Inklings April 2012

INKLINGS April 30, 2012 - Volume 76 Issue 8 - Crown Point High School - 1500 S. Main Street - inklings@cps.k12.in.us

This Issue: News

Dance Marathon Student Council hosted a dance marathon Friday to benefit Riley’s Children Hospital Page 3

Trying our best to prepare for the worst

Importance of safety drills emphasized as tragedy hits Indiana

Feature Child Abuse Read about an issue that is on the rise in Lake County Page 6

Arts

Titanic 3D The 100 year anniversary of Titanic’s sinking is marked with the re-release of a classic film Page 12

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FLOYD CENTRAL H.S. SENIOR DARIAN ESWINE

A March tornado hit the southern Indiana town of Henryville, destroying homes, property, and the high school. State law requires schools to have drills to prepare for such emergencies. Proceeds from Crown Point’s student/teacher Olympics were donated to Henryville.

By Dylan Taylor / Rachael Bokota opinion editor / staff reporter

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evere weather, fires and lockdowns have always been a concern for schools. With recent tragedies involving tornadoes and shootings, students may ask themselves how safe they really are while on school grounds.

Sports

Baseball The ‘Dogs look forward to a positive post season Page 13

Opinion

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Severe weather and safety drills can make a difference in a life- or- death situation, so they should be treated with extreme importance.

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Visit us online at inklingsonline.org

PHOTO BY ABBY EINEMAN

Students line a hallway during a severe weather drill. Such drills are required each school year.

“In every classroom, we have the fire and severe weather plans so that students could know where they are supposed to go and what they are supposed to do in case of a fire or tornado,” French teacher Amy Berchem said.

During severe weather drills, students are to keep away from windows and duck down so as

not to be hit by flying objects in the event of tornadoes.

“The drills are often annoying, but they’re necessary for knowing what to do in bad situations,” sophomore Casey Melcher said.

Indiana state law requires that every school have a fire drill once a month so that if the time comes, students will be ready to exit the building.

“Knowing fire procedure aids in the speed of student evacuation,” Berchem said.

Fire and severe weather drills are not the only crisis situation that our school is prepared for. Lock downs are another example of how we practice ways to save our lives. Lock downs have been put in place to prevent events like those that happened recently at Chardon High School from happening again.

It was a normal day of school at Chardon

See Drills on page 2

Shaffer named CPEA’s Crystal Bell recipient

By Katie Sherman staff reporter

Many students have had that one teacher or counselor that made algebra click, biology seem like a breeze or helped to make an important decision for the future. A mentor who has been that person for many is guidance counselor Peg Shaffer, who has earned Crown Point’s Crystal Bell award, which recognizes one teacher in each Indiana State Teachers Association local of District 1A. The award celebrates contributions to education, the profession and the community. The award ceremony will be held on May 8 at St.

Matthias Catholic Church Hall in Crown Point.

“To nominate a person for the award, an application containing several questions must be submitted. Questions deal with the candidate’s professional accomplishments as well as their contributions to the school and to the community,” Taft and Wheeler middle school orchestra teacher Tom Reed said. Reed nominated Shaffer for the award.

Shaffer has 35 years of teaching experience in the Crown Point district. She started at Taft in the fall of 1977.

“I started teaching seventh and eighth grade band along with general music at Taft. I then

traveled to the high school (in 1986) where I assisted Mr. Reed in teaching marching band and jazz band,” Shaffer said. “I now assist with the drum line.”

Reed has clearly had a personal connection with Shaffer and remembers her teaching fondly.

“Mrs. Shaffer was one of my favorite teachers in high school. When I became a member of the Crown Point faculty, she was like a mentor to me,” Reed said. “She really helped to shape me into the teacher I am today.”

“I was dumbfounded and surprised to find

See Shaffer on page 2

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in the know

Orchestra students bring home more ISSMA gold

National Honor Society inducts new members

By Brittany Pedersen staff reporter

Intermediate Orchestra received a gold rating at ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Organization) on April 14. Advanced Orchestra will be at contest on April 28.

“I wanted them to do the very best we could and get beyond the notes and rhythms and into the music,” orchestra director Jim Deal said.

They scored a 13.5, 11 and 12.5 from the three judges. A nine is a perfect score.

The categories judged are intonation; tone quality and blend; interpretation and musicianship; note and rhythmic accuracy; articulation; and dynamics.

“We played hard songs and we only had a limited time to practice, but it must have gone okay because we got gold,” freshman Kelsey Russell said.

Deal also cites rehearsal time.

“I was especially proud of the effort they made with having the New York trip and spring break (before contest). It was fun to show the judges the hard work we had done,” Deal said.

Advanced Orchestra is in the midst of preparing for ISSMA with rehearsals and a concert.

“We are practicing a lot. ISSMA is usually fun, but I have a solo and I get nervous,” sophomore Chelsea Snedden said.

Orchestra students gain experience practicing for ISSMA as well as from the actual day.

“We can take these performing skills and use them to be more confident people,” Snedden said.

Deal notes another benefit of participating in ISSMA. “I hope students gain a love for the music they play—classical,” Deal said.

If they place enough, they will qualify as one of nine finalists in Indiana.

PHOTO BY DONNELLA CASILLAS

Guidance counselor Peg Shaffer assists a student in her office. She has been working in Crown Point schools for 35 years, starting at Taft Middle School in 1977.

Shaffer

continued from page 1 out I won the award,” Shaffer said. “It was very flattering.”

Co-worker and counselor Brenda Wolski believes Shaffer receiving this award is a huge accomplishment.

“It is an honor for Mrs. Shaffer to be named as the recipient of the Crystal Bell Award. She is a team player and is willing to help out in many areas,” Wolski said. “She has a personality that makes you feel good when you are in her company.”

Reed believes that Shaffer has left a legacy.

“The adoration that people feel for her spans over decades. She has been a tremendous influence on countless students and adults that have crossed her path over the years,” Reed said. “ She truly is a remarkable person.”

Sophomore Amber Nowakowski also believes Shaffer deserves this award.

“It’s really great (that she received the Crys-

continued from page 1 High School when student T.J. Lane opened fire at students sitting at a cafeteria table. Lane did not even attend the school. The mind’s immediate reaction may be to wonder what could have possibly caused him to do such a thing, and how this occurrence could have been prevented.

“All administrators have a crisis plan that we rehearse. All crisis situations are different, but we prepare as well as we can for fires, shootings and other breaches in security,” Dean of Students Russ Marcinek said.

Recent incidents of students using guns against other students such as at Columbine High School, Virginia Tech and Chardon High School have presented administrators with a problem they have not had to worry about in earlier years.

“Security has changed a lot since 1999 with the Columbine incident. It gave schools a new perspective on worst-case scenarios.

Since then, more and more attention has been

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Crisis situations can happen anywhere, even here. No one is immune to tragic events like that.

Russ Marcinek Dean of Students

paid to crisis situations and students with emotional difficulties,” Marcinek said. “When I started teaching (before Columbine), security emphasis was on things like drugs and fights.

mayfacts

• May 1 is May Day, a holiday celebrating labor and workers’ rights.

Many countries have Labor Day on this day.

• The second week in May is Bicycle Week.

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Drills

• The Kentucky Derby, America’s most famous horse race, is held on the first Saturday in May.

Inklings

1 ECA Testing All day

16 Sports Physicals -Main Gym5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

tal Bell Award). She deserves it; she’s a great counselor and does a lot when it comes to the students,” Nowakowski said.

Though Shaffer was the one to win the award, her co-workers in the guidance office felt honored as well.

“It truly is an honor, and we in the guidance office could not be happier for her,” Wolski said. “We are a pretty close bunch professionally, and anytime someone in your immediate area is recognized, it makes you feel pretty good about the people you work with.”

Wolski agrees that there are reasons why the guidance office is proud of Shaffer.

“Mrs. Shaffer has a winning attitude. She isn’t afraid of hard work. She doesn’t take things for granted and appreciates the little things in life,” Wolski said. “Mrs. Shaffer has a passion for music, and she has continued to work with our band students although she is no longer the band director. She is able to show her students the opportunities that are out there- not just by simply saying so, but by doing.”

These days, we’re more prepared for ‘worstcase scenario’ situations.”

Lockdowns are only some of the safety features our school has adopted to ensure that nothing like the shootings at Ohio could ever happen here.

“During lockdowns, students and teachers are supposed to be invisible to anyone in the hall. That’s why we duck down in a corner,” Berchem said.

Despite safety measures, there is always a fear of the unknown. However, by keeping these safety measures in place, students may have some peace of mind.

“Crisis situations can happen anywhere, even here. No one is immune to tragic events like that. That’s why it is the job of students, teachers, and parents to keep the school a safe environment, keep eyes and ears open, and develop trusting relationships,” Marcinek said.

maycalendar 16 17 Spring Sing -Auditorium7 p.m.

Senior Academic Awards Night -Auditorium6:30 p.m.

National Honor Society (NHS) held its induction ceremony on Wednesday night.

73 juniors joined the 91-yearold service organization. To be inducted into NHS, students must maintain the organization’s key values of character, s ch o l a r s h i p , leadership and service.

Students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, be involved in extracurricular activities and demonstrate good character.

At the induction ceremony, new members take an oath to uphold the core values of NHS and sign their names in a book of member signatures.

Math teacher Amanda Campos is the faculty advisor for NHS. NHS has ten student directors.

