Inklings March 2009

Inklings

Volume 73 Issue 7 • Crown Point High School • 1500 S. Main Street Crown Point, IN 46307 • inklings@cps.k12.in.us

• Friday March 20, 2009

Tomorrow’s forecast High 40° Low 29°

Saturday: Cloudy with a few showers

Penny wars raise $5,850

By Anna Ortiz / graphics editor Finally the tally is in, resulting in five winning classes that collected the most money.

Industrial technology and corporation teacher Karen Topp tops the rest of the classes as her first hour class raised a sum of $596.99.

The second, third, fourth and fifth winning classes go as follows: English teacher Annie Domasica’s first hour at $372.45, art teacher Karen Cox’s class with $353.11, teacher Kevin Cash’s class at $311.84 and English teacher (and fundraiser organizer) Rachele Raloff’s first period class with $283.06.

Crown Point High School as a whole raised $5,853.49 to go to the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser for children with cancer.

Joseph Reid raised $741.83, but due to the amount of bills that were donated within his classes, he officially totalled about $250.

“We decided to donate paper money too. Two students of mine brought in $50 bills. Our goal was to simply collect as much money as possible,” Reid said.

Topp, too, felt the same charitable as well as personal motivation. She dedicates the donations to her friends’ second grade daughters, Megan and Emily, who passed away from cancer.

Save cash at the movies

Perfect scores at ISSMA

If you are tired of spending up to $10 for one movie, check out these easy ways to see the same flicks for less

Senior AJ Jabarin and sophomore Kelsey Emery earn perfect scores at the ISSMA state music competition

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Shaving the way to conquer cancer Current total at $23,618.84 with donations still coming in $5,853.49 raised just in spare change. 126 willing shavees. One cure. St. Baldrick’s is the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. Participants shave their heads to represent children with cancer, and raise money in the process through donations.

Students at Crown Point High School who pledge to be shaved are expected to raise $200 for childhood cancer research and shave their heads. The shave-off for the volunteers took place at CPHS on March 17.

English teacher and student council adviser Rachele Raloff believes that St. Baldrick’s is a good cause.

“St. Baldrick’s is a worthy cause to help lower the death rates caused by pediatric cancer,” Raloff said.

She decided to do this program again after the previous success. Students and teachers rose over $23,000 last year and student council wanted to try St. Baldrick’s for another year. She feels that the students were more than willing to help.

“Students are willing to help out or raise money however they can. Student council led up Penny Wars to help raise money. First hour classes raised $5,853.49,” she said.

However, this year FOX got involved in the program.

“FOX is helping to spread the word about the importance of pediatric cancer research,” Raloff said.

Sophomore shavee Sondra

Eisler also believes that St. Baldrick’s is a great program because it is working to find a cure for childhood cancer, which she feels is necessary and important.

“I think that it’s a great cause to raise money for cancer research.

It is helping to find a cure, and I think we need to keep trying to find one,” Eisler said.

She asked for help from people, like her family, friends, and neighbors, who were willing to donate money for the cause and help her meet her $200 goal.

She feels that everyone can help, no matter what they do. Eisler believes anything can make a difference, because these people really need it, and that is one of the things that prompted her to become involved in St. Baldrick’s.

“Just thinking if someone I actually knew had cancer and pretty much had to go bald, I know that they would hate it. I would love for someone I knew and someone who cared to do if for me, if I were in their shoes. I wanted to be a girl and prove that it’s fine to be bald and that anyone can be strong,” Eisler said.

Although she does admit that it was hard at times, she feels that the hardest part was counting down the days and building up

Photo By Becca Iddings

Freshman Andrea Reichley gets her head shaved for St. Baldrick’s in the gymnasium. Reichley was one of 126 participants. the excitement and stress of it all.

“It’s like a type of thing that you have to count down for because you are so excited for it the day and event to happen, but

once it comes, it’s like you don’t want it to happen at the same time,” Eisler said.

story by Nikki Sekuloski

Bake sales, raffles raise additional funds for the fight against cancer

By Nikki Sekuloski and Matt Smith/ reporter and co-entertainment editor In the midst of St. Baldricks and Penny Wars, the fight against cancer rages on.

Many people have taken it upon themselves to help the cause. Science teacher Kelly Loving is among them.

“I ran a ‘personal’ bake sale and all of the money went to the program. I love to cook and this was a good reason,” Loving said.

Although, he does not personally know any children suffering from cancer, he does know people who have been affected by cancer. In general, he believes that St. Baldrick’s is a great idea to raise money and build up awareness.

“I raised money from the bake sale last year and it was successful, so I decided to do it again,” he said.

English teacher Lisa Landgrebe also helped to raise money for St. Baldrick’s.

She made and sold cookies, donating all the money for the cause.

“I baked at least once, sometimes twice, a week to have fresh cookies for students.

I made probably close to 100 dozen cookies. We raised $623.36 for St. Baldrick’s,” Landgrebe said.

Landgrebe also sold raffle tickets for $1 each and the prize was a $20 gift card of their choice. The gift card was paid for by Landgrebe herself, not from the ticket money, and all proceeds went to St. Baldrick’s.

“I like the idea of making people aware of the pediatric cancer problems in the area.

St. Baldrick’s is a great way to have kids make a connection to other kids that may not be as fortunate and the cookie sale was a fun way to have students contribute,” she said.

In the end, Landgrebe felt that the students were extremely willing to help and that is what helped the success of the program.

“It’s nice to see the kids get involved in an event like this. It’s nice to know that the kids care about a project and cause that is bigger than themselves,” she said.

Joining the fight, Timothy Ball Elementary School recently held a school-wide fundraiser from for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research.

Over the two week long fundraiser, the elementary school raised a total of $2,738.44, exceeding their goal by over 500 percent. Their original goal of $500 was surpassed almost immediately, raising a total of $506 on the first day.

“I didn’t really know what to expect, given economic times,” T-Ball nurse Pat Guritz said. “I was totally amazed by the result.”

Guritz, along with PTO secretary Tammy Loosemore, organized this fundraiser, in which hundreds of children participated in from Feb. 9-20. Many different incentives were offered over the course of this time in order to encourage donations.

“Any child that donated any amount of money got a sticker that said ‘I made a

difference today’,” Guritz said. “We also sold paper pennies for $1, which were posted around the school with students’ names on them. We even had a sort of spirit week, where the kids paid 50 cents to participate.”

Guritz also offered prizes such as pizza or ice cream parties to classes who raised the most money.

“Even with all of the incentives, however, it didn’t seem like the kids were doing it to win,” Guritz said. “They really wanted to help out.”

Guritz has already been asked to do the fundraiser next year, and she thinks it is a great idea.

This season of fundraisers has gotten everyone in the community involved in the fight against cancer, from adults to children.

Their reasons for helping vary, but perhaps 9-year-old Stephen Carlson says it best.

“I think it’s a good idea to give money,” Carlson said. “I want to help, because there are a lot of nice people who don’t deserve cancer.”

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save the date

4.1

April Fools’ Day

News

Play it again

March 20, 2009

4. 10-13

Students earn perfect scores at ISSMA competition

4. 15

By Kelly Rostin / staff writer

No School

All-City Choir Concert; Auditorium

4.28

ISSMA Band, Orchestra, and Choir Concert

4.29

Half Day for Students

in the know

Dance Team wins state kick title For the seventh consecutive year the varsity dance team captured the Indiana High School Dance Team Association’s state championship in the elite kick division. They also competed in pom, earning second place. Team members are seniors Kara Sodo, Samantha Harnois, Chelsea Bowman, Natasha Boyd, Simone Favor, Staci Foglio and Hayley Plummer; junior Bethany Komasinski; sophomores Allie Bowdish, Katelyn Frank and Jessica Spangenburg; and freshmen Celina Fraire and Jessica Lilovich. The dancers are coached by Debbie and Rachel Bickel.

The junior varsity dancers captured second in jazz and third in pom. Team members are junior Christina Lundy; sophomore Jordan Hendrickson; and freshmen Keisha Higgins, Carsyn Smack, and Megan Rybolt. Shelley Hardesty is their coach.

RoboDogs compete at Purdue Thirteen RoboDogs are currently competing through Saturday at the fifth annual Boilermaker Regional FIRST Robotics Competition at Purdue University.

Team members are participating with assistance from mentor engineers and technicians and competing against 35 teams from Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. Twenty four teams will qualify for the quarter finals. “[In the competition], we hope that our robot does not have any breakdowns.

Also, the team hopes that the robot meets our expectations,” RoboDogs adviser Mark Querry said.

Competing are seniors Liz Fleszewski and Casey Paczkowski; juniors Matt Bagnara, Ian Hubble, Jon Iler, Keith Nichols, and Megan Tobias; sophomore Chris Ashbrooks; and freshmen Joe Chappa, Jack Holland, Steve Jareki, Brandon Jaworski, and Carl Wendt.

Speech members advance to state Junior Ryan Farrell and sophomore Bekah Maddak advance to state competition on Sat. March 21 after qualifying at the IHSFA Sectional Competition at Chesterton High School on March 7. Farrell received a third place ribbon in discussion and Maddak received a seventh place ribbon in poetry interpretation.

Also competing was sophomore Taylor Cantrell, and freshmen Jacob Suson and Lily Sanchez.

Junior Ryan Farrell also earned a first place ribbon in the discussion category during competition at McCutcheon High School. In addition, sophomores Bekah Maddack and Taylor Cantrell received second place ribbons in the original performance category; Maddack also won a seventh place ribbon in the poetry category.

The team placed tenth in the total sweepstakes points. Also competing were sophomore Amelia Claus and freshman Lily Sanchez. The team is coached

by Jacob Adams.

Perfection, some say, is nonexistent and unattainable. However, for sophomore Kelsey Emery and senior A.J. Jabarin, this wasn’t the case at all. Both Jabarin and Emery scored perfect nines on their instrumental solos at ISSMA state on Feb. 21 at North Central High School in Indianapolis.

ISSMA, which stands for Indiana State School Music Association, is a competition where soloists and ensembles can play a piece of music for a panel of judges. ISSMA expands itself for singers (soloists and ensembles) as well. While there are different levels to the competition, state is the highest a student can get to. In order to be eligible to even go to state, both Emery and Jabarin had to receive a gold at the district competition. A student can only move on to state if they get a gold at the district competition.

“We had to play the same piece of music for both competitions,’ Emery said.

Receiving a perfect score at state is a very rare feat for a student to accomplish.

Just getting to state and receiving a gold takes time and practice to acheive the desired perfection.

“Every aspect of your solo has to be absolutely perfect, from your bowing technique to your intonation and so on,” Jabarin said.

Jabarin played his cello for the song “Elegie,” and Emery played “Handel Sonata 4” on her flute for the judges.

“When I got my score sheet and saw all of the checkmarks [in the perfect column] I was in shock. It took a while for it to sink in. I honestly thought I was going to get a silver,” Emery said.

