Inklings may 2017

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Crown Point High School @InklingsCPHS May 19, 2017 Vol. 81 Issue 9

Read about the Best Buddies Friendship Walk on page 2

page 9

Class of 2017: Seniors reflect on high school experiences

THE OPIOID

In Lake County, Indiana, there have been

EPIDEMIC

50+

Availability, addictiveness of drug lead to fatal consequences

BY JACKIE HAM ALLY REKITZKE ALEXIA WOJCIECHOWSKI co-editor-in-chief co-associate editor feature editor

All it takes is one time.

One time of using heroin, to decide someone’s future. As the number of drug related deaths continue to rise, Indiana seeks a solution for this epidemic.

According to Lake County Coroner Merrilee Frey, Lake County had 114 drug overdose deaths in 2016 with 55 related to heroin, and within the first five months of 2017, there have been 50 plus drug overdose deaths alone.

“In 2012 we had 48 drug overdose deaths, 23 of those were heroin related. In 2013 we had 65 drug overdose deaths, 31 of those were heroin related. In 2014: 68 drug overdose deaths, 32 of those were heroin related. In 2015: 80 drug overdose deaths, six heroin related,” Frey said. “That’s just drug overdose deaths here in Lake County, Indiana, covering 17 cities and towns. The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) and CDC (Center for Disease Control) state that we’re just at the beginning, that this is going to take off like a jet airplane over the next several years, so our numbers are going to continue to rise even more rapidly than what they have done since 2012.”

Because of the rapidly increasing numbers of opioid related deaths throughout the country, Frey said that the CDC has labeled it an epidemic.

“Our CDC ... has labelled three things (later stated in the story) that need to be done in regards to this

epidemic. It is no longer what we would call a concern like other deaths we have such as suicides or accidents. It’s really a worldwide health epidemic,” Frey said.

Lake County has experienced widespread accounts of heroin related deaths, and earlier this year, five Griffith High School graduates fell victim to heroin overdoses as reported by the Northwest Indiana Times and confirmed by Griffith Principal Brian Orkis. Orkis says the heroin and opioid problem is pervasive in other counties and is starting to appear more in Lake County, which has opened the eyes of the community.

“We really want to try to put some things in place to try to stop this before it really becomes an out of control type of situation,” Orkis said. “But I think the best thing we could have done, at the direction of our school board, is brought a speaker (to talk) about his daughter and his experience with her having a heroin overdose. I think that particular presence really resonated within our students and brought the issue more to light to say it was (an issue) prior to (the graduates’ deaths).”

The speaker, Dr. Mann Spitler, lost his 20-year-old daughter, Manda, to a heroin overdose. His story

is told on page 3.

“I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place. It really made you sit back and think. It is one of those things where, I hate to use this analogy, but it punches you in the face.

You start to focus in on what’s really important,” Orkis said.

An important first step in stemming heroin deaths is careful distribution of prescribed medications, according to Frey and the CDC.

“The majority of these cases, in fact, are starting from taking prescription medications that are opioids, whether they are getting it directly from their physicians or getting it from their grandmother’s medicine cabinet,” Frey said.

Secondly, Frey says the CDC thinks this abuse can be regulated by implementing new programs such as Medication Assisted Therapies, MAT. Lake County is beginning a program that records the history of drug usage a person may have and allows a physician to prescribe medication to try to stop their consumption.

Currently, Frey is working alongside Lake County Sheriff, John Buncich, with the overpopulation of the county jail due to drug related charges.

“We are currently going to be starting our pilot project to where we are going to find those that have an opioid addiction, such as heroin. We’re going to ask them and encourage them to join a program that we have where we would give them about one week prior to discharge, an injection of a medication called Vivitrol, one of those medication assisted therapies, and we would also give them follow up in our community with the physician,” Frey said.

Vivitrol is an extended release of Narcan, an emergency rescue medication, that blocks neural receptors that are affected by opioids for 28 days. After the 28 days, the patient would follow up with a provider for another injection.

The last step the CDC recommends is Narcan training to decrease heroin and opioid deaths. see opioids on page 3

overdose deaths in 2017

... and it is only May.

Rise

On the

114

Drug Overdose Deaths

Heroin Related Deaths 80 68

65

55 48

46 31

32

2013

2014

23

2012

2015

2016

Statistics provided by the Lake County Coroner’s office.

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news may 19, 2017

intheknow

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reporter

The distribution of the 2016-2017 Excalibur yearbook, “There’s Always That One,” will take place during lunches on May 23. There will be a limited number of cash and carry yearbooks selling for $80, first come first serve. A supplemental yearbook for spring coverage will be distributed in August.

In addition, the Excalibur staff has uploaded various pictures from this school year on the school’s website under the news section.

Music playing and people dancing filled the cafeteria all for a charitable cause.

As the end of another school year neared, Student Council planned their annual Dance Marathon, a charity event for Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Although this was not the first time the event has been hosted at the high school, this was the first time Student Council worked with Lurie Children’s Hospital. In previous years, Riley Children’s Hospital was the center of the charity.

Student Council President Rachyl Adams was in charge of making the entire event run smoothly. This was ensured by her leadership plan.

“Basically, what we did was we had all of the senior officers and gave them all a committee

PHOTO BY JEREMY DEBOLD From left to right, juniors Noor Malik, Anna Biesen, Nicole Libiran and Jackie Jatis dance at the annual Dance Marathon in the cafeteria. Other students were in the field house playing basketball and dodgeball, and food was provided for attendees in the small cafeteria.

(and) had every member of Student Council join a committee.

Then every committee worked hard on specific aspects of the event just to make sure it was the best it could be,” Adams said.

On the night of the Dance Marathon, a table of pizza,

Wind Ensemble participates in state competition for first time in school history

BY DESTINY KOGLER reporter

Making history. The Crown Point Wind Ensemble competed at state for the first time in Crown Point history. The band had the opportunity to perform in Indianapolis on Saturday, May 6. This was a new experience for the band, and many would consider it a privilege to have attended.

Sophomore Jared Wood has been in the Crown Point High School band for two years as a trombone player, and was able to attend state with the band.

“It was incredible. It was something that I’ve never experienced before, and it is something that I can not wait to experience again,” Wood said. “It was kind of intimidating, being surrounded by these incredible bands, but it was also kind of self-validating because it meant that we had finally been recognized for our talent.”

Other students were able to appreciate the experience knowing how much time they devoted to band, spending hours both inside and outside of school rehearsing for state. They performed a compilation of three different songs: “The Ringmaster’s March” by John Mackey, “Incantation and Dance” by James Barnes Chance and “Machu Picchu” by Satoshi Yagisawa.

“I’m really proud of everyone. It is really fun because we work so hard, and to perform with some of the best bands in

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the state is a really good opportunity for us and for the entire music program,” junior Marissa Okeley said.

For some, like senior Michael O’Brien, this trip was closure, and it was a positive note to end on. Band can extend beyond just a class, like for the students who attended state. For seniors who spent hours rehearsing, state competition is the last big event they will be able to be a part of.

“It was super cool to be a part of the band making history, and on a more personal note, it was cool to end my high school career with such a high point. I actually cried three times during our last song and then a few times afterwards. It was a very emotional day,” O’Brien said.

With this being his last year in the band and his last time serving as section leader for the drumline, O’Brien says he witnessed the end of an era. Other than drumline, the band director Johann Sletto was also able to enjoy the accomplishment of the band.

“Unreal. It’s been something that we worked hard at for so long that it almost felt like it was a dream. So there was a lot of excitement, but there was also a lot of anxiety, a lot of stress. We wanted to go and do well and show that we deserved to be there and, so it was a lot of mixed emotions of being the first Crown Point group to go to state for band, having that kind of responsibility but also a lot of excitement and joy,” Sletto said.

drinks and desserts was free to all that attended. People also had the chance to participate in games like dodgeball, basketball, ping pong and bags. Additionally, juniors Cassidy Stanage, Alicia Pinchok and Karlye Sopczak taught a dance that they choreographed themselves.

This year’s goal was to raise $10,000 according to Student Council advisor Colleen Fano who also says each year, the money they raise grows in number.

“In the past, we have raised $4,100, $6,734 and $8,572. Every year we seem to raise $2,000 more,” Fano said.

Though the trend did not continue, the event did raise $9,691, which is the highest amount raised since the first appearance of the event at the high school in 2012. While the main benefit of hosting the event is for charitable reasons, Adams says it also acts as an eye-opener for people.

“This event has changed me for the better. It’s made me feel more humble,” Adams said. “The event has been good in making everyone realize how fortunate they are and how they can make a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate.”

Communities unite

walk the walk: at Friendship Walk

BY DEMETRI MASSOW reporter

It’s a celebration of friendship and acceptance that is fun for most, otherwise known at the Best Buddies Friendship Walk. Every year, the Best Buddies clubs from around the Region come together and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Originally created by Anthony Shriver, the walks, both in Lake County and around the world, allow people to learn more about IDD while removing the social and economic barriers people with IDD have experienced.

“The Friendship Walk is the number one walk in the country that raises awareness and funds to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” special education teacher Liz Hanlon said.

According to Hanlon, the funds raised and the donations given to the clubs go to improving the opportunities presented to people with IDD. “(The funds) help provide for our leadership conference that we’re having this summer in Bloomington. It helps pay for necessary things for people who have disabilities function as productive citizens in their community, and it helps pay for job development programs,” Hanlon said.

Along with the walk, other opportunities are presented to students to help the Best Buddies clubs in reaching their monetary goals. Junior Jackie Jatis, the secretary

for the CPHS chapter of Best Buddies, has given multiple ways to help support the walk.

“During lunch we had these footprints we sold for a dollar, and (students) could have contributed to that by donating,” Jatis said. “During March, that’s the special needs awareness month, we sold ‘I Love CP’ shirts and a lot of people get those.”

Students in the club were also able to create teams on the Best Buddies website which were tasked with raising money and awareness for the walk by promoting the event and receiving donations. Sophomore Maggie Mangan created her own team in order to support the event.

“I created a team on the website with my sister called team Maggie and Brenna, and we raised over $2,000 on it,” Mangan said. “My dad created a Facebook post and shared it, so all his friends donated. That will help a lot of people, and some classmates joined my team and donated too.”

Though raising money is a benefit of the event, it is not the entire purpose of the walk according to Hanlon. It brings awareness to those with IDDs’ desires to live happy lives, and it is Hanlon’s favorite part of the event.

“The most fun is just seeing everybody together, and everybody is happy and accepts one another,” Hanlon said. “It brings an awareness that people with disabilities are just like everybody else, and they want to lead a productive happy life just like us.”

Thinking Ahead for June holidays

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National Donut Day

16 Fresh Veggies Day 21 National Selfie Day 29 National Camera Day

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Annual student council Dance Marathon raises $9,691 for Lurie Children’s Hospital

BY LINDSEY BAEZA

Excalibur yearbook to be distributed on May 23

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Commencement Ceremony

Summer School Begins

Last Day of School

Father’s Day

Flag Day

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Diploma Pickup

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Summer Solstice

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A Father’s story

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news may 19, 2017

Dad retells story of losing daughter to heroin at young age The loss of a child can be hard for any parent especially when the cause is at the hands of addiction. Dr. Mann Spitler of Valparaiso lost his daughter, Manda, to a heroin overdose when she was 20 years old.

