGE 19
250
14
2012
2010
50
2009
100
2008
150
2011
200
2007
Donation (in thousands)
Although not the goal of Cabinet, Dance Marathon has beaten the previous year’s total every year
Number of times the Symphony Orchestra has been crowned ISSMA State Champion. The nationallyrenowned marching band has appeared at venues like the Macy’s Day Parade.
And that’s not what this is all about, but there is a bar that everyone tries to hit.” Yet, according to Sarah Wolff, sponsor of Cabinet, a line distinguishes sports and Dance Marathon. While a sports team’s prerogative lies with the game score, Dance Marathon is driven by another motive. Regardless of the total and the number on the check, Wolff said her Cabinet members are focused on helping the kids. “I continuously reiterate that it isn’t about how much you raise,” Wolff said via email. “It is about how much effort you put in and what you are doing it for. In this case, not an award or State Championship or to meet Carmel’s high expectations, but rather to help someone in need.” Still, for McCan and her fellow Cabinet members, each year involves brewing questions like, “What if we don’t earn more than last year?” McCan said, “There’s a doubt every year when we say, ‘You know what? We might not hit it.’ But that becomes a point to say it’s okay if we don’t. I think it’s grasping the concept that we didn’t reach our goal and that’s okay.” In the eyes of Wolff, the thought that young children fighting for their lives can receive help from caring students is a far better one than the number on the check.
7
Number of State Championship titles Carmel won during the 2011 school year.
(This is the record number of State titles won by any Indiana high school)
26
Consecutive State Championships won by the women’s swimming team.
The Ambassadors have ranked in the top show choirs in the nation in past years. This year, they earned third place at the ISSMA competition.
There are 50 National Merit Semifinalists this school year, beating our previously-held state record of 39.
Graduation
Carmel’s graduation rate is well above that of Indiana as a whole 100
Percent
Dance Marathon
80 Carmel 60
2006
Indiana 2011 VICTOR XU / GRAPHIC
But the day comes, as it has for the past seven years. And on that day, the money is no longer the problem. Rather, it’s a reminder of a year’s worth of effort, they said. “Leading up to (Dance Marathon), everyone in here wants to beat the total,” McCan said. “But the day of the event, I don’t feel like one person in this room cared more about the total. The kids know what this is about. It really is ‘For the Kids.’”
Their Time to Shine
Before the team’s recent triumph, 35 years had passed since the men’s basketball team was last honored for a State title on the gym floor at an allschool convocation. That could have soured this year’s team from persisting. But it didn’t. For senior Benjamin “Ben” Gardner, the pressure resting on their shoulders merely served as motivation for the team to win. He said, “Once everyone started winning this year, it gave us some motivation. We thought, ‘Why not? Why can’t we win?’” His coach agrees. Scott Heady, head coach of the men’s basketball team, said of the school’s high expectations, “There’s no question that it’s motivation. I think in all aspects of Carmel, whether it’s academically or athletically, it’s the
expectation to (excel).” 2011 was a year of close games for the team. It was a year with outcomes resting on just a few possessions. But quitting was not in the team’s vocabulary. If anything, Heady said that last year’s mistakes taught his players how to grow as a team. “This year, I think our guys learned from that. It wasn’t going to be about getting it close. It was going to be about getting the job done,” he said. In a facility celebrating such success, Gardner said hearing of other’s titles can certainly create strain for those without one. “Of course you’re happy for those people, but it puts a little more pressure on my team,” he said. I think sports teams sometimes only view a successful season by the State Championship they won. It’s hard to get people to come to the games. If you haven’t won in previous years, nobody will come.” According to Williams, a fine line rests between not winning and not succeeding, and he said he hopes students can differentiate between the two. “You know, administrators often emphasize getting an A,” he said. “We preach that. If you get an A, you’re smart. And I think that translates to sports. If you win, you’re a winner. And that’s a terrible thing to teach.”
PAGE 20 | ENTERTAINMENT | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
ENTERTAINMENT SUBMITENTERTAINMENT@HILITE.ORG | TWITTER.COM/HILITE_NEWS
On this day in music history. . . Patrick Stump, singer and guitarist of Fall Out Boy, was born in 1984. The group became famous for pop punk songs like “Dance, Dance.” IMBD.COM / SOURCE
Fashion Show planned for May 14
in the auditorium promises to carry on the tradition of showcasing each of the 202 students’ individual flair. “I started the first fashion show the first year I came to teach here fifteen years ago,” Fisher said. “All fashion rom miniskirts to crop tops to ponchos to skinny students participate and can pick any ensemble they jeans, fashion teacher Judy Fisher said she certainly have made this school year to walk in the show, so we has seen many fashion trends come and go in her get a lot of diversity in different fashion tastes like that.” past fifteen years teaching here. However, the one thing The purpose of the fashion show, according to that has truly remained constant since she began teaching Fisher, is to allow the rest of the student body to see the this course in 1997 is the annual fashion show, which is talent of their peers. Students in the first three years traditionally put on by all of the fashion students during of fashion design classes are given four tickets while SRT at the beginning of May. fourth year students will receive five tickets. NonAccording to Fisher, this year will be no exception. The students, however, such as adults, do not require a 15th anniversary of the show scheduled for SRT on May 14 ticket, and admission for them is free. “We go, and we cheer for the different sports, and we support the arts and the choirs and the orchestras,” Fisher said. “Now it’s fun to share this with the rest of the student body, since designing clothes is just one more thing that the students at Carmel High School do really well.” One of those students is Caroline Brooks, a Fashion and Textiles 3-4 student and junior. While this is her second year taking the class, it will be the first year she gets to participate in the fashion show. “Last year I didn’t get to do (the fashion show) because my AP exam was on the same day,” Brooks said. “I was really disappointed but this year I think I’m even more excited than the other students since it’s been such a build-up for me.” All of the students model their own clothes and receive a participation grade for their involvement. To make sure that the students look professional on stage and to keep the show running smoothly, Fisher said that some years she and the two other fashion teachers have had a modeling agency come in and help the girls with their walks. “They teach them how to do their turns and walk, and it’s really fun,” Fisher said. “Since we did that last year, though, we’re not doing it this year, so me or the HAILEY MEYER / PHOTOS girls that have done it before will work with the (less-experienced) FASHION FORWARD: (Counter clockwise starting from top left) girls instead.” Junior Anna Brookie cuts the pattern; junior Caroline Brooks sews Brooks said she agrees with a piece of clothing; Brooks then washes her project; the last step is Fisher that practicing the runway preparing clothes by ironing them. walks is fun for the girls and helps
BY LINDSEY WALKER lwalker@hilite.org
F
Steps for an Original Outfit Interested in learning how to design clothes? With these steps, you’ll be rocking unique looks. Find examples Look elsewhere for clothing trends. To be on top of the trends, be sure to flip through catalogues from your favorite stores or fashion magazines. Get sketchy To make the design appear on paper, grab your sketching paper and colored pencils. Incorporating colors is important; it makes the clothing item look more vibrant. Sew it up The next step is to finish the design by sewing it. If you don’t know how to sew, you could always ask a local seamstress, or probably someone who has these skills. Stich it and prepare it for wear and compliments. EHOW.COM / SOURCE
them feel more prepared when it comes time to take the stage during the actual show. “(When we) practice our walks it’s pretty funny actually. I’m not really graceful and can’t really walk in a straight line. If I fall during the show or anything I’d probably just laugh it off and keep going,” Brooks said. The fashion students put all the aspects of the show together, and the Technical Department puts together the stage and the runway, making it appear as a professional show. Fisher said last year was the first year in its history that the fashion show made a big change to its structure. “Last year was the best show we’ve ever had because the people who are in charge of the auditorium, Mr. Seileg and Mr. Havey, had this great, huge “Project Runway” screen and they built a ramp out,” Fisher said. “I don’t know if we’re going to do the same thing this year but I hope we do.” In addition to designing and creating the garments, the fashion students are also responsible for designing the programs and making commercials to advertise the show on CHTV, according to Fisher. Fisher said she urges all CHS students lucky enough to snag a ticket from a fashion student to run “as fast as you can” down to the auditorium after being released from SRT. Fisher said, “The students that are lucky enough to get a ticket will be awe-struck and amazed by the talent of their peers.”
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | ENTERTAINMENT | PAGE 21
Costume Creators As the drama department’s run of ‘Les Misérables’ continues, the costume crew transforms simple fabric into theatrical outfits
Want to see ‘Les Mis?’ When: Performances started last night and will continue through Sunday. Where: The Dale E. Graham Auditorium.