The state competition featured some of the most talented musicians in the area.

“It was an indescribable feeling,” Jabarin said. “You’re pretty much around all the best musicians in the state.”

Emery thought that the atmosphere proved to be intimidating.

“It was kind of intimidating and nerve-

Photo By Jeremy Rex

Senior A.J. Jabarin practices his cello for pit orchestra. Both Jabarin and sophomore Kelsey Emery scored perfect nines at the ISSMA state competition. racking at first,” Emery said.

Both Emery and Jabarin agree that state was a unique and unforgettable experience.

“This was my sixth year at state, and it was my first time getting perfect. I’ve always wanted to do that. It was just really

exhilarating and intense,” Jabarin said.

Emery says that the opportunity to go to state and receive a perfect score proved to be an exhilarating experience to take part in.

“It was a really exciting experience for me,” Emery said.

CP educators earn $8000 Lilly Fellowship

By Megan Binder / editor-in-chief Two Crown Point educators were recognized and honored with the Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship along with only 127 other teachers in the state. Crown Point Community School Corporation music coordinator Cynthia Bradford and English department chairperson at the high school Deb Ciochina both received the $8,000 endowment to pursue individual interests and personal renewal projects.

Bradford, who also is the director of the ninth grade girls’ choir and Bella Voce vocal ensemble at Crown Point High School, submitted to the Lilly Foundation her plan to explore traditional Alpine yodeling at the National Yodeling Festival in Lucerne, as well as explore the Alps in Switzerland, northern Italy and Slovenia.

“I’ve always been interested in music from a variety of world cultures and I’ve studied music from Africa, Ireland, Mexico and East Asia in the past,” Bradford said.

“This is my first try at writing a Lilly grant so I was surprised and thrilled to get it.”

Ciochina plans on using the grant to visit the Thoreau Institute in Concord, Massachusetts, which houses the largest collection of scholarly papers from Henry David Thoreau in the world.

“A lot of my thinking is based on the Transcendental thinkers [like Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson], and it’s been

a lifelong dream to go to Walden Pond [where Thoreau wrote his most famous work, Walden],” Ciochina said.

Ciochina will also spend four weeks in the Adirondack Mountains preparing a draft of a book focused on compassionate teaching and a different approach for educators when working with students,

Lilly Fellowship recipients Deb Ciochina, English department chair and AP English Language teacher Cynthia Bradford, CPCSC music coordinator and ninth grade girls’ choir director their parents and themselves.

“The four weeks of solitude is going to be a time for reflection,” Ciochina said.

“I love natural settings, like the Rocky Mountains or the lakes in Wisconsin. But I spent my first eight years growing up at the foothills of the Adirondacks, and I’m looking forward to the reconnection to where I was born.”

Out-of-state judges make recommendations for these awards from a competitive pool of 640 applicants. Since

the Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program began in 1987, more than 1900 Indiana educators have received grants; this class brings that total to 2067, according to the foundation’s website.

“It’s a wonderful gift to be given the opportunity to do whatever you want,” Ciochina said. “It’s like rubbing the lamp and the genie comes out. You get to follow your heart’s desire, whatever that is, which is nearly unheard of in our culture.”

While educators who are given the grant are given the freedom to use the money as they specified in their proposals, there are some obligations that fellows must comply with at the end of their summer of personal renewal.

“I have to go in September and share what I’ve done with the other educators from around the state who have completed their projects,” Ciochina said. “I’m excited to meet other people and see what they have done.”

The Lilly Endowment seeks to reward and reinvest in teachers throughout Indiana who sincerely want to better themselves and in turn the community and students they teach.

“The professional growth of our faculty is a vital part of our future,” Crown Point High School principal Dr. Eric J. Ban said.

“Teachers who explore their profession through their passions will pass that experience along for the benefit of kids and the community.”

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News

March 20, 2009

CASS Cadets mentor middle school students

By Lauren Cain and Michele Bates / copy editor and news editor With news stories telling of second graders bringing guns to schools, students and parents alike may wonder what has happened in our society. The high school recently introduced two new programs to keep bullying out of the middle schools.

Several high school students applied to become a CASS Cadet or Top Dog mentor during the month of December.

“The most important thing I looked for [in the Top Dog and CASS Cadet applications] was that the student had a honest desire, strong academic standing, good attendance, and responsibility,” sponser Cynthia Dewes said.

With hundreds of applicants, students were selected to become part of one of the two programs. Top Dog students mentor freshman as they continue to make a transition into the high school. “[Top Dogs] work as instructional aides everyday in the classroom. They not only assist with lessons, but they also provide responsible role models for the freshmen,” Dewes said.

CASS Cadets (consisting of sophomores and juniors) recently attended either Taft Middle School or Wheeler Middle School on March 11. The first mission for the CASS Cadets was to introduce themselves, do several getting-to-know-you activities, and to introduce the CASS antiaggression language to the sixth graders.

Each of the CASS Cadets will continue to visit their ‘adopted’ sixth grade class in April and May. “On a scale from one to ten, I would rate [the visit to Taft and Wheeler] a 15. The CASS Cadets were professional, prepared, and caring,” Dewes said.

Junior Briana Starzak said that visiting the sixth graders helped her realize how much of a difference she could make.

“One kid told me all about his experiences with bullies and how he had to switch schools. It really made me feel like I needed to reach out and help him. Being with the [sixth graders] helped them, as well as me,” Starzak said.

In the next year, Dewes hopes that both

By Katelyn Baker / guest writer

Sophomore Cat Fleszewski plays an ice-breaker game with sixth grade student Bryssa Starzak when the CASS Cadets visited the middle schools. the CASS Cadet and Top Dog programs double in size. Dewes also hopes to have one Top Dog mentor in each freshmen core class.

Bullying has been an ever-growing trend, which is why the CASS Cadet and Top Dog programs needed to be implemented. Bullying, also known as relational aggression has been an ongoing problem for awhile, but in the past years has been the focus in schools with the development of the CASS organization. CASS (Creating a Safer Social Climate) was incorporated into Taft Middle School in 2006.

“I have seen children suffer tremendously from the effects of bullying. I have seen children become depressed, become very withdrawn, suffer from low selfesteem, and even become school phobic,“ school psychologist Kathy Cain said. “I have also seen children who internalize the problems to the point that they become bullies themselves to their peers in a way to counteract what has happened to them.”

The effects of bullying spread far and wide, from physical to emotional hardships. Studies by the Ophelia Project, part-

ners with CASS, have shown that bullying may cause unrelenting stomach aches and headaches. Emotional effects include suicidal tendencies, anti-social behavior later in life, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and low self esteem.

“Due to feelings of depression due to bullying, some children develop psychosomatic symptoms, such as stomach aches, and headaches, that have no true physical origin. I believe that the saying ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me’ could not be further from the truth. Words are so powerful and negative words can have a long-lasting impact on a student’s life,” Cain said.

With the effects of bullying being so prominent in students, CASS Cadets and Top Dogs are taking a step to help with the anti-bullying initiative.

“I commend Crown Point Schools for implementing the CASS program and for training high school mentors for the middle school students. The first step is acknowledging that there is a problem and then developing a plan of action for dealing with the problem,” Cain said.

in the news

Sophomores selected for summer leadership seminar

Marcinek inducted into Hall of Fame Social studies teacher and assistant boys basketball coach Russ Marcinek was inducted into the Hammond Sports Hall of fame last week. A 1991 graduate of Bishop Noll High School, he averaged 19 points and seven assists during his senior season, won the sectional championship as a junior, and was on the team’s final four roster as a freshman. He played basketball at Southwest Texas State and Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne, where he holds the school’s single game record for assists at 19.

Prior to Crown Point, Marcinek taught and coached at Morton and Gavit high schools in Hammond.

“It’s quite an honor to join such a distinguished group from the city of Hammond,” Marcinek said.

Marcinek was initiated along with his father, Russell E. Marcinek, who began his teaching and coaching career at Crown Point High School in 1963.

St. Baldrick’s touches student’s life

Sophomores Carolyn Kupchik and Evan Langbehn have been selected to represent Crown Point High School at the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) seminar at Butler University in Indianapolis in June.

Selected and sponsored by the guidance department, they will participate in leadership training, service-learning and motivation building experiences. Kupchik is a member of orchestra, Key Club, and the golf team. Langbehn participates in basketball and track. Both are students of counselor Peg Shaffer.

Founded in 1958, HOBY’s mission is to inspire and develop a global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation. HOBY programs are conducted annually throughout the United States, serving local and international high school students.

The National Scholastic Press Association awarded the 2008 Excalibur yearbook with a first place ranking after earning 3740 of a possible 4000 points and three marks of distinction in conception/essentials, design, and photography.

The book also earned a superior ranking from the Indiana High School Press Association which makes it a Hoosier Star finalist in state competitiion. Winners will be announced at the 2009 state convention in October.

Editors of the 2008 yearbook were then-seniors Kara McIver and Devin Holme. Adviser is Cynthia Dewes.

The 2009 edition of the Excalibur is on sale for $60 until April 30. Orders can be placed by calling 1-866-287-3096 or visiting www.yearbookordercenter.com and using code #3840.

People often hear about St. Baldrick’s and think it’s simply another cancer foundation—another fundraiser. That was not the case for junior Rachel Mauger. St. Baldrick’s may not have been a big deal when she first began the program last year, but it is now.

Mauger, 17, was one of a few girls that participated in St. Baldrick’s last spring. St Baldrick’s, an organization dedicated to raising money for cancer patients, asks every participant to raise at least $200 and shave their head. Some of the hair is even made into wigs for cancer patients who have gone through chemo-therapy treatments and lost their hair.

“It is unusual for a girl to want to shave her head,” Mauger said, reflecting back on what the foundation workers had said when she signed up.

“I wanted to do something outrageous that no one else is doing,” she said.

Some people thought she was crazy, but many others supported her endeavor.

“People were mostly just coming up to me and asking to feel my head,” Mauger said.

The main factor which went into her decision to go bald was that her youth pastor, Steve Szoke, was going through cancer at the time.

“We were all very close to him and wanted to do something, but we couldn’t,” Mauger’s friend Bethany Luebcke said.

Eventually, Szoke passed away at the age of 32, leaving a six-yearold daughter behind. Everyone was traumatized, but Mauger felt like she had done her part in helping him.

Besides Szoke, Mauger’s church suffered two more losses this year alone to cancer.

Then, a few weeks ago her dad was admitted to the hospital for having back pain. After several tests, they concluded that he had a large tumor on his spine that caused his back to fracture.

“The whole picture of Steve came back into my mind. The fact that it was my dad didn’t hit me and hasn’t really hit me yet,” Mauger said.

Another major problem Mauger had to overcome was her brother’s wedding, which is coming up this year.

Though times have been rough lately, her family has decided not to move up her brother Caleb’s wedding from the previous set date.

