Aug. 11, 2009

inside this issue

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

NEWS>>

Is

aug. 11, 2009 • vol. 55 • issue 1

BIGGER Better?

Students find high school size makes a difference in the transition to a larger secondary school

04 New driving policy aims to protect students from phonerelated accidents

05 Grading scale becomes standardized throughout school 05 Despite opening of parts of Keystone, road construction continues to pose difficulty for students

15 minutes of fame>> 20 Up close with your 2009-10 student body president and speaker of the House

Check us out online @ www.hilite.org for the latest news, scores, video, polls and multimedia content

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

AUG. 11, 2009 • VOL. 55 • ISSUE 1

Contact information

table of contents

04 News

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

Responding to the HiLite

Letters to the editor will be accepted for the Sept. 24 issue no later than Sept. 15. Letters may be submitted in Room C147, placed in the mailbox of Jim Streisel, e-mailed to letters@hilite.org or mailed to school. All letters must be signed. Names will be published. (Letters sent via e-mail will be taken to a student’s SRT for him to sign.) Letters must not contain personal attacks against an individual and may be edited.

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

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

State enforces cell phone driving restrictions Uniform grading scale ensures consistency

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06 Perspectives The new editor in chief explains the changes to the HiLite Sarah Sheafer comments on the shortfalls of Social Security

10 Cover Story Emma Neukam reports on the benefits of attending a large high school

>> 14 Feature

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

What’s happened to the family sit-down dinner?

Students view stereotypes, popularity as harmless

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

16 Student Section

Editor in Chief Michelle Hu Managing Editors Rosemary Boeglin Sarah Sheafer Accountant Andrew Burke Acumen Arjuna Capulong Jinny Zhang 15 Minutes of Fame Afra Hussain Artist Rebecca Xu Beats/Calendar Emma Neukam Laura Peng Nina Underman Cover Story Sara Rogers Entertainment Maddie Bourgerie Ellie Seta Feature Hera Ashraf Rebecca Xu Front Page Tim Chai Steven Chen Graphics Daniel Li News Susie Chen Beverly Jenkins Perspectives Julie Kippenbrock Jade Schwarting Photography Nick Johnson Kaitlyn Lampe Special Projects Kelsey Binion Amanda Nguyen Min Qiao Tracy Sun Sports Mackenzie Madison David Zheng Student Section Lauren Burdick Web Mike Jiang Nishanth Samala

Reporters Aili Arnell Sally Bae Audrey Bailey Kelsey Binion Meredith Boyd Maggie Brandenburg Andrew Browning Patrick Bryant Monica Cheng Marianna Cooper Ryan Duffy Cassie Dugan Lizzie Grubbs Yameen Hameed Kendall Harshberger Alex Mackall Faraz Majid Photographers Arjuna Capulong Shirley Chen Stephanie Coleman Lizzy Grubbs Kate Grumme Nick Johnson Pooja Mathur Elizabeth Trancik Owen Williamson

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Staff Parker Myers Katie Norman Tatum Outlaw Priya Patel Darlene Pham Emily Puterbaugh Thalib Razi Monica Rice Mitch Ringenberg Erum Rizvi Katie Walstrom Reuben Warshawsky Jackson Whiteker Celina Wu Michelle Yun Caroline Zhang

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17 Entertainment

FroYo Face Off: Zoe’s Yogurt Village and Red Mango duke it out for the title

Web team Michael Luo Jimmy Sun

Adviser Jim Streisel Principal John Williams Superintendent Barbara Underwood

Sophomore Josh Cashin recounts his experience crossing the Atlantic

18 Sports Men’s tennis gears up for another challenging year

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20 15 Minutes of Fame Featuring your very own SBP and SOH, Steven Brisley and Sunny Huang

<<just a minute 03

HiLite • August 6, 2009

your news. redefined.

the paper.

the web.

online @ hilite.org

22.5”

out with the old...

12.915”

keep up with the latest happenings on HiLite Online

14 issues per year

check out WHJE’s Web site and stream the station online

16 pages per issue

read the top stories from each section

14 color pages

see the photo of the day

...in with the news

11.25”

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10 issues per year

20+ pages per issue

color on every page

5

Things You Need to Know for the First Week Back

1

Lunch times: A (11:03- 11:38) B (11:46- 12:13) C (12:21- 12:48) D (12:56- 1:23)

flip through the latest issue electronically watch the latest news clips

catch up on older stories from each section

stay up-to-date with the latest news on the world, nation and the school

look through photo slideshows of special events

2

HALL sWEEPS:

4

Dear freshman,

3

Tomorrow’s a late start!

5

try not to fall asleep in class.

If you get to your class a little late, don’t worry about it. Just beware in the future.

Class will begin at 8:30 a.m.

If you need help, look for the GKOMs in their orange T-shirts.

04 news>>

HiLite • August 11, 2009

State administers teen driving restrictions Students under 18 face legal charges if using communication devices behind the wheel

By Kendall Harshberger kharshberger@hilite.org

new indiana driving laws

S

ophomore Katherine “Katie” Katsaropoulos said she calls herself an “avid texter.”

She said she could be found frequently texting friends every day. But now if Katsaropoulos was to practice this behind a wheel of a car, she would be breaking the law.

steven chen and michelle hu / graphic

“Someone would probably get a warning or a ticket if they caused an accident due to texting while driving, but there really hasn’t been too much of a clear punishment,” he said.

Katsaropoulos said that she thinks it’s stupid of people to text and drive.

“You know, (people) feel like they’re in control and they’re experienced enough to text behind the wheel. It’s really just sort of naïve,” she said.

On July 1, texting or using a cell phone while not making a 911 emergency call became officially illegal for persons under 18 who are driving.

Katsarpopoulos also said that she’s not sure if the new laws will really stop teens from texting.

According to Officer Gene Stilts, the penalty for texting while driving could include a warning, ticket or suspended license.

“I do think it’s a good idea, someone has to try to stop people from doing this, but people are still going to think they can get away with it.

“I definitely think this law was needed and is a good thing for people, but we’ll have to wait and see if it properly takes care of the problem,” Stilts said.

“I really wish they would extend this to adults, too. I can’t really figure out what’s going through kids’ minds to make them feel like they can do stuff like this all the time and not get in trouble or worse, hurt.”

“ They’ll probably put their phone under the dashboard and sneak out quick texts, even though they know it’s illegal,” she said.

Stilts said that in the past there has not been enough enforcement for

in.gov/bmv / source

texting and driving.

“

“ Teenagers feel like they can do anything and get away with it a lot, but with stuff like this it ’s really not true. You hear about car crashes due to texting and driving on the news, but people still do it,” Katsarpopoulos said. “Nobody thinks it’ll happen to them.”

an expert weighs in

I don’t believe anyone should be allowed to text message while driving, regardless of age or license status. Anything that distracts the driver from the driving task dramatically increases the driver error risk. Inattention, for even a brief time, increases the driver’s chance of being involved in a collision. Most states are adopting similar restrictions for probationary drivers.

