The Chronicle, 10.4

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Jan. 18, 2013 | The Chronicle | thecspn.com | Vol. 10, Issue 4 Proudly serving the William Mason High School Community

photo by Corynne Hogan

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It just shows how much he cares about his players.

Alex Day, senior basketball player (see Faces, Page 16-17)

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JANUARY 18, 2013

News

TrendingNow View these and other stories and galleries at

thecspn.com

C James Horning Memorial

Tournament coverage: After you read the story behind the tournament in this issue, check out thecspn.com this weekend for video, pictures, and stats from the tournament. small: photo contributed by Mason Historical Society, large: photo by Katie Rojas

Both pictures of Mason Mainstreet in show the traffic in the early years of Mason verses the current.

C Future planning 101 Night:

Freshman, sophomores and juniors, decisions about the future are now impending. For help and guidance, attend Future Planning 101 Night on February 7 at the high school. See thecspn.com for more information behind the event.

C Comet Cup coverage:

The MHS gymnastics team will be hosting the Comet Cup on Saturday.

Check out thecspn.com for pictures from the day and interviews with the athletes and coaches.

C Comet Skippers host camp:

The MHS Comet Skippers will be hosting a jump rope camp for all level on Saturday. For photo gallery from the camp, go to thecspn.com.

C MHS’s new front desk:

Wondering what the new front desk in the main lobby is all about?

Thecspn.com for more information on how MHS is working to increase your safety here at school in the front lobby. compiled by Ashley Calvani

C Mason loses “small town” feel through the years Small town charmless

Katie Rojas | Staff Writer

With more than 10,000 students in the school district alone, Mason resembles little of the small farm town that at one point in time, had a population not more than a thousand.

President of the Mason Historical Society Judy Cox has lived in Mason since 1962 and is involved in many of Mason’s organizations and societies.

Cox said that diversity is a major change that she has noticed as Mason’s population has grown.

“You have many people here that are from other areas of the country, so when they come, they’re not really familiar with what the community culture is like,” Cox said. “But then they have added to the culture, and they have made it really richer.

When I grew up in Mason, there were no African Americans, and I don’t remember any Asians.

It was [primarily] your typical, Caucasian white kid[s]. The diversity that the increased population has brought has really enriched the community in a lot of different ways. By the same token, the increase in population makes it almost impossible for the community to feel close or to know most people here.”

Mason High School Campus Supervisor Gary Popplewell has lived in Mason since he was five years old and has worked for Mason schools for 42 years. Popplewell said that as the population grows, diversity increases along with different dominations and affiliations that are tied to culture.

In addition to a growth in diversity in culture and denomination in the community, Popplewell said that within the schools he has noticed key differences.

“I graduated in a class of 97 [students], which was in 1967,” Popplewell said. “It eventually got up to 150 and 200, but it was probably that way for 15 to 18 years. And then we just started [to grow]- it was a huge snowball effect. Now, we have a couple classes that are right around a thousand. When I was in high school, I knew everybody in the school, I knew all the teachers.

Everybody knew each other. Next to diversity, I think probably that’s the biggest change, but that comes with sheer numbers.”

Popplewell said that he misses the familiarity between teachers and students that was present when graduating classes were smaller.

“When I go to graduation and I see kids for the first time walking across the stage to get their diploma, yeah I want to go back to 1970s,” Popplewell said. “I miss the closeness of the entire class, but I realize that there still is closeness but just between smaller groups.”

Sophomore Katie Zimmerman moved from the small town of Greenville, Ohio to Mason, Ohio and said that she sees the benefits of a larger class size originally coming up from a smaller town and school.

“There’s not as much drama [with a bigger

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small: photos contributed by Mason Historical Society, large: photos by Katie Rojas

The face of Mason has changed throughout the years, replacing old monuments with commercial stores and restaurants as the population of the city continues to grow.

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school] because not everybody knows [everyone],” Zimmerman said. “I feel like with smaller schools people know everything about each other, so if you don’t like someone or you have a conflict with someone, everybody knows about it and you can’t get away from it. At Mason, it’s easier for you to get a cleaner slate.”

Cox said teenagers’ summer jobs now may not have been different than the jobs many of her classmates had in the early seventies.