Spitler explained that as a child she was very sensitive and shy. She grew up loved by her mother and himself in both a good house and neighborhood. At the age of 13, Manda used her first drug, Nicotine, in the form of cigarettes. Spitler spent the next seven years trying to get her to stop smoking, which was unsuccessful.

Cigarettes were the stepping stones for Manda to get involved with more serious drugs, and in Manda’s notebook, she had mentioned smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol and taking LSD. Spitler relates Manda’s drug use to the friends she surrounded herself with. He believes the groups she hung out with in high school as well as one of her boyfriends had the largest influence on her because they were drug users.

“I think probably one of the biggest determinants for her, as it is for anyone that ends up using, is who their friends are.

If their friends are drug free, probably, they will be too. If their friends are into experimentation or addiction itself, that person has an incredibly high risk of developing those same behaviors,” Spitler said.

Spitler first became concerned that his daughter was in deep trouble after she began exhibiting alarming behaviors, one of the main symptoms being extreme fatigue.

This caused her to do strange and dangerous things.

“While we were eating cold breakfast cereal as she brought the spoon up to her mouth it just froze in space and not a drop of milk fell from her spoon. I reached out for her shoulder and she sort of snaps out of it, and she blamed it on fatigue so looking back at it now I know she had gotten up that day and done her heroin,” Spitler said “She crashed her car one morning on her way to babysit two grade school boys, and I think the same thing happened to her behind the wheel, causing her to crash into a mailbox and destroy the steering mechanism on her car. Here we have my daughter going over to babysit two grade school boys high on heroin.”

Shortly after Manda had began exhibiting weird symptoms, she showed up at Spitler’s home in her boyfriend’s car. According to Spitler, he was a heroin user as well as a small time dealer. “(Manda and her boyfriend) were eating over at a McDonald’s one afternoon in Lake County. The police had (her boyfriend) under surveillance, and they made their move. They searched him (and) found

heroin on his person. They searched his car, they searched Manda, there was nothing on her, so she drives his car back to our home,” Spitler said “The next morning we are having a real heart to heart talk about all of this, she admits to her addiction.

While she is doing this, I have got a drug dealer’s car parked in my driveway.”

After admitting to her addiction to heroin, Spitler urged Manda to get treatment which she accepted. Manda did not go to rehab, but she went to a detox unit in Porter Hospital. She was out of detox within a short amount of time and was to begin Intensive Outpatient Unit, another detox unit. She had her first assessment on a Tuesday, but by Saturday, she had overdosed.

“She was to begin Intensive Outpatient Unit at that facility as soon as a pre-certification from our insurance said that they would cover the services to provide treatment for. She never ever was able to start treatment. She was off of the heroin for a short period of time, maybe a week or 10 days or so,” Spitler said.

One morning while waking up for his morning run, Spitler found Manda awake when she usually slept in. He promised her favorite breakfast when he got back, but when he returned from his run, she was gone.

“I got back, and she had bolted on me.

Unbeknownst to me during the day, she got a ride from her boyfriend’s sister to go see him in Hammond where he was staying. While she was there, she took his entire stash of heroin out of his backpack and had come home with it,” Spitler said.

Later on that day, Manda had came home and told Spitler she was going to take a bath. Spitler found Manda submerged in his bathtub. She had used again. After over five hours of resuscitative efforts in the hopes of reviving Manda, she was not responsive and died on March 30, 2002.

Spitler believes that there is a lot parents can do to help lower the chances of their kids going down a path like Manda’s.

Although Spitler feels he had a good relationship with Manda, he wishes that he would have trusted Manda less and feels this would have helped opened lines of communication.

“Be a positive role model for your child … be involved in (your) child’s life. That means if you do not know squat about soccer and that child has talent in that and makes the team, then guess who the biggest soccer fan in the world is?” Spitler said.

“Show your child you are there to support them and whatever healthy activities they’re involved in.”

opioids continued from p.1 “Narcan can block that receptor and immediately reverse the effects of heroin. We, from a coroner’s perspective, are beginning Narcan training. We are actually doing a train-the-trainer program here in Lake County,” Frey said.

“HIDTA, which is High Intensity Drug Trafficking, has given us $5,000 to hold that course, so we are going to train 25 to 40 people in our community. Nurses, paramedics, EMTs, law enforcement officers, they’re going to be trained, so they may be able to facilitate a program in our community where laypeople within our community can attend Narcan training.”

Multiple Narcan pens are being carried by Porter County Police according to CPHS Director of Security Milan Damjanovic. He thinks this has brought the reality of the epidemic to the community as well as surrounding areas.

“What the cops are doing (in Porter County) is carrying two (Narcan pens) because the people who have been taking heroin, it’s in their system, so one isn’t going to do it,” Damjanovic said. “That’s been happening a lot out there, and that’s our scare. That’s our scare here in our community and in our school because (heroin is) easy to push.”

Another danger of heroin is that it is highly addictive, according to Frey, and takes one use to get hooked. After that initial high, drug users will start taking it constantly before their body starts to crave the substance to where they cannot function without it, which causes multiple physical and social issues.

Some of the physical side effects of taking the drug includes extreme fatigue, loss of consciousness and dimin-

Ryan Bell freshman

People can’t just be dragged off of airplanes like it’s no big deal, especially when it is something like a ticket that they put their money into.

President Trump announced early this month that he would be “honored” to meet with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. When met with opposition from media, he clarified that he would only be willing to meet with the dictator “under the right circumstances.”

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Having more technology move to our state is a step towards the way that people are going to be working in the future.

Lawmakers are threatening to use legislative action in response to the recent violence on a United Airlines flight. The prospect of tightening regulations on airlines is being backed by bipartisan support.

World

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It could be possible that we would have to take the landlord’s word on it at this point because who knows what the restaurant was actually Rachel Gnesevich doing. senior

Governor Eric Holcomb announced that an India-based technology company will be coming to Indiana before 2021, creating more than 2,000 new jobs.

Indiana will be the company’s first location in the United States.

Nation

Area

Tequila Restaurante located on the Crown Point Square is closing and making way for a new restaurant, Provencho. The owners of the lease claim that the rent has been unpaid for months, however, the owner of Tequila insists that his business has unfairly been charged.

the first time taking it and getting hooked on it.”

The concepts taught in D.A.R.E. involve staying away from illegal substances such as alcohol and marijuana at an early age, directly relating to Frey’s worries about gateway drugs. She states that students should worry about marijuana and alcohol usage due to the chances of turning to hard substances later in life.

“If they’re already drinking, if they’re already smoking marijuana, they’re absolutely on that path. When you listen to the history of those who do have a substance abuse history, whether it be an opioid such as heroin or whether it be cocaine, the families are often telling you they started at a very young age, drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.

We hear that on almost every single drug overdose death,” Frey said.

Greater awareness and education are positive steps. Orkis wants students to learn about the dangers of heroin and to make good choices.

“What I want them to take away from it, I really want them to make very logical, calculated decisions on what they’re doing with their lives, what they’re doing with their bodies, what friends they’re making and being able to put themselves in situation and make good decisions or make the decision not to because, quite frankly, it takes one time, and it can all be over,” Orkis said. “You just have to be careful. Every single thing that is in question. If it sounds wrong or feels wrong, you got that gut feeling, just stay away from it. There’s so much to live for. There’s so much time left to make a huge contribution to society. It’s a shame that it can be gone in a blink of an eye.”

Student reaction to events in our world

State

views on news

ishes alertness.

“When somebody has too much of the drug, like I mentioned earlier, if you can take an opioid that’s under physician prescription and under a pharmaceutical standard specific for that patient, you’re getting a dose that’s appropriate for your body weight and size. But when you’re buying it off the streets, it’s not controlled. You don’t know what dose you’re going to get, so at times it can cause the body to stop working. It can cause the heart rate to stop. It can cause the breathing to cease and, ultimately, death,” Frey said.

Along with the addictive qualities of the drug, Damjanovic believes that a large part of the growth of the epidemic is because of the availability and low cost of heroin.

Since the increasing problem surrounding heroin, the school corporations have begun to modify the current drug use prevention programs and education of drugs. There is a nationwide education program called Drug Abuse Resistance Education, known as D.A.R.E, for fifth grade students, and previously, the high school had a club for the nationwide organization called Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.).

“One of the biggest things is education. We do have the D.A.R.E. program, but that only hits fifth grade. What we’re looking to do is to try to bring back S.A.D.D. We used to have that, but it kind of fell through. We still have the club, but no one’s been sponsoring it,” Damjanovic said. “We’re looking to do that next year (and educate) our younger kids, not just at fifth grade, and take it to the middle schools and into the high school to educate (about) the part of how dangerous the stuff can be, (even) just for

Rachel Cuza sophomore

There should be no reason that the leader of our country can’t speak with another world leader. Really, it’s important that we get closer to understanding what is really going on.

Winston Kirk junior

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opinion may 19, 2017

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speakup

Heroin hits home

What can be done to lessen drug usage?

BY ALLY REKITZKE co-associate editor

My senior year spring break was supposed to be memorable because it was my last one as a high school student. And it was memorable, but not in that sense.

I came home from school on Friday, March 24 to my mom telling my sister, brother and me that our 32-year-old aunt had died earlier that morning in a White Castle bathroom in Dolton, Illinois, due to a heroin overdose. My senior spring break is now tainted with heartbreak and loss of someone who meant so much to me.

I could choose to stay quiet about this whole situation. It has been a burden on my life for a long time, but I don’t want anyone to go through what my family has throughout these seven years. She used to be my best friend as a kid; it’s something she always would tell me. After she got involved with drugs, I didn’t want to spend time with her. That wasn’t the loving, bright woman I knew.

My mom slowly started to stop trusting her with my siblings and me. I wasn’t allowed to be alone with her driving. My little brother wasn’t allowed to be in the house with her unless my grandparents were in the house.

One of the last times he was with her, my grandpa left for only a few minutes, and he started to panic because she was on something.

I watched my grandparents pace around their house, wondering when she would be back. She’d go out for hours on end, and my grandparents would sit by their window, waiting for her headlights to appear. She’d stumble in and go straight to her room; they were watching her kill herself, slowly. My grandma always said that she was a grieving mother because of that.

Family functions were spent with her half asleep, not her lively self telling us about her experiences. She was who I would sit with at parties and make jokes with. She was the life of the party. Family dinners were spent curled over in laughter at the table because of her stories.

Because of heroin, she won’t see me graduate. She wasn’t able to congratulate me for committing to a college. I won’t see her get married. She won’t see me get married. She won’t ever know my kids. And I’m left with a heartbroken family where everyday there are reminders of her. We are not the same people we were almost two months ago when she was clean and with us.

We want others to please reach out if you need help.

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Katya Halstead freshman

CARTOON BY ABBY SOBEK

Decrease drug usage iew: by remembering drug education

Drugs are bad. Don’t do them. Just say no.