but willing to learn. Glickman said she likes being able to teach what she has learned from her mom; plus, the big crew with their assembly line system makes the hours of work seem much With show time just around the corner, cast members and more manageable. directors of “Les Misérables” put finishing touches on the Besides the amount of costumes, Glickman and spring musical. For Taylor Glickman, student co-head of her crew also have to face the obstacle of making the costume crew and junior, work started back toward the sure the costumes represent the historical time beginning of the semester and it will not stop until the final period of the musical to portray the plot as best as show is over. they can. “I’m here pretty much every day until about 5 p.m. ever According to director Lamonte Kuskye, the since the second to last week in February,” Glickman said, musical takes place in Paris during the 1800s. It “There’s always something to do; we work up until dress follows the life of Jean Valjean, starting when he rehearsal and still have things to do the day of the show. The is released from prison after stealing just a loaf of costumes never really get completely done.” bread. After a bishop helps Valjean, he chooses to According to Glickman, the show has 78 cast members, restart his life as a good man. Although breaking and most have three to four costumes each. Although she’s his parole, he leaves to eventually become a factory worked on the costume crew of several other productions, MIKAELA GEORGE / PHOTO owner and mayor. Javert, a policeman always trying she said this one is sometimes overwhelming because of SEW UNIQUE: Costume crew director Cindra Venturella to enforce every law, follows Valjean throughout the amount of costumes and work the crew needs to put his life to find a reason to send Valjean to prison. sews costumes for “Les Misérables.” She said the most into each one. Unfortunately for Javert, Valjean does everything difficult part is portraying the class society of the time. According to costume crew director Cindra Venturella, but give Javert any reason. Throughout the serious the crew has borrowed many of the costumes from local plot, the musical provides a love story and a political theaters and also reused parts of costumes from past rebellion, and Kuskye said there’s definitely a reason why school productions. “Les Misérables” has the nickname of the “world’s most Venturella said, “Our budget is a couple thousand, and popular musical.” a lot comes from the students’ costume fee, but we try to “It’s different from past musicals we’ve done, but I think be economical. This is actually a less expensive musical everyone’s ready for something a little different and more Here are some facts to keep in mind because we’ve reused a lot of the fabric. Probably the most serious,” Kuskye said. before going to the “world’s most expensive thing we’ve had to buy is costume dirt.” According to Venturella, the time period and popular musical.” Glickman said her student crew has 12 participants seriousness of the musical play a huge role in the costume who each stay at least three days after school each week, making process, but she has worked with “Les Miserables” not including the several parents who volunteer each day. Class challenges in the past and knows what to expect for this show. Many students have learned how to sew from the school’s According to Cindra Venturella, costume She said, “I did this show before, but now I have a fashion classes, however some show up knowing nothing crew director, a huge challenge in “Les Mis” is better grasp, a better concept, of it. I’m a step showing class society. The show has people ahead and know where we’re headed. I’ve also in all major classes in French society of the seen other productions which really helps with 1800s. It may be a good idea to review old the process.” history notes. Venturella said setting the time period can be difficult, but portraying the class society is the main challenge. Get serious “With this musical you have all these different According to director Lamonte Kuskye, this classes: the upper class, the poor people, the differs from past musicals, but he thinks fans working poor. You get to explore how each one are ready for a more solemn mood. should look,” Venturella said, “And since it’s a serious story, there’s not a lot of color in the Basic plot info costumes, but there are a few scenes with some The main character is Jean Valjean, who fun pieces that we really get to enjoy making.” is in and out of jail during his life for petty Venturella said her favorite part of working crimes. Music allows a more romantic feel with this play, “Les Misérables” is having whole to the play, which portrays both a love story crew that she gets to train and teach about the and political rebellion. process of creating all the costumes for a show. Glickman said she also likes having a whole crew because they can figure out as a group CINDRA VENTURELLA, LAMONTE KUSKYE / SOURCES MIKAELA GEORGE / PHOTO how all the parts of the costumes are going to CORRECT FITTING: Taylor Glickman (right), student cocome together. Additionally, she said they have a head of costume crew and junior, fits Monica Ramirez, “Les relationship with the actors that they would not have Misérables” actress and senior, for her costume. According to as a technical crew member. actors backstage and through the whole process and really get Glickman, the show has 78 cast members and most have three “(As a member of the costume crew) you really to know them and the musical without actually being on stage. to four costumes each. “Les Mis” began last night and will feel like you’re a member of the cast, just without the I enjoy making the costumes, but I love more the camaraderie continue through Sunday. same kind of work,” Glickman said, “We help the with my own crew and the actors.”
BY OLIVIA WEPRICH oweprich@hilite.org
‘Les Mis’ Knowledge
PAGE 22 | ENTERTAINMENT | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
Just Our Cup of Tea?
TeaBuds Brewing Co. offers a unique bubble tea experience complete with a wide range of combinations to please any customer
BY MONICA CHENG AND KATIE UTKEN mcheng@hilite.org, kutken@hilite.org TeaBuds Brewing Co. opened on Dec. 17 and has quickly gained popularity through word of mouth and other advertising. It is located in downtown Carmel and appeals to people of all age groups, offering a different taste and style than the surrounding small shops and eateries. We recommend everyone give it a try; it’s not perfect, but it’s a unique experience you shouldn’t miss out on. Plus, it’s just a five-minute walk from school. We were impressed with the presentation and hospitality from the moment we entered the store. The owner greeted us, thoroughly explained which options were available and welcomed any questions we had. The store is small and intimate, yet it doesn’t feel cramped; rather, it has a cozy café effect. However, we wouldn’t recommend bringing more than one or two friends at a time, as it can get crowded easily, especially in the back corner where the barista makes the drinks, the cashier takes your order and customers browse merchandise. On the other hand, there are two tables outside for customers to enjoy their drinks if the weather is nice or if the interior fills up. There is also a sample table outside that allows passersby to take a sip of a featured beverage. If bubble tea doesn’t appeal to you, TeaBuds also serves coffee and other refreshments. While waiting for their orders, customers can browse a multitude of merchandise, including travel mugs, loose teas and tea ware. It doesn’t
Give it a Grade
Report C ard Taste Atmosph ere Service Cost Overall
B+ A A+ B+ B+
NATALIE MAIER / GRAPHIC
take long for the bubble tea to be prepared and served; our drinks were ready within minutes of placing the order. The eco-friendly serving cups made of corn complement to the environmental theme displayed throughout the bright green store. The cost is not very friendly to high school students’ wallets: The bubble tea runs pricey at $4 per order, not including tax. Treat it like a Starbucks—a luxury drink that is a once-in-a-blue-moon indulgence. We agreed on our overall impression of TeaBuds, as you’ve read above. But when it came to the bubble tea taste and quality, we had differing opinions. Here are our takes:
Monica, green tea+ pomegranate + tapioca pearls At least once every year, my family and I would make the threehour drive to Chicago and visit Chinatown, where I would always order a bubble drink. Bubble drinks have always been my favorite. It doesn’t matter whether it’s bubble tea or bubble smoothie; I love anything that has “bubbles” in it. So when I heard the positive reactions about the opening of TeaBuds Brewing Co., I had high hopes and was excited to try it out. If there’s one thing most small stores like TeaBuds struggle to provide, it’s variety. But TeaBuds has variety, and it has it in spades. There are three steps to ordering bubble tea, the first being the tea base: green, black or rooibos. For that part, I played safe and chose green tea. The next step is the tea flavor: strawberry, peach, blueberry, kiwi and many more. When it comes to fruity drinks, I usually like to order mango-flavored ones, but that day at TeaBuds I decided to branch out and try something different. So it was pomegranate for me. The last step is my favorite: tapioca pearls, aloe jellies, strawberry popping boba or mango popping boba. This was a no-brainer for me: tapioca pearls, of course. My pomegranate bubble tea was quite good; the first
few sips were the best. I relished the tapioca pearls, which were personally my favorite part of the drink. For those who aren’t familiar, the pearls are fun, flavorless, chewy surprises as you make your way through the drink. The pomegranate flavor was refreshing, and I could hardly tell I was technically drinking a tea. I can’t say this bubble tea beats the bubble teas in Chicago, but it comes close to matching it—if only the pomegranate flavor was more rich. One word of warning: Be sure to finish your drink before the ice melts, because once that happens, your bubble tea turns into a watered-down version of what you had once found delightful.
Katie, green tea + mango + tapioca pearls For my inaugural bubble tea experience, I ordered a green-tea-based, mango-flavored concoction with tapioca pearls. It really is like nothing you’ve ever had: gummy, flavorless beads travel up the oversize straw as you slurp your drink, which can either be viewed as a welcome addition or a strange surprise. The pearls give bubble tea its namesake, but I personally found them to be a nuisance. The mango syrup in my drink made the bubble tea taste too sweet and overpowered the tea flavor. In terms of appearance, my bubble tea had a milky yellow hue, whereas I expected a more vibrant orange color. I envisioned bubble tea to be thicker and richer than my watered-down drink, and the melting ice didn’t help the situation. However, TeaBuds does offer a plethora of options, and ultimately the drink you receive is the result of your selected tea base, flavoring and pearl combination. Don’t like it? Try a different trio next time. TeaBuds Brewing Co. offers decent bubble tea for those interested in sampling this Asian beverage. In the end, though, bubble tea just isn’t my cup of tea.
MONICA CHENG / PHOTOS
BUDDING POPULARITY: Cheng ordered the green tea with pomegranate flavoring and tapioca pearls (left), while Utken ordered green tea with mango flavoring and tapioca pearls (right).
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | ENTERTAINMENT | PAGE 23
BAND OF THE ISSUE
Commanding your attention Commander and The Duke, which features seniors Alex Katsaropoulos and Reid Libby, plans to perform at Houndstock and Pool House Rock
COMPILED BY KAYLA WALKER kwalker@hilite.org Who makes up the band? Seniors Alexander “Alex” Katsaropoulos and Reid Libby. The duo switches off on instruments such as the drums, guitar and vocals between songs. Call it fate According to the pair, creating the band started out with just an orange amp, and everything else just fell into place. It’s all in the name “My friends call me Xander (because my name is Alexander), and then they started calling me Commander Xander. Reid is president of GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) and instead of being called the president, he goes by duke. So we just combined the two,” said Katsaropoulos. Humble beginnings Katsaropoulos said, “We were in another band that fell apart, and we thought it would be fun for our last year (at this school).” Equal parts soul and rock ‘n’ roll Commander and The Duke is a mixture of blues, rock and roll and other alternative music genres. Musical idols A few of the band’s favorite musicians include The Black Keys, Metric and Led Zeppelin. Location, location The band plays at Pool House Rock, and they
play private shows as well. Commander and The Duke also tried out last week for Houndstock (on May 18 at this school). For private shows, the members said contact the band on its Facebook page. Look it up under “Commander and The Duke.”
keep it going, we will most definitely try. I plan on studying music business or music production in college,” said Katsaropoulos.
Great Expectations According to the band, people should expect to have a really good time and to do something crazy. There are a lot of theatrics that go into the shows. Katsaropoulos and Libby also try to dress up in costumes for most of their performances. At their last show, Libby dressed up as a prince, while Katsaropoulos wore a fake beard. Bands just want to have fun The band said its music is not really meant to be deep, but they hope it makes the audience and their fans feel good, because it is feelgood music. Originality rules “We now officially have two (original) songs. I love playing both of them. There’s ‘Green Light’ and ‘The Rave.’ I think we pull it off very well; it’s very well structured and well written, it’s an easy song to play, and Xander and I synchronize quite well on it,” Libby said. “I like ‘Green Light’ because it references classic stories like Gatsby, hence ‘Green Light,’ while still staying pretty light and simple.” Future plans “As of now, we don’t really have any future plans for the band because we’re going to two separate colleges. But if there is a way to
ANNA SANDS / PHOTOS
ROCK ON: Senior Reid Libby (top) performs vocals during one of their shows; Senior Alexander “Alex” Katsaropoulos (bottom) plays the guitar while Libby drums; Libby goes crowd surfing.