“When we were just getting old enough to work, the boys that I went to school with would bail hay for the farmers in the summer,” Cox said.

“That was their job for 50 cents a bale. It was huge when Kings Island came to town in the early seventies because virtually all of the kids here that were old enough to work were pretty much guaranteed a job because Kings Island needed over a thousand kids. Many of my classmates worked at Kings Island one or two summers when we were in high school. That was a huge economic boost to this area.”

Popplewell said that the map of Mason has changed; yet many places have been there for as long as he can remember. According to Popplewell, the town has had businesses like Whippy Dip and Yost Pharmacy for as long as he can remember.

Yost Pharmacy owner Dick Yost has been in Mason for 67 years and has run Yost Pharmacy, which was opened in 1945 by Yost’s father, for approximately 40 years. Yost said that with growth comes specific givens.

“The big changes are obviously the growth, and if you’ve been in this community as long as I have, the growth is tremendous,” Yost said. “If you get the growth, you are going to get the changes that come along with that. If you get more people, you’re going to have bigger schools, and bigger stores, and the whole complexion of the area

changes dramatically.”

Cox said that the layout of Mason has changed dramatically as farms turned to houses.

“I distinctly remember driving from one end of town, North Mason Montgomery Road, and going all the way to the Sherman Terrace, right at the other end of the community,” Cox said. “It took me seven minutes to drive from my girlfriend’s farm to my boyfriend’s house. Now that drive probably takes twenty minutes. The roads were small, country roads. There were just a lot of farms, a lot of cows, and a lot of cornfields. You don’t see that anymore; you see acres and acres of houses.”

According to Yost, downtown Mason used to have three small grocery stores, and all the churches were located in the downtown area.

Yost said that now the economic climate has changed that alter the motives of businesses.

“Needs didn’t seem to be quite as complex at that time, so we were satisfied with a lot less,” Yost said. “Obviously that climate is not going to exist today for those businesses to survive. It’s going to change. At times we’ve gone through, there were very few businesses in town and now it’s starting to fill in some of the empty spaces again, and it’s becoming a more desirable place.”

Yost said that he has noticed economic patterns in the years that he has lived in Mason that apply in a specific and broad sense.

“A lot of people have more than the previous generation, and that seems to be what we strive for, to have our next generation do better than what we did,” Yost said. “We’ve been blessed with a very good industry in the surrounding area, Cincinnati, Dayton, and now, in Mason. [Mason has] a great climate for employment [and] that motivates the status of the community.”

Cox says that the similarities go back to the families that have been here for decades.

“There is still a spirit of community here,” Cox said. “There is still a core of people, and a group of families that have been here a long time. They know each other still. That makes it still feel very hometown to me. I just hope that people who have moved here and are moving into the community…feel that they are part of a community.”

Zimmerman was homeschooled when she first moved to Mason and said that living in a growing town has caused her to become a more sociable person.

“I actually was really shy when I was younger, and [a bigger town] has allowed me to be more open,” Zimmerman said. “I became involved in the Cross Country program, and that’s really changed me athletically and socially; there’s a lot of really neat people that I’ve gotten to meet. I think being able to be in a big school gives more opportunities, and opportunities to have friends.”

Popplewell said that there is not a true distinction between “old” Mason and “new” Mason.

“There’s supposedly an ‘old Mason feel’ for a lot of the older people, but I don’t want to say it’s a new Mason,” Popplewell said. “It’s the same Mason with a lot of changes, which is happening everywhere in the world. It’s just societal changes, cultural changes, and economic changes.”

Cox also said that despite the changes Mason has undergone, the town is and always will be her home.

“I personally do not [think Mason has lost its small-town feel] because there is still a core of those people that are still here that I care about, that I associate with,” Cox said. “Whether it’s the people that I went to school with here, or their parents, or their children, we’re still in contact.

I feel very close to this community. This is my hometown.”

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JANUARY 18, 2013

cting on ALICE

Mason becomes poster school for ALICE plan Ashley Calvani | Staff Writer

Senior James Sterling said it makes sense for other schools to be turning to Mason to learn the ALICE technique; it is worth spreading.