“The only thing that changed in the plans was the financial situation,” Mauger said. They were originally planning to help out the bride’s side of the family with some costs of the wedding, but now their money has to go to the hospital and doctor bills.

“It’s not really a big deal to us,” the bride-to-be Nikki Lucas said. “All we care about is that he gets better soon.”

Mauger knows she has some rough weeks ahead but she is confident everything will work out in the end with her father. It has hit their whole family very hard, but with a foundation like St. Baldrick’s raising money for cancer the Mauger family feels they have some reassurance.

“When I did St. Baldrick’s I really didn’t think much about the decision.

Now that my dad’s personally affected, I feel much more confident that a cure will be found soon because people give very generously to [St. Baldrick’s]. We will continue fighting this cancer until he is cured and until cancer is gone from the world.”

4

Opinion

Inklings

Inklings is a student publication distributed to students, faculty and staff of Crown Point High School. It is published monthly by the newspaper and advanced journalism students. Opinions expressed in Inklings do not reflect those of the CPHS faculty, staff, or the administration.

Inklings welcomes and encourages signed letters to the editor. Letters may be edited for space or clarity. Letters must be signed and turned in to room C124 one week prior to publications and must not contain personal attacks.

Letters may also be sent via e-mail at inklings@ cps.k12.in.us. Not all letters may be printed.

Such decisions are the sole discretion of the Inklings editors and staff.

Advertising is subject to the applicable rate, copies of which are available from Inklings advertising department or by contacting 6634885 ext. 11213.

Inklings is a member of the Indiana High School Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Quill and Scroll.

Inklings can be contacted at 1500 S. Main, Crown Point, IN, 46307; 219-663-4885 ext. 11213; fax 219-662-5663; or inklings@cps.k12.in.us.

Editors Megan Binder editor-in-chief Cori Novelli executive editor Deanna Sheafer managing editor Lauren Cain copy editor Michele Bates news editor Brittany Curtis feature editor Becca Duggan Matt Smith co-entertainment editors Trey Aultman sports editor Hunter McKee sports assistant Anna Ortiz graphics editor Becca Iddings advertising editor Joe Nejman Georgia Otte Alex Parrish Jeremy Rex photographers Staff Colin Likas Vinnie Needham Kelly Rostin Milan Savich Nikki Sekuloski adviser Julie Elston

March 20, 2009

Sleep deprivation weighs on students

By Brittany Curtis/ feature editor

cartoon by

Anna Ortiz

Teens show examples charity and kindness

V

iew:

Students breaking through the stereotype of the lazy teenager are shining examples of generosity and compassion, giving us hope for a better future despite the dismal present editorial

Whether it’s war, poverty or a collapsing DOW, there’s plenty of front-page news to satisfy even the most dire of cynics. Yet here at home, Crown Point students have been making their own kind of headlines with far-reaching fundraisers for worthy causes. That our own students are defying the “lazy teenager” label and giving back to the community and the world in so many ways should give us all hope for the future and defeat that too-often held stereotype once and for all.

Most prominent are the community activities where students have been so active lately. The St. Baldrick’s Penny Wars fundraiser collected nearly $6,000 for childhood cancer research. Certainly the competition was part of the fun, but in the end students were still offering what was left of their money after gas, lunch and the other assorted expenses that come from being an American teenager.

Some critics say that student-required service defeats the purpose, and to a certain extent that is true. The point of community service is to give for the sheer joy of giving, not because you expect something else in return.

But encouragingly students are also taking advantage of classroom requirements of service to go beyond the call of duty (or the call of an “A”). The senior AP English classes are embarking on Personal Impact Projects designed to have the students give back to the world. Whether it’s a dance marathon to raise money for the Make-a-Wish foundation or bake sales to fund dictionaries for elementary school children, these students are shining examples of what a modern teenager wants to do with their time in the world.

And just as importantly as these grandiose acts, an outside observer of the high school culture might be surprised at how kind students are in everyday ways. For example, with the recent flux of rainy days, doors held open and umbrellas shared are not uncommon. A student outside the journalism lab dropped her books all over the floor, and editors observed no less than four fellow students stop what they were doing and help the girl pick them up. These seemingly mundane, “random” acts of kindness are just as important. When they become routine again, they are no longer random at all: just another example of how our generation is defying negative stereotypes and becoming truly compassionate people.

And in the end, these same motivated and generous students are the people who will take over the world and those dismal headline problems. If their work at the local level is any indication, maybe we will not have so much to worry about.

For me, when the alarm goes off at 5:45 a.m., it’s a serious test of will trying to get out of bed. After much internal debate and procrastinating, I drudgingly make my way out of bed and get ready for the day. During the morning, my greatest wish is simply to get another few hours of sleep.

Many teens suffer from this same problem: sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation is no little thing: over time, lack of sleep can cause illness, weight gain, acne and irritable and aggressive behavior. You look bad, perform bad, and feel moody, but according to the National Sleep Foundation only an alarming 15 percent of students get the recommended amount of sleep each night.

One big reason for sleep deprivation is that teens have so much to do for school.

Classes often assign projects at the same time: right before Six Week Assessments.

If, like me, you put things off until the last minute, the last two or three nights before they are due often result in only three to four hours of sleep a night, making waking up the next morning the a Herculean feat.

However, teens’ procrastination isn’t the whole problem. Biological sleep patterns shift toward later times for both sleeping and waking during adolescence, meaning it is natural to not be able to fall asleep before 11:00 pm. This means to get the recommended amount of sleep teens would need to sleep until about 7:30 a.m.—conveniently five minutes after school starts.

Sleep deprivation causes serious problems, like drowsy driving. According to the National Sleep Foundation sleep deprived teens can be as impaired as someone driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent, illegal for drivers in Indiana. Drowsy driving causes over 100,000 crashes each year.

For teens, their best option is to get homework done before bedtime so they don’t stay up until the a.m. getting things done. And to help wake up in the morning, lots of light signals the brain to wake up and start moving. It might take a lot of work to get to bed on time, but ultimately you’ll feel better throughout the day and start to wake up less tired and have more energy.

heard in the

halls

A Good Cause “The penny wars are a really good way to help people and motivate students to give to a charity.” freshman Lauren Berger

Announcements “TV announcements are more fun, and people watch them. No one really listens to the speaker announcements.” sophomore Sarah Spies

YouTube Fan

“YouTube is entertaining and funny, I watch it around twice a week whenever I get bored.” juniorElisha Deyarman

Opinion

March 20, 2009

Teen driving laws change

5

By Michele Bates / news editor

Q speak up

What is the best way to get information to students?

I

ssue:

Keeping on the beat in high school is important, but does the info travel better by television broadcasts or intercom announcements?

freshman

From last year to this year, many changes have taken place with the arrival of a new principal. And while most of the said changes have been beneficial, I do see one as a little unnecessary: the change from having the Friday afternoon announcements over the intercom to having them over the TV. I personally don’t feel like the announcements over the TV are any more personal than the announcements over the intercom. You get the same effect: you get information about what is happening around the school this weekend and also get to know who the students of the week are.

I don’t necessarily think that you need to have the announcements over the TV in order to do that.

One problem with having the announcements over the TV is that some teachers don’t even turn their TVs on, which defeats the purpose entirely. When the announcements were over the intercom, students would always get their weekly announcements, and didn’t have to rely on teachers turning on the TVs in order to get them.

There’s also the issue of how much time it takes to deliver the announcements. When we had announcements over the intercom, it would take a maximum of about three or four minutes. Now, we have to take five minutes out of the day to turn on the TV and wait for the announcements to start when all of that could have easily been avoided by simply having the announcements over the intercom. You get your information fast, without taking a lot of time out of class to receive it. Those two minutes might not seem like a lot, but when you’re taking a test, those two minutes are crucial.

Overall, I don’t really feel that the TV announcements are any more beneficial to students than the announcements over the intercom were, and only take up much-needed class time to deliver the same announcements that could have been given over the intercom.

By Becca Duggan/ entertainment editor This year, brightening up the TV screens in various classrooms on Fridays are the afternoon announcements. Watching the principal’s relaxed body language and mannerisms instead of hearing his disembodied voice over the intercom is a fun, entertaining way to end the week. The television announcements satisfy some students’ addiction to TV as well as satisfy the need to relay information to students and teachers alike. Though the method is new and still being perfected, I appreciate the school’s attempt to engage its students in a more visually appealing way.

From elementary school onward, students are taught that there are different ways of learning and retaining information, such as visual, auditory, and tactile. Auditory learning is occurring when students are listening to the announcements over the intercom because they are hearing the information instead of seeing it or touching it. Some students may learn more easily through auditory methods. Visual learning happens when we watch the afternoon announcements on TV. When we can also hear the announcements as well as see them, that means that the two methods of learning are being combined. By incorporating two methods instead of one, that widens the amount of students that will retain the information.

Not only that, but the visual aspect of the announcements makes them all the more entertaining. Dr. Eric Ban’s friendly demeanor cannot be heard over the intercom. Students are able to see the face of their principal, which makes him more relatable to all. Being able to see Dr. Ban allows students to understand the principal’s efforts to be more interactive with the students. Students can see him talking to their peers and making connections with the student population. They would also have the pleasure of seeing him wearing dreadlocks (if a certain percentage of the students make the A and B honor roll, of course.)

Rick Polisson “T.V. because I am more of a visual learner.”

junior

By Brittany Curtis / feature editor

TV info keeps students in touch

sophomore

Intercom offers better medium

Anna Ortiz

senior

By Sound or by Sight? cartoon by

When many teenagers turn 16, they have one thing on their mind: their driver’s license.

They can finally have the freedom to drive without parental supervision. However, the best part of celebrating your “sweet 16” might soon be changed. The Indiana senate is considering changing the teen driving laws.

Indiana has been trying to pass the “Senate Bill 16” for about three years. One of the first restrictions included in the bill is that you must be 15 and a half to receive your learner’s permit. When the permit is issued, teen drivers must have a total of 50 hours of driving experience. Ten hours of nighttime driving will also be required.

I do not really understand why they are changing the learner’s permit age. As long as you are getting the practice, I don’t see why it matters when you receive your permit.

Driver’s education will also allow you to receive your license sooner. If you decide to take classes, you can receive your license at 16 and a half.

However, those who do not take courses must wait until they are 17.

I can see where the state is coming from on this particular issue. Driver’s education is a crucial part of learning how to drive. It not only allows you to gain more experience, but it also lets you practice with a trained professional. However, if this bill is passed, the state should consider making driver’s education more affordable. When I signed up for driver’s education courses, it cost over $300. Although those classes did help me, not all families can afford those expenses. This is definitely something the state should be putting into consideration.

Cell phone and hands-free devise usage is also included in the bill. With the exception of dialing 911 for an emergency, cell phones may not be used.

I have to admit that I would be upset if the driving age would be changed.