”

Driver Education Instructor David Dowell

GO ONLINE Find this story on hilite.org to voice your own opinion.

<<news 05

HiLite • August 11, 2009

The grading scale system here will change this school year to not only be consistent throughout the entire high school, but also with the middle schools.

“In the past, we haven’t had an official grading scale and, therefore, the grading scales for each department (in this school) were inconsistent,” assistant principal Ronda Eshleman said.

In order to solve the problem, a committee consisting of representatives from each department, administrative members, parents and students met several times last school year—the most recent being just this spring— according to Eshleman.

93-100

s consistency

The committee members decided on a solution; an A is 93 to 100 percent, A- is 90 to 92 percent, B+ is 87 to 89 percent, etc. (See above graphic.)

“I would approve of the change in the grading scale system because it’s reasonable and probably more convenient because it will now be uniform for all the teachers in the school,” senior Ivana Huang said.

STEVEN CHEN / GRAPHIC

BY MONICA CHENG mcheng@hilite.org

A

Uniform grading scale ensure

83-86

A- 2 -9 90

73-76

B+ 9 -8 87 B

B- 2 -8 80 C+ -79 77 C C- 2 -7 70 D+ 9 -6 67 D

D- 2 -6 60

F

63-66

to make the middle school grading scale stay consistent with the high school one because some middle school students get credits for world languages and math classes in middle school,” Eshleman said.

Therefore, the middle school students who are taking a world language or an advanced math class can bring over high school credits without as much confusion as in the past.

According to Huang, one benefit the new grading scale will bring over is objectivity. “Teachers won’t be subjective in their grading scale,” Huang said.

“Students will know. Parents will know. So now, they don’t have to check each teacher’s Web site or fact sheet to know the grading scale,” Eshleman said.

With this new grading scale system in place, the high school will now be consistent with all the middle schools. “We want

I think in the long run,” Huang said, “this change will definitely benefit the majority of students at CHS.”

Parts of Keystone reopen, reducing congestion

BY LAURA PENG lpeng@hilite.org Last year, senior Katelyn Strout was driving to school on a Wednesday PLC late start when she hit traffic on 131st Street. After half an hour, she finally made it to school 15 minutes late. But she wasn’t counted tardy. Why not?

Construction on 126th Street had recently begun, and most drivers who usually took 126th had to filter onto 131st, resulting in a hold up.

“I had no idea it would take me so long to get to school. It usually takes me just around 10 to 15 minutes, but instead, there was a huge line, and I didn’t get to class on time,” Strout said.

Since the Keystone Reconstruction Project first began in 2008, students have had to work around a schedule consisting of closings and reparations. According to Keystone Project Manager Jeremy Kashman, school traffic is taken into consideration when planning road closings.

“We worked to make sure that the impact on students and school traffic minimal. We scheduled the closings of 131st and 136th at different times since both feed directly to the high school. We are working to make sure only one school year will be affected, opposed to two,” Kashman said.

KEYSTONE CONSTRUCTION

street will provide safer intersections and increased mobility for drivers. In addition, facilities are being added to eliminate the barrier that has blocked pedestrian traffic.

“The connection features of the project benefit in a couple different ways,” Kashman said. “Most importantly, replacing stoplights with roundabouts has obvious proven safety benefits. It’ll also save fuel and provide pedestrian crossings.”

ALL CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED BY 2010

106TH AND 126TH: open APRIL 18, 2009 116TH AND CARMEL DR.: open Fall of 2010 131ST: open Fall of 2010 136TH: open August 1, 2009 CARMELLINK.ORG / SOURCE According to carmellink.com, lowering Keystone and providing roundabout interchanges at each major cross

Strout says that driving has been more efficient since 106th and 126th streets opened back up in April. “Since I’m not keeping track of when roads are closing and opening, it seems easier just to ride the bus each morning and not have to worry about figuring out a new way to get to school every few weeks,” she said.

“I know I’ll be driving a lot more after everything is finished,” Strout said. “But cutting down on driving has saved me a bunch of money, so I’m sure I can stick it out a while longer. I’m just hoping it will be worth it in the end.”

6 perspectives>>

HiLite •August 11, 2009

staff perspective

CHS: There’s no need to apologize for your size The size of this school has been a debate for a long time.

Many say this school is too big and too expansive. They argue that there are too many students in each class per each teacher, and because of that, students aren’t getting adequate help and one-on-one instructions and with enrollment growing each year, the arguments against the high school monstrosity grow as well.

The truth is, CHS could not be what it is today without its massive size.

Many overlook the unique opportunities found at CHS that many other high schools lack.

The athletic achievement, advanced communications department, the expansion of the performing arts department and variety of honors and AP classes are only a few examples of the activities we have.

wouldn’t have taken place. And is why no other school’s can compete with our communications department. In addition, the HiLite newspaper and Pinnacle yearbook also win numerous state and national awards for their superior products.

Academically, while many argue that CHS’s size leads to a lack of individualized attention for students, thus creating lesser academic value to the school, this is actually quite the opposite. Considering numerous students here are National Merit winners, National Merit finalists, score 5’s on AP exams and go on to attend prestigious universities, one could argue that the rigor of this school’s courses actually offer one of the best high school academic programs in the nation.

speak up Compiled by Julie Kippenbrock and Jade Schwarting

What are you most excited about for this school year?

“I’m taking classes at (the J. Everett Light Career Center) which means I’m only at the school for two periods. It’s like an internship at the center.”

our stand

CHS’s big size allows for unique opportunities and activities despite continued debate from parents, students, teachers and city officials

If a person utters CHS’s name to any surrounding schools in relation to sports, they all think one thing, “They’re good.” This school has this reputation from years of dominance over schools; one reason is because CHS has always been a big school compared to others. CHS has always had the most students to choose from when picking sports rosters, and more students means a better variety of good students. Even though many can complain about the selectiveness of CHS sports and can argue the unfairness of playing time for one student versus another, few can argue that these facts alone have determined CHS’s athletic success over the years.

But that success is not related to the athletic fields.

Carmel’s size means benefits in other areas as well. Last year, CHTV and WHJE completed total renovations and a complete revamp. More than $1 million was dedicated to the project, giving CHS the best and technologically advanced communications departments country.

Without CHS’s huge size and the dedication of students in both the radio and television classes, this project

In fact, in terms of individual class sizes that many argue to be too large, are on par with most other schools. And in fact, this larger size provides students with a chance to interact and meet new people, as well as learn to go to their teachers if they are in need of help, instead of relying on the teachers to come to their rescue, which is nonexistent at the college level.