A full list of inducted students will be posted on the CPHS website.

Students take part in annual Day of Silence With tape over their mouths and ‘speaking cards’ in hand, dozens of students at CPHS participated in the Day of Silence on April 20. The Day of Silence is a national day of activism held to oppose anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender harassment.

Students take a vow of silence for the school day to represent the silencing effect of bullying.

Summer school registration now open Incoming sophomores, juniors and seniors can now register for summer school classes online using RDS. The deadline to register for classes is June 1, with the exception of Honors Geometry, for which registration closed on March 30.

Interested students may visit the CPHS website for a full list of classes and other information.

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AP Exams -LGI and SGICheck with teachers for testing schedule

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Inklings

Best Buddies to walk for awareness, friendship

Charity starts at home Riley’s Dance Marathon, Student Teacher Olympics raise money for charities

By Mary-Katherine Lemon news editor

PHOTO BY DONNELLA CASILLAS

Administrators Russ Marcinek (left) and Mark Gianfermi (right) celebrate a victory for the teachers in the pie-eating contest of the Student Teacher Olympics. Gianfermi, a first-time competitor, won by finishing his pie before everyone else.

By Mary-Katherine Lemon news editor

Students’ philanthropic efforts never stop. Crown Point and Kankakee Valley students danced for a cause on Friday night in the CPHS fieldhouse. It was Crown Point’s first Riley Dance Marathon held to raise funds for the Riley Hospital for Children.

“The Dance Marathon is six hours of fun,” senior Taylor Passine said.

Student Councils from CPHS and Kankakee Valley High School banded together to organize the six-hour-long event. “(Kankakee Valley) has done it for a few years, so we tried to team up with them to make it bigger,” Passine said.

Student Council co-sponsor Shannon Weber said that the Dance Marathon is “kind of like a giant party.”

The Dance Marathon had a DJ spinning music all night, food provided by Student Council members and games such as cornhole and basketball – all to keep participants on their feet the entire night.

“The whole point of (Riley’s Dance Marathon) is to stay standing for those who can’t,” junior Alli Jostes said.

Additionally, students from CPHS and Kankakee Valley who had received care at Riley Hospital spoke about their experiences at the event.

For those in Student Council, the Dance Marathon isn’t entirely new. Weber said she did one in high school and Student Council president Cassie Firchau has wanted to organize one for years. Firchau first learned about Riley through Indiana Student Council conventions.

“I met a lot of Riley’s children through ISC… I’m really good friends with a lot of

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Being from Texas, we had tornado damage a lot so I understand that we need to support these victims.

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Best Buddies members and supporters will take to the Lake County Fairgrounds on May 19 for the Best Buddies Friendship Walk. This is northwest Indiana’s second walk for Best Buddies. Junior Andie Miller, president of CPHS Best Buddies, said that the walk is “really eye-opening.”

The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is held to help foster friendships between people with disabilities and people without. Money raised from the walk goes to establish more chapters of Best Buddies in Indiana. “(The money) helps spread the organization and fund staff,” Miller said.

Registration is open online at www. bestbuddiesindiana.org/walk. Miller said over 100 people have signed up online so far and expects many more to show up. Registration will still be open at the Fairgrounds. The whole program lasts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the walk starting at noon. Opening ceremony starts at 11 and ends when the walk begins.

Best Buddies ceremony International’s The will feature first Friendship special needs Walk was held in student Michael 2009. Northwest G r e g o l i n e the Indiana had its singing national anthem first last year. and testimonials from Best Buddies “buddy pairs” – special needs students and general education students who have become friends because of Best Buddies. Speakers will raise awareness for the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign. The campaign seeks to abolish use of the “R-word” – ‘retard.’

After the walk, local bands will play from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Junior John MacNeil helped to organize the entertainment. Food will be available all day.

Best Buddies’ Crown Point and Munster chapters hosted their first walk in northwest Indiana last April at Centennial Park in Munster. This year’s walk is a collaboration between the Best Buddies chapters from CPHS, Munster High School, Lake Central High School and Valparaiso University. Miller hopes to raise $5000. Junior Rebecca Kadzoi has raised more than $700 on her own for the cause.

Best Buddies was founded at CPHS last year by Miller and special needs teacher Carol Miller. The club currently has 96 members and meets monthly.

Jacob Barber senior Riley’s children through Student Council and there’s a lot in our school.”

Firchau hoped to raise over $5000 for Riley Hospital. Though early registration was lower than Student Council had hoped, Firchau believed they had done well for their first time hosting the event.

Teachers and students went headto-head on April 19 for the third annual Student Teacher Olympics, organized by

LEAD Council. This year, proceeds from the Olympics went to victims of the southern Indiana tornados. Many of those who participated were happy to support a cause close to home.

“Being from Texas, we had tornado damage a lot so I understand we need to support these victims,” senior Jacob Barber, a first time competitor, said.

The teachers nabbed a narrow victory over the students for the second year in a row. English teacher Chris Gloff said it “was an expectation. They can’t beat us.”

Teachers won in the basketball freethrow competition, pie-eating contest, dance-off, tug-of-war, dodgeball and obstacle course. Students had wins in volleyball, home run derby, hula hoop and soccer. The pride of victory didn’t overshadow why they were there in the first place, however. Senior Deborah Maxwell, the last one standing in the hula hoop contest, said, “I feel like I’m contributing to a good cause.”

It was Maxwell’s first time competing.

“I thought it’d be really cool to go out on a limb and be crazy,” she said.

Through a night of ‘trash talk,’ dodgeball hits, home runs and free-throws, the Olympics organizers were able to write a check for just over $1200 down state to assist those affected by the tornados.

Views on news Student reaction to events in our world Area CP filmed as ‘hidden gem’

State Indiana shows wage gap

Nation Student fights to play

World Gunman claims innocence

CNN’s “Today in America” program filmed Crown Point on April 17 as part of a series about “hidden gems” among cities in the U.S. The show will depict the infrastructure of the city and lifestyle of its residents. CP’s growth potential and appeal led to its inclusion on the series. The air date of the episode is to be announced.

Indiana has one of the widest gender income gaps in the U.S., according to a recent report conducted by the National Partnership for Women & Families. Hoosier women make, on average, 72 cents for every dollar that men make. The gap is consistent across industries and becomes even wider when race is taken into consideration.

Michigan high school senior Eric Dompierre is fighting a rule that bars him from sports due to his age. Dompierre, 19, was held back in kindergarten due to having Down syndrome. The Michigan High School Athletic League’s constitution states that students who turn 19 before September are ineligible to compete.

Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian man who carried out a mass shooting in July, is maintaining his innocence and has no regrets. In court, Breivik said he was not criminally guilty of killing 77 people on the island of Utoya. Breivik justified the shooting by saying that it would prevent a wider civil war in Norway and that he would do it again.

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It’s really exciting. It’s about time to recognize Crown Point because of all of our hard work and success.

Dominique Bass senior

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Guys make more money because they have harder jobs to do.

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Jordan Kenning junior

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I think he should still be allowed to play. He’s still in high school.

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Sydney Halle

sophomore

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I think he’s guilty either way. Even if he did it for what he thought was right, it was against the morals that most people have.

J.T. Powers

freshman

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Inklings

America needs the Golden Rule

By Dylan Taylor opinion editor

Living in America, it’s easy to become numb to stupidity in general.

This applies to any American with access to basic cable; we can see a rage-brimming Ted Nugent implying death threats to President Obama, hate groups “patrolling” the town in which Trayvon Martin was slain and an incessant urge to curb the rights of others. Although Americans have always generally been angry about something, at this point we have almost arrested our ethical development. More and more by the day, it seems, Americans have been releasing their anger at the current political, social and economic situations in increasingly disgusting, offensive and downright ignorant ways.

But ignorance is not limited to suit-and-tie bigots on TV, nor any culture or any age-group, nor even politics or economics or religion. A high school, and even ours, is another unfortunate example of that.

It only takes a few paces down any hallway of the school to hear and see bullying, discrimination and hateful speech and behavior. For every smile one can receive in a high-school hallway, a dirty look or offensive remark likely isn’t far away.

Regrettably, rude and bigoted individuals are a sorry fact of life. This doesn’t mean, however, that one should passively accept or participate in the hatred. Students, like anyone else, need to speak up when they sense someone being oppressive, ignorant or discriminatory. If a friend is saying or doing something hurtful, don’t be afraid to bring it up. We, as students, are curators of what should be a safe school environment; any peaceful disdain for harassment is a step in the right direction.

Unfortunately, ignorance is present nearly everywhere, especially in a high-school setting.

As a student and eventual adult citizen, don’t be a Ted Nugent, don’t be offensive and ignorant.

Be nice. Be intelligent. Treat others how you would want to be treated.

Inklings

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Cartoon By ELLIE BURRELL

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Students and teachers should take drills seriously to ensure they are prepared in a real emergency

Drills vital for safety

Our severe weather and safety drills are infamous for their inconvenience.

They always seem to occur when it’s freezing out or during testing; these drills are usually squeezed in on one of the last days of the month to meet the monthly state requirement. In spite of the annoyance, severe weather and safety drills can make a difference in a life-or-death situation, so they should be treated with extreme importance.