“A lot of schools probably still have the same hide-under-your-desk [plan] that everyone else did,” Sterling said. “We have action now. In chemistry class [talking about ALICE], we said, throw hydrochloric acid at [a shooter]. ALICE takes action. It takes that decision out of [a shooter’s] hands and it puts us in charge. …Kids aren’t hiding under their desks anymore, they’re throwing desks and fighting.”

Though with ALICE many students like Sterling feel more comfortable at school knowing that survival is top priority, Rice said that actually having to use ALICE in an emergency situation, even if implemented successfully, is still a failure.

“I think it can be a very effective program,” Rice said. “But ALICE only gets used when someone is in this building trying to kill people. If we have to use ALICE, it’s because we failed. We had a youth, a person, that, for whatever reason, lost touch with reality, and lost all hope. We failed, period.

We might be successful with our implementation of ALICE, but if we have one kid who comes in with a gun, we failed. It goes back to reactive vs. proactive. ...We need to create an environment in this country where we don’t have those situations. That’s the million dollar question that we as a society have to think about. We have to look in the mirror, and there will be some tough conversations that we have to have, as a country.”

Though statistics show that the number of mass-shootings has been relatively stagnant in the last 30 years, the number of casualties in each event, however, has increased. It has school safety officers and parents across the nation wondering what about the plan of action in emergencies isn’t working.

“We are very much a reactive society rather than a proactive one,” Rice said. “In this particular

case, it’s a school safety issue, but let’s looks back on the last two years: theater shootings, temple shootings, workplace shootings, mall shootings, restaurant shootings, political rally shootings; it’s a society violence issue.”

While ALICE is something taught at school, it is not something that stays in the classroom, not worthy of the qualm experienced by everyone in high school at least once: “When are we going to use this in the real world?”

“I didn’t think ALICE would become so relevant,” Sterling said. “There is this new, almost trend. It’s become a trend to attack schools [and public places]. I never realized how much ALICE would be such an important part of our day.”

And Mason, it seems, is being proactive indeed.

“The Breaking the Silence campaign MBC produced a few years ago,” Rice said. “The blue dot conversations, the anti-bullying message, and the safe spaces training that our teachers go to: we are being proactive. It’s creating an environment that’s…letting the kids really know that we care, not just saying that we care, but to really putting aside everything else and concentrating on their needs.”

According to Rice, it’s about more than preventing a dangerous act. It’s addressing the cause of one.

“It’s valuing human beings,” Rice said. “It’s slowing down in life. We move way too fast, in all forms, in all of us. It’s sitting at the dinner table and taking the time to talk to your family. It’s taking the time to talk to a friend, more than just by a text. Slow down and value people for what they are. …Kids are our precious commodity in this country; they are our future and our most valuable resource. …We were all punched right in the gut when we saw that six year olds were murdered like that. If we don’t value others, we don’t value anything.”

EXIT ALERT

LOCKDOWN

INFORM

COUNTER

photo art by Erica Boden

The best plan of action when it comes to high school students’ safety seems to be no plan at all.

MHS students, familiar with the ALICE training program introduced last year, know that while it still involves guidelines, the only plan is anything goes: whatever necessary for survival.

After the recent tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, the no-plan plan of ALICE is gaining even more popularity according to Assistant Principal Bill Rice, and fast. Rice spoke on WLW 700 radio and was interviewed on Channel WCPO just days after the news hit about Sandy Hook. Other communities seem to be looking to Mason in an attempt to ensure the safety at their own schools.

“Lakota, Winton Woods, Sycamore--they’re already using ALICE,” Rice said. “I’ve heard a lot from other schools, though, like Anderson and Turpin. After going on that radio show, I was a little bit amazed at the reaction I got.”

Though Mason didn’t pioneer the ALICE plan, Rice said he isn’t surprised schools are turning to Mason for example, due to its size, success and notoriety.

“Colleges [and] churches are looking at [ALICE], [even though] it’s a school-based safety system,” Rice said. “I’m a member of a lot of organizations dealing with safety, and it’s been incredible to see the conversations happening in [the week after Sandy Hook]; Canton City Schools, who have been very resistant to [ALICE], they want a part of it now. Many districts that always said, it can’t happen here, it won’t happen here, we don’t need that, are now saying, we need to look at that.”