However, this bill could help benefit our state as a whole.

More experience could allow teens to become safer drivers.

Evie Turner

Ashley Sanchez

Mike Olivarri

“Newspaper; kids usually want to read them.”

“TV, because most people will pay attention to the TV.”

“Handouts in a class; most people don’t pay attention to the announcements.”

Ch

e e ri n g

George the Bulldog cheers on the wrestling team at the pep rally. The pep rally was held to honor the wrestling team winning state, and to recognize the other winter sports.

on

life

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March 20, 2009

Working

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Junior Victoria Vingua works on the light crew for the musical Beauty and the Beast.

Lucky Charms Students superstitious about good luck charms

Photo By Georgia Otte

By Becca Duggan / co-entertainment editor Rub a rabbit’s foot. Find a four-leaf clover. Hold a horseshoe. All of these things are old-fashioned methods of gaining good luck.

Luck superstitions have existed for centuries, whether they are about breaking mirrors or picking up stray pennies. Some students find comfort in lucky superstitions or charms, because they feel it gives them confidence in school.

“Whenever I take a test, I have to have my calculator on my desk,” junior Danny Maginot said. “Even if I’m taking an English test, it’s on my desk. It’s comforting to have there, just in case.”

According to Gale Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained, mankind has been following forms of superstitions since the concept of death was understood, and humans tried to predict the coming of death through omens. Some of the more common luck superstitions’ origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations. For example, one theory behind the tradition that knocking on wood brings good luck comes from the old civilization of Druids, who believed that trees house spirits, so touching the wood of a tree respectfully would bring good fortune, accord-

by the

numbers

7

number of years of bad luck if you break a mirror.

2

ing to the Gale Encyclopedia.

Some students follow lucky traditions because they feel that certain conditions will enhance their chances of a good grade.

“On the days of really important tests, I wear cozy, soft clothes, so I’ll be more relaxed,” junior Chelsea Viers said. “Being calmer helps me focus and do better on the test. It’s been successful before.”

The luck behind a four-leaf clover is one of the oldest luck-related superstitions. According the Gale Encyclopedia, one theory behind its origin comes from the Bible, where it is believed that Eve took a four-leaf clover from the Garden of Eden, and thus the clover is believed to possess supernatural influence.

For some students, the symbol of the four-leaf clover does seem bring good luck.

“I own a necklace with a four-leaf clover pendant on it, and I wear it everyday when I go to school,” sophomore Catherine Myers said. “It makes me feel lucky because of the clover. I remember when I was younger, and I would look for four-leaf clovers with my friends during the summer.”

Athletes are often renowned for following superstitious behavior in order to win a game. For example, senior Natalie Einikis is a cheerleader who believes in the power of lucky traditions.

“Every time I wore my lucky socks, it seemed like we won the game. Before every competition, the whole cheerleading team spit on my socks for luck,” Einikis

Friday the

number of Friday the thirteenths that have occurred in 2009.

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said. “Trisha Eberly used to rub them, and everytime she rubbed them, we would score a touchdown at the game. It would brighten the team’s pep, and it would give us something to laugh about and make us smile.”

Even though her lucky strategy was successful, Einikis believes it takes more to prosper.

“You need to have confidence behind the luck and pride in yourself,” Einikis said.

Even some teachers believe in lucky superstitions, for they think that following certain traditions brings the luck of the past to the present.

“I think it helps an athlete’s focus and drive,” English teacher Joseph Reid said. “It’s something to get their mind into the game.”

However, some students are skeptical about the reliability of lucky charms.

“I don’t think that luck should be relied upon instead of someone’s own intelligence or skill,” junior Corinne Kocher said. “Luck can be fickle and unpredictable.”

Lucky superstitions have been in existence for millennia, so that some of the origins of the superstitions have been lost (such as the origin of the idea that a rabbit’s foot is lucky). Whether luck is reliable or not, some students will continue to believe in it if they feel something is beyond their control.

“I’m going to keep on having my calculator for all my tests,” Maginot said. “I don’t know if it works or not, but it’s become kind of a ritual now, which is how I think a lot of superstitions continue.”

th

known as the most unlucky days of the year among superstitious circles

8/8

seen as the luckiest day of the year, many people marry on this day.

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Feature

Behind the scenes...

March 20, 2009

Students work backstage, in pit orchestra to make musical a success

By Lauren McCarroll and Paul Kendall / guest writers

Photo By Trey Aultman

Cast and crew of the spring musical help take down the set after closing weekend. The construction crew worked for months to create all of the scenery for the musical. The pit orchestra, which also consisted entired of students, practiced for months to perfect the 33 different pieces of music.

Silence falls as the lights dim; underneath the stage bows are gripped, woodwinds poised and cymbals held at the ready. Behind the still-closed curtain, figures dressed all in black quickly position the huge pieces of scenery. Before a single actor walks out on stage opening night, dozens of students who will never walk across the stage have worked and practiced to make the scenery and music, that pull the show together, perfect.

For their part, the stage and construction crew has been preparing sets for the musical since December. Although the hours have been long, senior Brian Thomas has enjoyed making the scenery.

“I love set construction because every set is a learning experience,” Thomas said.

“I like seeing how the whole show comes together.”

Thomas, who has worked on crew since his freshman year and has earned the title of stage manager, said that the castle (which features prominently in the recently finished spring musical Beauty and the Beast) has been his favorite thing to build for the show.

While Thomas and the construction crew work on creating and doing much of the manual work involved in creating the big set pieces like the enchanted castle from Beauty and the Beast, students like assistant stage manager and junior Ashley Young work on the paint crew.

“I paint sets and help build smaller props,” Young said. “The people in crew are welcoming and can help you get involved in the entire theater department.

They’re my favorite thing about crew.”

When the set pieces finally were shown to an audience during opening night on March 6, the hard work of the construction

crew did not go unnoticed.

“The scenery looked very realistic,” freshman Katelin Krenzke said. “It was well painted and I could tell a lot of time was spent working on it.”

As the construction crews work on creating pieces destined to be on stage with the actors, the pit orchestra members begin practicing the music that will help direct those above them. For Beauty and the Beast, that meant the orchestra had to perfect 33 different pieces.

“We become like a family because we put so much of our time into this,” senior and lead cellist AJ Jabarin said.

One of the main goals of the orchestra is to remain perfectly in time with the actors who are singing on stage. Jabarin and other section leaders have the task of keeping their section in rhythm with the conductor, Troy Webdell.

“The conductor is the one who keeps us synchronized, as we only have two little TVs down in the pit that show us what’s going on above us and even they are off by a few seconds,” Jabarin said.

While staying perfectly on time is important for both the main characters who have singing solos and the chorus who completes complex dancing choreographies, the orchestra is also reponsible for keeping the rest of the show on cue as well.

Often in the musical the actors rely on certain musical cues to know when to come out on stage, making the role of the pit orchestra even more important. The pit must also be able to project their sound behind the scenes and in the audience. All of that requires a lot of practice.

“When pit starts out it’s normally only five hours a week, but then it bumps up to fifteen hours, and during hell week [the week before opening night] it can be seven hours a day. We were at the high school until 12 at night sometimes,” Jabarin said.

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Feature

March 20, 2009

Inklings

Where is the love?

It’s not me, it’s you

Chris Brown/Rihanna scandal brings abusive relationships into the spotlight

“

ship break up five to seven times before leaving for good.

“Most people don’t understand, ‘why don’t people just get out?’ But it’s not as easy as it seems- they’re over simplifying

DATING VIOLENCE STATISTICS • 50% of all women who are murdered in this country are killed by a boyfriend or husband.

• According to a Massachusetts study, that same percentage also applied to teen women ages 15-19.

• 54% of sexual assaults occur on dates. The majority of victims are ages 16- 24.

• A survey from the Family Research Labratory at the University of New Hampshire shows that violence is experienced in 28% of teen relationships. information provided by St. Jude House

My Story We were dating for a year and our relationship was great– just normal fighting sometimes, but nothing huge. We had already broken up, but he didn’t become abusive until months later.

I had gone over to his house to get my things that he had kept, and when I got there I realized that he wanted to talk, but I didn’t.

I told him that I had forgotten some of his things at my house but would send them to him as soon as possible. He, instead, decided he wanted the money to replace the items– I told him no.

We started arguing and it got out of control. He pushed me; I tried to fight back but I couldn’t. He also grabbed my phone and keys so I couldn’t leave. I was terrified. He locked me down in his basement for about 45 min-

utes, but when I got out, I grabbed the home phone. As I did, he grabbed a knife, placed it to my neck and told me to drop the phone. I did, but started crying and told him if he let me go I wouldn’t tell anyone– after a while he finally let me leave.

I hadn’t seen any signs of abusive behavior before this incident, but if you end up being in an abusive relationship, break up immediately. I know it’s difficult, but you don’t deserve for it to go any further.

Although it should be in private, if you think [he or she] is abusive, break up in a place where you know there are people around [or accessible] so that he or she can’t take advantage or hurt you like my ex-boyfriend did to me. You never deserve to be hurt. *thanks to a CP student for sharing her story

Look out for these relationship

• Unrealistic expectations

• Verbal abuse

• Sudden mood changes

• Breaking or striking objects

RED FLAGS:

• Blaming others for problems

• Rigid gender roles

• Threats of violence

• Past battering

• Cruelty to animals or children

• “Playful” use of physical force

• Jealousy • Controlling behavior

son instead of avoiding them because of your own lack courage,” she said.

Using technology to break up is no more Breakups are hard, but with certain respectful tactics to keep in mind, breakups can personal or courageous.

“The worst is through a text message or go smoother with less hurt feelings and scarred Myspace; never use technology because you memories.

To start, never break up with someone un- can’t handle talking face to face,” Brudd said.

When you do plan to let them know it’s less you are completely sure with that decision.

Once you choose to go through with it, it only over, the ‘when’ and ‘where’ of the breakup is makes it that much harder if you change your crucial when ensuring it’s done right but with mind and want to go back. To be sure, analyze consideration.

“It should never be done in front of peohow things have been going before making any ple- you should allow for enough time to find rash decisions. closure, but don’t drag it on or “If you start to tell that you say ‘maybe later’,” Boyd said. care less about resolving prob“Don’t make Also, students said that lems, or you find yourself wantthe other pertelling the truth is critical in ing to spend more time with the breakup, but there is a difyour friends [instead of your son feel worthference between keeping your boy/girlfriend] and have more less. Respect word and being brutally honfun with them, then it might be their feelings no est. appropriate to break up,” junior matter what the “Lying really is the worst Nikki Brudd said. circumstances thing you can do. Basically, It’s also important to resay what you need to say, but member that relationships will because it would if you must question if it’s rude have their ups and downs when hurt just as much or irrelevant, don’t say it,” deciding to break up because of if you were in Zolfo said. these problems. Make sure you their shoes.”