Preparation for college and other after high school plans is another definite plus to CHS’s large student body. The transition for students from a high school to college setting could be a frightening task for many, but the school’s size, spirit and high expectations create a setting similar to many universities. Although a little over 4,000 students would be considered a small college, CHS students would find it easier to go from 4,000 students to 44,000 students, rather than a student in a school with only 1,000 students. This transition is much easier for students at CHS. So while many would say CHS is simply too large, it most definitely is not. Without its size, this school would not be the prestigious institution that has set it apart for so many years.

Therefore it’s time to stop complaining for the size of this school and time instead to start embracing the benefits that a large school like Carmel has to offer.

senior david lohss

“Running cross-country because I think we’re going to have a really good team and I love running.”

junior alex chitwood

“I’m not the youngest in the school anymore!”

sophomore seth gunderman

<<perspectives 7

HiLite • August 11, 2009

michelle hu

The HiLite, redefined.

Dear Reader, As you may have noticed, the HiLite you’re holding looks different than maybe you’re used to. Perhaps half different?

About the middle of last semester, our staff decided to switch from a broadsheet (tall and narrow) to a tabloid (shorter and more magazine-y) format. Also, instead of publishing 14 issues per year, or every two weeks, we will publish the HiLite 10 times – about one issue a month.

And in print? The trend in readers is for in-depth coverage more typical of what you’d find in a magazine. So from now on, the HiLite will embrace both of these trends. It is now a newsmagazine, which will publish mostly in-depth stories that catch your interest and give you something to think about. The straight news stories (beats, upcoming events, administrative changes) will mostly be on the HiLite Online at www.hilite.org.

These changes come at a time of rapid changes in the newspaper industry. Since January of 2008, 120 newspapers around the nation have closed down due to decreased revenue. Some of the biggest media companies are bankrupt, and some have abandoned paper altogether in favor of an online news format.

What does this mean for you? It means you’ll be getting even more of the news and information you want and need.

Now, we have a Special Projects team of four editors who will work on multimedia coverage throughout the year. For example, there’s a “New Student Survival Guide” on the site right now, and hilite.org will feature videos, slideshows and quizzes to preview Homecoming in October.

Rest assured – the HiLite will continue production; however, this is an opportune time for us to embrace the Internet more. We see more and more often people who prefer to get their breaking news immediately from their computers.

In addition, the beats editor will work on putting every beat online when it is timely. So, if DECA has a call-out meeting next month and you forget the date and location, simply go to hilite.org and you should find the information you’re

looking for. Or if your date is from another school and you need a Guest Form but forgot to pick one up, you’ll be able to print one out from the latest Homecoming beat.

These stories, just like in-depth articles, take up space. By publishing them online, we not only save paper but give you, the reader, an easier way to find exactly what you need.

There’s a lot going on at Carmel, and it is difficult to ensure everything is in the newspaper. The Internet, in this case, allows for more coverage as events arise.

We hope these changes will increase your ability to access the news that affects Carmel High School and students like you. We want to be as accessible as possible, and we want you to ask questions or even write letters to the editor or join in on an online conversation. We hope to provide the stories you can be absorbed in and have a conversation about with your friends.

So don’t worry. While we’re changing, much remains the same of the old HiLite you have known.

The HiLite is still the HiLite. Our journalistic fundamentals are still the same, and the way we write stories hasn’t changed.

But with a smaller newsmagazine and expanded online coverage, we can provide you, the reader, with the best access to the news you need every day.

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

rosemary boeglin

Don’t give up just yet, seniors. You’re still here.

It is the start of a new year. Breathe in, breathe out. This year is my last year in high school, my last year living at home, and very likely my last year as a full time resident of Indiana.

Sometimes the thought that I only have two more semesters doing the only thing I have known for the past 11 years is a scary one. The truth is, I have woken up at approximately 6:30 a.m. and gone home at approximately 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday for 9 months out of the year for as long as I can remember.

This year, though, will be the end of it. I am making the conscious decision now to live this year with the same commitment as I have my previous 11. I vow to stay active in my extra-curricular activities and in my academic pursuits.

I vow to commit my thoughts to other topics than ‘when I am going to be able to get out of this place.’ I also vow to not spend my time as a Senior talking about how I am

in fact a Senior, because the truth is that it is just another grade in high school. We are all participating in a very similar existence, at least during school hours.

But, Senioritis is real. I had it for the second half of my junior year. It did not help that at least half, if not more, of my friends were seniors last year. I seemed to fool myself into thinking that it was also my last year. During application deadlines for last years seniors I would go online and look at colleges and universities, trying to choose between which ones I liked the best and which ones were worth studying for the SAT. At the end of the year I would find myself thinking how much I wanted to graduate and start doing something new. Having people around me all the time that were getting ready to leave made me ready to leave, too.

The whole time, though, I was only fooling myself. And to prove it, here I am. In CHS. In Carmel, Indiana. Getting up

and going home at approximately the same time Monday through Friday that I have been for the past 11 years.

And I am deciding that I am not going to make that as depressing as it might sound, by disallowing myself to fantasize about a change that will come soon enough. I can have fun and be productive this year right where I am, doing the things that I have enjoyed doing in the past and trying new experiences, too.

I have plenty of great friends who are still here and now plenty of great friends to travel to go see. I will keep myself occupied and remember that even though it is sometimes difficult to see the bright side, there is one to be found in every situation if you look hard enough.

Rosemary Boeglin is managing editor for the HiLite. Contact her at rboeglin@hilite.org.

08 perspectives>>

HiLite • August 11, 2009

cassie dugan

Student’s death encourages school unity I never thought I would write an obituary. But there I sat, 1:30 a.m. on June 9, 2009, doing just that. Life taught me a thing or two that early morning.

Among my feverish search for accurate information about Lilly Martyn’s tragic death, I watched post after post appear on Facebook. They all read: “R.I.P. Lilly” and “Heaven just got a little brighter.” I decided to look at Lilly’s profile and was greeted by well over 200 wall posts. Memories, inside jokes, personal poems and old photographs flooded the page of the lost Greyhound. What pulled on my heartstrings, though, was how many of the posts began with “Lilly, we didn’t really know each other that well, but…” It is incredible how many people cared, without having ever so much as spoken a word to Lilly. What I’m saying is, it’s amazing the amount of unity and love that results from a terrible incident like this.

This school has experienced eight deaths over the past two years. For my class, this year’s juniors, that is eight deaths in our high school career entirely, three of which came from our own class. And we’re only half way through high school. However, I feel like my class is becoming stronger.

We’re already dealing with issues that some don’t face until adulthood.

her memorial near the entrance of Central Park, mourning people can always be spotted. Seldom have I not seen a person there touching the flowers, reading the notes of memory and crying over her loss. But seldom have I seen anyone at that fateful location alone. There’s always someone to wipe the tears and distribute the hugs. And that is exactly what she would want.