These phrases have been preached from as early as can be remembered. Programs have been enacted. Health class lessons have been taught. But that obviously isn’t enough anymore.

The use of drugs in Lake County is rising at an alarming rate. At what point did these people forget what they learned in D.A.R.E.? What can we do to try and end this problem and get those who use to recall the effects drugs can have?

It is difficult to coax someone away from a substance they are addicted to. In order to prevent the usage of drugs, we must enhance the level of drug education people receive and continue it throughout the duration of our school careers.

Some people are more inclined to follow impulses rather than think about the consequences first. But how could they even do that if they can’t remember what they learned about drugs?

If you’re among the people who remember nothing about the antidrug regimen we were put through as children, educate yourself. For the sake of this argument, let’s focus on heroin. People typically don’t go straight to using heroin. They could begin with alcohol and getting drunk, then marijuana and getting high and then prescription pills to get a better high until that high isn’t good enough. That’s when they turn to heroin. We must take bigger steps to stop people from even reaching the point that they need the “better high.”

All actions have equal or opposite reactions, and if people were more aware of these reactions, they would be less likely to approach using drugs. All drugs irrefutably have a negative effect on one’s body. And the more common the intake of drugs is, the more the drug begins to alter the chemicals in the brain, which makes the addiction harder to break.

Just one use could get someone hooked on the drug forever and knowing this could cause someone to think twice before using.

But if this knowledge wasn’t there, the person could reach the point of using heroin once, and they’re done. Typically, they would get hooked on the drug and this could lead to the death of the user. Their life is over, and their loved ones are left not knowing how to feel. Should they be upset because their loved one died? Should they be angry that they died because of drugs? This emotional turmoil could lead to the downward spiral of these relatives, and the trauma could lead them to find their own release -- possibly drugs.

Drugs are bad. Don’t do them. Just say no.

editorial

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Vol. 81 Issue 9 May 19, 2017 1500 S. Main St. Crown Point, IN 46307 219-663-4885 ex. 11349 fax 219-662-5663 inklings@cps.k12.in.us online: www2.cps.k12.in.us/inklings

co-editors-in-chief Jackie Ham Maria Leontaras editor-at-large N GG SS LL II N Jill Kidder Crown Point High School, IN associate editors Inklings is a student publication created by the newspaper and advanced Ally Rekitzke journalism students and distributed monthly to students, faculty and staff of Abby Sobek Crown Point High School. Opinions do not necessarily reflect those of CPHS feature editor faculty, staff or administration.

Letters-to-the-editor are welcomed provided they are signed and submitted Alexia Wojciechowski one week prior to publication and do not contain personal attacks. Inklings online editor reserves the right to edit for space, clarity and legal and ethical concerns.

Jill Kidder Advertising is subject to applicable rates available by contacting Inklings. sports editor Inklings has been recognized as an Indiana High School Press Association Hoosier Star, National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker, Columbia Dominic Tomich Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown, and Quill and Scroll George H. Gallup assistant sports publication. editors

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“I’m not sure if there’s a way to ever make drug abuse stop, but more bag checks could possibly be the solution.”

Tyler Jeeninga sophomore

“We should focus more on getting the message out about drugs in classrooms and on CPTV. Students need to hear true stories.”

Haley Martin junior

“I think that there should be more restrictions on drugs in our area especially. More restrictions would raise awareness for drug abuse, and then that would further help restrictions be followed.”

Josh Keilman senior

“When it comes to alcohol and marijuana and stuff, I feel like we shouldn’t worry so much about it.

I don’t think focusing on alcohol and marijuana is as important.”

Yousef Abdeldaiem Matt McConnell design editor Grace Cleland chief photographers Jill Kidder Ally Rekitzke art director Abby Sobek artist Destiny Kogler advertising editor Audrey Gacsy staff Jessi Alcorta-Robles

Lindsey Baeza Tabitha Beishuizen Jeremy DeBold Kiersten Hardy Andrea John Destiny Kogler Demetri Massow Kaitlyn Penkala Ashley Rekitzke Kira Schuelka Morgan Taylor Henry Withrow Jon Wolwark adviser Julie Elston

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opinion may 19, 2017

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Should schools teach cursive writing?

Hey, how are we supposed to sign our names?

School Policies

CARTOON BY DESTINY KOGLER

Teaching cursive makes curriculum more diverse

BY JESSI ALCORTA-ROBLES

Con:

Cursive is not a necessity other than to sign signatures

BY KIERSTEN HARDY reporter

reporter

We live in the age of technology. Using cell phones and typing rather than writing is second nature to us. So if we type more than we print, and print more than we use cursive, why would we need to learn it?

For starters, using cursive can increase time spent writing when it is practiced enough. This can be beneficial for many people, especially students. When taking timed tests such as ISTEP or the ACT, students can use cursive and save extra time for working on more problems or having time to look over their answers.

When someone gets their I.D., permit or license, they are required to give a signature, in cursive. Young drivers who are getting their license now were taught cursive, but if future drivers are not taught, they will not be able to write their name of their license.

For some people, cursive is a main form of writing and it is used daily. Old, official documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Paris are written in cursive. In order to be able to read and comprehend them, one would have to be able to read cursive.

Teaching cursive makes the curriculum more diverse and gives children a broader knowledge of writing. Young students should be taught anything that would be helpful to their future. According to researches by Pam Mueller, writing things down, whether it is print or cursive, helps increase the chance of memorizing the information.

Marilyn Zecher, a former teacher and language specialist at the Atlantic Seaboard Dyslexia Education Center, has said that people with Dyslexia who learn cursive are more likely to “connect the dots” and learn easier. Recently, the state of Illinois has passed a law that requires students to be educated in cursive. In past years, the states of Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Idaho, Louisiana and Alabama have also made law a mandating cursive being taught.

The college board has found that students who used cursive rather than print for the essay portion of the SAT have scored slightly higher. In addition to all of its other qualities, cursive is also a form of art. Using it can help show individuality and provide a creative outlet.

In our ever-changing society, we are becoming more immersed in technology. With all of these fascinating innovations, other things get left behind. Cursive is one of these things. Little kids are on iPads. Teens can’t seem to look away from their phones. Most adults have jobs that use computers. The need to write with traditional pen and paper is lessening, and so is the need for cursive.

The abundance of regular print in everyday life proves that cursive does not need to be taught in school.

In everyday scenarios, cursive is not a necessity other than to sign at the bottom of a page. Signatures are generally illegible and do not require every letter of the alphabet. Elementary schools are taking time away from other subjects to teach kids how to write each letter in the alphabet and numerous words in cursive. Simply assisting each student learn to write their name would suffice. After fifth grade, students are no longer required to write in cursive. This is the last time people usually write primarily in cursive.

Although cursive can look pretty, it has no other use. Instead of making children with shaky handwriting learn it, people should be able to learn it at their own will. If someone wanted to learn how to write in cursive, it would not be that difficult. Cursive also looks similar enough to print that if someone needed to read cursive, it would not be impossible as long as the cursive is neat.

The Constitution is an extremely important document that is written in cursive, but learning how to write in cursive does not mean people will not be able to read it. The history of America does not go down with cursive; it will continue to be read and cherished by future generations. The past will still be preserved, especially with the help of the always-present technology.

It is always upsetting when something that students once had to endure will no longer be passed on through future generations, but it is just part of growing older. The evolving world no longer has use for this dying artform. Holding on to cursive is preventing progress, and requiring elementary students to learn it is hindering other learning opportunities. The technological advances that have been made no longer require connected letters and curly q’s.

16 Inklings staffers agrees

7 Inklings staffers agree

Kim Winters

library advisor

Nick Garcia

“I think we should teach cursive because everyone has their own signature, and you cannot sign without knowing some type of cursive.”

Melanie Albers

senior

“We shouldn’t teach cursive anymore. It’s really inefficient and nobody uses it anymore. When people write in cursive, it takes too long to get the complete thought out onto paper.”

junior

“I think that cursive still should be taught to kids because I think it’s a skill that everyone should at least know. People need to at least know how to read it.”

Health insurance is critical

BY JEREMY DEBOLD reporter

I don’t know.

We never e. learned cursiv

Pro:

5

Dan Downes

study hall advisor

“I don’t think cursive should be a mandatory requirement for kids to learn. It should be offered as more of an elective or an art credit.”

Not too long ago, I saw a post from a distant relative. It was a simple question: “Is health insurance a right?” While many might have a quick yes or no answer, the question itself is the core of the current healthcare debate, and it is also what the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare,” tries to address.

Just about everyone on both sides believes healthcare is a right, but some people believe health insurance is not. However, this question has a fundamental problem. In the United States, healthcare and health insurance are relatively synonymous, but they are not the same thing.

Health insurance is needed in order to receive long term effective healthcare without being financially murdered.

Health insurance technically is not a right because health insurance itself is a capitalization of healthcare. However, healthcare is a right that should be afforded to everyone. It is also illegal for someone to be denied emergency medical care for not being able to afford treatment.

Non-emergency medical care can be denied if you can not afford it or do not have insurance.

This care includes chemotherapy, most mental illness treatments, physical therapy or any other long term treatment. If these treatments are foregone, someone can die or suffer a horrible quality of life.

The currently proposed healthcare bill that just passed through the House of Representatives retracts huge portions of the Affordable Care Act, namely the “pre-existing conditions” clause and government subsidies that reimbursed insurance companies for insuring people with pre-existing conditions or low income.

This would leave over 20 million Americans without health insurance, whether it be because they are denied health insurance or can’t use the health insurance they are offered because it would be too expensive. Just about every major health organization in the United States including the American Medical Association, American Cancer Association and the American Heart Association oppose the new healthcare bill.

We as voters, as the represented, cannot allow these parts of the bill to be removed. Let your senators know the proposed bill is not okay. If it passes as is, it would be nothing short of a genocide of the sick and poor with the weapon of choice being neglect.

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experiencing a different perspective

PHOTO BY JEREMY DEBOLD

Junior Mikayla Doughney spends Mother’s Day by giving her parents a bonsai tree. This year she surprised her parents by buying them a gift on her own, creating a new tradition for them.

On holidays, teens recognize those who raised them

‘‘

BY JACKIE HAM ABBY SOBEK editor-in-chief associate editor

Honoring one’s father and mother is seemingly tied to a biological connection. However, some students’ celebrations on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day goes beyond those who birthed them. These days have become an opportunity for some students to honor those who raised them or influenced their families beyond the traditional sense.

To celebrate the day, some kids stick to the traditional card and flowers or even going out for dinner. Senior Emma Philbin has celebrated the same way with her parents for as long as she can remember.

“For me, it has been the same throughout all my years.

Usually what we will do is the weekend before or a couple days before, (my siblings and I) will go out to get presents for my mom or my dad,” Philbin said.