Students should always have differentiated between what remember to stay considerate could be considered “healthy isSenior Natasha Boyd when breaking up. The prosues” and actual abusive fights cess is hurtful enough; acting that make the relationship not rude only increases those upworth the time.

“Fights should not make you stressed to set feelings.

“Don’t make the other person feel wortha point of distraction, where you’re distracted from your everyday life by dwelling on them. less. Respect their feelings no matter what the Healthy problems should be there so you two circumstances because it would hurt just as can work on the relationship and improve to- much if you were in their shoes,” she said.

Though ending a relationship is hard, but gether as people,” junior Blake Zolfo said.

These healthy problems can vary. Accord- staying respectful on both ends of the breakup ing to Brudd, “It’s healthy to be somewhat is important.

“Don’t bombard or overwhelm your ex. jealous because it shows you care, but it’s not healthy if you keep having the same fights,” she They are breaking up with you for a reason, so give them their space,” Brudd said. said.

The best way to avoid breakups, though, is If you decide that these problems are substantial, there are ways to end the relationship to make sure that the relationship holds potensuccessfully but still respectfully. Sometimes, tial from the start.

“Only decide to date someone that you to try and ease the hurt, people like to do the “disappearing act”- where they slowly vanish know you feel comfortable being with for a long from their boy/girlfriend’s lives. Although this time. If you realize you aren’t, don’t try to make may appear to be nicer when trying to let him them happy by faking it because you’re not or her get the hint, some students claim they’d only wasting your own time, but you’re wastrather be told straight up than trying to figure ing theirs,” Boyd said.

If the relationship does not end up working out what’s going on.

“It’s irresponsible if you just disappear; all out, according to Zolfo, “Always remember to you’re doing is deceiving them and disrespect- think about how they would feel on the receiving their feelings by making them try to under- ing end of the breakup. They’re people and they have feelings too,” he said. stand what’s going on,” Zolfo said.

In any event, “Don’t dwell on it because Senior Natasha Boyd agreed.

“You should at least have enough decency time really will heal it; life does go on,” Brudd in you to say you don’t want to be with that per- said.

“

“People will go out and learn how others live. Intellectually, they’ll realize that life can be different; they’ll learn appropriTo define an abusive relaate behavior and avoid abusive tionship, St. Jude House’s Direlationships,” Heminger said. rector of Community People aren’t always Awareness Joy Heminger that willing though.

POST-BREAKUP SAFETY TIPS calls it “a pattern of re“What may seem peated abusive behavior.

• Change your routine obvious to you about a The danger of domestic friend or someone you • Tell neighbors, teachers, or violence is that it almost know in an abusive realways gets worse, almost school officials what to watch for lationship may not be so always becomes frequent, obvious to them. It’s sad and never stops without • Use a cell phone for safety to lose a friendship over some intervention.” it, but all you can do is of• Use an answering machine to H e m i n g e r , w h o ’s fer them an ear to listen,” worked at the St. Jude she said. screen calls. Save tapes of harasHouse for the past eight If you do find youryears and had previously ing calls to use when making a self in an abusive relaworked for protection tionship, but are unsure police report against child abuse in Chiof how to safely end it, cago for 14 years, reaches Heminger says to “talk information provided by St. Jude House out to teach others about to a legal advocate for the facts and dangers of protection. Some probdomestic violence. the problem. Many times people lems you can’t solve on your “Emotions fuel abuse, like will stay because of low self own, especially ones that are ones such as insecurities, ex- esteem; they feel flattered from dangerous.” treme jealousy, and a low self getting attention from someone “You may need profesesteem or sense of self worth,” else, and if they are being men- sional help from the counselshe said. tally abused and told that no one ors at school who have all the The way people handle these else wants them, it adds even resources you’d need or at the emotions can categorize them as more to the reluctance of leaving three shelters in Lake County being abusive or not. [the relationship],” she said. [including the St. Jude House “The difference between Also, people don’t always across from St. Anthony’s Hosrage and anger is that sense of realize the severity of the situa- pital and the Southlake YMCA]. control. We all get angry; things tion. They’re fueled by hope that At least talk to a trusted adult for will get us upset, but the way the abuser will stop the cruel be- help,”Heminger said. you handle anger is the differ- havior or believe “it must be me If one unsure of whether his ence. It’s not OK to lose control who’s doing something wrong.” or her situation is abusive, the St. and get physically abusive to anBecause it is so hard to admit Jude House encourages a call to other person,” Heminger said. that a loved one is hurting you, a community agency with quesWhen getting to know according to Heminger, “People tions so that he or she can exsomeone who comes from an will miss warning signs while in plore his or her options. abusive relationship, be aware of denial [of the abuse] and make “Acknowledging the probthe probability that they may be excuses for unusual behavior. lem is as important as getting abusive, too.

Some will take 30 calls a day ask- the help you need,” Heminger “It’s seven times more likely ing ‘where are you, what are you said. “You don’t ever deserve to for males coming from a family doing, why, don’t do that,’ and be mistreated. You don’t have to history of abuse to be abusive, mistake this over controlling be- be a victim and accept abuse as a but women are more likely to havior for concern.” normal part of your life. If you’re go for men who are abusive- it’s To stay aware of how rela- determined to change your life, what they are comfortable or tionships should work and keep wonderful things can happen, used to,” she said. everything healthy, pay attention but it’s up to you to change your According to Heminger, to others and reach out to people behavior. Keep your standards couples in an abusive relation- around you. high and keep them there.”

Students share ways to break up without butchering the friendship

By Cori Novelli / executive editor

She cherishes that calm period where he doesn’t abuse her, though the scars are still there. She knows he loves her; he’s said so over and over. “Maybe this is the time he’ll realize,” she thinks. But then comes the tension. The days of walking on eggshells, where finally that tension rapidly turns to an explosion of abusive rage. She’s thrown to the floor, her body aching, pleading for her own safety. “You’ll never be good enough! You’re even lucky I’m here for you!” he screams.

And then it’s over.

She’s flooded with apologies—what’s called the “honeymoon stage” where he desperately tries to redeem himself. Again sets in the wonderful calm period. “He promised; this could be it…” But the cycle goes on.

By Cori Novelli / executive editor

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• Isolation – keeping person from • Hypersensitivity – feelings get participating with others hurt easily

provided by St. Jude House .

Does your boyfriend/girlfriend...

• Keep you away from your friends or activities that you enjoy?

• Get jealous if you look at or casually speak to a person of the opposite sex?

• Accuse you of doing things you haven’t done?

• Cause you to make excuses to family/ friends for his or her behavior?

• Give you severe “advice” about your clothes, hair, or choice of friends?

• Put you down in front of other people or often make you sad or cry?

• Often make you feel like you have to apologize to make things “good” again?

• Tell you that you are too sensitive, stupid, or that no one else would want you?

• Make you feel miserable when you are apart by making you feel guilty for the time you spend apart from him or her?

If you answer yes to these questions, you are not in a healthy relationship. If you or someone you know is affected by dating violence, please contact St. Jude House at (219) 662-7066. A 24hour crisis line is also available at (219) 662-7061.

10

Feature

Wake up without coffee

By Brittany Curtis/ feature editor

Droopy eyes, dark circles, and nodding off in class. Sound familiar?

Then you, along with the majority of the student population of CPHS, are probably suffering from not getting enough sleep. But for those of us who aren’t in love with the taste of coffee, waking up can be hard to do.

Here are some pick-me-up alternatives to that good ol’ cuppa Joe that not all of us know and love.

One way to wake up without coffee is tea.

Filled with caffeine and antioxidants that make you feel good, tea provides a good alternative to coffee. Some good flavors to try are white, green, earl grey, and peppermint tea. Honey, sugar, and lemon also provide tasty additives to the good, old fashioned brown tea. However, for those who aren’t fans of the sometimes bitter taste of tea, Chai tea is also a good option. Made with a milk base instead of a water one, Chai tea offers a less bitter, richer taste, and combines black, red, and green teas.

Another good way to start the day that can also wake you up is with an orange. The smell is very potent, which helps to wake you up in the morning, plus the vitamin c will stay with you longer than the “buzz” of an energy drink.

Energy drinks, while maybe not the healthiest alternative, do get the job done. However,

student should be warned that after the caffeine buzz wears off, they will “crash”, and may feel just as tired, if not more tired, than they did before consuming the drink. If that weren’t enough, energy drinks are generally filled with just as much sugar and nearly three times as much caffeine as soda, which can lead them to be addictive.

Five hour energy shots are another way to provide a jolt of energy quickly. Sold in 2 oz. packages, Five hour energy shots don’t give you the “crash” that energy drinks do, but they still are classified by the FDA as a diet pill, which doesn’t make them totally healthy for students to take.

All in all, the best way to not feel tired in the morning is to get a full night’s sleep. Not only does getting the right amount of sleep make you feel better, it also helps students to do better in school. So if you’re not a fan of coffee, here are five alternatives, but ultimately, nothing beats a good night’s sleep.

March 20, 2009

Still want your coffee fix?

The story behind three quick cups o’ joe McDonald’s McCafe Most prominently featured drink on their menu: Mocha ($2.29) The sickly sweet Mocha is faintly nauseating. Sure it’s more affordable but it is still hardly worth it.

Beans: 2 out of 5

Burger King Most prominently featured drink on their menu: Iced Mocha Joe ($2.09) A refreshing and light drink for warming spring days. One of the best designer drinks for an everyday price.

Beans: 3 out of 5

Starbucks Most prominently featured drink on their menu: Caffé Mocha (tall $3.50) Starbucks is a perfect comfort on a Monday morning: strong coffee with just the right amount of chocolate and steamed milk.

It’s a bit pricy but still the ultimate coffee experience.

Beans: 4 out of 5

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March 20, 2009

11

Arts & Entertainment

YouTube takes center stage in modern entertainment

By Brittany Curtis and Kelly Rostin / feature editor and staff reporter From “Bon Qui Qui” to videos of those we know dancing, Youtube seems to be taking over the internet.

Over 20 million people a day visit the popular website, which has launched countless individuals into stardom- some even overnight. Celebrities have even gotten caught up in “vlogging,” including Ashton Kutcher and Miley Cyrus. Who could ever forget the infamous YouTube feud between Miley and Demi Lovato?

The evolution of dance, light-voiced unicorns, and unintelligent beauty contestants are just some examples of popular videos that have “gone viral” and seem to be popping up everywhere in pop culture.

YouTube, which was purchased by Google in 2006, now hosts more than 2.5 billion videos, giving anyone the ability to become a filmmaker. Every day, it is estimated that over 100 million videos are watched on the popular website phenomenon.

Now some students (and in many cases even teachers) have caught the “Youtube bug.”

For example, senior Jason Ban is featured on a YouTube video dancing to “Everytime We Touch” by Cascada.

“When I saw the video I was en-

thused and slightly amused,” Ban said.