PAGE 24 | SPORTS | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
SPORTS
SUBMITSPORTS@HILITE.ORG | TWITTER.COM/HILITE_NEWS
Greyhound Trivia When was the last time Carmel did not win a State Championship in athletics over the course of an entire school year? (To find the answer, scan the QR code to the right) a. 1970 b. 2003 c. 1983 d. 2008
Currently a club team, lacrosse on its way to transitioning to sanctioned varsity sport BY TAYLOR ACTON tacton@hilite.org
All school sports played through this school are a part of the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA). Each is recognized at school convocations for winning state titles or other awards, and most of the sporting events have many students in the stands. Lacrosse, currently a club sport, according to Athletics Director Jim Inskeep, has a chance to become another sport on that list in the next few years. “When we consider a new sport, we look at all areas and how that will impact us,” Inskeep said. “We look at is there viable student interest that is sustained that we feel is beneficial to bring to the umbrella of Carmel High School and the athletic department. I feel like lacrosse is at that point.” With every beneficial aspect to adding something such as a sport to CHS, there remain negative side effects and roadblocks in the way. Whether it is financial difficulties, from a facility perspective or due to laws such as Title IX (an amendment that forbids sexual discrimination); Inskeep, along with lacrosse players and coaches, are striving for it. “It would have to have a recommendation from the high school administration, from me, that would then go on to our central administration to our school board with final approval so to speak,” Inskeep said. “It would have to be something that would be added to the contract because currently it’s not in our contract.” Joshua “Josh” Coons, lacrosse player and junior, is working alongside his team to progress in making the shift from a club sport to a school sport. “I think everyone is looking forward to lacrosse becoming a school sport,” Coons said. “A lot of the seniors that just graduated were really pushing for it. We talk about it a lot; we just got new jerseys last year so we were talking about what different teams at Carmel were doing, like the basketball team, and the football team. A lot of people want it so it’d be pretty cool. Especially winning state last year, we didn’t get recognized at the convocations so it’s kind of a bummer.” Although other people involved in the program get to add their input, the final decision rests with the Athletics Director. “Facilities, do we have a place to put them? Are we trying to make something happen that we can’t support from a facility standpoint?” Inskeep said. “We have plans to do some changes. For example, we currently have plans in two
I think everyone is looking forward to lacrosse becoming a school sport. Joshua “Josh” Coons
Lacrosse player and junior
MARY BROOKE JOHNSON / PHOTO
CLUB NO MORE? Junior Joshua “Josh” Coons hustles down the field during a lacrosse game earlier this season. Coons said he is excited at the prospect of lacrosse becoming a school sport instead of a club sport.
years to put our official turf down in Murray Stadium where the soccer team plays, and that’s going to be a big part of this process as well. Not to say it will happen in two years some of the dominos I feel like have to happen to know that we can hit the ground running when that starts.” Joey Scott, lacrosse player and sophomore, is also apart of the club team. While debating whether lacrosse will become an IHSAA sport, Scott said there are pros and cons with every decision. “I want (lacrosse) to be a school sport so that we can make the sport larger, and many more people would come to the games,” Scott said. “They would be announced over the intercom, just like all the other sports are.” However, according to Title IX, there must be an equal number of sports offered for both women and men. If lacrosse were to become an IHSAA sport, women’s lacrosse would have to also. IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox says that if schools such as Carmel are fielding teams, so long as an equal number of opportunities are afforded to both boys and girls, the school
will remain in good standing. “If lacrosse were added we would add both boys and girls and not just one or the other, so that would also play into it,” Inskeep said. “Knowing right now potentially also looks at capping participation in both of those. Right now the boys have several more team members than the girls. And also, Title IX is a big part of it. For the office of civil rights which oversees Title IX legislation and people following those federal laws, we would need to make certain that we can continue to offer a proportional amount of sports for both boys and girls, which is also proportional to our student population.” This school’s student body defines a club sport as anything that is not run through the athletic department. Lacrosse, hockey and bowling are not clubs at CHS but that is the term that is used to describe them. “It’s just a process. Lacrosse will be here in due time,” Inskeep said. ”I’m excited about that possibility, and I know that in our community the interest continues to just pick up every year. It’s an entertaining sport. If we take it on, we’re going to take it on all the way.”
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | SPORTS | PAGE 25
Seasoned Strategy By resting top runners at the beginning of the season, the track team attempts to make sure it is in top form entering the postseason BY SEAN TRUAX struax@hilite.org
F
or a runner to compete at the highest possible level, it takes a good understanding of the relationship between energy systems and training systems. During the last three weeks of the competitive season, known as the peaking phase, it is desirable to be in the best physical and mental shape of the year. Coaches and runners on the men’s track and field team take their training seriously to make sure each top runner is competing at the best at the end of the season. That way the top runners are peaking around the Sectional, Regional and State meets. Assistant coach Erhard “Doc” Bell said he believes in the theory of peaking and its positive impact on the team. “We rest some of the top athletes in the early meets,” Bell said. “That way they may continue to train and save their best efforts for the end of the season where things really matter.” Patrick Appleton, track team member and junior, said he doesn’t believe in peaking but agrees that certain steps are needed to be successful at the end of the season. “I don’t believe in peaking, but I do believe in being mentally burnt out and getting injured,” Appleton said. “This is where rest becomes important.” With some of the top varsity runners not competing and
the coaches trying different race strategies, Appleton said there is a relaxed feeling about the meets early in the season. However, Charlie Watson, track team member and junior said all the meets are treated the same. “Our team approaches each and every meet with the same philosophy, to win, on both sides, varsity and JV,” Watson said. “Early meets are no exception.” Along with the top varsity runners gaining mental and physical rest, the runners said there is another advantage to resting the top runners in the early meets. With varsity runners not competing, spots open up for other runners to compete who usually wouldn’t have the chance. During his sophomore year, Watson took advantage of this opportunity to race in a varsity meet. “Coming from my experience as a runner who worked his way up from JV to varsity during his sophomore year, it’s always a good thing to let other dudes on the team experience the competition of a varsity race,” Watson said. Appleton also took advantage of his first opportunity to run in a varsity race. “I originally gained a spot on varsity as a freshman after one of my teammates was rested because of an injury,” said Appleton. “From then on, I held my spot on varsity.” The method of resting the top varsity runners in early meets has brought much success to the men’s track and field team over the past years. Not only does the method work for this school’s men’s track and field
team, but many of the top programs in the state all use the same type of training. Bell said the team is using the same resting method of sitting top varsity runners that was used in the past but plans on tweaking some of the training used this year. “We have modified our training somewhat this year to what we call the Carmel Distance Training Program,” Bell said. “It involves some longer tempo runs that develop the aerobic capacity of our athletes. Also we stress consistency in training to make the runners more accountable with their training which will make them fit and less likely to develop injuries. The goal is to have peak fitness when it matters later in the season.” The team must wait and see the results to tell if the new Carmel Distance Training Program is effective. In the past, specific training methods used have been successful in turning out a State Champion in the 4 x 800 relay, a State Champion at the 1600-m run, and two runnersup at 1600-m and 3200-m runs. Bell said the team also produced several All-State performances. All of the resting, training and new programs have a purpose: to win a State Championship. Bell, Appleton and Watson all agree that is the main focus down the road. “No matter what training technique we use, our coach, Doc Bell, makes the final decision, and whichever option he chooses, I will respect it,” Watson said. “At the end of the day our goal is to win a State Championship.”
Spring Sports Calendar Here’s a look at the upcoming games and matches of the spring sports Baseball: Tomorrow at Terre Haute South (10:00 a.m.) Softball: Tomorrow v. Avon and Lake Central (10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m.) Men’s Golf: Tomorrow MIC Tournament (Terre Haute) Women’s Tennis: Wednesday v. Park Tudor (5:00 p.m.) Men’s Track and Field: Today MIC Championship at Ben Davis (6:00 p.m.) KATHLEEN BERTSCH / PHOTO
TRAINING ONLY: (From left) Juniors Daniel Williams and Patrick Appleton run during a recent track practice. As part of the team’s strategy to peak at the end of the season, runners such as Appleton and Williams sit out some of the meets in the beginning of the year.
Women’s Track and Field: Today MIC Championship at Ben Davis (6:00 p.m.) CARMELGREYHOUNDS.COM / SOURCE
PAGE 26 | SPORTS | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
Lefties’ Luck Left-handed athletes thrive here thanks to innate advantages BY JACOB VAHLE jvahle@hilite.org
E
very time sophomore pitcher Kyle Hook steps onto the pitcher’s mound, he possesses a strength that most athletes do not have. He may not be the fastest throwing pitcher, the fastest base runner or the best hitter, but he has a huge advantage when he winds up to throw. He throws with his left hand. A recent study by Washington University and the National Baseball Hall of Fame revealed that left-handed baseball players have a considerable advantage over their right-handed counterparts. The results of the study support new findings that left-handed athletes enjoy considerably more success in sports than right-handed players. Left-handed athletes, like Hook, are no exception to this study and do possess an advantage in their sport. “Being left-handed as a pitcher has given me a huge advantage because when I’m up there pitching, the ball comes in from a completely different angle than the batter is used to, since they are used to facing righties,” Hook said. “It throws them off, and it gives me an edge.” But what is it that gives these lefties such an advantage? Lefties and righties don’t differ in pitching mechanics; they both have the same types of pitches in their arsenal. According to the study, the element of surprise is the key. Only 10 percent of the world’s population is left-handed; however, one in four baseball players is a lefty. Because the average hitter is used to facing a right-handed pitcher, they are often uncomfortable facing a lefty. In the end, this inexperience with the angle of left-handed throws will give lefties an advantage.
Head Coach Jay Lehr said he sees this advantage every day at the high school level. “There are not many lefties out there,” Lehr said. “You see more righties growing up in little league, so it becomes harder to hit off lefties because you just don’t see them. The batter has less time to see the ball, less time to pick it up and decide to swing, and ultimately that’s the difference between a hit or a strike.” But left-handed advantages are not limited to the field. Because left-handed athletes are significantly less common than their right-handed counterparts, they are often recruited more heavily. According to Lehr, many are encouraged to play baseball from a very young age. “If you find out you are left-handed, people are going to try to get you to play baseball,” Lehr said. “It’s easier to climb the ladder into the starting rotation as a lefty than as a righty.” This advantage is not developed. Rather, one is born with this inclination. Hook said he realizes that simply being left-handed has increased his stock on the team. “I think being left-handed has greatly influenced my value as a pitcher,” he said. “I think a lot of people CONTINUED want me on their team ON NEXT PAGE
OMEED MALEKMARZBAN / PHOTO
SIGNATURE THROW: Sophomore Kyle Hook practices his pitch. Hook said he has a significant advantage over other pitchers.
By the Numbers Pitchers in the Hall of Fame There are nearly four times as many right-handed pitchers in the Hall of Fame as lefties.
21percent lefties 79 percent righties
Batters in the Hall of Fame
General Population
51%
43%
left-handed hitters
One in four professional baseball players is a lefty.
right-handed hitters
But ten percent of the world’s population is left-handed.