During the year, Philbin celebrates Mother’s Day twice once in honor of England’s Mother’s Day and once for America’s Mother’s Day. “We actually end up celebrating Mother’s Day twice during the year because my grandmother lives in England, and Mother’s Day in England comes a little bit earlier in the year than it does in America, so we end up sending her a card earlier in the year and something separate for my other grandmother and my mom,” Philbin said. “But Father’s Day falls on the same day in both countries, so then we send a card to my grandfather in England and then we give one to my dad and grandpa here.”

Not only does this day celebrate parents, but many also use these holidays to express appreciation for their grandparents. Philbin celebrates this day for her grandparents because of their impact on her parents.

“With your grandparents, even though they aren’t the ones who raised you as your parents did, they were the ones who influenced your parents,” Philbin said. “They were the ones who taught your parents how to raise you, so you have to thank them as well for that. Also, some people are raised by their grandparents, too, so you have to thank them for that as well.”

While Philbin celebrates the holiday by thanking her grandparents for the influence they had on her parents, sophomore Dugan Dailey was raised by his grandmother.

By

The

#

Your parents are the ones that raise you. They teach you your life lessons.

They teach you right from wrong. They help you grow into the person that you become. I think it is just important to pay them back and just have respect for them and honor what they do for you.

Emma Philbin senior Dailey lost his mother at a young age and lived under the care of his grandmother with the aide of his father. He still makes sure to celebrate Mother’s Day in honor of his mother and his grandmother.

“When it comes to Mother’s Day, we honor my grandmother and mother. My siblings and I will usually compile some sort of gift and give it to my grandmother. We will sometimes visit my mother’s grave,” Dailey said.

While he notes that being raised by his grandmother was not as different as some may assume, he did learn valuable lessons that still impact him to this day.

“In being raised by my grandmother and my father, I have learned that I am responsible for everything I do and to respect others,” Dailey said. “(My grandma) was very wise and a kind hearted person which influenced how I was as a child.”

Junior Sherry Zhang also lost her mother in July of last year, and celebrated this Mother’s Day for the first time without her mother. Even though she is not here, Zhang planned to honor her mother by visiting her grave.

“It’s still important to honor my mom although she isn’t here anymore. She is the person that shaped me into the person I am today and often things remind me of her,” Zhang said. “I want to honor her and her memory and keep her close in my heart. Although she isn’t physically here anymore, her presence is still here, in my heart and in

27% of children were reported living with only one parent.

1/34

children were reported living with family members other than their parents.

Stats based on a survey of 73,745 children 18 and younger living in America.

the memories she left behind.”

Zhang also has a great deal of love for her father because of all he has done for her after her mother’s passing, and she has a special connection to Father’s Day that many do not have.

“I was born on Father’s Day, so I think I was my dad’s favorite child growing up. My dad never wants material things, and he always asked us to do things for him for Father’s Day,” Zhang said. “I feel a lot of appreciation and love for my dad because he has been acting so strong for my siblings and me ever since my mom passed away. My dad tries his best to be both a dad and a mom now, and I love and appreciate him so much.”

While Dailey and Zhang were raised by only one parent, junior William VanHorssen was brought up in a divorced family. Even though his parents are not together, he still celebrates each of them on their respected holidays.

“With my mom, we will usually just go to the beach, or whatever she wants to do on her day, and with my dad, we usually just stay at the house and have a cookout,” VanHorssen said.

Since his parents separation, VanHorssen’s father has remarried. The expansion of his family has learned that love is something that should be honored and shared.

“Having a blended family is a big challenge, but it is actually a good experience for a lot of people learning how to mix together. When you’re doing that, it’s really important in any divorce to try to be compassionate with everyone and try to look at things at all sides because it is easy for conflict to arise,” VanHorssen said.

For junior Mikayla Doughney, celebrating Mother’s Day is a day to honor her two mothers who adopted her from China, and this year she planned on doing something special for them.

“This year is the first year I am using my own money to buy them something, so they don’t know. I am getting them a bonsai tree. It will last longer than flowers. Also I think bonsai trees are oriental,” Doughney said.

Even though she is not celebrating with her biological mother, Doughney says that family is not confined to birth parents.

“From having two moms, I learned that a family doesn’t have to be related to you,” Doughney said. “It’s about people who care and love you.”

50,679 children were reported living with two parents.

558

children were reported living with nonrelatives.

Statistics provided by https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/families/children.html

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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JULIA MARTIN

Sophomores Julia Martin and Nikki Sapper attend the 25th Lollapalooza together. Martin and Sapper saw Mac Miller and countless other artists perform during the summer music festival.

Music festivals electrify crowd with energy, memories

BY MORGAN TAYLOR reporter

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JULIA MARTIN

Sophomores Nikki Sapper and Julia Martin stand front row during an artist’s performance at Lollapalooza.

sic. Local festivals like Lollapalooza feature vastly different music than other local festivals like Vans Warped Tour.

At Lollapalooza, you can find a wide array of music from rap to alternative, whereas Vans Warped Tour features predominantly punk music, so it can be seen as important to lookup the lineup before buying tickets. Freshman Aurora Carter attended Vans Warped Tour for the rock music and exciting scene.

“I’d never really been to a big music festival before,

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The blaring speakers drown out the roaring crowd to a harmonious whisper. The hot summer air hangs heavy, causing pools of sweat to run down everyone’s backs. A general happiness falls over the crowd, and everyone can start to relax.

Music festivals are nothing new. The first dates back to 1967 at the world famous Woodstock. Ever since the insanity of Woodstock, music lovers have not been able to get over their craving for live music. Sophomore Julia Martin attended one of Chicago’s most famous music festivals last summer.

“I went to Lollapalooza last year (for) all four days,” Martin said. “The atmosphere was loud and energetic. I had such a good time last year at Lollapalooza that I am going again this year.”

Getting tickets for festivals is not always easy. Martin claims it took a group effort to ensure they purchased their tickets in time.

“To get my tickets, I had four people on the Lollapalooza website at the time they went on sale. We all just kept refreshing it, and one of us was able to get them,” Martin said.

Different festivals tend to feature different sorts of mu-

and I heard from a lot of people that when they went to it, it was a lot of fun,” Carter said. “A lot of my favorite bands were going. I would definitely go back. The atmosphere was very exciting. Everyone was there to have a good time.”

Unlike the typical concert setting, there are no seat assignments on the tickets. In fact, most festivals don’t even have seats.

“My favorite part was definitely when I got to see my favorite bands really close up and not having to pay for select seats,” Carter said. “If you could make your way up to the front that is where you stayed.”

Some can even find serenity and relaxation in the swarms of people. Senior Eduardo Esparza uses festivals as a way to calm down.

“Going to festivals relieves a lot of stress and lets you kick back, relax and have a great time,” Esparza said.

Everyone can find something they like about music festivals, whether it be the actual lineup itself, the atmosphere, the crowd or all of the above. Going to music festivals is a way to make everlasting memories with the people you love, and Esparza enjoys going to festivals for all of these reasons.

“I go to music festivals because the lineups are loaded with my favorite artists and to hang out with my friends and just enjoy the music,” Esparza said.

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Seeing different colors PHOTO ILLUSTARTION BY JILL KIDDER

Genetic changes cause color blindness in minority of people

BY ANDREA JOHN reporter

Imagine looking at the world and seeing green as red and red as green. The world isn’t captured in black and white, but some see the colors of life in a different way.

Color vision deficiency, or color blindness, can often go unnoticed. According to the National Eye Institute, 8 percent of males and .5 percent of females have the common red-green form of color blindness. Males are more likely to have color blindness than females due to it being an X-chromosome-linked trait.

“The most common (types of color blindness) are sex linked recessive, which is red-green color blindness. It appears more common in males than females,” biology teacher Kelley Nelson said. “There are other types that follow different patterns.”

Males have only one X chromosome while females have two. This makes it less common for females to be colorblind because both of the X chromosomes would have to carry the gene for color blindness. Nelson herself is a carrier of red-green color blindness.

“My dad is colorblind. I always tell kids if you line up three apples, one that’s red, green and yellow, they all kind of appear a yellow color to him,” Nelson said.

Sophomore Christopher DeVries found out he had deuteranomaly color blindness after a visit to the optometrist when he was in first grade. Deuteranomaly is the most

Types of

COLOR BLINDNESS Facts provided by: https://nei.nih.gov/health/color_blindness/ facts_about

219-947-3900 800-653-0065 Fax 219-947-0912

common form of red-green color blindness and affects 5 percent of males.

“With (deuteranomaly), green cones in my eyes are abnormal, which causes the colors yellow and green to be redder than what normal eyes would see them as,” DeVries said. “Additionally, it makes my eyes mix up the colors blue and violet.”

Junior and senior principal Russ Marcinek knew he saw colors differently from a young age, but he was never tested until he was in college. Marcinek has red-green color blindness.

“I remember when I was around 21 and in college, I was applying for a warehouse job in Fort Wayne. The employer required that you take a colorblind test. It’s like the color blind test that you would see in a psychology book.

I remember taking it and not doing well. All I saw was a bunch of dots. I couldn’t see the numbers in it,” Marcinek said. “Because of that, they put me in a position that summer in the warehouse where I didn’t have to determine colors.”

Color blindness is not something that inhibits day-today life. Marcinek has no problem distinguishing between traffic lights and other everyday items.

“Once in a great while, I’ll have an issue with matching. It’s not typical, but if I do, my wife will correct me,” Marcinek said. “(Color blindness is) not something that’s debilitating, it’s just an interesting phenomenon where I

perceive color differently than other people.”

DeVries seconds that color blindness is something that only makes him see things differently.

“Deuteranomaly does not affect my life, but sometimes I get told by people to grab something that is green, and I have to tell them that I can’t tell what green is,” DeVries said. “When I was in art class, my art teachers knew about my challenge, so on days that we painted, my teachers would have labeled paint just for me.”

Like Marcinek and DeVries, senior Bryan Hatami does not let his color blindness limit him. Hatami found out he was colorblind at the age of 10 when his mother had his brother tested for color blindness.

“It (also) doesn’t affect my artistic abilities at all. I may not be able to see all the colors, but the ones I can I use to my advantage,” Hatami said. “Art is one thing that has really influenced me in my life, and even though I can’t see all of the wonders of it, I have my own perspective of the piece. Lots of people don’t know that being colorblind isn’t something that people suffer from. I can still see a lot of colors. It doesn’t mean I see in black and white.”

Marcinek agrees with Hatami that there is a common misunderstanding about people who are colorblind.

“I think the biggest misperception is that I don’t see the world in black and white. I see the colors, I see the flowers, but sometimes there is a little discrepancy of what I might see and what others might see.”

RED-GREEN

BLUE-YELLOW

COMPLETE

“... due to the loss or limited function of red cone (known as protan) or green cone (deutran) photopigments.”

“Blue-cone (tritan) photopigments are either missing or have limited function.”

“None of the cone cells have functional photopigments.”

•Protanomaly •Protanopia •Deuteranomaly •Deuteranopia

•Tritanomaly •Tritanopia

Michael Bauner mbauner@hondaon30.com

•Cone monochromacy •Rod monochromacy or achromatopsia

4613 East U.S. 30 Merrillville, IN 46410 www.teamhondaon30.com

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THE CLASS OF

20 17

BY JEREMY DEBOLD reporter

As the school year ends, the seniors leave, and underclassmen prepare to step into the next year ushering in another chapter of experiences to their high school career. After nearly four years of high school and over a decade of schooling altogether, seniors share their favorite school memories and advice.