But the best thing is, we’re doing it together. We are holding on tight and combating each issue together. With each death or tragedy we stumble upon, unity and a sense of strength always yield.

Now, who knows how many the class of 2011 will have lost by the time our graduation arrives, but what I do know that we won’t graduate as the students or the graduates of 2011, but rather as the Class of 2011. The class that made it through with a smile still intact.

Upon Lilly’s death, I’m sure not only shock but remorse filled us all regardless of how well we knew her. She was a great person; I know first-hand. Every time I visit or drive past

Cassie Dugan is a reporter for the HiLite. Contact her at cdugan@hilite.org.

sarah sheafer

Social security anything but secure In 1935 President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. Two years later, a payroll tax was implemented to support the program. Although the taxes were initially only 2 percent, it has dramatically increased over the years.

They are now 7.65 percent (employed) and 15.3 percent (self-employed). This number will continue to rise or the benefits will have to shrink unless dramatic reform occurs.

The reason why Social Security will face future problems is because the baby boomers have not produced enough children to replace themselves, which will cause the number of taxpaying workers to shrink. When the baby boom in the 1950s was just getting started, each retiree benefit was divided among 16 workers. That number has dropped to about three workers per retiree, and in 2025 it will reach about two workers.

For years our parents have benefited from the wave of prosperity created by the surge in population in the 1950s.

However, what lurked beyond the corner was always imminent. As the baby boomers approach retirement, Social Security’s annual cash surplus will shrink, eventually disappearing completely. The program will not be able to pay full benefits and will have to consume general revenue dollars to meet its needs. Our generation is affected because

we will be the ones who will have to pay for the baby boomers’ retirement.

Not only is our generation affected, but the government is as well. It is estimated that in 2040 Social Security and Medicare combined will consume about 60 percent of income taxes collected. The government would only have 40 percent left to run the rest of the government. At this point in time, the current administration already has four times the deficit of the one in the past. This basically means the government is already spending more than it takes in. The 2009 Social Security Fund Trustees’ report predicts the program’s trust fund will be unable to pay retirees full benefits by 2037. This is four years earlier than predicted last year, which means that the forecast is getting worse each year. The report also said the trust fund will begin to spend more money than it takes in through tax revenue in 2016. This prediction has also been shortening in years.

Three solutions have been put forth to solve the program’s problems: raise taxes, reduce benefits or allow a portion of the money to go into PRAs (personal retirement accounts).

This idea is not at all popular in Congress, because it would not have any control over this money or be able to tap

into it. However, PRAs would actually pay more in benefits than today’s Social Security. Right now, if my parents died, I would not receive any of the benefits my parents should have received for retirement. But with PRAs, workers would be able to build a nest egg to pass on to their children.

Politicians, such President George H.W. Bush who called any reform of Social Security “a nutty idea” in 1987, fear any change in the system. However, time is running out, and if we do not change the program soon, our generation will be left with no retirement money from Social Security.

The current administration will most likely not do anything about the problem because it is already spending more money than all the other presidents combined. We will probably face higher taxes and reduced Social Security benefits unless the administration changes. I would recommend that our generation not depend so much on Social Security as our parents. Once we enter the workforce, we should start to save for our own retirement, because we might not get any money from the system. Social Security is anything but secure.

Sarah Sheafer is managing editor for the HiLite. Contact her at ssheafer@hilite.org.

<<perspectives 09

HiLite • August 11, 2009 graphic perspective

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY?

REBECCA XU / ART

send letters to the editors to letters@hilite.org to voice your opinions

andrew browning

School shouldn’t end summer fun for seniors As we get back into the swing of a new school year, seniors shouldn’t hang their heads about the end of the summer fun and freedom. Senior year is supposed to be the year, a time to just slow down, relax with friends, and love life. I’m not saying to blow off the school work completely, but for students who have hammered academically for three years, they deserve to take the foot off the gas pedal somewhat and enjoy the little time left with fellow Greyhounds.

Everyone ought to have fond memories of Carmel, and not just the time inside CHS or studying at home. Some early ways to make this year a memorable one: 1. Tailgating: This tradition needs to come back with a vengeance. Indianapolis as a city really doesn’t tailgate much compared with more traditional locations like Chicago or Green Bay. But Carmel ought to start a trend, because tailgating is what turns football games into all-out social gatherings. It’s a nice chance to unwind after a week of class, and it gives everyone a chance to catch up and chill out before showing their true colors at the football game.

2. Fan Support: If the Class of 2010 is really going to get into its senior year and go all out for it, it needs to emphatically support the CHS sports teams. If seniors are looking to spend time with friends, why not spend time with them at a sporting event? There is no excuse for seniors not to have superb attendance at home football games this year, and we really ought to make a better effort to support the Hounds when they go on the road. But fall sports aren’t limited to football.

The men’s and women’s soccer teams consistently have one of the top programs in the state, and should receive much more fan support and recognition from the student body than they do. Even for those who aren’t soccer fanatics, the games are a great chance to get out of the house on a weeknight. And let’s not forget about the volleyball, men’s tennis, and men’s and women’s cross-country teams.

Many of these kids work their tails off for four years to help their team be the best it can be, and they don’t get much fan support to show for it. Seniors should also show their

support at senior night for their fellow classmates.

3. Involvement: Just because seniors deserve to focus on enjoying their final year of high school doesn’t mean they should drop everything and let complete laziness take over.

Part of the enjoyment of senior year should be competing in a sport for the final time, getting a chance to head a club or organization, or becoming a section leader of the marching band. These activities should be looked at as a chance to leave a legacy at CHS, and seniors ought to embrace them as time winds down, instead of pushing them away.

So now after finally becoming the top dogs at CHS, the Senior Class ought to lead the other classes in such a way that allows us to make the most of our final year here. At this point, seniors only have 36 weeks left at CHS. It’s time to make the most of them.

Andrew Browning is a reporter for the HiLite. Contact him at abrowning@hilite.org.

10 cover story>> 3.8 cm

Size Up?

3.3 cm

2.7 cm

Does CHS 5.7 cm

Students find high school dimensions make a difference in the transition to a larger college

By Emma Neukam

W

alking the hallways filled with over 4,000 other students doesn’t bother senior Molly McKneight who, like about 93 percent of her class, is planning on some form of secondary education after graduating this year.

“With a larger school, I’ve come to know there are more opportunities and more people to meet,” she said. In fact, McKneight said she’s probably going to attend Purdue University next fall, which had over 10 times more students than this school had last year.

As students like McKneight prepare for college, they are finding out that high school size affects their transition into college as well as the benefits and drawbacks of going to larger or smaller high schools.

Vicki Nunery, a College and Career Resource Center coordinator here, said she believes the size of a high school definitely impacts a student’s transition into college. “Some

don’t want to go to a small college because they like Carmel High School so much,” Nunery said.