With tragic events occurring not too far from home like the deadly tornadoes in Henryville and the school shooting in Ohio, there’s no doubt that such tragedies strike without warning and can happen here. The idea of a drill potentially saving lives is not that farfetched. Thus, the school population -- especially students -- should give severe weather and safety drills the attention and importance they deserve. Yes, drills are another state requirement that the school must fulfill, and so it’s easy to become complacent and treat them as such. However, taking a closer look at the events that devastated other schools drives home the necessity of preparedness.

One way to increase effectiveness is to preserve the surprise element.

A drill’s purpose is to prepare students to deal with a dangerous situation through trial, and planned drills give us the opportunity to learn how to respond. However, true disasters don’t give much, or any, advanced warning. Having random drills would allow students to react to unplanned circumstances and further illustrate the importance of preparing for such emergencies.

Although frequent drills are essential to establishing an experienced response, it is also important not to desensitize students to them. Overdoing drills would also disrupt class more often, which could ultimately be counterproductive.

At the end of the day, when it comes to student safety it is better to err on the side of caution. The stadium collapse in August at the Sugarland concert would not have been such a tragedy if proper safety precautions were taken. If we take drills more seriously, such tragedies can be avoided.

editorial

Inklings is a student publication created by the newspaper and advanced journalism students and distributed monthly to students, faculty and staff of Crown Point High School.

Opinions expressed in Inklings do not necessarily reflect those of CPHS faculty, staff or administration.

Advertising is subject to applicable rates, available from Inklings advertising department.

Inklings welcomes letters-tothe-editor, provided they are signed and submitted to E109 or via email one week prior to date of publication.

Letters must not contain personal attacks. Inklings reserves the right to edit for space and clarity as well as to make decisions on which letters will be printed.

Inklings has been recognized as an Indiana High School Press Association Hoosier Star, an National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker, Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown and a Quill and Scroll George H. Gallup publication.

Contact Inklings by emailing inklings@cps.k12.in.us or by phoning 219-663-4885.

Haajar Shaaban editor-in-chief Alyssa Blahunka creative director Garret Hogan senior editor Kelsey Lennon managing editor Abby Elston RaeAnna Morgan copy editors Mary-Katherine Lemon news editor Olivia Graham entertainment editor Dylan Taylor opinion editor Samuel Beishuizen Alex McLean sports editors Kara Biernat Alexa Grady sports assistants Samantha Wright advertising editor Yazzmyne Lopez advertising assistant Donnella Casillas chief photographer Abigail Eineman Trisha Semplinski photographers Rachael Bokota Ellie Burrell Hannah Colby Maggie Gelon Molly Grace Aleks Kajmakoski Danielle McCuan Mona Nour Brittany Pedersen Shannon Rostin Katie Sherman staff Julie Elston adviser

speakup Do you think safety drills are effective?

Ramello McNeal

freshman

“It’s not effective because people mess around during the drills, especially fire and tornado drills.”

Susan Pociecha sophomore

Thomas Armato junior

Grace Jimenez senior

“Sometimes, but most kids don’t take the drills seriously.”

“Yes, because you have the kids know what they’re doing during the drills just in case the real thing happens.”

“No, it’s always a mess every time we have a drill. I feel like drills aren’t realistic either.”

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Inklings

New law needs to come sooner

By Kelsey Lennon managing editor

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Cartoon by Ellie Burrell

ssue: To stop or not to stop?

A new stop sign has been placed at the corner of Burrell and Hemlock to ensure safety for all drivers and pedestrians, but is it causing more problems than solutions?

New stop sign makes traffic more effective and crossing the street safer for students

Stop sign at Burrell and Hemlock Streets unsafe, impedes traffic flow for majority

By Abby Elston copy editor

By Haajar Shaaban editor-in-chief

Getting in and out of school can definitely be a hassle and sometimes even dangerous. So many kids are trying to get to or from the same place at roughly the same time. The new stop sign built at Burrell and Hemlock helps to make this process quicker and safer.

The stop sign makes the flow of traffic quicker. To get into school, waiting in line at the stop sign really does not take significantly more time than going straight through the road. Also, it helps kids who are trying to cross the street from the subdivision across from the bus lot to the school. When cars stop, it makes it easier and safer for students to cross than to risk running across the street during a small break in traffic. It is also quicker than using a crossing guard because that way traffic is not stopped to wait for the students to get from point A to point B. It is also much more efficient to leave school with the stop sign in place. If one leaves through the back of the school and out the bus lot, traffic goes by much quicker. Instead of waiting for the line of cars leaving through the senior lot (by the auditorium) and from the spot by the marquee, this line of traffic must now stop at the stop sign and wait their designated turn. This gives the line of traffic leaving through the bus lot a chance to just receive a turn to leave. All in all, this makes it much better for students and even parents to leave after school.

The implementation of the new stop sign was a genius idea. It helps the flow of traffic much more than it hurts it, and it is also safer for pedestrians to travel around this area. It is a quick and easy solution that solves the issue of getting to and from school.

In a time when school safety is at the forefront of the minds of many, the decisions the city of Crown Point makes concerning safety should be thought through very cautiously. Adding the stop sign at the corner of Burrell and Hemlock is one such decision.

The stop sign was put up as a permanent solution, but it will cause mayhem in both the short and long term. The main motivation behind putting up the stop sign was for safety reasons and to facilitate traffic, but the stop sign has accomplished neither.

In response to those who claim the stop sign makes it safer for students crossing the street—it actually does not. Before the stop sign was put up, crossing guards would help students to cross the road. Now with the new stop sign, drivers rush through the stop sign, taking no heed of pedestrians. This makes the intersection much more dangerous for students.

Additionally, the stop sign was put in a place where there is lots of traffic in one direction and little in the opposite direction (in and out of the bus lot and in and out of a subdivision). This has made traffic slower for the majority, which is inefficient for everyone.

If the issue is to eliminate the need for a crossing guard, then a stoplight should be considered so that traffic would move more quickly and cars would be forced to stop long enough for students to cross. Regardless, in the chaos that is the traffic around the high school before and after school, if the stop sign remains, it will cause inconvenience for many.

10 Inklings staffers agree

19 Inklings staffers agree

Elizabeth Meyers junior

Scott Rettig Industrial Tech teacher

“It’s a good idea because it makes traffic go by faster. I can get to where I need to go on time.”

“It’s a bad idea because people keep driving through the stop signs and forgetting they are there.”

Keith Iddings Math teacher

Amy Adams senior

“It’s a good idea because it stops traffic for kids who need to cross the street.”

“(The stop signs) are very irrelevant and should only be enforced before and after school.”

A new immunity law for underage drinking has passed in Indiana, and though helpful for those in harm’s way, it may be too late. The law states that if an intoxicated underage person calls for emergency medical help for a drunken friend, the caller will not be arrested by the police for public intoxication or underage drinking. Indiana is the 12th state to adopt this law and it was passed March 16 but does not go into effect until July 1.

First, kudos to the Indiana legislator for passing this law.

Underage drinking is inevitable, and they are aware of that. This is just a way to avoid serious injury or death when a person does get out of hand. Kids would be more likely to call if there is an emergency knowing they will not be in trouble, which could curtail many incidents. There have been numerous situations were an underage person needed assistance, but the people around were too afraid to call for fear of the consequences. This leads to unnecessary injuries or death due to fear, and hopefully this law encourages teens to call.

The only problem facing this law is that is does not come into effect until July 1. Prom is in May and many graduation parties take place in June, and with celebration comes alcohol.

Right now it is a grey area; this is a time in which many parties will take place, but this law would begin July 1. Now it’s unclear whether a teen would be protected. The law has been passed but is not effective. Indiana should bump this law to the early summer so kids are more encouraged to call if there has been an issue. Sure, people say kids should always call the police if something has happened, but young people have fear which will cloud their judgment.

It is understandable that it takes time to train law enforcement and others on how to handle this law, but pushing up the date a month would not hurt anyone, in fact, it might save someone.

Are you taking an AP exam?

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PHOTO BY Donnella casillas

Senior Robby Featherstone lights a candle during the National Honors Society induction on April 25.

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Inklings

A page capturing the essence of student life

When parenting becomes the problem Lake County leads the state in deaths due to child abuse, neglect

By Mona Nour / RaeAnna Morgan staff reporter / copy editor

It’s physical, it’s emotional, it’s mental and it’s abusive. “The definition of child abuse is ‘when a child’s condition of physical or mental health is seriously impaired or endangered as a result of the inability, refusal or neglect of the child’s parent or guardian to supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education or supervision,” volunteer from Prevent Child Abuse Lake County Gladys Van Til said.

Rates of child abuse have been highest in Lake County, Indiana according to the Department of Child Services. In 2010, there were 25 child deaths in Indiana as a result of abuse and neglect. “In February 2012, the Indiana Department of Child Services investigated (sometimes called assessed) over 8,000 cases of child sexual or physical abuse or neglect throughout the state,” Assistant Communications Director of the Indiana Department of Child Services Rich Allen said. “In Lake County during that same month, over 500 cases were investigated.”

As April is child abuse awareness month, the issue has been brought to the minds of many who were previously unaware of the growing issue. Child abuse can actually be found closer to home than most people may have thought. “It started (a few years ago) and got worse as time went on. My (parent) and I never had a very strong relationship to begin with,” student X said.

Over a period of two years X’s abuse worsened leading to much emotional abuse and even some physical. “The type of abuse was equal in parts. (My parent) would call me demeaning names, telling me I wasn’t worth it,” X said.

