Inklings Dec. 2011

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INKLINGS December 16, 2011 - Volume 76 Issue 4 - Crown Point High School - 1500 S. Main Street - inklings@cps.k12.in.us

This Issue: News

Stealing the spotlight

During holiday season thefts rise causing residents, students to be more wary of surroundings

C

Fast-a-thon

rown Point: A city of 27,317 people and around 530 theft-related crimes in 2010. Theft, auto theft and burglary made up a total of 96 percent of Crown Point’s crime in 2010 according to City-Data.com. The amount of these crimes in 2011 is projected to be 748 total. Crown Point Police Officer Michael Brazil said he responds to at least one call about theft per day. Though lower than the state average, reports of theft in Crown Point are keeping the police department busy.

The Muslim Students Association holds its 6th annual Fast-a-thon Page 2

Feature Year in review Inklings reflects on the best moments, accomplishments and memories of 2011 Pages 10-11

Arts

Masala Jack’s The new restaurant on Broadway offers a delicious Indian-style menu Page 15

Sports

Siblings play A copious amount of siblings at CPHS compete on teams together Page 16

Opinion

Although recent events in Crown Point have made the city seem less safe, crime rates are still less than national averages so students should stay calm and carry on. Page 4

Visit us online at inklingsonline.org

photo by Mary-katherine lemon

A police squad car stays parked on the Courthouse Square in the early morning hours of Sun., Dec. 11. In light of the stabbing death of Brandon Huseman, 26, on Nov. 24 following an altercation, police presence has been increased according to Police Officer Michael Brazil. By Mary-Katherine Lemon / Kelsey Lennon news editor / managing editor

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341 With talk of crime comes talk of prevention, which is seen as essential to reducing nearly every 300 type of crime from theft to violence. At the high schoool, theft is something that 200 students and the administration deal with. Dean 100 57 of Students Russ Marcinek said that theft is re36 26 19 8 4 ported and dealt with about five or fewer times 0 Theft Burglaries Robberies Auto Theft a month. “It’s not an epidemic. However, I would enCrown Point Cedar Lake courage students to be careful about what they bring to school because if it’s an expensive item such as a cell phone or an iPod... there would be and then they contacted the kid’s parents … and a temptation for some students to take that item he had to pay for a new cell phone and cover if you leave it out on a desk and you’re not paying like everything I had on it.” From there, Hiestand said, “(Noonan) … close attention to it,” he said. made sure that the money got to my mom to get During her freshman year, senior Brooke (me) a new cell phone.” Hiestand had a cell phone stolen out of her backMarcinek said the current disciplinary propack. “I remember walking away from my backcess for theft is as follows: “On the school end, pack for probably five seconds and I came back we’re looking at anything from restitution, reand I couldn’t find it,” Hiestand said. “I searched placement, to in-school (or) out-of-school suspenall over the place. Then the next day, I confrontsion, maybe even detention for a small item. Outed the class about it and a kid came up to me … side of the school scope, Officer Noonan’s role and said he knew the person that took it.” is to determine whether or not he wants to press Hiestand said she reported it stolen and charges and file a police report.” School Resource Officer Chuck Noonan handled Not all students receive the same punishthe case. Hiestand said that Noonan responded ment due to various factors. “There’s a difference quickly to her report. between stealing an iPod and a pen... Typically Due to the student alledgedly claiming he what we do is we would ask the student to replace sold it, Hiestand said, “I never got the actual cell the item or give restitution - meaning money - to phone back, but my mom contacted the school

replace that item,” Marcinek said. “There’s all sorts of things that go in to determining the punishment of a student. We use the handbook as a guide.” Marcinek also said that the severity of disciplinary action may also depend on whether it is the student’s first offense and how quickly they admitted to stealing an item. However, Hiestand does not feel that the consequences were adequate in her case. “(The student) just had to pay for (the cell phone),” Hiestand said. “So basically, his parents just handed him the money and he felt like he got away with it.” Marcinek said that in his experience, lack of disciplinary action is rare. “In most cases, students are going to face disciplinary action if they steal something,” he said. “In just about every case unless it’s a really, really insignificant item, the student is going to get punished.” Some cases of theft are serious enough to necessitate legal action. “I believe we had three incidents where legal action was taken last year,” Marcinek said. “Basically what it boils down to is what… has been stolen (and) who it (has) been stolen from,” Noonan said. Noonan said that if the person who committed the theft is caught with the stolen item, “They could be arrested because they are in possession of stolen property.”

See “Safety” on page 3


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