McKneight has based her search for colleges on universities that were at least the size of this school. According to McKneight, when her friends from Guerin Catholic High School visit large colleges, they are intimidated because they are not accustomed to attending larger campuses.

Besides helping students become comfortable with larger student populations, Nunery said larger high schools may offer more advanced level courses that may not be available at smaller schools.

However, Johanna Lipp, a sophomore at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and a Carmel graduate, said students who attend large high schools only have a small benefit over those who attend small ones.

“Obviously you might have a slight advantage by generally knowing how to stand out, do your own thing and excel in big groups,” Lipp said via e-mail, “but the college will most likely be bigger than your high school no matter how big your high school actually was. So it will still take you a bit to transition.”

In some cases, though, McKneight said she accepts

Story continued on page 13

>>

sara rogers / photo

BLENDING IN: As the passing period is underway, students crowd the entrance to the senior hallway.

12 cover story>>

HiLite • August 11, 2009

that a smaller high school would prepare students better for college. She said the personal environment in a small school would be better for getting to know teachers and classmates.

According to Lipp, knowing how to connect positively with teachers in high school can have a huge payoff in college.

“Positive interactions with your teachers also really help to set you up for success, because those same relationships with your professors become really important in college,” she said.

Lipp gave another reason why smaller high schools might ready students better. “I guess with a small high school, you might get the chance to build deeper relationships with the people around you which is very important when you’re away from your family and friends in a new place,” she said.

Nunery said there are many good habits students from schools of all sizes can pick up during high school to make the transition to college easier, like “learning to have good study skills” and “being a student that’s eager to learn.”

Ultimately, though,Nunery said students must push themselves to get involved. “There are many opportunities academically and in extracurriculars and it’s up to you to make the most of them,” she said.

?

By signing up for a wide array of classes, participating in

Story continued on next page

>>

does size matter?

Weigh the benefits and drawbacks of school size on a student’s education

small high schools

Lower dropout rates More participation in extracurricular activities Personal environment Safer, easily monitored

Large High Schools

sara rogers / photo

SWIMMING UPSTREAM: During a passing period, students pass through the main hallway on their way to class.

Many students here have found it easier to transition to college from a large school like CHS.

Wide variety of rigorous curriculum, like Honors and AP classes More extracurricular activities and sports More cost effective per student More resources and opportunities newsweek / source

<<cover story 13

HiLite • August 11, 2009

US V. THEM

BALL STATE UNIVERSITY Undergraduates: 16,832 students

Compare the number of undergraduate students enrolled in in-state universities as opposed to the number of students enrolled here

PURDUE UNIVERSITY Undergraduates: 31,761 students

CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL

INDIANA UNIVERSITY

Total: over 4,000 students

BUTLER UNIVERSITY

Undergraduates: 31,626 students

Undergraduates: 3,639 students

DEPAUW UNIVERSITY Undergraduates: 2,298 students COLLEGEBOARD.COM / SOURCE STEVEN CHEN / GRAPHIC

rigorous academic courses and utilizing the College and Career Resource Center, McKneight said students can take advantage of the opportunities present in this school to get ready for college.

challenges. “You’re used to competition and having to work hard on your own without having someone there to push you,” she said.

10

Lipp agreed and said, “The high academic standards that Carmel has for its students really helped, because I was already used to them once I got to college. As a result, I was one step ahead of a lot of other students.”

Besides academics, Lipp’s advice is for students to involve themselves in extracurricular activities like clubs and sports to learn to manage their time. By running for the cross country team and being president of German Club, she said she learned valuable time management skills, relationship skills and how to interact with others which have helped her at IU.

Still, McKneight said she believes the transition to college would be easier coming from a large high school, especially this one, because of its wide array of opportunities and

In the end, Lipp said what is most important for college is for students to step out of their comfort zones and challenge

themselves during high school, whatever size it may be.

She said, “Know what you want to achieve, why you do and how you are going to do it. If you can learn to do that in high school, the transition in terms of size should be a piece of cake.”

TRANSITION TOP TEN

Academic Advisor’s Handbook’s 10 biggest issues students face while transitioning from high school to college

1. Personal Responsibility

6. Time Management

2. Class Attendance

7. Amount of Studying

3. Teachers’ Attitudes

8. Size of Classes

4. Types of Assignments

9. Difficulty of Work

5. Importance of Grades

10. Social Life ACADEMIC ADVISOR’S HANDBOOK / SOURCE

14 feature>>

HiLite • August 11, 2009

Lost Supper Family dinners may be important, but their practice is disappearing

By Celina Wu

T

he table is set with linen napkins and quality silverware. Steam swirls and rises from plates of home-cooked food. The children washed their hands and sit down, preparing for another delicious meal. Conversation about the day’s events flow easily between parents and children. However, although this image is prevalent when thinking about family mealtime, it is only an ideal and a rare occurrence in the home of senior Elizabeth Peterson as well as the homes of a majority of families in today’s society.

“My family doesn’t have regular family dinners,” Peterson said.

“Both my parents, my sister, my younger brother and I all have different activities that end late and at different times, so we don’t get to eat together as a family.”

Peterson’s situation is a prime example of what countless other families are dealing with in current society. With each family member running on separate schedules filled with various activities, it has become difficult for most to sit down and enjoy a nice meal together. Losing that time at the dinner table also means a loss of the many benefits that accompany the ritual of family dinners.

POOJA MATHUR / PHOTO

FAMILY COOKING: Senior Taylor Knowlton prepares a meal for her family of eight. Though the Knowltons regularly sit down and eat together, the habit is becoming increasingly rare among many American households.

Nancy Kristensen, family and consumer science teacher, said, “It is important to have the whole family together for dinner because you get to sit down and go over the events of the day, and it’s a great time for parents to find out about what their kids did and what’s going on in their lives.”

Kristensen also said that without dinner time, it is difficult to find the opportunity for conversation between family members since everyone is usually engaged in separate activities in different places and times.

This circumstance is exactly the case for Peterson. “My family’s schedules are all so different that it prevents us from having regular dinners and getting the chance to talk,” she said. “My mom gets home from work between six and seven, I have dance until late most nights, my brother has tutoring, my sister has choir and my dad is a home inspector so he makes his own hours, which can sometimes be late. Also, my sister and I have math tutoring on Thursdays.”

Although Peterson’s situation regarding a scarcity of family dinners is common among most, senior Taylor Knowlton and her family defy the odds.

“I have eight people in my family, so it’s usually pretty hectic and chaotic, but miraculously we manage to have regular family dinners,” Knowlton said. “For as long as I can remember I have been having regular dinners with my family, and I really like it because we all get a chance to talk about what’s going on during the week and in our lives or any other issues that need discussion.”