It’s very important to Rice to be able to talk to other schools about ALICE. “If we can’t take all the stressors away from kids, …if a kid is worried about their safety and security, there is no way they are going to be able to concentrate on everything we want them to learn,” Rice said.

EVACUATE

Students are encourage to take all necessary precautions if they are in a life and death situation, using the ALICE precautions.

JANUARY 18, 2013

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Betsy Carras, teacher

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JESS GALLEY

After a tragic car accident on December 26, 2012, Mason graduate and University of Cincinnati student Jessica Galley, known as Jess, was killed driving on I-71 during a snow storm.

Galley was 18.

Galley left a legacy at Mason High School, and these are the words of those who were impacted by her life.

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Ryan Mecum, YoungLife Area Director

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Home for the holidays

For sophomore Nadim Boulos, this holiday season means risking his life to be the one place he wants to be most.

Home.

Nadim, native to Egypt lives in the midst of the presidential up rise and protesting. Egypt is in a time of transition--after electing a new president, Mohamed Morsi, of the Muslim brotherhood, the government is trying to pass a constitution, with much opposition. And the presidential palace, is right down the street from Nadim.

According to his mother, Liliane Boulos, they can see all of the fighting from their apartment window back home.

Nadim, his younger brother and Liliane moved here for three years, when Nadim was in ninth grade. Then in December of 2010, they moved back, only to find the revolution of the Muslim brotherhood to start the next month. They moved back to the United States and have lived in Mason since. Nadim even holds American citizenship for safety The Muslim brotherhood is also making it hard for Christian Egyptians to live and work in the country, safely and efficiently, according to Liliane, and she said appreciates the freedoms that America has to offer.

“It’s not easy at all to be a Christian…sometimes they just tell you like in your face because you are a Christian and we can’t do it for you, so we are happy that we moved we like it very much and we feel that we are welcome and everybody is equal you know this the way it should be,” Liliane said.

Nadim and his family live separate—his mother and younger brother in Mason, with an older brother in college here in America, and his father and older brother in Egypt back home—but this separation is one that Nadim does not enjoy.

With people fighting for the freedom of the country, Nadim said it wouldn’t be right for him to stay in America through the holiday season.

“I wouldn’t like it if I was here in America celebrating Christmas while my people are fighting for freedom and dying in streets,” Nadim said.

The news has a huge impact on the dynamic of the family—with Nadim and Liliane here, seeing the fighting going on. But back in Egypt, fighting was a part of their daily life.

“We would see on the news every day that people were protesting against this and people would die like each night because of some violent

SSeea asso nss G on Grreeeet tiinnggss phot

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MHS student doesn’t let country uprise keep him from coming home Rebekah Barnes | Editor-in-Chief

JANUARY 18, 2013

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clashes between protesters and SSoopph police and everymoor bbaacck hoom k ttoo E re Nadi thing,” Nadim Eggyyp t in t m Bouulloouu said. “But it was ss t h like at first, you wee e middddllee trraavveeleledd ks w a panic but after, ithh hh ooffuunnrreess all lththeeww t iiss ffaa you get used miillyy t foforrjujustst aayy m to the idea of it. twoo tw You try to stay as safe as possible, you don’t walk in streets alone and things like you that.” have save At one point, one of his older brother’s was every day and every even tear gassed for watching a protest. hour and a lot of young people “No, we, like my family, we are all alright,” Nadim said. My brother’s friends got hurt before, lost their lives in this revolution so appreciate every day you know and really that we can be actually my brother…he was watching the protogether, is the best thing. We really appreciate testers and they threw…tear gas. It was burning. [family], yes.”

But it was okay, he washed it. But he had friends Nadim said he plans to put aside all of the who actually…were shot by rubber bullets, their government issues and enjoy the time with his friends and things like that. My family and my family and home, something he never gets on a parents they forbid us to go.” daily basis.

According to Liliane, the constitution could “We just don’t focus about yourself and presicause some unrest in the country and just hopes dents and things like that, we focus more about that it does not affect their holiday.