“People feel it’s hilarious. There’s just certain songs that when I hear them, I feel compelled to dance to them.”

The video has over 500 views on YouTube, and features Ban in his English class dancing to the popular techno hit.

“I don’t feel embarrassed or anything about [the video.] I have a great ability to just laugh at myself. I’m a really outgoing guy and I like to live life by the moment,” Ban said.

Many videos from YouTube have had an effect on today’s society. From people quoting clips to reenacting their favorite music videos from popular artists, YouTube has had a profound effect on pop culture.

For example, countless videos have been recorded reenacting Beyonce’s infamous “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” video recreating the complex choreography.

Another example of one video rising to almost instant popularity is the clip “Can I Have Your Number,” which was a sketch that was originally featured on Mad TV. Junior Alex Horst happens to be one of the many fans of “Can I Have Your Number.”

“My friends and I quote lines [from Can I Have Your Number] all the time.

The whole video is about this guy who’s trying to get this girl’s number when they’re at the movies. It’s just so funny.

Whenever somebody says something that reminds us of it, we always have to reenact the entire video,” Horst said.

“Bon Qui Qui”, which was also featured on Mad TV, is another video gaining popularity.

“Once my friends and I saw Bon Qui Qui, we started to quote it all the time,” sophomore Elizabeth Gardiner said.

While YouTube is a website for funny and entertaining videos, it also has negative effects and can give some the ability to abuse the their right to broadcast.

YouTube has given some an unfortunate ability to take advantage of the internet’s ability to broadcast and embarrass other teenagers.

In Polk County, FL, a video of several Mulberry High School students brutally attacking a girl was posted on YouTube, which eventually led to the teenagers’ arrest. The victim was sent to a hospital and suffered eye injuries and a concussion.

The attackers were quoted as saying that they shot the video and imposed the attack purely with the intention of posting it on YouTube.

“I definitely think that there is a dark side to the internet. While it has a lot of amusing and fun videos on it, there are a lot of scary ones too. You have to be careful with the internet, because anything you post on it is up there for everyone in the world to see. Once you put something on there, it’s there forever, even if you delete it,” Gardiner said.

BrittanyKelly492 March 20, 2009

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More From: Inklings Popular Videos Mad Tv-Can I have ur number? (mad funny)

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Can I have your number?

A man relentlessly tries to pick up a girl at a movie theater, not taking the hint when she rejects him.

Bon Qui Qui at King Burger Bon Qui Qui, a woman working at the King Burger, has an attitude with various customers.

My Health Teacher Dancing A rare moment of everyone’s favorite health teacher, Mr. Rodriguez, dancing in the hallway.

Badger Cheer

The boy’s swimming team doing their routine warm-up cheer which revolves around the “badger” also known as Hunter McKee.

Charlie Bit Me

A toddler’s hilarious reaction of his little brother biting his finger.

Hoobastank’s ‘Fornever’ lives up to expectations

By Becca Duggan / co-entertainment editor On Jan. 27, the much-anticipated new album from Hoobastank was released. The band is best known for their song “The Reason,” which was nominated for the Song of the Year for the 47th year of the Grammies, and was ranked number one on the Modern Rock Tracks in 2004. Two of their alums have gone platinum, and another has been certified as gold. Since their album The Reason, the band has not been distinctly in the spotlight for some years. With this new album, Hoobastank should have their day in sun again.

First of all, do not buy the CD expecting songs like “The Reason.” This may sound like a bad thing, but by that, I mean that the style of the music has more of a rock-esque edge, and the songs are not as slow-paced as “The Reason.” This by no means is saying that the songs are not as good; in fact, each song on the album has their own excellent qualities. For example,

the opening song, “My Turn,” starts off explosively with an intense guitar sound and continues to showcase a brilliant display of instrumental and vocal talent. Not only that, but the chorus is never felt as repetitive but instead looked forward to each time because of lead singer Doug Robb’s fresh, pleasingly rough voice.

More prominent on the radio is the third song on the album, “So Close, So Far.” This song has one of the slower paces of the CD and one of the more romantic set of lyrics. While it is no “The Reason,” the song has a gentler melody that reminds the listener of the band’s old hit. However, the song itself is wholly original, as are the rest of the tunes. Each song has its own pace, style, and combination of instruments.

Creativity and uniqueness are two aspects that are greatly appreciated, and they are clearly displayed by Hoobastank in this new album.

One of my favorite songs on the CD is “You Need to be Here,” for it begins with a steady, lighter drumbeat that sets the tone

for the flowing, smooth melody. Robb manages to not just yell into the microphone, but instead sings with a loud, purposeful emphasis. The lyrics sound heartfelt and poignant, engrossing the listener into the story behind the words. As good as it is, this is one of the few romantic songs on the album; needless to say, if you are looking for a tender, affectionate gift for a relation-

ship partner, this CD is not what you are searching for. If you are looking for a fresh, intense album that reminds one of the older Hoobastank style and highlights fantastic guitar and drum sounds, then this album is perfect.

Self-titled Hoobastank fan junior Lucas Groff, looks forward to finally buying the album.

“I’m excited for this new CD because Hoobastank was promising, but then they all but dropped off the radar. It seems like they’re coming back,” Groff said. “I’m hoping for a throwback to their original sound.”

The album is available on iTunes and music stores everywhere in the United States. Buying Fornever is a must for any music fan who either wants to hear familiar-yet-distinct songs or who merely is curious about a band that had produced one of the most popular hits of 2004.

“I like how Hoobastank doesn’t stick to one label of sound; they switch it up,” Groff said.

12

Arts & Entertainment

March 20, 2009

Save money at movies more Seeing

Since a new movie in the theater can set you back $10, try one of these ways to keep your wallet fat while still staying entertained

By Deanna Sheafer / managing editor Tickets: $8.00. Popcorn and a drink: $6.50. Is one movie viewing worth around $14.50? While going to the movie theaters is a popular activity for teens, the extravagant prices can drive some away, especially during an economic crunch. But, you can still catch your favorite flicks without emptying your wallet every weekend.

Ever since the new Kerasotes Merrillville 12 Theater popped up, the older theater across the street suddenly became empty. However, Kerasotes Merrillville 10 shows the same movies for less.

Merrill-

On average, the smallest size of popcorn at the movies is twice the price of filet mignon per ounce

ville 12 can cost $9.50 per ticket if you forget your student ID. There is even an extra $2.50 charge if the movie is shown in 3D. A matinee at Merrillville 10 costs merely $3. And the prices don’t skyrocket for evening shows either. Any movie starting at 6 p.m. or after is just $5. Though this theater is older, it has been maintained well and shows the exact same movies a week or so later for less.

If you don’t want to travel out to Merrillville due to gas prices, there’s an option right in Crown Point. The Crown Theater also shows movies for about $3, which surely beats most other theaters’ prices. Though the Crown Theater is older, the building is part of classic Crown Point, and the atmosphere is comfortable.

“We like the Crown Theater because of how close it is, and the movies the theater plays are always good,” sophomores Mariah Rodriguez and Jamie Hovanec said.

Candy, drinks, and other snacks are movie necessities to some. But what seems like small change can add up quickly.

Instead of paying $2-3 for a small box of candy or $3-4 for a soda, buy your snacks beforehand at places like Walgreen’s or Dollar General and eat them before or after. For about the same price, you could even go get ice cream before or after the show and be more satisfied with your treat choice.

Another option is having home movie nights. That way, a whole group of friends can gather without worrying about planning schedules to fit

Mario Tennis for Wii On March 9, Mario Power Tennis for the Wii became another ace in the Mario sports game series.

Players get to chose from the traditional array of characters, from Mario to Princess Peach, and compete in single-player tournaments or multiplayer games. Just like in the Gamecube Mario Tennis, there are a variety of different types of power shots to try to achieve.

However, while the Wii control system makes the gameplay noticably more difficult, it does not make it less enjoyable. Being able to actually swing the Wii remote through the air gives the player the feeling of actually playing tennis. The game translates well to the Wii console, but do not expect the gameplay to be flawless.

the movie show times. You’ll have to forgo the massive screen, but this option comes with pausing as needed and more than one movie per night for less cash.

Blockbuster and Oasis Video, both located on North Main Street, offer an array of DVDs ranging from new releases to old favorites to watch over and over.

Blockbuster conveniently sells previously viewed movies in good condition for a fraction of the cost of buying one new.

If driving to the movie store to pick out movies and driving back a few days later to return them is a hassle for you, services like Netflix have made renting even easier. You can try it out for two weeks with a free trial.

To rent DVDs or Blu-Ray discs, just search the over 100,000 titles available and click to add them to your list. The disc will arrive in about two business days because of the many locations around the country. This saves gas, money, and time. Shipping is free both ways and you can keep the disc as long as you want. Plans include anywhere from one to four discs at a time.

As an added bonus, you can instantly watch plenty of movies on your computer or stream them instantly to your television for no cost at all if you subscribe to any of the Netflix plans. One of the most popular plans offers two DVDs at a time, which costs $13.99 per month. With the success of Netflix, many companies including Blockbuster have started mailing DVDs and offering similar plans. Blockbuster boasts, however, that their service is better because you can return the DVD back to the store as well instead of waiting for the mail like with Netflix.

Know someone with a huge movie library right at home? Chances are he or she has already seen those films over and over, and would like to trade around. Involve your friends and family in a movie exchange pool and swap titles every so often..

A final option often overlooked is borrowing movies from the public library. The library is host to a plethora of DVDs. Since it is not a movie store, some of the newest releases might not be available, but don’t let that stop you. The best part? All you need is a library card. Some of the exact same movies that are at stores like Blockbuster are available for free at the public library.

So don’t let high movie prices cause you to miss out on weekend fun. With these alternatives, you can still get your movie fix.

a few of our

for le$$

Netflix

What is it?

Netflix sends its subscribers DVDs in the mail. They have a catalogue of more than 100,000 titles available, from new releases to indie films.

Users simply log on to their Netflix account and select movies they are interested in to add them to their own personal Netflix “queue.” A movie from that list will arrive in a prepaid envelope and then that person may keep it as long as they like, although a new movie will not be sent until the first is returned.

How much?

Plans vary, but one of the most popular plans costs $13.99 a month and gives users two DVDs at a time.

Savings:

It’s not the same as watching a movie in the theater, but for the price of two $7.50 student tickets you can watch as many movies as you want for month.

Crown Theater What is it?

Classic theater on the Square that has current movies for a retro price.

How much?

Here tickets are only $3 and candy and popcorn can be purchased for only another $1 or 2.

Savings:

A movie with popcorn and a soda at Showplace 12 will set you back $14.50. At the Crown Theater, the same movie and snack is only about $5, saving you nearly $10 (or two more movies at the Crown).