Knowlton also said through having family meals, she has formed a closer bond with her parents and siblings.

“We get to know each other better at the dinner table, instead of just seeing each other around the house,” she said.

“We grow closer since we express our feelings and really talk to each other. I think we have really become a family this way, and we love sitting down, eating and enjoying each other’s company.”

Patricia Brinegar, family and consumer science teacher, also said there are further benefits to having family dinners in addition to outcomes of increased communication and bonding and sound nutrition.

“Research from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University states that children who regularly eat meals with their families are more likely to read well, get good grades and are far less likely to use drugs, alcohol or tobacco,” she said.

Brinegar said some tips for busy families are to start having family meals just once or twice a week and build from there. She said dinners do not have to be elaborate or time consuming, just a few minutes for family members to share and communicate with each other.

The ritual of breaking bread with family has been a longstanding tradition. This tradition, nevertheless, has become somewhat of a lost custom in today’s fast-paced lifestyle., along with the quality bonding time, nutritional foods and other important aspects of being a familyw.

<<feature 15

HiLite • August 11, 2009

Students view stereotypes, popularity as harmless

By Karlie Hansen khansen@hilite.org

most likely driving around Carmel, playing video games or hanging out with people.

Junior Jessica Novitski appears to be an average young teenager here. She enjoys rock music, she wears clothes that are not uncommonly found in the halls , and she has many friends.

I nterpersonal Relations teacher DeAnn Shrewsbury said she doesn’t believe popularity is much of an issue here.

When asked to stereotype herself and the people she hangs out with, she said, “nerds” and “artists”. Junior Aneesha Kamath, a good friend of Novitski’s, says she does not like to stereotype people, including herself, but if she had to stereotype her group it would be “nerds”.

“If I had to define popularity at (CHS), I would say students who really make a name for themselves would be considered popular,” she said. “Whether that’s by playing on the football team, swim team or being involved in lots of activities, etc.”

According to The Free Dictionary, a nerd is defined as “an uninteresting person, a dud.” But this does not seem to be the case with Novitski’s and Kamath’s group.

Shrewsbury said she has also observed students becoming friends with one another based on similar likes and dislikes.

“I wouldn’t say being a nerd is a bad thing. It’s just another word (we use) for smart,” Kamath said. “We all have our special talents—some of us play sports, participate in drama or create art. That’s what makes us special.” Both girls agree the people who stand out most to them at CHS are “rich, bratty kids”.

In a school with over 4,000 students and countless clubs offered, there are plenty of opportunities to find other students with similar interests.

Junior Corey Smith said he doesn’t have one exclusive group he hangs out with.

“I jump around four or five groups, and I’m not picky. If I get along with someone, we’ll probably end up friends,” he said. When Smith is hanging out with friends, he said he is

would, in theory, date outside his groups. “It would be nice to have my friends’ approval, but in the end I don’t care what they think. There are just too many,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say being a nerd is a bad thing.

It’s just another word (we use) for smart.” >>Aneesha Kamath

Shrewsbury also said dating doesn’t seem to be a big issue here. “At other schools, (one) might see couples being exclusive together; at Carmel I tend to notice more of the ‘group dating’ going on,” she said.

Since there are more students, Smith said it’s easier to meet people that way. Smith said he enjoys group dates, but also believes one-on-one dates are important too. He also says he

Novitski also said she would date outside her group. “(Since I would date outside my group,) it’s important for my friends to approve (of the guy) because it would be difficult and annoying if they didn’t accept him,” Novitski said. “There are always exceptions, but overall I would prefer their approval.”

When hanging out, Novitski said her group tends to be random. There is not a certain activity they do routinely.

“We’ll hang out at someone’s house, go to school games. Last time we had a girl’s night, party, (etc.).” Novitski said.

“Yes, there are definitely stereotypes at Carmel,” Kamath said.

“We can’t help it, it’s just natural. Popularity may seem to be a problem in some groups, and less so in others.”

Smith said that “popular” is a misused word and often is misinterpreted. “Even though ‘popular’ is a word with a bad reputation,” Smith said, “all it really means is that you have a lot of friends. It’s a good thing, really.”

defined n. One whose IQ exceeds his nerd (nurd) weight. n. Young males who believe that jock (jok) their sport is godly and better than any other sport. n. One who applies lipgloss prep (prep) 3253 tpms (times per millisecond). n. Just another person in this goth (goth) world...lives, breathes, dies.

Jinny zhang / photo

chit chat: Junior Aneesha Kamath (left) shares food and chats with her friends, juniors Saumya Saukhararam and Eve Eggleston. Kamath said that she doesn’t like to stereotype against people.

n. Often calls the band room band (band) home away from home. Also geek his/her sometimes known to beat on large metal objects with sticks. urbandictionary.com / source

16student section>> carmel, indiana

HiLite • August 11, 2009

els v a r t 6 4,19 f o 7 #57

R C A

P E O H N T D S S O

Every issue, the HiLite will feature one random student from the school. This issue features sophomore Josh Cashin

derby, england MICHELLE HU / GRAPHIC

Students struggle with more than language barrier when making international move

F

BY ERUM RIZVI erizvi@hilite.org

or sophomore Josh Cashin, moving from Derby, England to Carmel, IN was not as easy as he expected. Cashin said the hardest part was adjusting to the lifestyle in America which he thought was completely different than the life in his home country.

“When I moved here, I felt like everything was the opposite from England. For instance, here, everything is so much bigger such as the buildings, cars and houses. It was weird to go from living in a place where things were smaller to a place where everything is huge,” Cashin said.

Cashin is not alone in his plight. The U.S. Census Bureau’s statistics indicate that each year approximately 1.2 million people move to the United States from abroad. These immigrants may face challenges when they adjust to living in a new country. According to a Harvard study, there is a pattern of cultural change that occurs over a period of several weeks or months when people immigrate, more commonly known as “culture shock.”

On the other hand, senior Zulaiha Razak said her move from Sri Lanka two years ago was not as stressful.

“Moving here was actually easier than I thought it would be,” Razak said. “I guess I was kind of preparing for the worst, so when I actually got here it wasn’t so bad.”

Aside from adjusting to the new culture when moving, students also need to transition into an entirely new school system. Yocum said schools differ across the world which could make it hard for students who move to a new place.

Cashin said the schools in England were different than the ones in America especially in the teachers’ methods.

“Back home,” he said, “I was really good at math and I understood the techniques really well, but when I moved, the teachers here did not understand the work I showed in my math problems. They didn’t understand my techniques that I was taught back in England.”

Razak said she went to a girl’s school in Sri Lanka. “Our schools had 13 grades there compared to the 12 here and our school was a lot stricter. Students couldn’t bring any cell phones or iPods to school which is completely different from the schools here,” Razak said.