6% switch hitters NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME / SOURCE
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | SPORTS | PAGE 27
Significance of Southpaws Although basic motions are the same, there are differences between left and right-handed baseball players. Depth Perception When a baseball is thrown from a right-handed pitcher to a right-handed batter, the batter has to look over his shoulder, which minimizes his depth perception. A left-handed batter can watch the ball leave a right-handed pitcher’s hand from a slightly different angle, thus giving him a better chance to evaluate the speed of the pitch. Base-Running Momentum When a right-handed batter swings his bat, his momentum is directed down the third base line. This means he has to stop his momentum and propel himself in the opposite direction. A left-handed batter has his momentum directed in the other direction, down the first base line—the direction he will run. Also, a left-handed batter stands roughly 1.5 meters closer to first base. Park Bias In many ballparks, the right field wall is shorter than center and left field walls. The right field is where many left-handers tend to pull their hits, and it’s the direction that enables them to generate the most power. * Left-handed players are called southpaws.
just because I am left-handed.” Being left-handed has other perks in baseball. Left-handed hitters also possess an advantage in base running and bunting, and it is easier for a lefty pitcher to pick a runner off on first. But this advantage is not exclusive to baseball. In many one-on-one sports, being left-handed presents a valuable edge. In sports like tennis and boxing, lefties thrive. A left-handed tennis player has the element of surprise, returning serves that would be impossible for a right-hander to return. A boxer surprises his righthanded opponent with jabs and punches his opponent isn’t accustomed to. Even in team sports, lefties learn to thrive and gain an edge. In volleyball, left-handers dominate the right side CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
LIVESTRONG.COM / SOURCE CONNIE CHU AND LAURA PENG / GRAPHIC
position and setting positions. Rich Coleman, head coach of the women’s volleyball team, left-handed allows volleyball players to be more assertive and aggressive. “The setting position is easier for left-handers as they can be more offensive based on their body positioning to the net,” Coleman said. Caroline Boatright, left-handed setter and sophomore, said that being left-handed has given her an edge in setting. “I will go up to set, and they expect me to be righthanded, so they set up to block where a right-hander would set,” Boatright said. “I surprise them by being left-handed.” Life as a lefty is not always the easiest. Growing up left-handed can be difficult to adjust to because society is dominated by right-handed people. Often, lefties have to overcome certain obstacles, such as learning to write
differently. Most tools are made with right-handers in mind, and at times it is impossible for lefties to use these tools. Hook had the most difficulty watching demonstrations and having to adapt it to his hand. “When I’m watching a pitching lesson, they show everything from a right-handed perspective, and I have to reverse everything they say to fit me,” Hook said. “I have learned to adjust to that by now.” While lefties are at a disadvantage in some areas of life, ultimately, left-handed athletes here use their hand to gain an edge. They will continue to dominate opponents with the element of surprise. They will help our school to victory, just with a different hand than their right-handed counterparts. “This advantage is huge for me,” Hook said. “I see it playing a big role in my future.”
Being left-handed as a pitcher has given me a huge advantage because when I’m up there pitching, the ball comes in from a completely different angle than the batter is used to, since they are used to facing righties. It throws them off, and it gives me an edge. Kyle Hook
Left-handed pitcher and sophomore
PAGE 28 | PERSPECTIVES | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
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Music to My Ears Scan this QR code to check out reporter Ben Anderson’s music blog with everything from news to reviews.
Speak Up!
Staff Perspective
Don’t rely on trends and the media to decide what causes you care about In this month’s issue, the Acumen is covering a variety of movements and trends within our school and featuring students who are passionate about these causes. However, this passion often seems contrary to the norm nowadays. It seems rare for students to take a stand for a certain issue and stay committed to it for an extended period of time. Due to the advent of Internet, the news cycle is being accelerated and this idea of instant gratification is resulting in shorter attention spans. Once we are drawn toward the newest breaking news story, our attention is diverged to the next headlining story in a matter of moments. Our generation is quick to blindly accept what we hear from the news. Although the media is just doing its job to keep us informed on current events, it is crucial for students to find an issue that they truly care about and stay devoted to it. For example, just look to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) movements. These two pieces of legislation regarded online censorship and free speech rights and caused an uproar in the online community. On January 18, 2012, Wikipedia, Reddit, and around 7,000 other websites blacked out their websites to protest against these bills, and Google collected over 7 million signatures for a petition on its website. However, after Congress put the legislation on hold, the movement quickly died down, even as similar legislation, such as Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) remains at large. ACTA also is concerned with the same ideas of online censorship, but has not garnered the same level of opposition as the previous bills did. The fact that the media has not covered it as comprehensively has resulted in less attention toward the bill. If people were truly passionate about promoting free speech rights, it would make sense for them to continue protesting against ACTA. But as the trendiness and media attention faded away, the widespread support disappeared. Also, environmentalism has suffered the same fate recently. A few years ago, the idea of helping the environment and being “green” was a movement that was taking the entire nation by storm. This was evident in Carmel, shown by the large push for environmentally concerned efforts and creation of Environmental Club at our school. During the 2008 presidential election,
environmental and energy issues played prominent roles and were key parts of President Obama’s campaign platform. However, the environment has shifted towards a secondary role in the upcoming presidential elections, due to the importance of the economic issues at stake. Also, last month, Time Magazine reported that according to surveys published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the millennial generation is less concerned about the environment than previous generations. The idea of environmentalism lost its novelty and appeal to the general public, leading to its decline. Another cause that has diminished is aiding Haiti after the tragic earthquake that demolished the country. When an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 hit Haiti on January 12, 2011, the event created concern and a widespread response from the world. Even many celebrities pledged to donate millions of dollars. However, an Oxfam report from January 2012 stated that half a million Haitian people remain homeless and are still living under tarps and in tents. After the media coverage ended, the response from the public abated. Similar attitudes are mirrored at our own school through student involvement in extracurricular activities. At the beginning of the year, students appear to be extremely enthusiastic about joining clubs and are actively contributing. But as the year progresses, due to greater workloads and as well as apathy, attendance shrinks and participation diminishes at an overwhelming amount of clubs. This occurrence is extremely noticeable in seniors, especially second semester, when most are ready to graduate already. To combat these problems, students should discover their true interests and honor their commitments. It may seem easy to just follow the status quo and jump on the bandwagon with everyone else, but hopping from trend to trend is an inefficient way of being an activist. Taking the time to find causes that you sincerely support is a rewarding and worthwhile use of one’s time. Also, the saying “quality over quantity” applies to this situation. Instead of joining a multitude of clubs for the sake of writing it on a college application, students should join a select few groups and stay consistently involved. While following the news is beneficial, students should remember that the media and trends should not dictate what issues you support. Use the media as a tool to gather information, but proceed with caution. Choose the causes you care about wisely, and stick with them.
Our Stand: Taking the time to find causes that you sincerely support is a rewarding and worthwhile use of your time.
COMPILED BY ERIC HE
How does the media affect the causes that you support?
I think that if it’s shown in the media, then more people support it. Sophomore Michael Cheesman
The media gets me more involved and informed with political issues. Sophomore Isabela Garcia
I have my own beliefs, and I don’t like letting the media influence them. Junior Brandon Taylor
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | PERSPECTIVES | PAGE 29
OMEED
MALEKMARZBAN photographer / omalekmarzban@hilite.org
Keepin’ it real With the recent uprisings and revolts around the world, many people have turned their heads toward the United States for guidance. Countless countries, their governments and their citizens expect the United States to play the role of international moderator in a world crisis. In recent months, tensions have grown between the Syrian Assad Regime and the Syrian people. In its current time of need, the Syrian uprising is looking to receive foreign help, specifically pointing its requests at the United States. In the past, the United States has never been reluctant to go and help a country in need, yet our actions have often caused many problems. Having a lineage from the Middle East and from several visits, I have witnessed firsthand the results of United States involvement in the area. I have seen the undemocratic ways of the current Islamic Republic of Iran’s government that is an undeviating result of the United States’ involvement in the revolution during the late 1970’s. Another example is in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the reasons that the United States interfered in the two countries was to help civilians being targeted by terrorist insurgents, such as the Taliban and Al Qaeda. However, while in the area, the United States was intrigued by the vast oil reserves and made it a goal to acquire that oil, while at the same time exterminating insurgents. Nearing the end of the “war”, the United States
Mind your own business, United States. America cannot always play the role of international police. had not only failed to efficiently remove terrorist groups from the area, but it had also stirred up much trouble in trying to gain access to vast oil reserves. This is just one of the many instances in which United States’ intervention in areas around the world has led to greater issues. With those past experiences in mind, the Obama Administration has been relatively reluctant to help the Syrian revolt against the country’s government. It is concerned that any aid, including guns, food and supplies, could end up in the hands of terrorist organizations. Despite all of the past failures the United States has faced in such areas of the world, the public is still pushing for them to enter the picture and, in turn, help Syrian rebels overthrow the government. What these people may not realize is that what may initially seem as innocent help could soon turn sour. Concerning Syria, the United States is making the right decision in being reluctant. Even though the uprising at hand is clearly one that needs to be won, it is not up to the United States to “help.” In fact, even though many lives are being lost, it may be beneficial to see how the events play out on their own without foreign interference. The National Public Radio (NPR) spoke anonymously with one of the opponents of the Syrian Assad Regime, and she said, “Even though I am opposed to the current Syrian government, it would
Concerning Syria, the United States is making the right decision in being reluctant.
not be useful for any country to interfere or to act as a catalyst in the uprising. The uprising is led mostly by people wanting to make the government a Islamic regime, which might be even more detrimental than the current regime.” Such worries that the Syrian government could turn non-secular are clearly validated (for example) by the corrupt Islamic Republic of Iran, which is something that many Syrian citizens want to avoid at all costs. Even though many may not be able to foresee the detrimental long-term effects of United States’ involvement in Syria, the Obama Administration has made the best choice in not getting too involved in the feud. This may not seem like a necessarily purposeful decision, but it may be a decision that prevents another unnecessary war between the United States and Syria in the future.
T0NY
TAN No news is bad news On Feb. 26, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a member of the neighborhood watch. Wearing a hoodie in the rain, Martin was carrying Skittles and a can of iced tea back from a local Target store. A suspicious Zimmerman followed the teen, whereupon a confrontation occurred during which Martin was shot dead. Although the police decided not to arrest Zimmerman initially, accepting his claim of self-defense, the majority of the public responded with vigor against Zimmerman. Pulling the race card, they claimed Martin was a victim of racial profiling and called for Zimmerman’s arrest. Finally, two weeks ago, a special Florida prosecutor charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder. Zimmerman proceeded to plead not guilty. While stereotypes may not be a major point of contention here in Carmel, as our last issue’s cover story (“Standing Out from the Crowd”) pointed out, the Trayvon Martin case definitely proves that controversy over racial bias is still in the minds of this country’s people, especially AfricanAmericans.
feature editor / ttan@hilite.org
Trayvon Martin: A lightning rod for racial discrimination and controversy. A poll conducted by USA Today/Gallup early in April found that 60 percent of the nation’s adults considered that racial bias was a factor in the shooting. Nationwide, the poll reported that 72 percent of blacks thought that racial bias played a major role in the events leading up to the shooting, while only 35 percent of all national adults believed so. Were it not for Martin’s skin color, some argue, this story may have never surfaced past being a local news report. This is a good thing; it shows that we do care about this kind of topic, and that we are willing to speak up about it. However, among the varied responses, there are always extremists. In late March, a group calling themselves the New Black Panther Party emerged and offered a bounty of $10,000 for information leading to Zimmerman’s arrest under the premise of a hate crime (this was prior to Zimmerman’s being charged). According to a report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the New Black Panther Party is a “virulently racist and anti-Semitic organization whose leaders have encouraged violence against whites, Jews and
law enforcement officers.” On the other hand, according to a CNN article, white supremacists have attacked Martin’s side, distributing rumors and commenting that Martin “deserved what he got.” In this sense, perhaps the national response from the Trayvon Martin case has actually generated more racism than the actual case itself. The already difficult prosecution, given the multiple accounts and unclear details, was exacerbated by the “Stand your ground” law of Florida. This allows people to respond with deadly force if they have reasonable fear that their life is in danger. Since the other party is often not alive to give a testimony countering one who claims self-defense, the prosecution must sometimes drop the case, according to an article in The New York Times. While this law does allow people to defend themselves, this particular self-defense claim also allows for a “shoot first ask questions later” mentality that can be too easily used to justify violence. As for the conviction trial, now that the charges have been pressed, we can hope that the court reaches an unbiased and just verdict.