PHOTO BY JILL KIDDER

The student section cheers at a the “Leather Helmet” home football game versus Lowell on Aug. 19, 2016. The game was the first home game of the season for Crown Point High School’s football team. Crown Point won with a score of 9-3.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CPTV

PHOTO BY BRIDGETTE BAZIN

PHOTO BY JORDAN AL-NIMRI

Nick Sansone had his one CPTV segment called “Nick’s Flix,” the segment ran weekly on CPTV from 2013 to 2015.

Senior Michael O’Brien shaves his head to help raise funds for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. O’Brien raised $340 for the foundation to further cancer research.

“Bye Bye Birdie” ran in five nights in March 2014 and was the first musical for the that involved the 2017 senior class.

‘‘

Every time Nick’s Flix came on, (my class) would always try to guess how many popcorn kernels the movie was going to get.

It was like a competition. It was really fun listening to nick because he was not just criticizing the movie, he was living, he was just so passionate about it.

‘‘

Matt Krampen

Caleb Scibbe

Jessica Barclay

Key Club president

senior

soccer

cast member

2013 boys

win state championship

PHOTO PROVIDED BY EMILY NEU Band Wind Ensemble poses for a picture after returning from state competition in Indianapolis.

20162017

Wind Ensemble

INKLINGS FILE PHOTO 2015-2016 Inklings staff claims the National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker award.

20142015

Inklings

makes it to state wins Pacemaker award for the first time PHOTO BY AMY SCHUCH The boys soccer team achieved an undefeated season and a state title by beating Avon 3-1.

football wins sectional title

2016

Varsity

PHOTO BY JILL KIDDER 2016 Varsity football team runs onto field during the “Leather Helmet” football game Aug. 19, 2016.

‘‘

I ran the Saint Baldrick’s event for Crown Point. We raised $71,000 for kids with childhood cancer, and I think that taught me to look more into helping others and not everything is about myself, to be less selfish.

I am really proud of being a part of it.”

My favorite show overall would have to be “Bye Bye Birdy” just because it was simply the first one I was ever in, and it holds a place in my heart as being one that got me into this family that we are now. I probably would not have been able to stay as sane as I have had it not been for theater.

‘‘

It was really surreal. It didn’t really hit me until after that we were the first band in CPHS history to go. It was mostly business while we were there.

All that was on our mind was putting on the best show we possibly could... My favorite part was the last minute of our performance. At that moment, I realized how far we came... It was just really amazing.

Mickey Gardner percussionist

‘‘

I was just a sophomore on the staff that won the Pacemaker, so I didn’t do much.

But being on that staff inspired me to work harder in the future to achieve the greatness that something I was a part of already had. The Pacemaker award is a really big deal.

Getting it at all was awesome, and I wish more people were aware of our accomplishments as a nationally recognized newspaper.

Maria Leontaras

Inklings co-editor-in-chief

SENIOR STATS

667in the 2017 graduating class

The senior class has

4,380 C-Notes The senior class has

earned 4,380

community service hours

Senior class reported

earning just under

$1.8 million in scholarship funds of seniors

81

% applied to College

Statistics provided by Johanna Hess

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Sophomore Kylee Conley applies her nighttime skin care routine. She uses a three-step system from Proactiv that contains benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid that works to combat acne.

Starting skin care regimen early has many benefits

BY GRACE CLELAND JESSI ALCORTA-ROBLES design editor reporter

The hot sun warms our bodies as we lay out to get some vitamin D. This relaxing summer day could be just enough to alter one’s skin for the rest of his/her life. Sometimes, it goes unthought of as to how damaging those rays are for the skin. According to Karen Jordan, MD, partner at Dermatology Associates of Northwest Indiana, it is important for people of all ages to protect their skin.

Pollutants in the Northwest Indiana area can be detrimental to skin of those who live in the area. The degree of damage could differ among skin types, but the pollutants could affect everyone.

“Exposure to pollution is damaging to skin no matter what your age. When pollution is absorbed into the skin, it causes chemical reactions within the body that damage the skin cells. Studies have shown that pollution leads to the breakdown of the protective skin barrier and earlier symptoms of aging,” Jordan said.

According to Jordan, it is very important to protect the skin while being under any ultraviolet rays because they can penetrate through the layers of the skin, damaging the elastin and collagen. In a tanning bed, the concentration of rays is much higher, according to junior Aimee Anderson, who used to work at a tanning salon.

“Some dangers of bed tanning are: a higher risk of developing skin cancer and sunspots, a higher risk of developing wrinkles early on as well as dry skin and damage

to the eyesight due to UV light exposure,” Anderson said.

While tanning in a bed is an option, just being in the sun can expose the skin cells enough to burn or tan. For those like junior Yianni Kostouros, being in the sun for sports can take a toll on their skin.

“Last summer I played in the boys (golf) state championship, and I was in the sun playing for a near eight hours. I had to stay inside for a week because I had burned multiple parts of my body,” Kostouros said.

Tanning, going to the beach, swimming, hiking, boating and simply just being outside are all activities that provide risk for the harming of skin without use of proper protection. Many students spend a majority of their summer outside with little to no protection from the sun, according to nurse Carissa Oman.

“Sunscreen blocks UV rays, so when you aren’t wearing it, all of the rays can get soaked into your skin and could cause cancers like melanoma,” Oman said. “When you do use sunscreen, you’re blocking out the UV rays, so they don’t get soaked into your skin.”

Sunscreen can be used whether one is outside in the sun or inside a tanning bed. It will help to protect the skin in both cases. Anderson states those who tan in a tanning bed directly expose their skin to the dense ultraviolet rays while those who tan outside expose their skin to the not as dense ultraviolet rays from the sun.

“Tanning in a tanning bed works through UV light darkening the skin. In a tanning bed, the skin is directly exposed to UV rays, which focuses on skin cells and allows the body to produce more melanin--the protein in the body

Dr. Karen Jordan’s

which allows for darker skin,” Anderson said. “When the body is exposed to UV rays, skin cells are forced to produce more melanin, in turn allowing the skin to darken.”

For those who burn, treating the burn can be very individual. Some find it beneficial to apply cool items to their skin, like Kostouros, while others apply lotions or ointments. Jordan recommends a moisturizer that contains aloe vera and/or a hydrocortisone cream to soothe burned skin.

“When I do burn every once in awhile, I put aloe vera on the burned spot, and it fixes it,” Kostouros said.

Some students may choose to prevent skin damage through a daily skin care routine. Skin care routines are very individual and up to the person to decide if they need one or not.

“In the mornings, I wash my face with unscented Dove soap and moisturize with Aveeno after. At night, I use a three-step system from Proactiv that contains benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, and I also moisturize with Aveeno afterwards,” sophomore Kylee Conley said.

Having a daily skin care routine or using sunblock are not the only ways to protect your skin. Maintaining a healthy diet and drinking the suggested amount of water will allow your skin to be more hydrated and can cause less acne.

“A healthy diet and regular exercise will make a positive impact on one’s skin,” Jordan said. “Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so just like diet and exercise affect your heart and lungs and other organs, your skin will appreciate a healthy lifestyle as well.”

tips and top picks

Sensitive skin

Dry skin

Combination skin

Acne prone skin

Look for ingredients such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

Look for products that include hyaluronic acid, ceramides and niacinamide.

Look for products such as those suggested under dry and sensative skin.

Avoid products that include fragrance, alcohol, essential oils and abrasive textures.

Look for a cleanser that is not super foamy because they tend to dry out the skin.

Choose products for different areas of the face because only part of it may need moisturizer.

Look for products that include salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide and niacinamide and are oil-free.

Use gentle cleanser follwed by a leave-on treatment.

Standout products: CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

Standout products: CeraVe moisturizers and cleansers

Standout products: Purpose Gentle Cleaning Wash CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizer

Dr. Karen Jordan’s

Standout products: Purpose Gentle Cleaning Wash Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10 Paula’s Choice BHA Liquid Neutrogena Naturals Acne Spot Treatment

note about products

Do not be fooled by expensive price tags or marketing. Sephora, for example, is full of expensive skin care products that are actually terrible for skin. Make sure you read the label carefully and if there is an ingredient you don’t recognize, look it up.

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may 19, 2017

We are striving to be at the top of our game and win the Plymouth Tournament this weekend.

in the

huddle

-senior Grayson Lynk

11

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PHOTO BY JILL KIDDER

(left to right) Seniors. Ethan Wood, Cece Maginot, Hannah Bauner and Brandon Haczynski played on a varsity sports team this year and are four out of 35 students at the top of their class.

Top seniors maintain grades while playing varsity sports

BY YOUSEF ABDELDAIEM assistant sports editor

Senior year. The last chapter of one’s high school career. At times, the stress of senior year may be overwhelming. Now, add a varsity sport to the mix, and in most cases, this is the perfect recipe for disaster. With the pressures of senior year and varsity athletics, many tend to lose control of their grades along with their mental, physical and emotional health, but this is not the case for 12 of the 35 seniors who are graduating at the top of the 2017 class being a part of Summa Cum Laude.

These individuals managed to find a balance throughout their high school career as they were able to maintain at least a 4.25 grade point average while also competing at the highest level in their respective varsity sport.

Although things become much more difficult when attempting to balance the two, senior Ethan Wood has been able to stay optimistic.

“Time management is the biggest struggle for sure.

Learning how to balance school and sports is difficult but definitely not impossible,” Wood said.

Wood, who has been the starting defensive end for the Crown Point High School varsity football team since his junior year, believes his ability to stay focused is

Summa Cum Laude

4.25 or higher

what kept him at the top of his game along with academics.

“You have to prioritize what’s important to you and put everything else on the back burner,” Wood said. “Not having any friends or social distractions also helps with balancing school and sports.”

Different people have different motivations. For senior defensive specialist Hannah Bauner, she found that her greatest support came from her volleyball teammates and her parents.

“For volleyball, my motivation came from my team and Coach Duncan. We all had the same goal and were very focused on it all season, so it was easy to want to try your best,” Bauner said. “For school, my motivation mostly came from my parents because they expect a lot out of me, and I don’t want to disappoint them.”

Student athletes live life beyond just their sport. One example of this is senior tennis player Cece Maginot who, in the midst of all the chaos, finds time to also juggle a job.

“The hardest thing about being a student athlete is keeping my schedule straight because in addition to school and sports, I also have a job,” Maginot said. “Also, it is tough to come home from a long match and do homework and study when I’ve been playing tennis for hours. It’s stressful, but it’s all worth it because of the opportunities I’ve been given as a student athlete.”

Maginot finds that it is a major advantage that tennis is a spring sport, which falls at the end of the school year.

“My season is in the spring where I have all my AP tests,

so most of my classes have gone into review mode. Therefore, I don’t have as much homework because it’s more studying and review- based,” Maginot said. “This helps me during the season because I’m not required to do a huge amount of homework every night, and I can push things off to nights that I don’t have matches.”