French teacher Andrea Yocum, who used to live in Senegal, said she believes students sometimes sometimes experience culture shock due to the novelties in a foreign nation.

Although Cashin said he suffered some culture shock, he has gotten the gist of the culture here.

She said, “Students are struggling not only with language barriers, but also adjustments in social situations, societal norms and even things as simple as new foods.”

He said, “When you move, it’s like your life goes into boxes and you open it back up in a new country and it’s just really different because you’re in a completely new place.”

MICHELLE HU / PHOTO

NOT AMERICANIZED: Sophomore Josh Cashin watches British television. He said he prefers it over American programs because there are less commercials, one of the habits he retained from England.

<<entertainment 17

HiLite • August 11, 2009

food OVERALL:

A-

If you are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth and your sugar craving this is the perfect place for you.

CUSTOMER SERVICE:

A

Friendly and welcoming, employees seem to enjoy their job and providing the customer with satisfaction.

PRICE:

B-

Average price per person $4. Pricing by weight, 49 cents per ounce. This can be inconvenient at times due to its inconsistency and fluctuating price.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS:

A

B

While still meeting nutritional standards of a yogurt, they are not as successful in creating a product with the same yogurt taste and texture.

The yogurt itself tastes more like softserve ice cream.

ATMOSPHERE:

B+

Using bright colors and fun decor brings an inviting and family friendly feel as the customer enters the store. There isn’t a lot of seating inside, but outside tables are available.

LOCATION:

A

916 E. Westfield Blvd., Indianapolis 46220. Parking in the rear and a less busy street makes for easy access.

LOCATION:

B-

914 Broad Ripple Ave., Indianapolis 46220. Located on a busy street with minimal parking makes it not as customer friendly.

ATMOSPHERE:

With 12 flavors and alternating flavors every Friday, the customer will look for different flavors with every visit. There are over 25 toppings ranging from fresh fruit to candy bars. Also sell fresh smoothies, snow-cones and fresh waffle cones made daily. Zoe’s Yogurt Village also promotes its sister business, Gourmet Frank’s.

YOGURT:

red mango

PHOTOS/ MADDI BOURGERIE

D+

Attempting to go for a modern atmosphere left the store feeling cold and unwelcoming. With few seats, no tables or outdoor seating left the customers feeling uncomfortable as it was hard to enjoy a sweet treat.

YOGURT:

Fro-Yo Face Off

A

Meeting the exact elements of a perfect yogurt, the texture and taste were spot on. The yogurt meets nutritional needs by being pro biotic and meets the National Yogurt Association’s criteria for live and active culture yogurt.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS:

BY MADDI BOURGERIE AND ELLIE SETA

GRAPHIC/ STEVEN CHEN

PRICE:

Two similar yogurt stores opened in Broad Ripple, but their unique takes on the business set them apart

zoe’s yogurt village

OVERALL:

B

Four of the same flavors are always available at Red Mango and don’t bring variety. These favors include green tea, pomegranate, tangomonium, original.

These flavors don’t make for popular kid’s choices. Their 22 toppings are very health-oriented, including fruits and cereal. In addition, they have a new line of pro biotic iced teas that are healthy and thrust quenching.

C

Average price per person $4.50 to $5. With to three toppings at 50 cents each.

CUSTOMER SERVICE:

C

While the service was proficient it did not seem extremely for important to satisfy the customer’s every need.

B-

If your’re looking for a heathy spin on a sweet treat, this is the place for you.

18 sports>>

Ready for a repeat

HiLite • August 11, 2009

Men’s tennis team hopes to continue success from last year

L

BY DAVID ZHENG dzheng@hilite.org

ast season, the men’s tennis team achieved great success, as it won the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC) for the third time in this school’s history. The two previous years in which it was won were 2003 and 2004.

The team also compiled a solid record and made a run for the State title, but ultimately came up short.

“I thought last season was memorable for many reasons,” Head Coach Mike Bostic said. “For one, we went 18-1 on the season, which is amazing considering the difficulty of our schedule and (the fact) we only started two seniors. I look for the team to be very hungry this year and well prepared to get to the next step.”

Elliott Yee, varsity tennis player and sophomore, was one of those non-senior starters. As a freshman last season, Yee played number two singles for the team, and he said he thinks that the team will be even better this season than last. Returning letter-winners along with Yee include sophomore Mihir Kumar; juniors Christopher “Chris” Bertolini, Patrick O’Neill and Michael Moe; and seniors Thomas “Tom Miller,” Victor Obasaju and Tyler Witsken.

According to Bostic, some of these other teams that will be a challenge for Carmel include defending State champion Center Grove, Park Tudor, Cathedral and Brebeuf. Yee said he thought these teams were talented overall, but their lack of depth is one thing that separated them from Carmel.

“They’re good teams because they have good players, but they don’t have Carmel heart. That’s what makes them different from us,” Yee said.

In order to prepare for this season, Bostic said the team hosted an open facility season program for all students wanting to try out for the team. This program took place every Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. “We usually played doubles and singles, and would do a little bit of ball drilling and conditioning,” Yee said. “You (could) meet the coaches, and some of the former Carmel players (were) there.”

“I think (these teams) will be competitive because they have the majority of the better players from around the area,” Cunningham said. “These teams have been able to beat us in the past, so it always makes for a good match because there are talented players all around. Plus everyone wants to beat Carmel.”

Cunningham said he thought the open gym sessions were just a good way for the team to bond. “It’s just a friendly competitive atmosphere that allows the team to see each other, because we all play at different clubs and tournaments throughout the summer,” Cunningham said.

“I think we did well last season, but not well enough,” Yee said. “We were a little short, but we still worked extremely hard. I guess you win some and you lose some. We got to the Regional finals, but came up short against North Central.”

However, Bostic said that he does not plan to change much in preparation for this season. “We will continue to emphasize coming together as a team and sacrificing our own desires for the good of the group,” Bostic said. “If we are all on board, I don’t think there will be a stronger team.”

“(As a team) we just try not think about what we did last year, but think about this year and just doing the best we can,” Yee said. “We’re going to try to do the same things but we’re going to have to keep our focus and not let last year’s success get us too overconfident.”

Conor Cunningham, member of the junior varsity team last season and junior, also said he thinks Carmel will have a better team this season. “Considering we have one of the best teams in the state, I think we should just practice hard every day play our game,” Cunningham said. “If we want to do well, we just need to seize the opportunity when it arises.”

Carmel lost a hard-fought match against North Central in the Regional finals last fall, which ended its season. “It was obvious how badly everyone on the team wanted it and how much everyone else wanted varsity to win,” Cunningham said. “It was hard because that’s when the season ended for us as well.”

North Central, however, is just one of the many teams that will provide a difficult challenge for Carmel this season.

KING YEE / SUBMITTED PHOTO

KILLER FOREHAND: Sophomore Elliott Yee played in a tournament in Texas in early May. He plays many local and nationwide tournaments to keep up his game.