PAGE 30 | PERSPECTIVES | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
LAURA
We’re the highlight of your day Although I try my best to censor myself in public or professional settings, I’ll be the first to admit that I use a fair share of swear words. I’m not particularly proud of my less appropriate vocabulary, but I use and hear it every day. Months ago, a battle against the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) erupted when it designated “Bully” as an R-rated film. This documentary, which follows the experiences of five middle school students, received its R-rating for repeated uses of the F-word. Katy Butler, a high school student in Michigan, started a petition to overturn this decision and collected over 500,000 signatures by early April. The MPAA soon responded accordingly, but not without a catch. It would rate the film PG-13 only if director Lee Hirsch omitted all but three instances of the F-word. Typically, a film will receive an R-rating if “one of the harsher sexually-derived words” (specifically the F-word) is used more than four times. The MPAA has made only two exceptions to this rule: “Gunner Palace,” a documentary about soldiers in the Second Gulf War (42 uses), and “The Hip Hop Project,” a movie centered on a group of New York City teenagers (17 uses). When director Michael Tucker asked the MPAA to lower the rating of “Gunner Palace,” he contended that younger audiences should connect to and understand what our
PENG
editor in chief / lpeng@hilite.org
Pardon my French. The Motion Picture Association of America is too arbitrary in its ratings. soldiers endure. Currently, “Gunner Palace” boasts the most F-words among all PG-13 films. Chris Rolle, director of “The Hip Hop Project” cited a similar reason for his appeal. Rolle stated in an interview with Internet Movie Database (IMDB) that “many of the young people who would benefit most from this film would have been denied access if the R-rating stood.” But shouldn’t we also connect to and understand what our own classmates have to deal with as bullying victims? And wouldn’t viewers under age 17 benefit most from a film intended to condemn harassment and abuse among students in the classroom? I think so. The very purpose of this documentary—to lay bare the serious consequences of bullying—is compromised with omissions of the F-word. Hirsch did not write a script for this documentary, nor did he intend for it to be inappropriate. But in order for the MPAA to adhere to its guidelines, it must limit either his audience or the contents of his work. You’d think that the MPAA would make a similar exception for “Bully” as it did for the other two films—or better yet, change its rules altogether—but it didn’t. So it seems to me as though the organization barely considers the context of each film as it checks off five F-words and stamps it with an R. Take “The King’s Speech” for example. The British
Stammering Association in London congratulated its filmmakers for a “realistic depiction of the frustration and the fear of speaking faced by people who stammer on a daily basis.” But for its repeated instances of the F-word, the MPAA limits a movie that transforms a piece of history into a work of art for the public to learn from and enjoy. In the United Kingdom, “The King’s Speech” is rated 12A, which means that anyone can view the film as long as he’s joined by someone of at least 12 years of age. Although the British may sound more sophisticated with their accents, I doubt teenagers in the United States who would want to watch a movie about King George VI would lack the maturity to sit through a string of swear words without a parent around. Although I can’t say for certain, I’d venture to guess that those of us who go out of our way to watch “Bully” would understand the purpose and context of the film. Hirsch should not have been required to edit “Bully” for the same reasons that “Gunner Palace” and “The Hip Hop Project” were allowed to be rated PG-13. These films give a voice to real people with real lives. But the MPAA is inconsistent with its expectations of filmmakers and too inflexible to change the rules for films that truly deserve it. I would hope that if someone made a documentary about my life, they would portray it accurately as possible, swear words and all.
DAVID
Munchin’ on some thoughts On April 2, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARP) uploaded the entire 1940 census record online. Within eight hours, the site received 37 million hits, almost causing the site to shut down. This got me thinking. Why would 37 million people want to surf through 72-year-old documents? After all, they were census documents, not Drake’s world premiere of his new music video. Also, I had thought only genealogists, historians and the occasional nostalgic old lady would be interested enough to search up something as boring as family history. But the fact of the matter is that 37 million people did indeed search for these documents, these documents actually had a legitimate demand. There were probably numerous reasons why so many people searched for the 1940 census, but the main reason was presumably for the personal reasons of traveling through family trees. The census documents show people’s grandmothers, great-grandfathers and other relatives who
CHOE
reporter / dchoe@hilite.org
Uncover the family tree. When people know more about their family origins, their individuality is preserved. were alive in 1940. Where did they live? Who lived in their household? What were their occupations? Thirty-seven million Americans had been simply curious about their origins. The phenomenon of tracing back your history isn’t limited to this incident. In “Finding Your Roots,” a new TV series, notable celebrities such as Samuel L. Jackson and Barbara Walters trace back their family history to find their “origins” and who their ancestors were. The TV show explores racial diversity and the cultural “melting pot” that is a unique characteristic of America. Even celebrities are exploring their family trees and stalking their grandmothers, in a sense. So, should Carmel teens, living in the 21st century with iPhones and Honda Civics, search up their relatives who listened to the radio and watched black-and-white movies during their free time 72 years ago? Yes. By going through the family tree, we regain our cultural,
racial and familial identities. Especially through a useful resource like the census, we can see how our ancestors were doing economically and socially. And in this melting pot of America, holding onto a certain identity is an absolute must to assert your individuality. It’s also more than just going through your family tree. When we look at the financial and societal problems that we have today, sometimes looking back can help. The 1940 census, in particular, shows a nation in its recovery from the Great Depression and on the brink of war. Perhaps looking at the problems that Americans faced in 1940 can give some clues as to how America today can alleviate the issues we have in 2012. So the next time you have nothing else to do and all your Facebook notifications have been checked out, go online to archives.gov. Check out the 1940 census and see if your grandmother or relatives are there. And maybe, just maybe, you might unlock your 72-year-old side.
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | PERSPECTIVES | PAGE 31
HAFSA
Time for some thrilling heroics
RAZI
reporter / hrazi@hilite.org
People live in Iran. Americans must recognize Iranians as humans with human needs and fears. It seems redundant, but I say it anyway. People—nearly 80 million of them—live in Iran, the same as about a quarter of the American population. However, in light of recent conflict over Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the prospect of nuclear war, Americans cannot lose sight of this statement and what it implies. To support the launch of nuclear weapons at a vague, misunderstood enemy is completely possible. But if Americans see Iran as a collection of people, not a dehumanized mass, we will deem the human cost of such a war unacceptable. According to a Reuters poll in March, a majority of Americans support taking military action against Iran to prevent its development of nuclear weapons or backing Israel in such attacks. However, attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities would only encourage Iran to accelerate its nuclear arms program and aggravate the situation into a months-long or yearslong conflict. I don’t think I need to illustrate the potential cost in human lives, even if the war stayed between Israel and Iran. It becomes increasingly vital for Americans to now understand just who we would be bombing. Much of America is decidedly hostile against Iran, angered by its perceived anti-American ideology and frightened by the threat of nuclear attack. “Iran wants to blow us all up.” “Iran defies Western civilization.” “Iran hates America.” But who is “Iran”? Is it Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? Is it Iran’s religious pundits? Or is it the average Iranian? It’s easy to box people up and label them as objects of sympathy or hostility, but the reality isn’t black-and-white. Iran is not a monolith of backward, violent, anti-Western sentiment. Iranians don’t think or act in any different way than we do. Iranian society is complicated, and it consists of rational people, just like any other society. People live in Iran. They work, go to school, host parties, pray and hope, and for the most part, they don’t want trouble. According to a September 2010 International Peace Institute (IPI) poll, two-thirds of Iranians said increasing ties with the West, not reducing them, will help Iran resolve its problems. In that poll, 71 percent of Iranians did support developing nuclear weapons. But concurrently, 77 percent of Americans believe our nuclear arsenal is vital to national security, and 58 percent oppose its reduction, as an August 2010 poll by Rasmussen Reports, a public-opinion polling company, showed. Also like Americans, Iranians have larger issues to face than their nuclear capabilities. The IPI poll showed that Iranians’ biggest concern is economic sanctions.
In recent years, the United States, European Union, United Nations and other individual countries have dramatically increased sanctions against Iran in response to developments in its nuclear program. Many of these groups ban trade in arms and oil, but the United States now has an almost complete economic embargo on Iran. These sanctions have crippled Iran’s economy, whose currency, the rial, is rapidly inflating. According to a 2009 World Public Opinion poll, two-thirds of Iranians would forgo nuclear weapons if economic sanctions would be lifted. Rather than trying to increase their power in the Middle East and Muslim world, a majority of Iranians said they should focus on solving domestic problems, as the IPI poll showed. For me, that draws parallels to a Pew Research Center poll released this January, in which 81 percent of Americans listed domestic policy over foreign policy as the top policy priority, especially the economy. What all these polls and statistics show me is that Iran is feeling lonely in the world. Iranians struggling to make ends meet have real reason to dislike the United States, who has helped to economically and politically isolate them from most of the world. Iranians are tough, proud and stubborn— and a little bit afraid. When we consider our conflict with Iran, as with any conflict, we sometimes forget that the people we are fighting are still people. We forget that the voices of a few do not speak for all and that this Iranian society that we think we’re opposed to is just as multi-faceted and complicated as our own. People live in Iran. They are not monolithic. They are not any more irrational in their thoughts, needs, fears and desires than other people. Just like people who live in America, Iranians would not sit idle if either their country’s nuclear facilities or cities were attacked. To expect them to is foolish and simply uneven. Neither we nor Israel can attack Iran without eventually taking military action against these Iranians. Knowing that, we as Americans must ask—is it worth siding against them in a nuclear war? Is it worth giving them a real, justifiable cause to hate us? When we understand the people who live in Iran as people who think and act like us, we will find we can no more condemn them to death, destruction and fear than we could condemn ourselves.