Some parents claim that their parenting techniques are not harmful to their children, but statistics show that child abuse can not only take a toll on the child physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. “Many parents abuse due to lack of parenting education or when stress drives them to do something that is considered to be abuse,” Van Til said.

X also felt the abuse left a mark emotionally. “Even

though it’s been resolved (through the legal system), I will definitely have some emotional scars.”

Child abuse may occur during adolescence and childhood, but statistics show that it holds long-term effects. “Though children are generally remarkably resilient, the toll of child abuse can last for many years.

Treatment and therapy can continue for long periods of time,” Allen said.

Suspecting child abuse can be a very sensitive subject and a special protocol has been put in place at CPHS. “If a teacher or school counselor suspects child abuse going on in a student’s home, they are obligated by law to report their suspicion to Child Protective Services,” guidance counselor Drew Furuness said.

“After they are notified, they (Child Protective Services) will decide what is best for the student from there.”

According to the Childhelp organization, children who experience child abuse and neglect are 59 percent more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28 percent more likely to be arrested as an adult and 30 percent more likely to commit a violent crime. About 80 percent of 21 year olds that were abused as a child had at least one psychological disorder, proving that child abuse’s mental effects carry on into adulthood.

Knowing the toll this type of abuse can have on a person, X feels the aftermath is something that will always cause worry. “It is my greatest fear that I’ll end up like (my parent) one day,” X said.

“If a child is being abused, they can tell a trusted adult. Often a good resource is a school counselor, a teacher or a Sunday school teacher,” Karen Costa, Clinical Director of Child Abuse Prevention Association said. “People who work with children are ‘mandated reporters’ meaning that they are professionally and legally obligated to report child abuse, as opposed to other persons who are ‘permissive reporters’.”

X has done whatever it takes to overcome the emotional pain that statistics show could be detrimental in the future. “I’ve been in a few hospital inpatient programs and I see a therapist twice a week. Hopefully in the future I will be able to confidently look past what happened to me, but I know it will always be a part of my past.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DONNELLA CASILLAS

fastfacts

Fifty Indiana children died as a result of abuse or neglect in 2009.

Seventy-eight percent of deaths from abuse and neglect were children under age five.

110,431 reports of child abuse and neglect were made in Indiana in 2009.

One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused by the time they turn 18.

Facts obtained by the Inklings staff

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VEX, RoboDogs boast friendly rivalry in competition Often confused, the two technology clubs want to make their differences known

Senior Chris Bieker and sophomore Joey Samyn control the basketball robot at the Museum of Science and Industry with joysticks.

The VEX Robotics team displays their robots at a November VEX competition in Zionsville. 1233 is their team number.

VEX competes in five competitions a year, and has had a successful season qualifying three of their teams. In fact, the team Bolts, joysticks and programming may seem trivial to a nov- was off to California this month to compete. ice, but inside the robotics world these are the tools of genius “This is our third straight year going to World,” Querry and creativity. Within CPHS, two robotics teams reign supreme said.

– RoboDogs and VEX. Senior David Caldwell led VEX to World level this year.

“A lot of people confuse (RoboDogs and VEX),” junior The high-scoring team came in 27th place out of 100.

Adam Binder said.

RoboDogs has faced logistical obstacles Although VEX and RoboDogs this year. RoboDogs was moved from their It’s really apples and both deal with robotics, they are part of room in the CPHS science wing to a nearby different leagues. RoboDogs belongs to warehouse due to lack of space at school. oranges. We talk smack the FIRST Robotics Competition, while “It’d be more convenient to have school about each other, but we space. RoboDogs is a school club, but we the VEX team competes in the VEX Robotics Competition. “It’s really apples don’t have any space,” sophomore Jason never really interact. and oranges,” senior R.J. Jarecki said.

Duda said.

R.J. Jarecki | senior “We talk smack about each other, but we In past years, RoboDogs has brought never really interact.” innovations to CPHS such as the infamous T-Shirt Shooter.

VEX sponsor Mark Querry has a unique perspective on This season, they constructed both a practice and competition both teams. He was also the founder and former sponsor of Ro- robot that shoots hoops for the Rebound Rumble competition. boDogs. Querry compares the two teams as a “friendly rivalry.” “It’s difficult to build two robots in one build season,” Binder “VEX is an evolutionary process, while RoboDogs is build said. and go,” Querry said.

The term “build season” is code for a six-week period of In addition, robot size and cost are two clear differences intense preparation that is “sporadic, entertaining and time conbetween the two. Building a FIRST robot can cost thousands suming” according to senior Joe Chapa. of dollars.

Beyond competitions, RoboDogs prides itself on their out“VEX works on smaller robots, but more people get the side involvement, such as a recent presentation they made at The chance to share their ideas,” junior Mason Cole said.

Museum of Science and Industry.

By Maggie Gelon staff reporter

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TEST FEST

By Molly Grace / Olivia Graham staff reporter / entertainment editor

With End-of-Course Assessments, Advanced Placement exams and ACT and SATs within a month of each other, students may be feeling overwhelmed with the constant standardized testing. A goal reiterated by the administration is to create a culture of high standards but some students wonder what the price of high standards may be.

Passing the English 10 ECA, along with the Algebra I ECA, is required for graduation by Indiana. Although not as much importance is placed on these exams, specifically for college acceptance, these tests are still important for high school graduation. Junior Ashley Curtis took the English 10 ECA last year and says she did pretty well with minimal studying.

“I just made sure I went over all the novels we read and the vocabulary we learned. When I took the test, I basically knew what I was doing,” Curtis said. “It’s important because you need it in order to graduate.”

The Advanced Placement courses and their corresponding exams have become a staple in twenty-first century education according to AP English Language teacher

4.30.2012

Inklings

Final month of school fills with standardized testing causing students to wonder how much is too much Jacob Adams. With this exam, students are able to earn credit for some colleges depending on their scores which can determine college acceptance, scholarships, among other things.

“Our education system has become more test-centric,” Adams said. “Colleges put big emphasis on AP exams because they’re a standard way to say a student is prepared.”

Adams says these exams should not be completely stressed over, for students have prepared for it through their coursework.

“We’ve done many sample exams, analyzing and discussing the questions,” Adams said. “They’re all about skills you learned over time. Show off what you know.”

Many people consider the SAT or the ACT to be the “Holy Grail” of standardized tests. Each test’s importance is stressed throughout high school, as the grades received are also major determining factors in a student’s acceptance into college.

With so much importance put on these tests, many students worrying turn to available resources.

Programs, such as the SAT Boot camp going on in May, tutors a n d

online help are available. Senior Morgen Zimmer believes that the ACT and SAT are important because they are good indicators of a student’s skills.

“They cover many different levels of abilities between writing, science, math and reading, so they can accurately assess your abilities.”

Zimmer also believes that a lot is at stake with each test and any little thing that goes wrong could affect a student’s score negatively. “I think there are too many variables, like if you’re a bad test taker, you’re having a bad day or you have a bad proctor.”

Others, such as senior Paul Kendall, took a much more casual route to the ACT and SAT. “I didn’t do any formal prep (for the tests) and overall I think I did well,” Kendall said. Kendall believes that what he learned in school was enough to get him through the tests and that extra preparation would have been unnecessary.

Whether SAT and ACTs are good indicators of how well a student will be able to perform in college and how much importance should be put on them has been a prevalent debate. Kendall believes that less importance should be put on these tests.

“In general, too much weight is put on these exams.

They have a purpose and are useful, but standardized tests are not a good indication of how intelligent a person is,” Kendall said.

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Inklings

Q: How to master an interview? A: Read below Take interview from awkward to awesome with advanced advice

By Haajar Shaaban editor-in-chief

Your palms are sweating, your thoughts are totally scattered and you’re desperately struggling to get a grip. With college, financial aid or a career possibly on the line, interviews are often nerve-racking, to say the least. However, with a few tips and tricks, one can rock his interview and secure that job or scholarship.

said.

Men should be clean-shaven, and all interviewees should cover any piercings or tattoos. Perfume and cologne should be avoided, and jewelry and makeup should be kept to a minimum. Make sure teeth are brushed or chew a mint for fresh breath.

Finally, as the interview nears and the nerves kick in, putting talcum powder on hands can help absorb some of the sweatiness that may appear.

During the Interview

Before the Interview The first action an individual should take once they have scored an interview is to research the company or organization.

“One of the most important things to do is to do research on the company that they’re going to be interviewing with,” business department head Mary Bachnak said.

“And to do that, all they have to do is go on the Internet and find the website of the company.”

Company and organization websites often have an “about us” tab that provides information on the business and a mission or vision statement.

The next step an interviewee should take is to think about some questions that may be asked in the interview and formulate how they can be answered.

Some common questions asked in interviews include: “What are your short and long-term goals?” “What has been your greatest accomplishment and/or contribution that you made in high school?” and “What is your plan for success?”

After one has learned about the company or organization and prepared for some questions, the key is to practice, practice, practice. “(The interview) is the only impression that (the interviewers) are going to have of you. There’s no opportunity to be nervous. There’s no time like this one that you have to be well-prepared,” Bachnak said.

Senior Cassie Firchau, who received the Lilly scholarship, suggests doing mock interviews to prepare for an interview.

“We had mock interviews that were hosted by Lilly, and I did interviews with my counselor as well to prepare for (my interview),” Firchau said.