HiLite • August 11, 2009

Extensive summer preparation big key to Hounds’ football success in fall

BY MACKENZIE MADISON mmadison@hilite.org Although the football season lasts only a few months, preparation for the season never stops. “It’s a year-round sport,” said Tyler Marotti, varsity football player and junior.

“Training basically starts the day after the State final game and goes all the way to the beginning of the next season.”

However, preparation and conditioning isn’t strictly an extracurricular activity. “APC (Advanced Physical Conditioning) is also all year round so you never stop lifting or conditioning.” Stilson said. “During the season, it’s not as bad. They still work you, but you they make sure you don’t over work your muscles.”

Now the team has graduated key components of its backfield, secondary and offensive line. Those losses suggest the team’s chances to make a fourth consecutive trip to the State championship appear, well, not so great. With that in mind, students need to recognize that if the Hounds are going to make it back to the top, then they’re going to need all the help they can get from the student body.

KAITLYN LAMPE/ PHOTO

IN STRIDE: Junior Ryan Lugar catches the football as teammates junior Quinn Heath and senior Chase Varndell watch on the side. During the off season, the quarterbacks and receivers work on drills in preparation for the fall season.

Away games listed in italics

Friday: Scrimmage v. Lawrence Central Aug. 21: v. Cathedral

Sept. 18: v. Lawrence North Sept. 25: v. North Central

Aug. 28: v. Lebanon

Oct. 2: v. Warren Central (Homecoming)

Sept. 4: v. Center Grove

Oct. 9: v. Terre Haute North

Sept. 11: v. Terre Haute South

Oct. 16: v. Ben Davis

For the last three years, the CHS football team has proven it can compete with the top football programs in the state. After two runner-up finishes and a State title, the team has shown it is capable of greatness year in and year out, and in return the Hounds should expect nothing less than the best from their fans. However, what have CHS students given them in terms of fan support?

Many successful sports franchises win because of their patience with the coaches, rather than ones who hire new coaches annually.

Scott Stilson, varsity football player and junior, said he agrees with Moriarity. “Our conditioning program is better than most schools,” Stilson said. “Our coaches do a great job of getting us in shape and teaching us how to lift correctly.”

UPCOMING GAMES

Fan support helps drive CHS football team to victory

Last year, home games nearly became a civil war between the Junior and Senior Class, but fans still looked on as the team pulled out enough wins to make it to Lucas Oil. To credit the student body, CHS students arrived en masse and were behind the Hounds 100 percent for three solid quarters. But when the Carmel side got complacent as time ticked away, the Trojan fans and team came back with a vengeance to steal the show.

For the most part, conditioning consists of mainly lifting weights. “We lift all year. We never quit training. We have different phases of training; you have in season, out of season and we have preseason in June and July,” Head Coach Mo Moriarity said. “But what we do is we take those three seasons and create a program to develop your players the best we can to play at the highest level.”

Other than the traditional two-a-days, the team does something a little unorthodox. “During the summer, we do something called the ‘strong man competition,’” Marotti said.

“It basically gets us out of the weight room and used to the heat. We do things like swing sledge hammers, toss giant medicine balls,

<<sports 19 andrew browning

push cars, flip tires and sprint with ropes tied around our waist. Sometimes it’s a little crazy, but it’s all in good fun and worth it come game time.” Assistant Coach Gabe Johnson created the program. It takes place on three Wednesday mornings in July.

“I think that when it comes to developing our athletes, we do a very good job.”

Moriarity said. “It takes all the coaches, but I think the real key is our players.

They really buy into our program and they just work extremely hard to develop their bodies. They just, overall as a group, work really hard.”

It’s time for kids to forget about inter-class rivalries and midgame gossip that take the focus away from the game itself.

Nobody should have any self-reservation about getting loud. it’s a football game. The screaming, chanting and cheering is what’s going to help drive the players to fight for that extra yard or to hold their blocks another second, even when their bodies are wearing down late in the fourth quarter.

When you couple one of the top athletic programs in the state along with an enormous student body, that should be a recipe for a raucous, energetic Friday night football atmosphere. For some reason, though, it seems like Carmel students have never quite put two and two together. This year’s leaders of Big Game and Wild Bunch need to step up so there is some method to the madness and a solid display of organized cheering. But after that, it’s up to the students. Is Carmel Stadium on Friday nights a place to watch a football game or a nice chance to socialize? That distinction could help propel an inexperienced team towards a State title. And that’s what everyone should be cheering for. Andrew Browning is a reporter for the Hilite, contact him at abrowning@hilite.org.

20fifteen minutes>>

Perfect Complements

HiLite • August 11, 2009

SBP Steven Brisley and SOH Sunny Huang bring different, but complementary skills to the table

By Hera Ashraf To submit nominations for 15 Minutes of Fame, email Afra Hussain at ahussain@hilite.org

ROSEMARY BOEGLIN / PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

Senior Sunny Huang

Senior Steven Brisley

As speaker of the House, what are some of your goals?

Do you and Steven work well together?

As student body president, what are some of your goals?

As speaker of the House, I would like to get more student input about the events we do here and how people who aren’t in student government think we should improve things. Also, I want to continue the success of all our events.

Steven and I work really well together. We are in a lot of classes together so we see each other a lot. Also, our houses are like two minutes away so it makes it easier for us to meet up and discuss our ideas and plans. I think we make a good team and get the work done when it’s needed. We work well with each other’s weaknesses and strengths.

One of the goals for SBP would definitely be to increase student involvement in a lot of these school activities. Besides that, I want to continue the success of Dance Marathon and a lot other events, like Homecoming.

How will you increase student involvement?

Increasing student involvement in school activities is really important to us. It’s something me and Steven talked about a lot before the elections. We definitely want to try to promote clubs in a better way. There are tons of clubs in our school and some students don’t know about all the clubs. So we want to encourage students to go out and find a club with something of their interest.

What are your top three priorities?

I don’t really have top three priorities.

There are a lot of issues that are important to me that I want to address. One of my biggest goals is to bring new ideas to the table and to implement student input into our decisions.

How will you increase student involvement in the school?

Increasing publicity for events and having publicity start sooner will help.

Also, Sunny and I had an idea to have a committee that focuses on student involvement in clubs and the committee will help to attract members to all the different clubs we have here.

What are your top three priorities?

My top three priorities as SBP are to get

more students involved in the school, increase the publicity of our events, and continue the success of events we already have.

How well do you and Sunny work together?

We get things done. We have differences but the differences help us work better together. There is diversity between Sunny and myself. But both of us come up with really good ideas and I think we are a pretty productive team.

What do you plan to do that is differently?

All previous SBPs have been really inspirational. I just want to continue the success they left behind as well as introduce new ideas.