Five Dollar Footlongs

favorite things Duplicity In this spy movie, Ray Koval (played by Clive Owen) and Claire Stenwick (played by Julia Roberts) are two rival spies that form an alliance to steal money from their bosses. They must learn to trust each other despite their clash in the past in order to succeed. The movie will be released March 20, and it promises to be a hit with both spy fans or fans of the actors and actresses involved.

The five dollar deal at Subway has been a popular choice for years, for its limited time offer and undeniable financial benefits have allured many customers.

When the deal became a permanent option for a certain selection of sandwiches, more customers took advantage of the savings. Now Subway is proposing that a person may select any sub sandwich of their choosing, decide upon the foot-long choice, and buy it for a mere five dollars. Unfortunately, the promotion will be ending by March 29, so students should enjoy it to the fullest of their ability over spring break.

Information compiled by Inklings editors, photos and logos used with permission

March 20, 2009

Sports

13

Wrestling team earns state title Bulldogs bring home first boys team state championship since 1970 and first wrestling state in Crown Point history

Photo By Jeremy Rex

The Bulldog wrestlng team poses with the State Champioship trophy in the gymnasium in front of the student body at the pep rally held to honor the team on March 2.

By Trey Aultman / sports editor It was a long wait for the boys athletic programs at Crown Point High School to get another state championship. The last was the boys tennis team in 1970 before the wrestling team brought home the state title on Feb. 28.

“We knew we had a chance to be very good,” Vlink said. “We felt like we could get there if we had some things work out for us.”

It has been a 30 year wait for coach Vlink, who started coaching the Bulldog wrestling team in 1979. Despite the many teams that he has coached, Vlink feels that this is the best team he has been a part of.

“They have that legacy of state champions,” Vlink said.

Behind three individual state champs, the Bulldogs breezed through the quarterfinal round against Roncalli with a win by a score of 48-9. The only losses of the match coming in the 119 pound weight class and in heavyweight.

“We knew that against any team we had five wins. What we had to do was find three other wins, get bonus points, and not give any bonus points up,” head coach Scott Vlink said. “Everyone had a job to do, understood the job and did it.”

In the semifinal round of the tournament held at Center Grove High School, the boys edged Indianapolis Cathedral by a score of 28-23. The round had many close matches including freshman Cameron Halsted winning 2-1 in the 103 pound weight class, and junior

Anthony Hawkins, the 112 pound individual state champ, who won 3-1 for the Bulldogs.

After winning the first two matchups of the day, the boys had to face off against Perry Meridian in the state championship match. Senior Josh Manes got the Bulldogs off to a good start with a 5-3 win to begin the match.

By the 189 pound weight class, Crown Point had fallen behind 17-19.

Senior Marcus Shrewsbury, the indivual champion in his weight class, pinned his opponent to reagain the lead, 23-19.

The team scores stayed close when the heavyweight match came around.

Senior Kyle Marshall had lost his first two matches of the day, but pinned his opponent in only 26 seconds in the championship.

“All 14 wrestlers came through in

the clutch,” Vlink said.

With that win and a 18-5 major decision by Hawkins, the Bulldogs brought home the State Championship.

“It did not hit me too hard at first,” freshman 125 pound individual state chmapion Jason Tsirtsis said. “I woke up the next morning and saw the state champ medal on the table next to me and said ‘Wow, I accomplished what I wanted to all season.’”

Vlink’s reaction was not what he expected.

“I honestly did not think that I would be as emotional about it as I was,” Vlink said.

The Bulldog wrestling program now looks to repeat next season.

“I’m going to wait a bit before I think about that, but only for a few days,” Vlink said.

14

Sports

March Madness kicks off in NCAA *Story and predictions made prior to tournament start

Trey’s Picks Louisville

Pitt UConn UConn Pitt

UConn

Syracuse

Hunter’s Picks Pitt

Louisville Louisville Louisville Pitt Memphis

UNC

Colin’s Picks Louisville

Villanova Louisville UNC

UConn

UNC

UNC

By Trey Aultman / sports editor

As March winds down, it is time for one of America’s favorite past times. People will fill out their brackets for the NCAA college basketball tournament, root for their teams, and root against other people’s teams. There are always upsets galore in the conference tournaments that throw off everyone’s brackets, and that’s when the real madness starts.

This season, the Big East conference spent most of the year atop the rankings with teams like Pitt and UConn.

The conference should have their fair share of teams of the 65 team field going into the later rounds of the NCAA tournament, especially when they dominated the field acquiring three of the four number one seeds are from the conference.

Another conference that typically holds many spots in the sweet 16 and elite eight is the Atlantic Coast Conference.

With perennial powerhouses

like Duke and number one seed North Carolina, it’s hard to take them out of the running for the championship.

The other conference that should see some late round action is the Big Ten Conference. With teams like Michigan State and Purdue, a run to the elite eight is not impossible.

While the major conferences hold most of the higher seeds in the tourney, some of the mid-major conferences are just as tough and may be overlooked by the bigger name schools.

The Horizon League, a conference that usually fights to get one team in, has two teams in the tourney this season in Butler and Cleveland State. Another Mid-major that may make a stir after their runs the last couple of seasons is Memphis. The Tigers, from Conference USA, is a highly seeded mid-major at the number two spot.

Keep your eyes on your team and on your bracket to see if your teams make it to the final four in Detroit.

Boys basketball loses in Sectional Championship

By Milan Savich / reporter The boys’ basketball team looked to take the sectional championship for the second year in a row this season. However, their hopes were cut short in the championship game against Valparaiso.

“Our number one goal at the start of the season was to get better and play our best basketball by the end of the year,” head coach Clint Swan said.

In the first round against LaPorte, the Bulldogs were victorious with a final score of 69-54. Seniors Michael Lipton and Chris Lakich tied for a game-high 12 points while senior Brady Schuster and sophomore Michael Albrecht both put up 11.

After advancing, the Bulldogs deafeated Hobart by a score of 59-36. Schuster led the Bulldogs with 15 points. He also contributed 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Senior Nikola Pusara scored 10 points and pulled down 3 boards. Lipton also scored 10 points and dished out 5 assists. Albrecht finished the game with 9 points and 5 assists.

In the Championship game, the Bulldogs suffered a loss to Valparaiso by a score of 54-49.

Schuster’s 14 points earned him the team’s Most Valuable Player award. Senior Nathaniel Akers had a team-high 7 rebounds while also scoring 9 points.

Lipton had 6 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists. Pusara lead the team in steals with 3, and Albrecht added 9 points, 3

assists and 2 steals in the loss.

“We couldn’t have played much better,” Swan said. “We won our first two games against two good teams and we were a couple of breaks away from the championship.”

The Bulldogs will graduate seven seniors, (Akers, Lipton, Schuster, Lakich, Pusara, Kyle Qualizza, and C.J. Mantel).

They have a very young returning team next season. However, some of the upcoming players have dressed and seen varsity time.

“Next year, it’s basicly three guys who played signifigant minutes. The first year guys are going to need to have a good off-season,” Swan said.

The Bulldogs finished the year with an overall record of 15-8.

March 20, 2009

Gymnastics falls short in sectionals

By Vinnie Needham / reporter During this season’s sectional, the gymnastics team finished the competition in fifth place. As a team they scored a total of 104.950 which was not high enough to advance to the regional round.

This was a downward turn for the Lady Bulldogs who placed third in the previous season at sectionals and fourth at the 2008 regionals.

Coach Ami Pysh believes the key component on why the team did not succeed as well as last year is the depth and strength of the area.

“Our region is the most dominant in gymnastics, making it the most difficult in the state,” said Pysh.

Pysh also stated that the team lacked unity, which also could have affected their overall routines.

“If the team doesn’t have unity it reflects in their performance,” said Pysh.

During the season the girls knew the main competition would be the defending state champion Valparaiso Vikings, but did not assume they would fall from the previous years’ placement.

“Even though we did not advance to regionals, I am sill very happy the girls ended the season with respectable scores between 103-106,” said Pysh. “They preformed to the best of their ability.”

While the Lady Bulldogs failed to advance as a team, senior Trisha Eberly advanced to regionals with her floor routine score of 9.725.

“I’d be happier to go as a team, but it’s still nice to be able to go,” said Eberly. “My team still comes to support me.”

In the regional competition, Eberly scored a 9.600. The score was adequate enough for fifth place, advancing her to the state finals March 21 at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis.

Eberly has advanced to state three times in her high school career but has yet to finish in the top six.

“I’m glad to end my senior year doing my favorite event,” Eberly said.

15

Sports FEAtUrE

8March 20, 2009

take 5 with TREY

February 27, 2009

Boys track opens indoor season on high note Cell phones for teenagers:

Israel Mercado and seniors Nate Haverstock, Brady Schuster, and Denzel Miller.

Iddings was happy with his relay team’s performance at Purdue.

With the indoor track season under“Anytime you’re in the finals you have way, the ‘Dogs are looking to improve for a chance to win,” Iddings said. “I’m hoping the outdoor season. they compete well.”

By Trey Aultman / The Bulldogs are looking to add to the The 4x400 team qualified for the state success they had at state last season. The sports editor meet last season as well and returns three ‘Dogs have competed in three meets thus It’s my/ favorite time of the of month. its four runners (Haverstock, Schuster, doesfar, a cell phone make calls,Head like befairing wellonly in all of them. coachphones popped up in every cellular store per

By Deanna Sheafer year, again. The weather is warm- fore.Keith and Miller).is one of the most prominent feels need confident VCAST Now Iddings these devices to takeabout high-thefrom the Samsung Behold to the Blackmanaging editor ing up, the smell of freshly cut quality the ‘Dogs were notof able team’s abilitybe to able haveto a good season.and berry Storm. Some are even nicknamed mobileAlthough services which offers an array oppictures, hold music to send any individuals to the finals, Idgrass fills the air, and baseball games, and “I feel really good about the team,” Idtions, including television capabilities.

It “iPhonies,” playing off the fact that all even access the web.

Two pounds. That’s how much the liked whatthe he ability saw from the team as dings “We haveto a play lot ofgames kids out season is just about to start. This ers subscribers to watch pro“I use said. my cell phone likeandthe phones have the same features but are offdings first cellular phone weighed. According a whole. hard.” year, the Major League Baseball Brickworking gramming from major networks like NBC, “phony” iPhones.

Breaker and Sudoku to challenge myto MSNBC, “the brick” cell phone was cre“They competed well for this early in The Blackberry,” boys opened the indoor season at (MLB) season may have a few Comedy Central, Google is even jump- ESPN, on my ated in 1984 and was priced at a hefty $3, self Portage the season,” Iddings said.and MTV. With against the home team and Lake twists. the use of live, streaming or music ing on the cell phone junior Jon Venegas said.

995. It only offered a half-hour of talk time The third meet of the videos boys’ indoor seaCentral. The meet was not scored, but the After the emergence of the on cell phones, entertainment is available crazed bandwagon.

PartStyles of cell phones between charging sessions, yet customers son against arch-rival Merrillville. was not ‘Dogs had a good showing.