When we consider our conflict with Iran, we sometimes forget that the people we are fighting are still people.
Contact information Mailing Address: 520 E. Main St., Carmel, IN 46032 Phone: (317) 846-7721, Ext. 7143 Website: www.hilite.org E-mail: Staff members of the HiLite may be contacted by using their first initial and their last name appending @hilite.org. For example, Laura Peng will receive mail sent to lpeng@hilite.org.
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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.
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Editor in Chief Laura Peng Managing Editors Patrick Bryant Monica Cheng Yameen Hameed Caroline Zhang Accountant Meghan Lindgren Acumen Rachel Boyd Dhruti Patel Ads Team Ken Li Matt Wehner 15 Minutes of Fame Henry Zhu Beats/Calendar Rochelle Brual Claudia Huang Aruni Ranaweera Hafsa Razi Katie Utken Business Manager Patrick Bryant Cover Story Victor Xu Entertainment Natalie Maier Amira Malcom Feature Tony Tan Ryan Zukerman Front Page Conner Gordon Melinda Song Graphics Jiva Capulong Connie Chu Melinda Song Liane Yue Media Liaison Stuart Jackson News Chris Li Andy Yang Perspectives Kendall Harshberger Adele Zhou Photography Connor Gordon Mary Brooke Johnson
Special Projects Sports Student Section Web Staff Reporters Taylor Acton Shayan Ahmad Ben Anderson Nick Andrews Jacob Botkin Rochelle Brual Bobby Browning David Choe John Du Linsu Han Eric He Claudia Huang Tim Klein
Caitlin Muller Kim Qian Hafsa Razi Aruni Ranaweera Sean Truax Katie Utken Jacob Vahle Lindsey Walker Andrew Wang Matt Wehner Olivia Weprich Julie Xu Sheen Zheng
Photographers Kathleen Bertsch Gavin Colavito Makenzie Curtis Mikaela George Henry Jackson
Stuart Jackson Amira Malcom Omeed Malekmarzban Hailey Meyer Henry Zhu
Grayson Harbour James Benedict Charlie Browning Matt Barnthouse Sarah Yun Omeed Malekmarzban Nick McLaughlin Ray Qian Patrick Tan
Adviser Jim Streisel Principal John Williams Superintendent Jeff Swensson
PAGE 32 | 15 MINUTES OF FAME | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
15 MINUTES OF FAME Row, Row, Row Your Boat 15MINUTES@HILITE.ORG | TWITTER.COM/HILITE_NEWS
Junior Olivia Ross is part of a rowing team BY DAVID CHOE dchoe@hilite.org
What sport do you play and how long have you played it?
I row for the Indianapolis Rowing Center, and I’ve rowed for about two years.
How did you get started rowing?
I swam for a while, but I got sick of it. And with rowing, there’s a lot of scholarship money available for colleges.
fall, it’s longer races so you do six kilometers, and in the spring it’s two kilometers. But spring season is the sport season.
What do you think are some downsides to rowing in Indiana?
Not a lot of people know about it, so it’s hard to get recognition, and it’s very expensive to row.
How do you practice?
How do you think rowing could be easier or more convenient?
Does the team have a varsity level?
What would you tell somebody who might be interested in taking up the sport?
We just go out in the water and rowing really depends on the weather so if it’s too windy to go out we go on rowing machines, which are at the gym. They’re called ergometers. Yep. There’s a varsity team and a novice team. And the novice is just your first year rowing and then you move up to varsity. And then there’s different boats within each level, so you have A boats and B boats and stuff like that.
How do races work?
Well you row in either (groups of eight) or (groups of four), so it’s either with seven other girls or with three other girls. In the
Probably if (practices) were closer to where I live, and if more people (rowed), because we don’t really have a big team.
You don’t really need to have any (past) skill or experience, and it’s really fun.
Want More?
Scan this QR code to read more and watch a video of Ross rowing.
HENRY ZHU / PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
Students choose to pursue unique sports outside of school Although a variety of sports are offered here at this school, junior Olivia Ross participates in competitive rowing—a sport partly unaffiliated with CHS—at the Indianapolis Rowing Center (IRC) as part of her extracurricular activities. “No one really recognizes how hard it is or what it involves (because it’s an unaffiliated sport),” Ross said. “It’s completely different from kayaking or canoeing.” Jackie Kleinhans, rowing coach at Indianapolis Rowing Center, said the IRC maintains a close relationship with the athletic department and the student body. However, Kleinhans said via email that the IRC does not receive financial support
or varsity status from this school. “(The lack of financial support or varsity status from CHS) is largely because rowing is not recognized by the IHSAA,” Kleinhans said. “IRC has considered approaching the IHSAA to promote rowing as a recognized sport. The reason we haven’t done this to date is because of the volume of participants. There are a great number of schools affiliated with the IHSAA, I think at least 500. About 25 of those 500 offer rowing.” Consistent with the small number of IHSAA-affiliated schools that offer rowing, Ross is part of the few teens who
row. According to a survey conducted by Rower’s Almanac/ Boathouse Finder in 2008, just five percent of rowers in the United States are in the 13 to 18 age group. Despite the program’s unaffiliated status with this school, Ross, who used to be a part of the swimming team, said she prefers rowing because of its increased teamwork and wider range of social connections. “(Compared with swimming), rowing is similar in the fact that you do the same thing over and over again,” Ross said. “(However) rowing definitely involves more teamwork because you’re with seven or three other girls in a boat.”
acumen APRIL 27, 2012 I VOLUME 8 I ISSUE 4
the movement issue theme explanation art movement kinetic learning internet activism move from midwest rise of cupcakes
2 3 4 6 7 8
PAGE 2 | ACUMEN | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
(acumen.) Contact information Mailing Address: 520 E. Main St., Carmel, IN 46032 Phone: (317) 846-7721, Ext. 7143 Website: www.hilite.org E-mail: Staff members of the HiLite may be contacted by using their first initial and their last name appending @hilite.org. For example, Laura Peng will receive mail sent to lpeng@ hilite.org.
Purpose
Rockin’ Around the Century Here is a look at just a few of the most influential events that moved American music from the 1930s to today
Acumen is an occasional publication serving to supplement the HiLite. Acumen is distributed to the students, faculty and staff of Carmel High School. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily representative of those held by CHS, the Carmel Clay system faculty, staff or administration.
Staff Editors Reporters/Photographers/ Graphics
HiLite Editor in Chief HiLite Managing Editors
Principal Superintendent
Rachel Boyd Dhruti Patel Jiva Capulong Connie Chu Mikaela George Henry Jackson Omeed Malekmarzban Hafsa Razi Katie Utken Olivia Walker Olivia Weprich Liane Yue Sheen Zheng Laura Peng Patrick Bryant Monica Cheng Yameen Hameed Caroline Zhang John Williams Jeff Swensson
December 31, 1948: Columbia Records releases the first long playing vinyl record.
December 31, 1931: The electric guitar debuts after being invented by Adolph Rickenbacker.
August 15, 1969: Woodstock Music and Art Fair occurs. It was considered the culmination of rock ‘n’ roll and counterculture.
December 31, 1964: The Beatles’ song “I Want to Hold Your Hand” is a sensation, sparking the “British invasion.”
In This Issue
Dear readers, What comes to mind when you hear the word “movement”? Is it runners in a marathon, a bird flying through the sky or racecars speeding around a track? The definition of movement according to Merriam Webster is the act or process of moving; especially : change of place or position or posture. Not only does this include physical movement such as sports or dancing, but movement can also be shifts in culture, geographical movement from one place to another and political movements, among other things. As humans we are constantly moving. While it is somewhat of an abstract word, movement defines who we are in a specific moment. Sincerely, Rachel Boyd and Dhruti Patel Acumen editors
CONNER GORDON / PHOTO
December 16, 1977: The December 31, 1978: Hip hop, movie “Saturday Night Fever” starring John Travolta a blend of jazz, soul, rock and African drumming is born in popularizes disco music. South Bronx.
April 28, 2003: Apple launches iTunes, giving customers instant access to music downloads.
December 2, 1983: Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video was released, eventually selling over nine million units.
December 31, 1990: Grunge rock takes shape in Seattle with bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
GRAPHIC / LIANE YUE XTIMELINE.COM, GUARDIAN.CO.UK / SOURCES
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | ACUMEN | PAGE 3
Moving an Audience
Students aim to create artwork with a deeper meaning and understanding of the world
BY SHEEN ZHENG szheng@hilite.org Much like a classic Pixar movie, the artwork of senior Nathaniel “Nate” Harcourt always encompasses a deeper meaning than meets the eye. “I focus my art on effecting change. I don’t focus solely on the technicality of my work,” Harcourt said.”I also try to define the concept and message that I want to broadcast.” Within the walls of this school, art students are challenged to see beyond simple aesthetics. They’re ordered to dig deeper and convey a message that speaks to an audience. “They’re taught to create artwork that supports, echoes, and even summarizes powerful words in a visual form,” art teacher Michael Lee said of his teaching prerogative. Walking down the streets of downtown Carmel, Harcourt took note of the ‘Carmel Statues’ expressing the varieties of humanity, the potential of people. But Harcourt noticed their faults. Their uncompromising structures. Their efforts to make Carmel seem more perfect than it could be. “They’re meant to embellish life, but they’re cold, lifeless structures,” Harcourt said. So in the fall of 2010, Harcourt sculpted his own version of a man reading a newspaper, hoping to impact society with his art. Crafted out of soda cans for the body and a television for the head, the sculpture travels down the road less taken, one that criticizes rather than applauded. “My sculpture is designed to illustrate this human lifelessness while the other statue is meant to hide it,” he said. Influential art stands as only one category of art, but it can trigger a dramatic effect on the public. As Lee said, “My perception is that influential art is created with the purpose to sway a viewer’s opinion, much like a persuasive essay.” Junior Francisca “Franci” Figueroa, first stepped into Carmel’s art department as a freshman. It was here that she learned the basics of sketching then eventually painting. It was here that she was challenged to uncover more than the aesthetics of a paintings by seeing the message behind the piece. And it was here that she branched out into independent realms, where she applied the guidelines to her own creations. Says Figueroa, now enrolled in AP Studio Art, “The whole purpose of art in general is to convey your own feelings. It doesn’t need a definite purpose. It can be something that speaks to you and hopefully to others. It can make an audience think about a subject that it usually doesn’t think about.” And in her AP Studio Art class, she paints what speaks to her. Designed to provide students with a portfolio for college, the independent class offers students the prospect of selecting a theme to explore the first year. As months pass, students explore compositions that mold to their theme. “The whole purpose of the theme is to portray meaning through your artwork,” Figueroa said. While classmates have pursued political or other more tangible themes, Figueroa said she has embraced a more intricate premise, one that encompasses the human conscience and the emotions attached. “I haven’t found a title for the collection yet, I do a lot
of work with portraiture and I try to capture different isolated emotions through people,” Figueroa said of her theme. The lack of a title does not compromise the depth and potential of her theme, she says. Rather it provides her with a chance to not fall prey to defined boundaries. As Figueroa explained, “I do not want to be limited by a name.” Also a student in Drawing 5-6, Figueroa recently completed a unit that focuses on drawing from a more political standpoint. For the assignment, she said she explored the depths of dictatorship, an idea that she said stemmed from an article she came across in the winter. Kim Jong Il and North Korea had served as the focus of the article and dictatorship brushed the surface of the interview. “In the article, Kim Jong Il had asked the people of his country to rise up like a human shield to protect him,” Figueroa said. “I read that statement and almost immediately, I was against it. I was inspired to show that.” Harcourt said that he centers his attention on the media and how society is unknowingly twisted by the news. His focus is visible in his portfolio, in which the range of sculptures to paintings explores how people are continually manipulated by the media. To Harcourt, influential art is only effective if viewers explore what the work is for. “Anyone can look a piece of art and comment on how it’s pretty,” Harcourt said. “But it takes a driven mind to see the meaning behind it.”