“I hope we will have some holiday were we will the family, you need to cherish that as much as possible because it’s only two weeks that we be able to have some feast with our family but spend as a whole family together so it’s a big there is unrest and fighting,” Liliane said. “Like thing, it doesn’t happen,” Nadim said. “…I don’t two weeks ago, the fighting, because we live near come back home every single day and see my the presidential palace, like the White House father and my big brother at home so it’s a big here, so our house is very near to there so the thing.” fighting was really down the street. We live in an apartment building and so the fighting was just, we could see it from the windows so I hope we will have peaceful days and celebrate. So yes, I’m anxious.”

MBC Exclusive Report Although Liliane knows that there is risk in going home, there is nothing more important than family.

“Yes of course, family is, for me it is really everything,” Liliane said. “…

When you live, when we had like a year and a half of really every week we had something and there was panic and you know and when I know one of my family is in an area and this area See thecspn.com for MBC Reporters has fighting and I don’t know what, so Josh Sempsrott and Ani Vadlamani you have to save every minute that we special report on Nadim and his trip are together and …because you don’t back home. know what can happen in [the] next hour not even [the] next day. So yes,

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JANUARY 18, 2013

arking problems

Long walks for students when parking available in G Lot

Mason High School students are forced to walk to the pool parking lots while G Lot parking spots remain vacant during the school day.

photo by Chloe Knue

Ria Shah | Staff Writer

Empty parking spots outside the music wing leave students bracing the icy cold weather, wondering why their walk is so much longer.

“Walking into the pool lot is sort of miserable,” Mason High School Junior, Rachel Besse said.

Administrative Assistant Annette Wood said that the G Lot, the parking lot outside the Music Wing, is mainly saved for visitor parking.

“We do have quite a few additional spots back in what we call the G Lot,” Wood said. “Which is also for staff parking, but we do have several occasions throughout the school year where we have a lot of visitors throughout the building. We have several Kiwanis luncheons and things of that nature where we even as the staff are asked to consolidate when they come in. And because of that and because of the displacement, if we had students in the parking spots it would be total chaos. So that’s the reason even though there are quite a few empty spots, we have to leave it that way.”

MHS Senior Noah Zelkind said at least some of the parking spots should be sold to compensate for kids like him, who registered on time but still didn’t get a parking spot.

“I think they are going to need to do something

about the parking situation,” Zelkind said. “They should try and figure out how many people they are going to have parking in those lots and then figure out with the leftover spaces, fine if you don’t want to sell all of them but you should give half of them, you should have so many spots that you should give to kids that registered on time.

Like maybe not everybody, certain kids that registered late, but I registered on time, and still didn’t get one.”

Zelkind is frustrated by G Lot spots being filled early in the morning.

“It’s just that in [G lot] there’s never more than a third of it that’s actually filled,” Zelkind said.

“There’s got to be at least a hundred spots there, I don’t know how many actual spots there are, but that’s another 75 people. And it frustrates me when I see someone coming in, if I get there early and someone’s parking in those spots, it bothers me…I think on rare occasions, it’s okay, also frankly, for me, if it’s a senior, it’s fine because they should have a senior spot.”

Senior Mitchell Schappacher said during the time when he used to park in the pool lot there was a transport to the school, making the trip somewhat more comfortable.

“They should do something with the spots,” Schappacher said. “It’s pointless to have half of a parking lot full…especially in the winter time.

When I first started driving, they had the bus transport from the pool lot, which was awesome.

But now that they don’t do that, they should do something with those open spots. It’s cold. And it’s a long walk.”

For kids that have gotten caught parking in the G Lot, Wood said they treat them just as those who are given a tardy.

“Those students are given one warning,” Wood said. “After that, it is subject to the principals discretion, but traditionally it would go down as a Saturday school on the second warning or second offense because a lot of those students are trying to avoid being late, so it would be the same consequence as a tardy.”

Zelkind said that this parking issue has no boundaries, at least for now.

“This is the first year that everyone is not getting spots, and next year’s going to be even worse, until freshman year,” Zelkind said. “There’s going to be a lot of people that are frustrated with it. Like I almost didn’t drive to [school this year].”

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Opinion Chronicle Policy

C Editorial Cartoon

The Chronicle is the official student newspaper of William Mason High School.