After practicing, one should assess how to dress. Interviewees should dress professionally and conservatively.

“Conservative is what’s chic in business,” Bachnak

When sitting in an interview, body language is key.

“Act relaxed but not too cocky; sit down, be confident and put your hands in your lap or to your side. Give that open body language,” Bachnak said. “If you have a tendency to talk with your hands, remember to keep them below your shoulders and don’t do it a lot.”

Bachnak also points out that it’s important to appear friendly and open but in moderation.

“Smile, use eye contact, but don’t stare, it’s kind of creepy,” Bachnak said.

During the interview, there’s no doubt nerves will come into play; however, it’s essential to remain focused and to answer the question one is asked.

“Be a really good listener because there’s nothing worse than being asked a question in an interview and not answering the correct question,” Bachnak said.

To avoid this, Firchau suggests taking the time to think before speaking.

“I think it’s better to wait like 20 seconds before you answer. They’d rather you have a thorough answer than one you just throw out really quickly,” Firchau said.

Ultimately, Firchau stresses the importance of being honest in an interview.

“Be honest and comfortable talking

about yourself, your accomplishments and your personal situation,” Firchau said. “If you’ve been through a hard time or some tragedies that your interviewers are unaware of, be sure to let them know so they know the strength it has taken to overcome those obstacles.”

As the interview comes to a close, be sure to ask about the next steps and when you’ll hear back from them.

Thank the interviewers, shake their hands and get business cards of all the individuals so a follow up and thank-you can be sent.

After the Interview After the interview, it is imperative to ensure that the interviewers remember you. This can be accomplished by sending a thank-you letter.

“A thank-you letter is another opportunity to thank them for their time because their time is valuable and you want to thank them for giving you the opportunity of meeting with them and spending time with you,” Bachnak said.

A thank-you letter not only shows gratitude, but it can also serve the purpose of reiterating one’s skills and qualifications. “(The thank-you letter) is where you reiterate how you believe your skills, your experience and your education are a good fit for that organization,” Bachnak said. “Give them another reason to remind them why you are the one that they need to either bring back for a second interview or offer you that job.”

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H 10 Secrets hidden away in ‘unhealthy’ foods ealth

4.30.2012

Inklings

Foods thought to be fattening, bad contain antioxidants, vitamins

By Aleks Kajmakoski staff reporter

Throughout history, people have taken different strategies to be healthy. Advertisements, books and fad diets are just a few things used to get to a point of fitness. And with swimsuit season right around the corner, many people are opting for healthier food choices. In doing so, however, they tend to skip over certain foods that are habitually claimed unhealthy but actually have the ability to provide the body with more than just empty calories.

“Typically, if an item is considered ‘junk’ food, it’s because it is not very nutrient dense, meaning that for the amount of calories the food contains, it doesn’t have many nutrients or health benefits in return,” senior at Ohio State University Nicci Brown said.

Brown is majoring in the Human Nutrition: Dietetics major at the University.

Many so-called junk foods are not as unhealthy as they may appear to be.

“Guacamole is a perfect example. It often gets a bad rap because it’s a dip and is high in calories and fat. However, it’s high in good fat, vitamin C and potassium, and it’s low in cholesterol and sugar,” Brown said.

Many foods are labeled unhealthy, yet certain criteria must be met in order for a food to be considered ‘junk’ food.

“To decide whether or not a food is unhealthy, I look at the label; if it has too much fat or too many calories, then it’s unhealthy,” sophomore Shelby Kiger said.

However, looking at the fat content of a food is not always the best way to decide whether it is healthy or not.

“There are a lot of items that are often mislabeled as junk food, such as hamburgers. Yes, a McDonald’s burger is high in fat and not that great for you, but if you buy

HEAL H & WELLNESS

FACTS

lean ground beef from the grocery store and make your own burgers on the grill at home, the burger is low in fat and is a fantastic source of protein and iron, which keep your energy levels up,” Brown said.

Another food often thrown aside because of its “negative qualities” is the potato.

“Potatoes are also associated with a lot of carbs by many people and, as such, are labeled junk. However, baked potatoes are one of the best sources of potassium, which makes them just as good as bananas for helping

your muscles recover from a work out, as well as preventing those post-workout muscle cramps. Additionally, if you eat the skin and limit the sour cream and butter, they are a great source of fiber,” Brown said.

Desserts are regarded as sweet, delicious treats by many.

At the same time, though, desserts are seen as bad for one’s health.

An avocado has more than twice as much potassium as a banana.

Americans eat 13 billion hamburgers a year. Put in a straight line, they would circle the earth more than 32 times.

“In general, desserts are bad for you, because they are packed with fats and sugars. I would say that cookies, for example, are very bad for you,” junior Elizabeth Thornberry said.

Despite this popular belief, however, cookies can be both delicious and nutritional.

“Often, people hear the word ‘cookie’ and think the worst. However, homemade oatmeal cookies are some of the good guys. Oats are a great source of fiber, and if you add raisins, Craisins, dark chocolate chips and walnuts to the mix, the combo boasts potassium, vitamin E, good fatty acids and phytochemicals,” Brown said.

Many people also look at colors of food to indicate whether or not it will give specific health benefits. For example, one may look towards blue and purple colored vegetables and fruits, which have many health benefits, a few of them being the possibility to fight inflammation and reduce cancer cell growth. If then, artificial food dyes were found to contain the same properties, would this become a new fad diet?

“I would not start adding [artificial dyes] to my foods because, first off, they make me sick. Secondly, they just sound unhealthy; I mean it says in the label: artificial food dyes,” Kiger said.

Experts agree in this area stating that artificially colored foods, like most candy, are not helping the body at all and may actually be hurting it. Thus, there are a few rules to go by when looking at the health benefits of foods.

“The benefits from eating fresh fruits and vegetables and items that aren’t processed or preserved far outweigh any benefits that may come from eating processed ‘junk food.’ That being said, depriving yourself of things you love or trying to hush your sweet tooth isn’t realistic either,” Brown said. “My motto is everything in moderation. If it’s health benefits you’re looking for, though, you don’t have to look much past the produce section of the grocery store.”

An eight ounce potato is about 80 percent water and 20 percent solids, and has about 100 calories.

Facts obtained by the Inklings staff

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11.27.2011 Inklings 4.30.2012

Eli’s Golden Apple worthy of a bite

“Boyfriend” 3 stars Justin Bieber’s latest

single has triggered mixed feelings. The pop star branches out from his normal style with elements of rap incorporated in the song. Some love Bieber’s change in style while others feel he should stick to what he does best-singing pop songs appealing to teenage girls. The song has created a rift between his fans. Loyal Bieber fans support his attempt at a new style, and others would prefer if he continued singing his chart topping, fun-loving hits.

A Thousand Words 2 stars Eddie Murphy’s latest

performance does not live up to his usual comedic standards.

Murphy takes on a more serious role and attempts to insert jokes from time to time, which are ultimately unsuccessful. The lighthearted concept of discovering the finer things in life is an entertaining idea but is not portrayed well. This was not one of Murphy’s high points, to say the least. It was enough to put anyone to sleep.

Pinterest 5 stars The trending online

pinboard has taken over the web. Some consider it to be just as popular as Facebook, spending hours looking through the items and photos posted. Many find the site to be helpful when wanting ideas for weddings, gifts, tatoos or even the latest styles in fashion.

Just two months after opening, the site had over 11 million users and is still growing. Although the site can only be accessed by invitation only, it is definitely worth the wait for all the creative and fun ideas one can get out of it.

By Rachael Bokota staff reporter

When one walks into Eli’s Golden Apple Restaurant and Pancake House, one is immediately met with the aroma of breakfast.

An obvious fact, one might point out, for a pancake house. However, it doesn’t just smell like any old breakfast; it smells like a delicious, homemade breakfast.

The atmosphere was happy and bustling, full of people on a Saturday morning.

Decorative windows and warm, gold-colored walls separated the rooms and gave the whole restaurant a roomy, open feel.

I was greeted by the friendly hostess who promptly brought me to a table which included my very own TV. The service was excellent. There wasn’t a long wait for our food or the check; everything was very organized and efficient.

After being entertained by the builtin TV, I was brought to the climax of my

Golden Apple experience: the food. It was, in a word, superb. Everything was fresh and one could tell that the chef took care in the presentation, meaning that for those who don’t enjoy different foods touching each other, Eli’s Golden Apple is a great choice.

The Crow’s Nest Bennie, a delicious form of the traditional Eggs Benedict, was made by taking an English muffin and adding corn beef hash and poached egg. It was dripping but not overwhelmed by Hollandaise sauce, and the hash browns were the perfect shade of dark golden-brown, complimenting the eggs and muffin nicely. The French Connection French toast was simply an explosion in the mouth of apple and cinnamon, and best of all were the Potato Pancakes, which were a perfect blend of onions, potatoes and other ingredients that my rejoicing mouth could not even identify.

The Golden Apple recently celebrated its one year anniversary of being open in its

location off of Broadway.

In addition to breakfast, the restaurant also serves lunch and dinner. The restaurant thrives on serving a multitude of different kinds of food so that everyone will find something that they are certain to enjoy.

Those who love Mexican food can enjoy one of the various quesadillas offered such as the chicken or veggie. Those who like more traditional American food may enjoy the excellent choices of cheeseburgers and hamburgers the restaurant has to offer.