Check it out There is an art show featuring CHS students. Here is information from art teacher Katharine Ristow When and where will the art show take place? The art show is from April 26 to 29, which coincides with the spring musical. It’s in the main commons in front of the media center and auditorium. Who is involved? Every art student in the department has at least one work in the show, so it’s not just limited the higher levels. How has the department been preparing for the show? Throughout the year teachers have been choosing students’ best works to include in the show.
OMEED MALEKMARZBAN / PHOTO
ART SMART: Senior Nathaniel “Nate” Harcourt works on an art piece during AP Studio Art. According to Harcourt, his portfolio deals with how media twists society.
PAGE 4 | ACUMEN | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
I Like To Move It Despite the prevalence of visual and auditory learning techniques, students discuss the benefits of a kinetic learning style BY OLIVIA WEPRICH oweprich@hilite.org
As a Chinese proverb states, “Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.” In other words, actively doing something to understand it better has always existed in society and continues to help students even in classes taught in a more traditional manner. Students who learn more effectively through physical activities are known as kinesthetic or kinetic learners. Senior Megan Noonan said she fits into this category. Instead of taking elective classes this year that she didn’t need to graduate, Noonan leaves school after third period each day to attend dance rehearsals. Although she’s not sitting in a classroom, she said she still learns valuable lessons from her dancing that she can apply to her schoolwork and other activities not in the studio. “With dancing you can rely on your muscle memory after you’ve learned the technique,” Noonan said. “But that takes time and work. You have to be able to apply corrections, be respectful and collaborate with others just like at school.” Although somewhat jokingly saying that dancing has improved Noonan’s coordination, deftness and coordination are actually common indicators of tactile learners according to Rebecca Garland, author of several articles on kinesthetic learning. Other characteristics of tactile learners include learning through moving, doing, actively exploring the world around them, speaking with hand gestures, remembering what was done but has more difficulty recalling what was said or seen and often doodling while listening to process
A look at learning
MIKAELA GEORGE / PHOTO
TINY DANCER: Dancer and senior Megan Noonan warms up at the start of a ballet class at her dance studio, the Central Indiana Academy of Dance. Noonan compares her dance classes to her classes at school because they both require respect, memorization and other skills.
information more efficiently. Noonan said that because dance has always been a part of her life, the sport has also affected her learning style in school. Her experience with dance has shaped her into a more creative and tactile learner than she thinks she would have been if she had never danced or committed as much time to a physical activity.
How Do You Learn Best?
Most experts classify learning into three different categories. School emphasizes auditory and visual education, while athletics focus on kinetic learning. Auditory learners prefer listening to explanations instead of reading them and may like to study by repeating information out loud. This learner may want to have background music while studying, but others may be distracted by noises and need a quiet space to learn.
Kinetic learners learn most effectively by doing and touching. They may have trouble sitting still while studying, and they are better able to understand information by writing it down or doing hands-on activities such as lab experiments, sports or dance.
Visual learners process information by reading, looking at graphics or watching a demonstration. Children with this style can grasp information when it’s presented in a chart or graph, but they may lose patience while listening to explanations. SCHOOLFAMILY.COM / SOURCE
She said, “I’m definitely a visual and kinetic learner. Copying down notes can be confusing, but if a teacher draws a diagram or I can physically flip through flash cards, I remember better. It’s like the movement triggers something in my brain.” On the other hand, sophomore Griffin Hoover said that although he has always been involved in sports, he would be a kinetic learner today regardless of his athletic background. He said, “It’s hard to say since I’ve always played some sport, but I think this is just the way I am. I don’t think playing more or less sports would have affected how I learn either way.” Garland said via e-mail that students naturally sway toward a certain type of learning, although whether parents and teachers decide to ignore that or utilize it can effect how the students learn. In most situations, kinesthetic learners are often characterized by being natural discoverers. It’s easier for them to participate in an action as opposed to simply reading or listening. Even something as simple as standing up or writing something down while trying to understand helps students such as Noonan and Hoover better to comprehend information. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE In her article “Why Kinesthetic
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | ACUMEN | PAGE 5
WHAT’S THE POINT: (Top right, clockwise) Noonan does the splits in order to stretch before ballet class. Noonan performs a plié at the ballet bar. Noonan practices a tondue, which is a ballet move in which one leg is straight and the other is extended. MIKAELA GEORGE / PHOTOS
times it allows her to make it through the school day. “Everyone has trouble paying attention sometimes, but I can look forward to rehearsal or class after school,” Noonan said. “Just thinking about moving and dancing can help even in the most boring lectures.” According to Garland, many intelligence kinesthetic learners are also artists and athletes like Noonan and Hoover. The way their brains work affects them in more aspects of their lives than just school. “This sort of high kinesthetic intelligence is what creates scientists, writers, artists, musicians, dancers, performers and other creative people that allow their minds and hands to move without any pre-planned format,” she wrote. “These actions are not preplanned and it is just the body movement preceding the thought processes.” Noonan matches the typical tactile learner that Garland describes. She says creative and loves to perform as if it’s second nature to her. Next fall she will major in ballet at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University but has a plan if she decides not to become a professional dancer after college. She said, “For now I’m just going to see where it takes me because I’m not really sure what I want. If I don’t become a professional dancer, I want to do something in exercise science because that way I can still stay in the dancing field even if I’m not dancing.” According to Garland, it’s not uncommon for students to decide a career that makes use of their natural learning style. Garland said, “Experts in every field became experts by doing something with information after they hear it. From World Cup soccer players to the top customer service employee at the local McDonalds, every expert is a model of kinesthetic learning.”
What’s your style? Take this quiz to find out what learning category you fit into. 1. When you study for a test, would you rather...? a) look over notes, headings, diagrams and illustrations. b) have someone ask you questions or repeat facts silently to yourself. c) write things out on index cards and make models or diagrams. 2. When you work at solving a problem do you...? a) make a list, organize the steps and check them off as they are done. b) make a few phone calls and talk to friends or experts. c) make a model of the problem or walk through all the steps in your mind. 3. When you read for fun, do you prefer...? a) a travel book with a lot of pictures in it. b) a mystery book with lots of descriptive and intriguing conversation. c) a book where you answer questions and solve problems. 4. Would you rather go to...? a) an art class. b) a music class. c) an exercise class. 5. Which are you most likely to do when you are happy? a) smile. b) shout with joy. c) jump for joy. 6. If you were at a party, what would you be most likely to remember the next day? a) the faces of the people there, but not the names. b) the names but not the faces. c) the things you did and said while you were there. 7. When you see the word “d - o - g”, what is your first reaction? a) I think of a picture of a particular dog. b) I say the word “dog” to yourself silently. c) I imagine that I am with a dog (petting it, running with it, etc.).
PEOPLE.USD.EDU / SOURCE
Mostly A’s: Visual learner Mostly B’s: Auditory learner Mostly C’s: Kinetic learner
Learning Really Works in Classrooms Today,” Garland wrote, “At one end of the spectrum are the notes on jet propulsion. At the other end is the bottle rocket experiment where you have to calculate the propulsion based on any number of variables. While the typical learner can get information both ways, the information he sees and hears will never impact him the same way that the experiment will. Science has always lent itself to kinesthetic learning models, but all subject matter can be taught with a healthy bit of movement and activity.” Noonan said she often understands her human anatomy and physiology class better because of the hands-on labs and activities. “In (human anatomy and physiology) we do a lot of labs and (our teacher) shows us a lot of diagrams too. We also draw mind maps which basically show the movement of ideas onto the page,” Noonan said. In agreement, Hoover said science labs and other active lessons are also more helpful for him than trying to stay focused during a lecture. Garland said that hands-on activities can be useful in any subject because students get distracted easily during a typical lesson of listening and copying notes. In her article, she wrote, “Studies have shown that even television programs have sped up, flashing from one scene to another more quickly than they did a generation ago to keep the child’s brain engaged. When you compare fast-action television and video games to the far slower pace of school, it’s easy to see where it might be considered drudgery by the students who are trapped without any form of escape.” Another “form of escape” for Noonan is thinking about dance during school. Not only is it a creative outlet and de-stressor for her, she said that many CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
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The New Frontier of Inactive Activism? As social and civil advocates take their causes to the Internet, they reach wider albeit less committed audiences BY HAFSA RAZI hrazi@hilite.org
Graphic Perspective
NOTHING IS MORE POWERFUL THAN AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME The words flash white on a dark screen as the “Kony 2012” documentary opens, part of the Invisible Children’s campaign to raise awareness about Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony’s war crimes. As soon as Anna Sands, president of this school’s Invisible Children Club and junior, heard about “Kony 2012,” she joined a massive online movement by promoting the campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.
CONNER GORDON / PHOTO
CONCERT FOR A CAUSE: Senior Alex Katsaropoulos performs at the Invisible Children benefit concert. The concert was organized to support the Kony 2012 movement.