Senior distance Tampa Bay Rays last season, it at the touch of your ngertips.

Those nered with T-Mobile, the 24/7 improved much scored.

They were againfiled by 4x200 team were lining up to buy one for themselves. haverunner BrianasWitt took third in the 3200 makes you think who else could capabilities make these phones even more G1 is the fi rst smartphone as the options and apP hoto B y J oe N ejman which took first place in a slightly altered meter run. He believes a return trip to the Why? No one else had one. When people make their run this year, the Nationteenagers today own to run with Google’s new enticing. on them. form of the race. Witt took another win in state meet [for theThe 3200 meter run] is comsaw the new gadget, naturally, they would plications Senior Zach Ahearn runs in a relay durals? Probably not, but there are some solid simple theStatus 3200 isn’t meter asthing well. derived The shot put therun only from open-source operating fl ip-style phone pletely possible. become jealous and want to outdo one ana cellular phone, ing a meet at system Merrillville. teams out there who could make a run in the is going“I would was the only event held outside, a someone’s cell phone.

What teenager is satisfi ed called Android.

It out of style like to go to state again this other. which is but a 40% MLB this season.

On March 14, the competedofin with what indoor said. “It’s only March, I therare plainoccurence old black during or grey the casing for is host to aboys combination with theWitt invention In those days, cell phones were used fast, season,” Harrison Qualifier the Hoosier State their season.

In the NL Central, I do not see anyone think I can get there work.” since the phone with all the accessories that exthe mostfor popular features phones andwith hard increase 2004. to make calls. But realistically, how many of slide-out University.

Athletes who ist today?

AsideSkins from and the Hoosier Relays that looks in control of the division. There- full keyboards, The 4x800, 4x200, and 4x400 meter re- Relays at Purdue cases inState patterns and today: a full slide-out keylike on teenagers today own a phone purely to call won their events or met the qualifying time Finals this Saturday, the boys will compete Only 17% of teens laysEnv2, also took first place for the ‘Dogs while fore, the Chicago Cubs are my pick in the NL the LG neon colors are available in stores and on board, touch screen, interfor the avid someone? WIth all the fun applications able to move on to the finals, at the Proviso East Relays in Illinois on the distance medely relay took second in them werenet Central. With returning players 0like Carlos and music capabilities, the web. They not only protect your phone, Junior Amanda use their phones for available, phones are no longer used just to texters.

March 27. They will be the only team from place. The field events were led by junior which are to be held on March 21.

Zambrano and Alfonso Soriano, the Cubs add personality and a 3.2 megapixel cam- but has a Sprint phone talk, they are used as ways to quickly chat Savell Two of the Dogs’ relay teams qualified Indiana at the meet.and Theflair. boys close the Brad Pusateri, senior high jumper talking exclusively. should be able to duplicate last years’ success. withthrower Similarly, downloadable tones disera. a full slide-out keywith friends, play games, and listen to mufor the finals. The 4x200 and 4x400 meter indoor season with the DACring Indoor Finals Brad Jones, and senior pole vaulter Ryan Don’t get too excited Cubs fans, they may play one’s identity.

Whether it’s an obscure Even with the popuand likes that fearelay teams, both consisting of sophomore at Portage on March 31. sic: the ultimate boredom buster. Suddenly, board Dobbins. make the playoffs but the “curse” is not quite larity of iPods, music-hold- song or number one on the charts, services a plain phone isn’t good enough anymore. ture on her phone. over yet. While they are a playoff caliber ing phones are more desir- like VCAST can find it.

“The full keyboard The invention of this technology bore a team, I still think that they are a few pieces With the massive amounts of applicanew status symbol, something to upgrade makes it easier for me to write in full sen- able than ever. “Come with Music” is a short of a fall classic. They can always add to tences, because I don’t like it when people new program Nokia is piloting that boasts tions and programs on trendy cell phones and brag about. their bullpen that typically struggles down use texting slang,” Savell said. unlimited access to millions of tracks for today, it’s a wonder what the phones of the Just like fancy cars, designer clothes, Molly Raspopovich placed

By Hunter McKee / seem to begood,” Also for the 200near Freefuture Re- could Michael Kukurugya the stretch, and a fifth starter could not hurt. download.

Of course, there is a subscriphold.

If the constant upTouch screen phones the and expensive jewelry, cell phones have lay, the Bulldogs placed in 12th with a time of 1:49.71. said. asst. sports editor I like the Cubs defensively with Ryan Theriot current hottest gadget for technology-hun- tion fee, just like Verizon Wireless’s VCAST grading and competing over cell phones created a competition between friends over Molly Raspopovich said.

At the Prelims, the 200 the eighth, recording a time and Mike Fontenot up the middle, and hopephones of the future finished are sure which tenth is available in different continues, theMolly who has the newest, best, or smallest phone gry teenagers. Ever since Apple’s brainRaspopovich of 1:27.93.

Medleyprogram, Relay placed fully the addition of Milton Bradley will help child theThe to bring all kinds of new capabilities. packages.

Unlimited access costs $14.99 iPhone came about, touch screen conclusion to the while holding the most features. No longer The Bulldogs sought re- 19th in the 100 back with a with a time of 1:37.26. to be a little more effective offensively. boys swimming season came In the sectional final, venge at the state meet by time of 58.84.

On the American League side, the White to an end with a thirteenth Yeager broke a 22 year old beating Lake Central in total “Personally, I was not Sox may be in some trouble. After winning placing at the state meet. satisfied with my time beteam-record, surpassing points by three. the division last season, the Twins will have “I’d say the state meet Mike Pepa in the 200 free, “They may have beat us cause I could have done a lot went well; we had a couple with a time of 1:43.95.

Francisco Liriano back for the whole year at the sectional meet, but we better,” Molly Raspopovich of mishaps, but we will get along with their all-stars returning. While “It has always been a had the last laugh,” Morin said. after it even harder [next goal of mine to beat that re- said. the Tigers finished last in the division in Hannah Raspopovich season],” freshman Michael cord, and I am glad to sucThe ‘Dogs were able to finished 16th in the 50 free2008, they can always be a threat, especially Kukurugya said. finish out the season with a style recording a time of ceed it,” Yeager said. if Dontrelle Willis makes his way back to the Seniors Brendan Morin However Yeager was un- record of 10-1 in the regular 24.57. bigs. Despite the tough division, I expect the and Matt Kukurugya, soph- able to carry over his success season with their only loss to “We had our relays White Sox to hold off everyone to repeat as omores Marcus Trybula and to the state meet. At the pre- Chesterton, who was able to place in the top 16, Hannah AL central champs. The addition of Bartolo Blake Yeager, and freshman lims, Yeager finished 29 out claim a second consecutive Raspopovich placed for the Colon to the pitching staff will be a huge Michael Kukurugya quali- of 32 with a time of 1:47.57. first time in the 50 freestyle, state title. boost to a staff that looked tired at the end fied in four events for the The Lady ‘Dogs finished so we were happy with the In the 100 Butterfly, of last season. Also, the addition on Wilson National High School All- Morin placed ninth with a their season tying for 27th results,” assistant head coach Betemit should help the youngster Josh American Swim Team by time of 51.75. place at the state meet. The Bryan Trippeer said.

Fields get accustomed to playing third base their times at the state meet.

The girls wrapped up “It was a bit disappoint- 200 Medley Relay, consisting “I felt very accomplished ing, missing the top eight of freshmen Haley Balko and their season with a 12-1 reproductively. this season to make the All- by a few hundredths of sec- Hannah Raspopovich, junior cord in dual meets with their Be on the lookout as the Chicago baseAmerica team, it feels very ond,” Morin said.

Ashley Gose, and senior only loss to Chesterton. ball clubs begin their season on April 6.

Baseball season begins in Chicago

Necessity or Status Symbol?

By Colin Likas / reporter

17 million

Swimming brings home four medals from state

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16

*Editor’s Note: This story is being covered again by a different reporter due to misinformation in the story that ran in February. Inklings regrets the error.

Steppin’ out:

Personalities

March 20, 2009

Aireal Strickland sophomore

Lady Steppers show talent with urban-style dance

Photo By Jeremy Rex

What is the appeal of stepping to you?

Making music with my body seems to interest me each time I make and do a step.

What is your favorite part of being a Lady Stepper?

My favorite part of being a Lady Stepper is showing everyone there are many ways to dance, and expressing a unique part of me to my school.

Photo By Jeremy Rex

Sophomore Ariel Robinson works on a move at a Lady Steppers practice after school. The Steppers practice every day after school, and occasionally on weekends. The team won the Most Crowd Pleasing award at the talent show.

At this year’s talent show, the crowd was moved to a standing ovation by a particularly talented dance group. The Lady Steppers not only premiered their dance moves featuring the newly popular “stepping” dance technique, but also won the Most Crowd-Pleasing award.

“They lit up the crowd and got a standing ovation halfway through their routine. It was obvious the crowd had made their choice,” said talent show judge Don Bernacky.

Members of the team were shocked by the reception their new team received at the talent show.

“It felt really good. It was really shocking, and sort of unexplainable,” sophomore Aireal Strickland said.

The group was formed this year by Strickland and sophomore Ariel Robinson.

“We did it because we felt it should be a different way people should express themselves through dance,” Strickland said.

“Stepping” is a dance technique that has

“

We felt [stepping] should be a different way people should express themselves through dance.

“

By Lauren Cain / copy editor

sophomore Aireal Strickland recently caught on and has been shown in such movies as Drumline and Stomp the Yard. The innovative form of dance uses the whole body as a percussive instrument. The complex rhythms and sounds are produced by footsteps, clapping, and spoken word that contribute to the overall appearance of the dance.

Freshman Lysandra Orrantia

Why did you want to be a stepper?

plans on trying out for the team again.

“It’s something to keep us motivated. It takes off stress, and it’s fun to do,” she said.

The Lady Steppers callout will be held sometime this month, but the date is still being decided. Anyone is eligible, including boys or girls, as long as they “know how to move.”

The Steppers try to practice every day, and occasionally on weekends. Orrantia says the best part of the step team is the feeling of perforrming after so much rehearsal.

According to Strickland, some schools host step competitions to support their step team. The Lady Steppers are supported by the CPHS administration.

“The school is supporting it. We have a club now and a performance team,” Strickland said. “It took a lot of us to explain to the school system that we weren’t trying to take away from the dance team. We were trying to evolve our own dance,” Strickland said.

I wanted to be a stepper because many of my relatives were steppers at their high schools, and this made me want to share the same with my peers

What is the hardest part of stepping?

The hardest part of stepping is showing my fellow steppers the steps that I have come up with. Although it’s hard, I have fun with the concept of music on our bodies.

Do you plan on making any changes in the group next year?

Yes, but they would be changes in amount of people and many new steps that will excite the steppers that are involved, along with myself.

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