There are lessons found in everything you do. Senior and Purdue Northwest commit Brandon Haczynski saw that there was plenty to take away from his high school varsity baseball career.

“I learned as a high school student athlete to make sure that I am living well rounded and not focusing too much on one area and neglecting another,” Haczynski said. “I learned that I’ll never regret working hard at something I love.”

For most of these athletes, this season will be their last time playing the sport they love as they will not continue on into the collegiate level. Senior Lauren Feder believes that the connections she made through track is what she will miss most.

“Being on a sports team is like having a second family. You build such close relationships with your teammates and coaches, so I’m going to miss that aspect,” Feder said.

“It also kept me in shape, so now working out on my own in the future is something else I need to motivate myself to do. I learned a lot about time management and managing stress that I can use in the future. I also learned discipline and leadership.”

Alexis Holloway- Softball

Tommy Pawlowski- Tennis

Hannah Bauner- Volleyball

Lauren Feder- Track

Noah Cornett- Soccer

Brandon Haczynski- Baseball Hannah Kukurugya- Swim

Ethan Wood- Football

Liz Dietrich- Cross Country

Emily Harvey- Golf

Jessica Yukich- Volleyball

Cece Maginot- Tennis

Softball looks to carry regular season success into postseason

BY MATT MCCONNELL assistant sports editor

As summer begins to take place, the softball postseason is only beginning. Taking the season stride by stride, the girls use each of their games in order to prepare for the next.

“Regular season has been really good for us. We have improved a lot as a team and have had a lot of fun in the process. We have a lot of new girls on the team this year, but at this point, I feel like this team has been together for a long time,” senior Alexis Holloway said.

The strong bond between the girls reflects on the field.

With a positive regular season outlook, there are no complaints heading into the tournament.

“We are playing some competitive softball, winning a lot of games and having fun while doing it. Not many people can say they experience that in their high school

season,” said senior Mackenzie Dunlap.

With confidence from the early season games, the girls are now looking to work on how they want to attack the opponent in the tournament.

“Our goal looking into the postseason is to take one game at a time, especially every inning at a time, along with pushing runs every inning while playing solid defense.

Obviously our ultimate goal is the state title, but we aren’t going to get ahead of ourselves,” Dunlap said.

Their strategies of keeping a level headed mindset will keep them grounded going into the postseason, despite their talent.

“We are just going to play our game in postseason and control the controllables. We try not to worry about what the other teams are doing and just execute on our end,” Holloway said.

The senior girls are leading the way into the postsea-

son, playing with everything they have in order to make their last season their best.

“Being a senior this last season has been a special one.

Regular season has been nothing short of amazing and filled with memories that I’ll cherish forever. Coming into postseason, it’s the last shot that us seniors have at achieving that goal of a state title,” Dunlap said. “It’s weird to think about, but in the end, this season has meant a lot, especially being with this group of girls and seniors who have made it into the special season it has been.”

However for now, the seniors have to focus on their goal of the state ring and finish their season with heart.

“Being a senior is a little bitter sweet. I’ve enjoyed my time at Crown Point and with the softball program,” Dunlap said. “We have a great group this year, probably one of my favorite I have played with at the high school. We are just looking to finish the season strong.”

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Staying on track

Boys golf prepares for Lake Central Invite

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BY HENRY WITHROW reporter

The boys Crown Point golf team has had a well-rounded season overall, but has had to go through a few ups and downs.

Sophomore Bryant Callender believes the team has started off strong but has also had a few rough patches.

“The season has definitely had its ups and downs from trying to figure out the varsity lineup between all the kids on the team at the beginning and the slow start we had starting our DAC matches 0-3, since we have gone 7-0 in our matches but our weekend 18 hole tournament scores haven’t been where they should be though,” Callender said.

The team is heading into a few nervewrecking invites but that is not stopping them. The team believes if they can overcome these nerves they can make a few late moves.

“Nerves are a huge factor going forward for our team. We have young kids at the back of our lineup and younger kids trying to compete for a varsity spot. Some want it so bad they put more pressure on themselves, others are just not use to being in the spotlight with some of the best teams in the state,” head coach Ryan Bishop said. “We have to get comfortable in uncomfortable situations. It sometimes comes with experience and sometimes it don’t come at all. You can’t teach competitiveness, we just hope they want to be competitive.”

Even though the season for them has had ups and downs, it has mainly been focused on the upside and less on the downside. With invites approaching, Bishop feels the team has come together.

“This season like all seasons has had just the normal setbacks. New kids trying to find out where they fit in, our older kids going to prom, some of our seniors looking ahead, but all in all it has been a pretty easy year. I don’t really put a lot of emphasis on the Saturday tournaments.

We have a very young core of talent that we need to focus on learning the game of golf and how to score. Our focus this season has been getting ready to compete in the DAC, and play our best at sectionals and regionals,” Bishop said.

The Dogs will take on their Duneland Athletic Conference rivals in the Lake Central Invite at Palmira Golf Course in St. John on Sat., May 20.

PHOTO BY ALLY REKITZKE

Senior Alyex Wahlberg works to win the 110m high hurdles in the Duneland Athletic Conference meet at Merrillville high school on May 9.

Girls track ends Lake Central 25 year sectional streak

BY DOMINIC TOMICH sports editor

The girls track team is coming off a sectional championship on Tues. May 16. The Dogs won the meet, ending Lake Central’s streak of 25 consecutive sectional championships.

“As a whole, the team did exactly what needed to happen.

They finished stronger and competed. Going into the meet, the girls knew what needed to be done in order to win, and they exceeded my expectations,” head coach Lindsay Moskalick said.“The girls have really come together and understand that it can’t be just one or two people scoring. It takes an entire team to be successful. We have some girls who have little nagging aches and pains but are still competing at a high level. If we can get all of the girls feeling 100 percent, that would be great.”

The girls are excited about the feat which is winning sectionals, but the Dogs are looking to accomplish bigger goals.

“It has been one of our team goals from the beginning of the season to win regionals,” senior Kristen LaCosse said. “We want to qualify as many girls for as many events at state as we can.”

The girls are not looking past the hard work that comes along with accomplishing the goals they have set for themselves.

The team is running for one another because they all have their eyes on the same goal according to LaCosse.

“I’m not really satisfied with my individual performances

at sectionals. I’m just making sure to do the little things like staying hydrated and eating healthy along with staying focused and practicing hard in order to prepare for sectionals,” LaCosse said. “My team is my motivation for running. I’ve grown close with all of them, and seeing all the success we have now is all the motivation I need for regionals and state. I’m ready to end my high school career with a bang for myself and for them.”

The regional championships will take place on Tues. May 23 at Portage High School. The Dogs have been working hard for this moment and are looking to make the most of it.

“Every day our team comes to practice knowing we are working for the regional title. We know we can win. We just have to show the Region what we are all about next Tuesday,” junior Paytn Grady said. “We have a team motto that is, ‘Start strong, finish stronger,’ and that’s we will do at the Regional meet.”

Moskalick has truly admired what the team has done this season along with the manner through which they’ve done it.

The victories bring great joy to Moskalick for that she loves to see the girls earn what they work hard for.

“I love watching the girls enjoy their team victories. The smile on their faces is why I coach. Seeing the girls accomplish their goals and wanting to be better and work hard is the best,” Moskalick said. “These seniors are very special to me. They came in and changed this team for the better. Each year we have become better than the year before, and I owe it all to our seniors. I will truly miss them.”

Girls tennis looks to keep confidence high to propel team into playoff match-ups

BY GRACE CLELAND design editor

The girls return to the court in hopes to ace their postseason goals. After ending the regular season with a record of 13-3, the girls aim to go as far as they can through their postseason matches.

“I expect us to go very far. We have the experience (and) talent and (we have) put in the hard work to make it past regionals this year,” junior Ana Maksimovich said.

After a strong regular season end, the girls began their first postseason match ending with a win. They beat Hanover Central in the first round of sectionals 5-0. This brings the girls into their second day of sectionals with the first match being against Lake Central.

“I’m going into (the) second day of sectionals excited to play a good match against Lake Central. I’m excited to see what is going to happen,” senior Cece Maginot said.

The girls were able to get their nerves out during their first round match against Hanover Central. Going in with confidence is what the girls hope to do, but with an altered mindset.

“We got the nerves out already since we already had a match, so now we are all just going in with confidence since we won 5-0 today (against Hanover),” Maksimovich said. “We just are trying to go in with a nothing to lose attitude and with a ‘we know we deserve to be here (and) deserve to win’ confidence. Also just showing people how hard we worked in the summer.”

The regular season allowed for the girls to work on their strengths and improve their weaknesses.

“We had a hard schedule this season, so I was able to play some really good girls and that really prepared me for tough postseason matches,” Maginot said.

Throughout the postseason, head coach Brian Elston expects the girls to be playing their best.

“The expectation is just to come out and play as best as (we) can and try (to) control (the) nerves, and secondly just play the way we practice. Don’t try to do anything that we normally don’t practice,” Elston said.

Challenges will present themselves throughout the postseason, but it is to the girl’s advantages to play their strengths. The work they put in throughout the offseason and regular season will present itself throughout the

postseason matches.

“We are looking to play to (our) strengths,” Elston said. “The biggest challenge is to play to (our) potential.

Don’t let nerves or crowds or opponents determine how you play.”

As the girls work to move further into postseason, the team continues to stay connected and continues to motivate each other to do their best.

“I have tried to pump my partner up and (we) work to encourage each other, to stay aggressive throughout our matches,” junior Caroline Sarbieski said.

Although the girls have worked on their weaknesses, some still wish to continue improving during their final matches.

“I want to focus on my serve because it’s the best way for me to get easy points, and I want to have less double faults because those are easy points I shouldn’t miss,” Maginot said.

The girls played their final sectional matches starting with Lake Central on Thurs., May 18, but results were unavailable due to press time.

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What’s on Matt’s mind?

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BY MATT MCCONNELL assistant sports editor

Westbrook undoubtedly is MVP

A triple-double is a feat within itself. However, averaging one throughout an entire NBA season has only been accomplished once before.

Russell Westbrook is doing things this season that should only be possible in cartoons.

He has scored the most points ever in a triple-double, and he has gone perfect from the field in another performance. Yet, despite being a jack of all trades, Westbrook is being put into question as to why he might not win MVP. James Harden is highly considered to be the MVP from many around the world, and I would be lying if I said Harden has not had an incredible season.

However, when you’re putting up the historic numbers Westbrook has, how can one deny his influence on the Thunder and the league?

Well, people are claiming these triple-double statistics are “empty numbers.” While I agree that if a player is putting up these numbers, they should be a top two team in the league, but the Thunder isn’t. That is a problem. However, that problem is not Westbrook.

Westbrook is not perfect, but he is also being asked to be an entire offense on his own, being asked to be a savior. He is one of the few players who can carry the team on his shoulders, day after day. Never getting frustrated with the weight of Oklahoma on his back, he takes this role without question, never doubting his team or their abilities. Westbrook is the perfect fit for the team, and he knows it. That’s why he always comes to play no matter what. He has a role to fill so he puts his team before himself.