“That’s when I knew that (the Kony 2012 campaign) had gotten big,” Sands said. “…It was all over the (Internet).” The “Kony 2012” documentary went viral, receiving over 80 million views on Youtube and launching the campaign among the top trending topics on Twitter. Recently, an increasing number of movements like “Kony 2012” have built support and publicity online, from the Arab Spring protests to protests against Internet censorship in the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and its counterpart, Protect IP Act (PIPA). However, according to Carl Weinberg, adjunct associate professor of history at IU, this new platform for activism balances incredible potential with serious pitfalls. “Social media is a tool. It’s a tool that can be used for all kinds of purposes,” Weinberg said. “Like any tool, it has its limitations.” On one hand, Weinberg said, social media allows activists to spread their messages faster and more widely than ever before. “The world is getting smaller, and that’s a great help to social movements of any kind,” Weinberg said. For instance, when thousands of Internet users signed petitions and blacked out websites this January, protesting SOPA and PIPA, the legislation halted in Congress. Among the protesters on social media websites was sophomore Thomas Frye. According to Frye, he knew the details of SOPA and PIPA when he protested the legislation on his Facebook. However, he said, a wave of protesters with only surface knowledge of the issue followed the initial group of dedicated activists. “Towards the end, I think there were people just trying to catch onto the virus that was the protest,” Frye said.
JIVA CAPULONG / GRAPHIC
This, Weinberg said, is a key problem with Internet activism. According to him, many participants in the Kony 2012 campaign know little about the history of the conflict apart from what the documentary relates. This causes them to participate in a protest that, Weinberg said, depoliticizes a highly complex issue. “The first thing any person needs to do is learn how a problem came to be, how it was caused and what the solutions are,” Weinberg said. According to Frye, the lack of CONTINUED information among many Internet ON NEXT PAGE
APRIL 27, 2012 | HILITE.ORG | HILITE | ACUMEN | PAGE 7 censorship protesters caused an abrupt decrease in participation once SOPA and PIPA died, despite the proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which takes SOPA and PIPA ideas to the multinational level. However, Sands said, some online activists do advocate beyond social media – the Invisible Children Club held a viewing party, art show and benefit concert to raise money and awareness for its cause. But while social media helps people broadcast their ideas, she said, it also enables token CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
participation in movements without real enthusiasm. “A lot of people will just (support a cause) because it’s trendy and it makes them look like they care, even if they don’t know what the cause is about,” Sands said. Unlike short-lived Internet movements, Weinberg said, the civil and women’s rights movements and protests against the Vietnam War required activists to march, demonstrate and go door-to-door, advocating their causes for years. “That kind of grassroots activism is absolutely essential to changing the world,” Weinberg said. “The world is not
going to change by clicking a mouse.” In fact, according to Weinberg, mass online movements may not actually have fervent support. “(Internet activism) spreads widely, but it doesn’t sink very deeply,” Weinberg said. For Sands, it comes down to the issue of quality versus quantity. She said social media allows activists to attain greater public awareness so even if many Internet users who participate in a movement aren’t devoted, movements still acquire the remaining active participants. “It’s just kind of a give and take,” Sands said.
Brain Drain
Carmel experiences a dramatic outflow of college-bound students relocating to places other than the Midwest and staying there BY OLIVIA WALKER owalker@hilite.org Junior Joshua “Josh” Coons has little more than a year left at Carmel High School. But for Coons, even those few months are far too long. According to Coons, a Carmel resident for 16 years, the city itself has run out of future opportunities. “I grew up in the Midwest, and there’s more country than just the Midwest. So I just want to go somewhere else, kind of mix things up,” Coons said. According to various U.S. Census studies, Coons is not alone. More and more high school students are viewing college years and the years that follow as a chance to relocate to places other than the Midwest. This “brain drain,”-educated college graduates leaving their hometown and refusing to return- has been an issue facing Indiana for quite some time. Nancy Heck, Director of Community Relations for Carmel, said the relocation of young adults sparks numerous consequences for the city, for the ability to retain younger citizens is beneficial to a community. “Communities flourish with the ongoing addition of young minds and ideas,” Heck said via email. “Carmel wants to attract and retain the younger workforce in order to have diverse workforce and continue to attract top talent, which allows us to attract corporate headquarters and health care facilities that are looking for a well-educated, dynamic workforce.” In an effort to promote these positive effects, Carmel has been taking steps to draw college graduates back to the city with projects such as the Arts & Design District and the Palladium. “Carmel has expanded in recent years to include an Arts & Design District, the Center for the Performing Arts with two theatres and a concert hall,” Heck said. “These new facilities have added jobs to the market as well as entertainment, dining and shopping options for residents. Young professionals can plug unto the cultural aspects of what Carmel has to offer through community and civic volunteering efforts.” By offering a variety of housing options and active community activities, Carmel hopes to meet the needs of current teenagers and provide incentive for them to return back to their hometown after their college experience is complete. To that end, Emily White, a junior and Carmel resident her whole life, takes the opposite viewpoint of Coons. According to White, she considers Carmel a
community worth coming back to. Unlike Coons, White said she plans to return when the opportunity presents itself. Although unsure of her college plans, White says the Midwest has a small town appeal that she finds alluring. “I think I’ll probably come back here, even if I go out of state for college. I think Carmel is a really nice city, and it’s a good place to raise a family. It’s awesome to go to big cities for a couple of days, but I just can’t see myself living there,” White said. If White follows through on her decision, she will be the second generation of her family to do so. White’s mother, Kristy White, attended CHS wand chose to reside here after graduating from Saint Mary’s College in Wionna, Minnesota. Like her daughter, Mrs. White said she agrees that Carmel is a city to settle down long-term. ‘The main reason I returned to Carmel is for family. Carmel is a very wealthy and safe town. It is a good place
to raise a family,” Kristy said. “Most of my friends that relocated chose warmer and better climate conditions.” Carmel’s economic and developmental growth will hopefully play a factor when young people search for a permanent residence. Many hope to not only attract families like the Whites but also a diverse selection of generations. According to Heck, Carmel presents enough opportunities to satisfy the wants of multiple age groups. “The city of Carmel has worked hard to be able to offer multi-generational, recreational, entertainment, cultural and professional opportunities. We have increased parkland and trails from 40 to more than 600 acres; we have created a performing arts center that rivals the best in the world; we have about 40 corporate headquarters offering a wide variety of jobs; and we have many free festivals, concerts, special events and holiday activities that bring a community closer together.”
Who Will Stay? Due to the “brain drain,” many leave the Midwest after high school, while the West seems to receive more and more younger people. How do the two regions stack up against each other?
66,927,001 Estimated population in 2010, in Midwest
14 percent
71,945,553
12 percent
Percentage of population 65+ years old in Midwest:
Estimated population in 2010 in West
Percentage of population 65+ years old in West
Median age of 37.7 residents in the Midwest
35.6
Median age of residents in the West
35 percent 38 percent
Percentage of population 18-44 years old in West
Percentage of population 1844 years old in Midwest JIVA CAPULONG AND RACHEL BOYD / GRAPHIC CENSUS.GOV / SOURCE
PAGE 8 | ACUMEN | HILITE | HILITE.ORG | APRIL 27, 2012
Thinking Small Movement from cakes to cupcakes has sparked an increase in the number of these trendy bakeries throughout Carmel BY KATIE UTKEN kutken@hilite.org Sophomore Kristine “Kristie” Coyne’s love of baking began when she was a little girl and she and her aunt made cookies together. A few years later, Coyne shifted her talents to baking cupcakes after she received a book entitled Hello, Cupcake! for Christmas. Since then, she has fostered her passion in the kitchen and baked and decorated a menagerie of different cupcakes for holidays and celebrations. “I just started making cupcakes for color guard and bringing them in, and everyone just kind of loved them,” she said. This increasing popularity of cupcakes is not seen just in Coyne’s kitchen. Since 2006, the cake decoration store industry has witnessed strong growth, largely thanks to the ever-popular cupcake-specialty bakeries. Despite a drop in disposable income during the recession, cupcake popularity has not waned, since customers view the cupcake as a relatively inexpensive indulgence. According to Perishables Group, a Chicago-based fresh food consulting firm, cupcake sales increased between nine and 13 percent per year nationwide from 2006 to 2010. IBIS World, the world’s largest independent publisher of U.S. industry research, predicts that by 2016 cupcake industry revenue will reach $1.1 billion. The cupcake trend has carried over into popular culture with TV shows like the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars,” a competition that pits four of the country’s best cupcake bakers against one another in three challenges to win $10,000 and TLC’s “DC Cupcakes,” which chronicles the life of two sisters who own Georgetown Cupcakes in Washington, DC. Such a widespread cupcake movement has even reached Carmel. In the downtown area alone, there are “cupcakeries” like Holy Cow, Cupcakes!, The Flying Cupcake and stores like Auntie Em’s Frozen Custard and Cupcakes that serve the miniature treats as one of their staple menu items.
CRAZY FOR CUPCAKES: Holy Cow, Cupcakes! (top) offers a variety of cupcakes, such as strawberry and vanilla. Sophomore Kristine “Kristie” Coyne (right) takes a batch of cupcakes out of the oven. Sophomore Ian Jones (bottom) takes a bite of cupcake at Holy Cow, Cupcakes!
Coyne said she has witnessed the cupcake popularity firsthand. She has received multiple requests to make children’s birthday party cakes, but instead of a traditional sheet cake, customers now want tiers of cupcakes to create a cupcake tower, not unlike those seen on baking reality shows, like “Cupcake Wars.” Likewise, Sarah Cawthron, pastry chef at Holy Cow, Cupcakes!, said she receives many orders like Coyne described. She said it is not uncommon to assemble a cupcake tower for a wedding, baby shower or other event. For example, Holy Cow, Cupcakes! recently provided one of its cakes for Butler Blue II’s 8th birthday party at Butler University. “We have families that we have done their baby showers and the child’s first birthday party, and then we’ve done weddings and anniversaries, so we have a very wide demographic that we serve,” she said. Cawthron said that during the summer months, the store RACHEL BOYD / PHOTO provides cupcake towers for two to HOLY COW: Holy Cow, Cupcakes! is located on 61 W. City Center four weddings per weekend. She said once the cupcakes are placed Dr., according to its website. Students can also follow this business on on the tower, the resulting piece Twitter at @HolyCowCupcakes.
HENRY JACKSON / PHOTOS
resembles an actual wedding cake. As an added bonus, it is easier to serve the dessert since it already comes in individual portions. Coyne agreed with Cawthron and said she sees many advantages to baking and consuming cupcakes as opposed to the traditional cake. “It’s cheaper to make the cupcakes,” Coyne said. “It’s like a specific portion, so if I eat one then I’m eating the right portion, whereas with cake you can have different size slices. Cupcakes are also more uniform and easier to travel with.” Cawthron said to keep up with the high cupcake demand, the staff at Holy Cow, Cupcakes! makes and sells anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 cupcakes per week. She said she has seen an increase in cupcake popularity and attributes part of the rise in demand to TV shows based on baking. “Within the last few years, cupcakes had a good start at becoming a trend,” she said, “and once ‘Cupcake Wars’ and all of that stuff became really popular, then cupcakes became even more popular just as an everyday kind of thing.”
Craving cupcakes? Check out Holy Cow, Cupcakes’ website for more details about its cupcakes, coffees and more.