If the restaurant had any drawbacks, it would be the noise level. However, this is something that can’t really be helped on a Saturday morning. The noise level also tells us something positive about the restaurant: there are lots of people.

All in all, my experience at Eli’s Golden Apple was fantastic, and I certainly recommend it for anyone looking for a place to enjoy a Saturday breakfast.

Efron brings Sparks’ novel “The Lucky One” to life

By RaeAnna Morgan copy editor

Nicholas Sparks has a way with writing romance, and he does it again with “The Lucky One.” The novel is based on a Marine, Logan Thibault, who finds a picture of a young woman while on his third tour in Iraq, and upon returning home, sets out to find his “lucky charm” after promising a friend he would do so. He meets the now-single mother in the picture, Beth Green, and slowly they fall for each other.

Sparks’ book is filled with romance, and he writes of a man that would make any girl swoon at the mere thought of him. Although the book was a bestseller, the movie was not quite as successful. For those viewers who had not read the book, the movie most likely lived up to one’s expectations. But for those of us who are bookworms and just had to read the book before the movie hit theatres, it was probably a big disappointment.

The only similarity between the two was

the basic storyline. Almost every detail was changed to condense the show into less than two hours. Any reader would know that a Nicholas Sparks novel needs well over two hours to tell in full all the intricate details.

Zac Efron, who played Logan, did a very convincing job of portraying a quiet, mysterious soldier, and Taylor Schilling brought Beth justice, playing the stressed out single mother grieving over the loss of her brother.

The characters were well played and made the movie worthwhile. Upon seeing that Efron had been cast for the part, those who read may have thought he was too young and not serious enough for the role, but he proved his “High School Musical” days are all in the past.

If one is looking for a film that will keep interest, is easy on the eyes and has the element of love, then this is just the film. Although it isn’t quite what Sparks had written, it is a convincing adaptation. This is one flick no girl should miss out on.

Instagram

a few of our

Social networking has expanded yet again, this time in the form of pictures. Users can post pictures and even have the ability to edit them. Those who follow another’s pictures will be updated when they post anything new. Many prefer expressing themselves in pictures rather than words, and Instagram allows that.

favoritethings Naked Eyeshadow Palette Urban Decay’s Naked eyeshadow palette is the first of two in its collection. The first palette features 12 colors with bronze undertones, while the second one which plays up cooler colors. Naked 1 and 2 can be found at Ulta or Sephora for around $50 each.

McDonald’s Chocolate Dipped Cone

Dairy Queen now has serious competition with their original chocolate dipped ice cream cone; McDonald’s recently began selling their version of the popular treat. Not only does it satisfy the taste for something sweet, but it does it without putting a dent in the wallet.

A “TITANIC” STRIKES THEATERS IN THREE DIMENSIONS

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Fifteen years after its original debut and 100 years after the actual sinking, “Titanic” hits theatres in 3-D, making movie better experience

By Abby Elston copy editor

Fifteen years ago, a movie called “Titanic” was released. It featured the star-crossed lovers of first class Rose DeWitt Bukater and third class Jack Dawson. Even longer ago, though, this “Ship of Dreams” sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic exactly 100 years ago from the morning of April 15. On April 4, the rerelease of this movie, in 3-D, premiered.

Most people are aware of the story of “Titanic”; Rose (Kate Winslet) and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) fall in love, and then the boat hits an iceberg. The ship sinks and Jack and Rose struggle to hang on for dear life. In the end, they plunge to the waters and Jack finds a floating piece of furniture for them to lay on.

However, Jack’s weight causes it to sink, so he stays in the freezing water and dies, probably of hypothermia, and Rose survives. It’s the same old familiar story, but in 3-D, it is so much more.

“Titanic,” whether it is your favorite movie like it is mine or not, is a classic. The story is moving and touching because this

event actually occurred in history (though James Cameron took a few dramatic liberties), and each moment is truly brought to life in 3-D. One can actually see the grandiose architecture up close and feel as if he is walking through the ship in real life. My favorite aspect of the movie being in three dimensions was anytime they were wading in water as they were walking through the ship; it was actually like I was half-submerged in the water along with Rose and Jack, which sounds tacky, but is completely true.

“Titanic” is such an important story for people to understand because it was a reallife tragedy where many people did die. It is because of the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic that boats now carry enough life boats for all passengers; the Titanic did not have enough for nearly half. It is true that in order to understand the present and the future, one must understand and learn from the past. What have we as a people learned from this tragedy 100 years later? That is why it is important to see “Titanic,” and seeing it in 3-D is so much more realistic and easier to connect to.

Boy bands take over radio waves, hearts

Youthful charm, catchy hits of new boy groups attract masses of fans

By Kelsey Lennon managing editor

Ten years after The Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC stopped making number one hits, a new generation of boy bands has emerged, and they are just as talented and adorable.

From America to the U.K., fashionable boys with catchy songs have been taking over the radio. The ones to keep an eye on are America’s Mindless Behavior and the U.K.’s One Direction and The Wanted.

Mindless Behavior is this generation’s Boys II Men. The group is composed of four 14- and 15-year-old boys from Los Angles.

Their debut album, “#1 Girl,” reached number seven on the Billboard Top 100 music chart and number two on the US R&B chart.

The crew has a more hip-hop feel, touring with artists such as Justin Bieber and Jason Derulo. This is the perfect listen for anybody

looking for rap-influenced dance music. Their biggest hit, “Mrs. Right,” featured Diggy Simmons with a verse anyone could rap along.

Keep an eye on the four as they grow up and rise on the charts.

Traveling overseas, One Direction is one of the U.K.’s hottest pop groups right now and they are gaining momentum in America.

The five boys range from the ages of 18 to 20 but still have that alluring boyish charm.

Their music is pure pop delight with hits such as “What Makes You Beautiful” and “One Thing.” Each boy has his own personality along with perfect hair and trendy clothes which make them just that much more lovable. The group placed third on the U.K.’s “X Factor” in 2010 where Simon Cowell picked them up and signed them to his record label.

To prove their power, they were the first U.K. group in history to have their first album debut at number one on the American Billboard

charts. The five show no sign of slowing down now as they continue to take over the radio waves.

The U.K. invasion does not stop there though; another group of five has also been a big hit on the radio. The Wanted is, again, pop music but with much more dance-beat influences. Their biggest hit to date, “Glad You Came,” was covered on a “Glee” episode

by The Warblers, proving their influence on music at this moment. They are continuing to climb up the charts in the U.K. with a series of singles, some of which are crossing over to the U.S., such as “Chasing the Sun.” This group was also on the U.K.’s “X Factor” under a different name in 2006, but complications banned them from the show, so they continued to make music on their own while changing the line up to add new members.

They are now in full force and ready to continue pumping out the hits.

Boy Bands through the years 60’s

The Monkees

The Beatles

70’s

The Jackson 5

80’s New Edition Menudo

In your face

90’s

New Kid on the Block

Hanson 00’s

*NSYNC

Backstreet Boys

Jonas Brothers

4.30.2012

Inklings

Frustrating Facebook flukes

By Mona Nour staff reporter

I can’t help but notice how much I have recently begun to hate the popular networking site Facebook.

The makers of Facebook have taken advantage of how addicting the website is by constantly bombarding users with frequent changes in layout and mechanics without fear of losing Facebookers. Not only are these changes dramatically different, but they are not even useful. For example, a recent change that Facebook has adopted is the “timeline” layout.

The banner at the top is nothing more than wasted space, the organization of information is illogical and the overall view isn’t pleasant to the eye. Which brings me to my next point of what I hate: how cramped it is. There isn’t enough white space for your eyes to take a break from all the photos and comments.

Although Facebook gives users the illusion of privacy, our information is obviously sold to advertisers because of how precise the ads are that are directed to users. Even the website itself doesn’t allow for privacy; everything is everyone’s business. Whether it’s your comment on a friend’s photo or a post on your sister’s wall, all activity is shown in your friends’ newsfeeds.

Another problem that Facebook has yet to fix is the annoying notifications from games. It’s as though every time I log onto Facebook and see a red notification, thinking that it’s relevant to me, it turns out that it’s only “Marissa sent you an invitation on Farmville.” Why hasn’t Facebook created a way to stop receiving these notifications? It all goes back to the makers of Facebook trying to convince you to play such games and therefore making you spend more time on their site.

Unfortunately, they are very successful in making the site addictive. Missed deadlines, sleep deprivation and procrastination are all results of how addicting it is. That’s the number one reason why I hate Facebook. No matter how many things accumulate on my “Things that I hate about Facebook” list, I don’t think I’ll stop using it anytime soon.

What was your most recent facebook status?

Troy Grady freshman

Alyssa Cafarella sophomore

Some things never change.

Lollapalooza anyone?

Taylor Adams junior

Freddy Benich senior

Got to experience something really nice tonight.

The Smokehouse BBQ Chicken sub at Subway is so good.

4.30.2012

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Inklings

Baseball prepares for playoff push Bulldog squad looks to build up momentum

Photo Illustration By Alyssa Blahunka

By Sam Beishuizen sports editor

This year’s baseball team has had a near-perfect start to the season as they have begun driving up the state rankings.

The next two weeks of the schedule are already packed with games. The ‘Dogs have a series of six games over the next 11 days as they look to gain momentum for a playoff push.