The idea of failure doesn’t register with him, as he believes he can do it all, and he does.

Westbrook is the reason the Thunder even got in the playoffs.

His efforts, deserve to be celebrated with the MVP title. Harden is a phenomenal player, but he just doesn’t have that same heart, leadership and fearlessness Westbrook brings to the court day in and day out. Russell Westbrook should win the NBA MVP award hands down.

extra

points

PHOTO BY JEREMY DEBOLD

Senior Grayson Lynk aims to strike out batter against Lincoln-Way West on Mon., May 15 at home. Bulldogs will travel to Plymouth on Sat., May 20.

Baseball looks to stay hot as sectionals approach

BY DOMINIC TOMICH sports editor

The end of the season is rapidly approaching as the boys are stepping up their level of play. The Dogs are looking to extend their 17-8 record as the postseason is coming along soon.

“We have been playing some of our best ball as of late,” senior Will Kulcher said. “We have batted really well in our last couple outings, and we want to make sure we stay hot and ride it out the rest of the season. We have been improving in a lot of different areas and because of that we are playing better as a team.”

The team has been trusting their hard work and are beginning to see the results in game type scenarios.

“The little things are important in baseball. One error can play a big role in any game. That’s why we have been cleaning up our fundamentals looking to limit as many errors as we can and control the things we can control,” sophomore Josh Lindeman said. “Our batters have been doing well at the plate. We need to continue being smart in the batter’s box and continue getting batters on base and eventually turning them into runs.”

The Dogs defeated the Merrillville Pirates by a score of 23-0 on Tuesday, May 16 and by a score of 13-3 on Wednesday, May 17.

“Whenever you score 36 runs in two games it is a good thing,” Kulcher said. “In those types of games when we have a strong lead, we like to focus on improving our weaknesses and translating our hard work in practice into the game type situations.”

The boys are looking to take advantage of the opportunity of traveling to compete in the Plymouth Tournament.

“Whenever we go on a long road trip to a game, it really makes the team eager to go out and play,” Lindeman said. “No baseball player wants to sit on the bus. We want to go win games and then enjoy the bus ride. The bus ride to any game is all business. That is why we are excited to go to Plymouth, so we can take care of business.”

The Dogs will begin sectional play May 25 at Chesterton. The boys have earned the first round bye and will face the winner of Chesterton and Merrillville. Even with a competitive sectional, the team is looking to make a run this postseason.

“The sectional has some really good teams in it. We are looking to make it as far as we can. It depends on how we start clicking; this next week is going to be very important,” head coach Steve Strayer said.

“We have to sure things up and have to be more disciplined at the plate. We also want to be very aware of what to do defensively while our pitchers hit their spots. If we can start improving on each of those things, we can make a run.”

The senior group is ready to make a run at postseason success.

The Dogs have failed to win sectionals in the last two seasons and are hoping this is the year to do so.

“We want to win sectionals. There is no reason we shouldn’t win sectionals. There are other good teams but we all know we have what it takes. We want to continue playing our best baseball because when the sectional comes around we will all have a little more to play for,” Kulcher said. “We don’t like hearing how the baseball team has choked the last two years, and that is why we are taking no shortcuts as a team and holding each other accountable.

Boys track heads into sectionals optimistic after setbacks

BY HENRY WITHROW reporter

The Bulldogs track and field season is coming to an end and head coach Keith Iddings and his team are looking to focus on key points in order to improve late in the season. With sectionals at home this Thursday, the team is attempting to stay focused and be ready for the tough approaching meets.

“The boys have put in a lot of work this season. They just need to focus on executing their events as they’ve practiced,” Iddings said. “The team has done well improving throughout the season. It has been fun watching them progress.”

As the season has been winding down, athletes have come together to become the

Who will win the NBA MVP award?

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great team they are.

“I feel like we have done well currently this year. We have a deep roster with lots of guys helping our team get points,” senior Renz Buenavista said. “Our team gets prepared by going in invitationals where the competition is fierce. I feel like our team will definitely break the expectations that most people have for us this year.”

Ignoring setbacks and preparing well for tough meets and events has been quite a strong suit for this season’s team. Junior Nick Ryan feels in order for the team to truly be elite, the team needs to stay conditioned. In order to be a great team, they need to be healthy too.

“I feel the team needs to focus on staying conditioned during the practices so that when sectionals comes around, we will be

31 Lebron James 9 Kawhi Leonard 46 Russell Westbrook 20 James Harden

able to perform at our best. Some of the setbacks the team needs to overcome might be injuries,” Ryan said. “Just like every other sport any athlete can get injured, and for us to prevent that we need to stretch and roll out before and after practice.”

The team has come together this season in a phenomenal way. The bond the teammates have is truly unbreakable, and the athletes believe it can lead them to upcoming victories.

“The team has learned from practices and experiences in meets what it takes to be successful. I’m fortunate to have assistant coaches who connect well with our athletes to help them learn,” Iddings said.

Sectionals were held at home Thurs., May 18. Results were unavailable due to press time.

My moment of the month ... “...was placing first in the DAC meet for high jump.”

Senior Shane McCormick

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arts & entertainment may 19, 2017

inreview “Malibu”

by Miley Cyrus Miley Cyrus recreated her image with this Coachellaesque tune. The soft sounds create a more innocent, pure image for Cyrus to fall back on for the rest of her career. The summery, Hannah-Montana feel one can attain from the song leaves a warm feeling with listeners. But the tempo fails to change whatsoever, which leaves people wanting more.

“The Wall” on NBC

“Slow Hands”

by Niall Horan Former member of One Direction, Niall Horan, has done it again with his second solo-single, “Slow Hands.”

Horan displays his guitar playing skills as well as his gruff vocals that never got a chance to shine during his time with 1D. The bluesy feel of the tune will make it one of the top songs of the summer.

“Riverdale” on The CW The first season brought twists and turns that hooked all viewers. Every week the actors of Riverdale conveyed the inspiration of the Archie Comics through a compelling murder mystery storyline.

“The Start of Me and You”

by Emery Lord This book, though from 2015, is still relatable for awkward high schoolers everywhere. Paige Hancock decides to remake herself after her first boyfriend drowned while swimming with his friends. She doesn’t want to be defined as “the dead guy’s girlfriend” any longer, so she makes a list of new activities to try. The cheesy, outlandish actions Hancock takes throughout the novel makes it seem a little ridiculous, but the story is still a nice, easy read for whenever there’s free time to relax.

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Staff nostalgia arises while discussing childhood favorites

BY AUDREY GACSY KIRA SCHUELKA

Always on TV

advertising editor reporter

Remember what it was like to be a kid without a care in the world? Watching TV after coming home from school and dancing to the music artists at the time was a highlight. Games were simple yet so fun, and there always seemed to be another level to beat. Snacks at lunch had to be better than everyone elses. Some stores were amazing while other trends seemed to come and go quickly. Life was relaxing and there was less stress from school.

Nowadays there are tests and quizzes that occupy so much time.

Being younger was so much easier. Shows, artists and toys defined our lives and our childhood favorites were the best around. Here are our favorites from our childhoods.

(no stars) “The Wall” is a new game show on NBC produced

by Lebron James which contains no skill or actual entertainment. Lebron James should’ve stuck to basketball because the show is a catastrophe.

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“Zoey 101” The school was every kid’s dream. It was always sunny, the kids ate lunch outside and it was a boarding school that looked incredible. Zoey’s crazy life with her friends was some of the most entertaining things to watch.

Disney Channel Original Movies They had a way of keeping us hooked.

Maybe it was because they were accessible on television, but they were an iconic part of growing up. To put it into perspective, “High School Musical” was originally aired as a Disney Channel Original Movie. Enough said.

Chow Down Gripz Remember when this snack was in your lunch, and it felt like Christmas? Gripz snacks were the tastiest treats. They could be finished in seconds, and it always left the feeling of wanting more. The package was slim but contained so much flavor. Gripz we miss you. Sincerely, all the students who ate the best snack around.

Rule of the School

“Drake & Josh” Coming home to watch these crazy step-brothers was the highlight for kids all around. Even now, when reruns are on, it is a must to watch. There are many lasting jokes we will remember.

Totally Rad Stores

Trading Silly Bandz Trading these in school was the most important part of buying them. They came in small packs but always contained so many. The trend died quickly, but Silly Bandz seemed to still randomly pop up. The shapes were odd and of random items, but they were the coolest accessory at the time.

Abercrombie Back in the day, fashion really wasn’t at a high point. Abercrombie was the place to go for some fresh finds that included that classic zip-up hoodie with the ragged stitching. Sadly, the era ended too soon.

Recess The prime time to meet up with friends and blow off steam was recess. When we were younger, we created fake games and closed our eyes on the swings to feel like we were flying.

Tunes of the Times Not only did they have an amazing show, but they released the best tunes. The Jonas Brothers were an example of the magic that could come about between a brotherly bond and instruments. The three brothers made music desirable for kids to sing along to for hours at a time.

In a matter of a second, they could completely commit betrayal and create excruciating pain in your ankle. It was always fun to spin Razor Scooters around, but it was an even bigger thrill to smoothly slide down the street. Years of enjoyment were found from a single toy, making it stand out from the others.

Webkinz

Hannah Montana Of course, she was really Miley Stewart on her show, but the music that Hannah Montana created was the perfect blend between pop and country. For many of us, it was the first time that we had heard such a blend of music in that way, and it clearly remained an icon of childhood.

A section devoted to social media

Nintendo DS It was hand-held, portable awesomeness. It was the beginning of portable entertainment. The Nintendo DS is arguably the symbol of being a kid during the 2000’s, back before kids had cell phones and social media.

Razor Scooters

The Jonas Brothers

#trending

Game On

best tweets

They magically came alive, and their little tag was the key to bring them to life. The games were fun and decking out the house was a must.

There seemed to be countless species, all waiting to be named anything. Webkinz were the true definition of the internet and imagination working hand in hand.

best app

best follow

my tweets never get noticed by @InklingsCPHS like i’m a hecking funny guy sophomore Enrique Jimenez

@therealenriqueJ

My backpack weighs enough to set off the passenger seatbelt alarm... junior Morgan Kostides

@mkostides

if you think you don’t like me, my uncle called to tell me he can’t celebrate my graduation because there is a mule pull that day :-P senior Rachel Wadkins

@freckle_empress

Cartwheel by Target

@theellenshow

Target is arguably the greatest store of all time, and Cartwheel helps make it even better.

Download the app, make an account and start saving as soon as you walk through the door.

Spice up your Instagram feed with hilarious pictures, slideshows and videos of various portions of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

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Latest Marvel hit steals hearts of galaxy Embrace

BY MARIA LEONTARAS co-editor-in-chief

Everything’s better with a little music, especially superhero movies.

The opening scene of the greatest, latest box office hit “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” showcases the Marvel’s best team, the Guardians of the Galaxy, fighting a monstrous space worm to protect high-quality batteries on a world full of pompous, better-than-thou, gold-plated people.