One of the most dominating wins for the ‘Dogs so far this year came against DAC rival Chesterton. The team was led by junior Zach Plesac on all sides of the field. Plesac not only pitched a no hitter, but also came up big at the plate in the clutch with a walk off home run in the bottom of the seventh to win the game. “(Throwing a no hitter) was a really cool experience.

It was my first no hitter since I was in little league,” Plesac said. “Adding in the walk off home run in the same game on top of it made it almost unreal.”

As Plesac rounded the bases after hitting the game-winning shot, his emotions got the best of him when his teammates gathered around him to celebrate.

“Everything just came out,” Plesac said. “It was such a hard-fought game, and the emotions just got me.”

In the ‘Dogs only DAC loss of the year, the ‘Dogs went down to number one state-ranked Lake Central.

The team lost with a final 12-5 despite having a four-for-four performance by senior Jake Lindeman at the plate.

“Lake Central is a good team,” head coach Steve Strayer said. “We can definitely improve enough to be able to beat them. We need to take a better approach at the plate.”

Another key factor in the future success of the ‘Dogs this season is going to be whether or not their pitching improves.

“Our pitching needs to become more consistent,” Strayer said. “Our guys just need to concentrate on their own mechanics and hitting their spots. They need to try not to worry about the situations they are in and just focus on their games.”

Even with the ‘Dogs DAC leading record, Plesac still thinks the team has room to grow and improve the rest of the season.

“We still haven’t peaked yet. We still need to learn each other and figure out our roles,” Plesac said. “Once we all get on the same page and start clicking, it is going to be scary to see where we are at-- scary good.”

Once we all get on “ the same page and

ZachPlesac Grade: Junior Age: 17 Height: 6’1” Weight: 165 Record: 5-0 Positions: Starting Pitcher, Third Base, First Base RBI’s: 8 Home Runs: 1

start clicking, it is going to be scary to see where we are at-scary good.

Orosz Brunski

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Zach Plesac junior

SoftballHome

TennisAway

4.30.2012

4.30.2012

Chesterton at Crown Point

Crown Point at Kankakee Valley

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Lindeman

4:30 p.m.

Crown Point at Chesterton

Hopman

Plesac Lynk Morgan

Graphic By Alyssa Blahunka

This shows the starting players of the varsity baseball team for the 2012 season.

BaseballAway 4.30.2012

Bayer

Nickla

BoysTrackHome 5.1.2012 4:00 p.m.

Crown Point vs.

Michigan City/Merrillville

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Girls softball continues success

By Alex McLean sports editor

Life is full of unexpected obstacles. How a person reacts to sudden changes is often a measure of his character. The girls softball team was thrown a curveball when coach Brett Crutchfield was placed on paid leave pending further investigation. However, the girls are not striking out on the season with a current record of 13-3.

Former Lowell coach Ginger Britton was appointed as the new head coach, but declined to comment on the matter.

After starting the season 4-0, the girls traveled to Munster. After falling behind 3-0 in the first period, the Bulldogs took over. Sophomore Allison Rock went 4-4 with four RBI’s.

Photo by Abby eineman Senior RaeAnna Jenks managed Sophomore Rachel Suits lays down a bunt in a home game against Valparaiso. The girls domto send one runner home and inated the Vikings, winning the game in six innings with a score of 10-0. accounted for two more runs. in the first, which would end up playoffs, the Lady ‘Dogs faced team their first shut-out and secThe Lady ‘Dogs got their being the only runs the ‘Dogs off against Hanover Central. ond loss of the year. first taste of close competition would put up during their 4-2 The ‘Dogs scored three runs in “We faced an incredible in a game against Chesterton. loss. two innings, but the night was pitcher that game. We hadn’t The Trojans put up five runs “We couldn’t hit the out- won with pitching. Gyure faced faced anyone with that good in the first inning, but the side pitch she was throwing. We 18 batters and kept every single speed and movement, so we just girls managed to force extra inalso left a lot of runners strand- one from reaching base. weren’t used to it,” Gyure said. nings. Sophomore Bailey Moed; it’s hard to win with that,” “I was hitting all my spots From there, the girls got res knocked in junior Courtney junior Maty Coppess said. and getting good movement all wins against LaPorte and ValHolm for the winning run.

Next, the girls hosted the game. My change-up has been paraiso but were upset by Michi“Chesterton’s a great team.

Crown Point Softball Tourna- doing really well lately,” Gyure gan City. Despite this, Britton We let them get ahead at first, ment. In the opening game, said. “I couldn’t have done it has confidence in the team. but once we tied them we knew the girls dominated Merrillville, without my team. I’m very confi“I definitely think we have we could win,” Gyure said. scoring 10 runs and allowing dent in the defense.” a shot at winning sectionals “Once one of us starts hitting, none. Sophomore Allison Rock The girls then moved on to and going deep into the postit gets the team motivated and went 4-4 and knocked in three the championship game against season,” Britton said. everybody starts hitting.” runs.

Andrean. The ‘59ers shut down The girls traveled to HomeThe girls then hosted Lake In the second round of the the Bulldog offense, handing the wood-Flossmoor, but results Central. Rock drove in two runs

4.30.2012 Inklings

New football coach named Chip Pettit helped build the Crown Point football team, and now that Pettit has been named school principal for the next school year, the duty will fall to Kevin Enright. Under Pettit, the Bulldogs went 72-51 over the course of his 11 seasons as head coach. The team surprised many last year when they captured their first sectional crown since 2006 and battled Penn for three quarters.

Enright, who has been HomewoodFlossmoor’s defensive coordinator for the last three years, joined the Bulldog staff in 2002. He defensively helped lead the ‘Dogs to a combined 31-5 record over 2005, 2006 and 2007 with a DAC title in each year. Enright will take on a younger team and look to continue the success from last season.

Senior wrestler among best in the nation Jason Tsirtsis has been named 2012 InterMat High School Wrestler of the Year. Along with being a four-time state champion, he has been rewarded with numerous accomplishments throughout his wrestling career. Jason lost a pair of matches his freshman year but dominated the state from then on. He went 42-0 each of his last three seasons for a career record of 176-2. Tsirtsis competed in the Dapper Dan and was pitted against state champions from Pennsylvania and Iowa. His winning continued as he came out on top in both matches. Tsirtsis also has two runner-up titles in the Super 32 on his resume. Tsirtsis will be attending Northwestern University on a full ride for wrestling.

Track teams look to maintain mid-season success

By Kara Biernat staff reporter

Photo by Donnella Casillas

Freshman Alyssa Vajda practices her hurdles.

As the track teams approach mid-season, the boys and girls continue to compete with focus and determination.

The Lady ‘Dogs took on Chesterton on Tuesday at home to celebrate their seniors on senior night. The girls came out determined knowing Chesterton was a strong competitor. Senior Lauren McCarroll took the competition as a motive to try harder.

“We went into the meet knowing it was going to be tough, so we took it as a challenge and focused even more on succeeding,” McCarroll said.

The girls tied the Trojans with an allaround score of 66. McCarroll competed in the 4x800 relay and the 3200 meter run.

“Taking first in the two mile was a great addition to tying such a good team.”

The girls racked up their 66 points by placing first in eight events.

Head coach Lindsay Hattendorf was also satisfied with the results.

“The girls did a great job against Chesterton. They stepped up and did what they needed to do to tie a great team,” Hattendorf said.

After a good showing on senior night, the girls are putting the tie on a positive note and are hoping to keep improving. They travelled to Crawfordsville for the Athenian Relays on April 27, but results were unavailable at press time.

The boys track team started their season out strong. They are 2-4 and travelled to Chesterton on April 24 to take on the Trojans.

The Chesterton Trojans (2-6) outran the Bulldogs 73-59. Senior Logan McRae took the loss as motivation. Along with the rest of

Book updo with Lauren Z or Brittany and receive 1/2 off make-up application (Prom Special) David Taylor 8080 East 109th Avenue Crown Point, IN 46307 (219)663-3090

the team, McRae is putting the loss behind him and focusing on the meets ahead.

“The loss is behind us, and there’s nowhere to look but ahead and stay determined to win now,” McRae said.

McRae took second in the 100 meter dash and third in the 200 meter dash. He also competed in the 4x100 meter relay along with seniors Matt Netluch and Capone Shannon, and freshman Wess Honaker. The relay took first with a time of 44:31.00.

Head coach Keith Iddings is looking at the positive side of the loss.

“We had a number of individuals in relays that did a great job and achieved personal bests. However, Chesterton also did a good job and unfortunately scored more points,” Iddings said.

The boys will compete next at Kokomo at the Kokomo relays on Saturday.

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15 Boys Golf swings into spring season ports

4.30.2012 Inklings

Alex’s sports corner

Bulldog golf faces season without now-IU golfer Nick Grubnich

By Sam Beishuizen sports editor

Referees change course of NHL playoffs Alex McLean sports editor

This year’s NHL playoffs have been one of the most action-packed in recent memory. The two top seeds took an early exit, along with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who many had picked to win the Cup. However, this first round has also been marred by poor refereeing and especially violent behavior by the players.

Over the course of the last few seasons, many of the veteran refs have retired, leaving more inexperienced on-ice officials than in past years.

One Eastern Conference coach commented that he feels they cannot control a game.

Many think the officials lost control on the first night of the playoffs when Nashville’s Shea Weber slammed Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg into the glass. Critics were screaming for a suspension, but Zetterberg skated away with just a $2,500 fine or, in other words, pocket change.