Of course they succeed, but not without a little bump. Rocket Raccoon, voiced by Bradley Cooper, steals some of these batteries to stick it to the golden snobs.

Then the adventure begins.

Admittedly, it takes a while for the real action to begin in “Guardians,” but the exposition is full of great jams, gut-splitting humor and

insight on the team’s dynamic relationships.

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is full of endless jokes, both simple and inappropriate, that will have even the grumpiest of people giggling in their seats. Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) highlights the straightforward humor of someone who doesn’t understand manners or sparing people’s feelings. Peter Quill/Star Lord (Chris Pratt) brings witty one-liners while arguing with Rocket Raccoon and inappropriate jokes while flirting with Gamora, played by Zoe Saldana. But the cutest, sweetest, purest humor is presented in the form of Baby Groot, voiced by Vin Diesel. Baby Groot is innocent, incompetent and inherently aggressive. His desire to dance and get in on the battle action is so precious, the tears may fall from the overwhelming amount of sheer adorableness that is Baby

Groot.

While the first “Guardians” film was fantastic, “Vol. 2” takes it up a notch primarily through the character development. Since the first movie focused more on the creation of the team and their first large-scale battle as one, there wasn’t much of a chance to showcase the group’s relationships with one another. The second movie spends a good chunk of the first portion showing how the members fight together, both against opponents and each other. They all are a little hostile towards one another, but can anything else really be expected from the heros of the galaxy?

This film truly highlights the family aspect that accompanies being on a team that protects the universe.

Family is a huge aspect of the second film. The main stor-

yline revolves around Peter’s family and who his father is. We soon discover that his dad is Ego the Living Planet (Kurt Russell), and the Guardians explore his world and his powers.

Special recognition must be given to Michael Rooker for his excellent portrayal of Yondu, Peter’s ex-caregiver. He was banished from the Ravagers after it was discovered that he made a deal involving a child, Peter. Yondu’s story and role in the film is surprisingly a large one, and Rooker does an extraordinary job showing every side Yondu has to offer.

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is easily one of the best movies from the Marvel franchise, and it’s an out-of-thisworld way to spend a day.

Historical biography sheds light on WWII heros, their feats

BY JILL KIDDER editor-at-large

Imagine war hits the Region. Typically, one’s first thoughts would revolve around the safety of themselves and their loved ones. But what about beloved pets and animals? They’re family too. The biographical novel, “The Zookeeper’s Wife,” follows the life of Antonina Zabinski and her family throughout the course of World War II. In this true story, Antonina and her husband, Jan, own a zoo in the center of Warsaw, Poland. Author Diane Ackerman describes the beauty of the zoo as it was filled with all types of exotic animals from tigers to lions to elephants. Antonina was called the “animal whisperer” as she could communicate with all types of animals. However, in 1939, Germany decided to invade Poland with a number of

strict rules. Sadly, at the start of the war, the zoo went through three attacks that continued to slaughter the amount of animals in the zoo until there were none left. With these newly available cages, Antonina and Jan took in over 300 Jewish refugees to protect, house and feed throughout the duration of the war, risking their lives to help a persecuted nation.“The Zookeeper’s Wife” not only records Antonina’s and Jan’s honorable acts, but it also tells of countless other heroes who sacrificed themselves to help those being ostracized and exterminated by the Nazi party.

“The Zookeeper’s Wife” is an emotional roller coaster, as it is filled with intense and sad stories. Despite the fact that this was a terrifying time period, Ackerman’s description of Antonina’s thoughts, pulled from her journal, give the readers hope and happiness.

Antonina seemed to always have a positive at-

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titude and created a heartfelt connection with every person and animal.

The only negative from this book is that it is filled with sad and depressing stories.

However, this can be expected because of its biographical rawness that took place during the world’s biggest genocide. Shockingly, reading this sorrowful book does not put one in a melancholy mood.

Overall, this book should be read by all as it honors the people that risked their lives to help others in the world’s biggest genocide.

I wish more history classes would tell the virtuous acts that were told in “The Zookeeper’s Wife.” Not only does this book honor these heroes, but it also allows the readers to remember huge historical events in a more personal and illustrative way to ensure that history will never repeat itself.

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we’re so over Fidget Spinners

Does it really relieve stress or is it just an opportunity to make noise and be annoying?

It’s understandable that people like to have their hands occupied. But is the fidget spinner really necessary? It spins; it clicks; it is obnoxious.

It distracts other people from what they should be doing.

Please put them away and do not play with them during class. Thank you.

15

changes school brings

BY JACKIE HAM

co-editor-in-chief

Seniors. Think back to your freshman year. Think about how you were during your first year here. How did you picture your senior year? Because I know where I am right now is not where I thought I would be.

Who knew that I would still be best friends with the girl I use to watch One Direction music videos with on the staircase during 8th grade? Who knew I would be dating someone I never knew existed until sophomore year but has brought endless amounts of laughter? Who knew my roommate next year would be the girl I was so intimidated by for the longest time? Who knew I would go to Purdue?

That is the funny part about high school. You just never know what to expect. You walk in your first day thinking you know everything, but year after year, you are still learning things about yourself that you never knew. You lose friendships that you swore would last a lifetime.

You experience heartbreak like never before. You go through so many different emotions in one year that it really does seem like a cheesy teen movie, but these years in this building have been some of the best years of my life.

My advice to the underclassmen is to be open minded during your next few years in this building. Talk to the people you do not really know. Take classes that may seem interesting to you no matter how it affects your GPA. Do not be afraid to try new things because four years go by faster than you think. Everything you are going through right now may seem like the biggest deal in the world, but I guarantee everything will work out in the end just maybe not in the way you expected it to.

So what have I learned?

I am walking out of this building a completely different person from when I first walked in. I embraced the unexpected changes that came my way with open arms and became someone I never thought I would be which is not a bad thing. I could not be more happy with the person I am today, and it is all because of the lessons I learned in high school.

Be who you want to be, and do the things that you want to do because you only have four years before life gets real. Take the hardships in your life and learn from them, and most importantly find the good people in your life and never let them go.

16

people may 19, 2017

On the fast track

Take

Mosak finds love in cycling from young age

BY TABITHA BEISHUIZEN reporter

The feeling of a racing heart and the wind against one’s face intensifies the rush. The crowd is screaming that the finish line is just ahead and everyone is watching as the competition comes to an end, contestants hoping to place in the top. Biking for many is seen as a calming way to relax after a stressful day, but for others, it is a competition full of nerve and adrenaline.

While many people do a sport by themselves and have their family there to support them, sophomore Riley Mosak and his dad both bike. His dad introduced him to the sport and he gave it a try. He has now been biking ever since.

“I started about two to three years ago because my dad asked me to try mountain biking with him and I loved it. I wanted to get better so he told me if I started cycling it would make me a better mountain biker. Things flipped over the years and now I do mountain biking as a secondary discipline with my primary focus being cycling,” Mosak said.

There are many different types of biking, and there are different ways that each competition is run. Each one has its specific distances and techniques needed to achieve a high position.

“In cycling, there are usually three different kinds of races.

Road races, time trials and criteriums. Road races work with a set mileage or amount of laps that you have to complete. Everyone starts at the same time and races to finish in the top three. Time

Crown Point High School

PHOTO BY JILL KIDDER Sophomore Riley Mosak trains for races on a variety of trails including the Erie Lackawanna trail. He trains every week and bikes anywhere from 20-100 miles.

trials are one by one races where you see who can finish a course in the fastest time. Criterium races are races that last 30 minutes and start out by finding the average lap time of the leaders, then breaking it down into an amount of laps that would make the race last as close as it can to the 30 minute mark.”

Since there are such a diverse range of different styles of biking and cycling, Mosak practices as much as he can, so he can then compete as much as he can.

“I compete as often as possible. This year will be especially busy for me due to me having my license now. But there are a few different types of racing. Depending on the discipline of bik-

20 miles

ing that you do like mountain biking, cycling, BMX racing and more, the types of races vary. For me, I do both mountain biking and cycling,” Mosak said.

Mosak is part of Region Racing, which is among the many different biking teams in Indiana and the surrounding area. Being part of a competitive team means hours of practice and determination, and for Mosak, practicing multiple days a week devoting his time to the sport is crucial.

“I ride on average two to four times a week, normally in the range of 20 to 30 miles. These take about an hour to an hour and a half, but sometimes we do long rides from 50 to 100 miles. I have yet to finish a 100 mile ride,

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freshman Dream Team “Cheetah Girls because I have a close group of friends.

We all hang out a lot and like to have lots of fun.”

Travel Time “I would like to live in Mexico because it is so sunny and nice there. Also, I could have a nice tan all the time.”

Rest Up “Sleep. With whatever extra time I have, I want to sleep.

Then everyday I would get more time in my bed.”

Athletic Apparel “I have a very casual, sporty look. It is usually just leggings, gym shoes, and a random T-shirt.”

Music Model “Beyoncé is an awesome artist, and she is just an all around amazing person to look up to.”

Chicago

100 miles

Crown Point High School

5 L

Olivia Panepinto

The mileage is rounded to the nearest 10.

Downtown Valparaiso

50 miles

Crown Point High School

but I will soon,” Mosak said.

While biking is something Mosak loves to do and encourages others to try, it is not an easy sport to participate in and takes a lot of hard work.

“I want people to understand that while we are just racing bikes, it’s not as simple as that. People kind of have an opinion on this sport as being kind of lame and dumb. We aren’t just pedaling around having fun,” Mosak said.

“We reach speeds like 20 miles per hour to speeds like 38 miles per hour. We do this while being attached to the bike by the shoes we wear, and the only protection we have is a helmet. All it takes is one bad crash or one careless driver, and we can easily become injured and depending on the severity of the incident, possibly die.”

Mosak warns people not to mess with bikers when going around town because of the danger it could cause.

“I ask everyone out there who passes by a cyclist in a car or tries to mess with one while they are riding, please help us keep safe.

Scaring us and passing way too close to us in a car may not have the careless consequences that you think it might,” Mosak said.

“Because if you pass too close, if you scare us, if you do anything that you know could potentially harm us, you may end up making us crash, or worse, you may kill us. I don’t think anyone wants to be responsible for the death of someone over not waiting to pass because of them being impatient.”

ink

Six Flags

What do you

Think

What skill/craft would you like to master?

“Playing the clarinet is something that I would like to master because I have been playing since 6th grade, and it is something that is really interesting to me.”

Addy Gazzillo freshman

“I would like to master computer engineering because I have taken an interest in it ever since I have been in high school.”

Justin Breuker senior

“I think it would be cool to try and master playing the piano so that I could play music for my church. It would be a very useful skill.”

“I would like to master pole vaulting because I have always wanted to be a star in pole vaulting. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

“I would like to master playing an instrument because I’m sad that I have never played an instrument before.”

“I want to be a skilled business man because it is a good field to go into, and there are so many things you can so with it.”

Cassie Smith

Gavin Stuckey

Natalie Klingberg

Jacob Ronning

junior

sophomore

senior

freshman