The league took a step toward better enforcement for suspending Raffi Torres for 25 games after his leaping hit that knocked Blackhawks player Marian Hossa out of the series.

While it is good to see action being taken, it should not have taken a blatantly illegal hit by a player with history knocking out a key player to wake the league up.

Every series has had its fill of cheap hits and fights.

The Penguins-Flyers series was more violent than an Arnold Schwarzenneger movie.

Since the installment of a salary cap in 2005, the playoffs have become more and more competitive. This year has proven how evenly matched the teams are. This competition has led to higher tensions and dirty play. The league needs to step in before there is a serious injury.

Any time a team loses its number one player, it is only natural to need to rebuild the following year. For Crown Point golf, losing current Indiana University golfer Nick Grubnich leaves them looking to replace one of the greatest golfers in school history without losing any ground on the success they have had over the past few seasons.

“Grubnich was a great leader throughout his four years of being on the team, but I feel like having an outstanding player is only going to help us in the long run,” junior Pat Mudd said. “It only makes us more competitive within the team for the spots.”

Head coach Del Kutemeier does not see the current season as a rebuilding year, but rather to expand upon the opportunities with new players who are going to be expected to take on newer and higher roles than the players before them.

“We are not looking at this as rebuilding this year,” Kutemeier said. “We are just reloading our team. We have a ton of returning players this year that are going to help out.”

In the ‘Dogs first tournament of the year at the Warsaw Invitational, the team finished in the middle of the pack with high scores throughout the squad. The weather was filled with rain and wind, which caused the ‘Dogs’

Photo by Donnella Casillas

Sophomore Madie Cleland serves to the opposing team during a recent match.

Heat

26 Spurs 26 Other

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The girls tennis team is starting out their season strong with a record of 5-2 (2-0 in the conference). The girls have had to find a balance between school and tennis. Head coach Brian Elston knows the difficulties of juggling school and having games more than once a week.

“The toughest part about the season is having matches during the week. For instance, we had matches all last week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and they were all away,” Elston said.

The inconvenience of getting home late is becoming more apparent as the season continues. However, the girls continue to focus on the match at hand anyway.

“We are always on task. We are aggressive and very consistent while playing no matter how late we were up the last night doing homework,” junior Sarah Debs said.

Upon facing four ranked teams in the DAC, the girls are ready to put on their game

faces.

“We have matches against Chesterton, Munster, Highland and Valparaiso, and they are all ranked in the conference. Not only do we face them, but we play Lake Central, Lowell and Kankakee Valley in the sectional,” Elston said.

With only two seniors on the team this year, underclassmen have had to accept the responsibility to take charge.

“We don’t have superstars, but we are solid all the way through our line-up. So on one day our number one, two or three singles could be our strength, and the next day our number one or two doubles could be our strength. It varies depending on our opponent,” Elston said.

A constant strength, however, is the team’s support for one another.

“Our team is like a family. We go together to all of the matches whether it’s JV or varsity.

You will always have the support of your team,” junior Anne Sophie Ostmeyer said.

The girls JV team will play in the LaPorte JV invite this weekend.

inside NBA Playoffs

26 Bulls

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team, freshman Mike Lee, who has already proven to be a solid contender in the DAC. Lee shot a team best one under round against Boone Groove at his home course, Lakes of the Four Seasons.

Even with Lee’s best leading score of the meet, the ‘Dogs still fell to the Wolves by one shot. In the following meet, the ‘Dogs lost

By Alexa Grady asst. sports editor

Thunder 26

scores to balloon. “(The conditions that day) were really bad, but we are still to blame for those scores,” Pat Mudd said. “We did not bring our ‘A games,’ and we could have played a lot better.”

One player that is going to help with the reloaded golf program is the newest addition to the

Lady ‘Dogs tennis to face Kankakee Valley tonight

Who will capture the NBA championship crown?

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Photo by Donnella Casillas

Senior golfer Ryan Edwards hits a wood from the fairway at Youche Country Club last Wednesday. Edwards shot a 52 in a losing effort to Lake Central. Edwards is this year’s team captain.

to Lake Central in a fifth man tiebreaker, bringing their overall record down to 2-2.

“Our biggest problem as a team has been a lack of consistency throughout the team,” junior Matt Mudd said. “(Our start to the season) has been a rude awakening for us, and we need to get back on track.”

One of the biggest rival competitors for the ‘Dogs this season will be DAC rival Valparaiso. The Vikings, much like the ‘Dogs, have a team full of competitive and persistent junior players.

“Valpo is going to be a tough team to beat all season,” Matt Mudd said. “I think that we can definitely beat them though. We have done it before, we can do it again.”

Even with the team’s slow 2-2 start, the ‘Dogs are still looking to have a successful year. “(Our goals this year) are to win 20 matches this year and finish near the top of the DAC,” Pat Mudd said. “The biggest thing that we want to do is to do well in the post-season.”

The ‘Dogs traveled to play in the K.V. Invitational on Saturday, but the results were not available in time for publishing. The ‘Dogs will be looking to defend their title from last year.

The ‘Dogs next meet will be tomorrow night at their home course Youche Country Club against Merrillville and Chesterton.

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One of the most exciting times in basketball has finally been reached. The NBA playoffs is getting underway with a number of great match-ups, and after last year’s surprises, anything is possible.

Oklahoma City and the Miami Heat enter the playoffs as the favorites. Miami will have their “Big 3” looking for redemption after getting ousted in six games by Dallas. Oklahoma City is being led by the young all-star dual of Kevin Durant and

Russell Westbrook who are both looking for their first titles.

Other story-lines around the league include the Chicago Bulls trying to learn to play with Derrick Rose again, the Indiana Pacers quietly being in third place in the east, and Kobe Bryant going after a fifth ring all while Dallas is trying to defend their crown. With all of these headlines, no doubt this year’s playoffs will be worth watching.

Sam says “I am letting the fan in me take over in saying, ‘other.’ In the west, Dallas is getting healthy at just the right time, and the Pacers could be a surprise team in the east.”

Alex says “Miami’s roster is just too stacked to compete with. Even with a healthy Rose, the Bulls can’t match up with the Heat. Nobody is going to stop the King this year.”

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4.30.2012

Kendall of Comedy

Inklings

TakeFive

Senior Paul Kendall takes humor from classroom to computer

Junior

Elizabeth Lennon Light and Free I wish I could fly because I like the thought of feeling light and free.

Worldly

Photo by MARY-KATHERINE LEMON

By Olivia Graham entertainment editor

In the age of social media, sites like Facebook and YouTube can become places to successfully feature unique talents and creativity.

Senior Paul Kendall, by utilizing social networking, is achieving a long-desired dream: showcasing his humor.

“People tend to laugh at the things that I say, so I thought it might be a good idea to record it, but I never had the courage to do it until this year,” Kendall said. “I’m a senior now …, so I’m comfortable enough with myself to put (videos) out there now.”

Kendall began posting his videos on Facebook in February. Being hesitant on how the idea would be perceived, he created a “tester” video to see if people would actually watch them. Now he has uploaded four videos to his account, racking up hundreds of views.

“I was told (my video about income disparity) was very Stephen Colbert-esque,” Kendall

said. “I felt like it was appropriate considering the elections that are coming up.”

Before he began posting videos, Kendall frequently posted humorous Facebook statuses to entertain his friends. Kendall has kept with it. Like his videos, they are often satirical, featuring problems like applying for scholarships and people not using correct grammar on the Internet. His videos explore such topics as the income gap in America and receiving unneeded recognition for his videos.

“If there’s one thing I love, it is unnecessary attention. I welcome it. I feel like me being in this story is just like creating some horrific Hallmark tragedy,” Kendall said in a video.

“Someone’s going to go home and be like, ‘mom, I got an A on my test and I got a scholarship and I got accepted into Yale and … I saved Kim Kardashian’s marriage …, but I didn’t get my story in Inklings. You know who did? Paul Kendall – with his Justin Bieber hair.”

Kendall, who will be attending Valparaiso

University in the fall, does not plan on pursuing a career in comedy but wants to continue in college through groups similar to Crown Point’s Stray Dogs, the improvisational comedy group who is having a show on May 4 and is featuring Kendall doing his original stand-up comedy. “(Stray Dogs) was just fun in general and also I think it has helped me put myself out there as a performer and let people see my sense of humor.”

He says he has had mostly positive feedback on his videos but believes people are holding back.

“I definitely encourage criticism … in good fun that is,” Kendall said.

As for what to expect in future Kendall videos, “I took a very interesting trip to the mall… and I think I’m going to have to slip that in somewhere, just kind of people-watching and seeing some of the horrendous things people do to their children.”

I love learning about Japanese culture - art, fashion, music and history so I thought learning the language would be good for me.

Artistic I’ve won two contests for my drawing. I had to draw a picture of a scene from Carmen.

Don’t sweat the small stuff Something that annoys me is people complaining about the littlest things.

You know you’re taking AP tests when...

Kyle Heilman sophomore

You grade practice AP tests for five classes

Amanda Pavot junior

You spend time after school goin g to study sessions

Jim Ingelhart social studies teacher

Teachers keep reviewing old material to help prepare you

Photos by Trisha Semplinski and Donnella Casillas

You’ve been taking practice AP tests

Katie McClaren senior