The Chronicle promises to report the truth and adhere to the journalistic code of ethics through online and print mediums.

The Chronicle is produced by students enrolled in Journalism I, II and III. Editorials reflect the staff ’s opinion but do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the school administration or the Mason City School District.

The Chronicle is published monthly. Call 398-5025 ext. 33106 for information regarding advertising in The Chronicle. The Chronicle reserves the right to refuse advertising we deem inappropriate for a high school publication.

As an open forum for students, letters to the editor are welcome, but are subject to be edited for length, libel, obscenity, clarity and poor taste.

Letters to the editor may be dropped off in room C106 and must be signed.

The Chronicle is a member of The Columbia Scholastic Press Association, The National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists and the Ohio Scholastic Media Association.

Contact Information The Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Rd. Mason, Ohio 45040 (513) 398-5025 The Chronicle Staff Editor-in-Chief Rebekah Barnes Associate Editor Chloe Knue Layout and Design Editor Erica Boden Online Editor Ashley Calvani Sports Editor Katelyn Cain Business Manager Samantha Weaver Editorial Cartoonist Ajay Agrawal Staff Writers Erin Brush Emily Culberson Emily Faas Katherine Hansen Meghan Harris Corinne Hazen Katie Hibner Corynne Hogan Nicole Huser Sheila Raghavendran Katie Rojas Ria Shah Taylor Telford Adviser Dale Conner

C Staff Editorial Over the last three years the National Associate of State Mental Health Program Directors estimates that around $2.1 billion has been cut from state mental health funding.

State programs have been furiously cutting their mental illness treatment budgets as the nation emerges from the fiscal cliff. Adult and child treatment centers have been closed nationwide, counseling centers for children and family support services have become almost non-existent, and over 4,000 beds in psychiatric hospitals have closed according to the executive director of the National Alliance on mental illness in an interview with the NY Times.

These programs are necessary to keep and continue funding to ensure the safety of innocent lives in schools and public places.

After the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, its obvious Mental Health Programs are vitally important so that those who are psychologically ill can receive the care and assistant they need and possibly help prevent another Newtown.

C Letters

to the

Editor

Dear Editor, I can really agree with the sibling rivalries because just like others in your article, I have an older sibling that I am expected to surpass. My sister was great not only academically but also she was great in lacrosse. After my first tri here at Mason, I got three A’s and two B’s, not too shabby if you ask me, my sister always got higher grades than that and I am feeling pressure from my parents to do better than she did. ...It gives someone to ask for advice when it comes to high school, ...competition and gives me a goal to do better than her, it’s going to be hard but I’m sure I can do it.

McKeon Laws, freshman Dear Editor, I was really fascinated and learned a lot from one of your articles, “Life in Juvy is a whole new world.” ...I had a friend who spent months in JDC and when he got out he always talked about thow terrible it was there and he described all the things that was listed in the article: waking up early for gym, barely anytime to eat. I honestly didn’t think how bad it could be--I thought it seemed like no big deal because it wasn’t technically “jail.” Now I see it is a big deal and I know now to make the right choices.

Emily Isaacs, freshman Dear Editor, Accutane was wrongly portrayed in the article Blemished. While it has many side effects, just like any other drug, it can work miracles for some people who have struggle with acne. I personally know people very close to me who have taken Accutane and never saw any side effects other than dry skin. When you tell people the worst possible outcome, such as suicide, it deters people from wanting to take it. ...While there may be some horrible side effects linked to the druge, most people that take it won’t ever see anything worse than dry skin and chapped lips. You can’t give Accutane a bad rap just for the small percentage of people that have died from taking it and the few that have had other serious side effects.

Caroline Walsh, freshman

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JANUARY 18, 2013

Opinion C Columns

Taking precautions seriously

Finding, feeling, faith

Meghan Harris | Staff Writer

Ashley Calvani | Online Editor

Central to the Christian faith is a belief in Christ.

For a while that’s about all I knew.

Raised in a very Catholic, Italian family, I was brought up hearing stories of how my parents would spend their Sundays in peeling churches, light piercing the dust through stained glass, the melancholy organ reverberating deep notes in the air, to then head over to their grandparents’, where they would drink coffee and eat biscotti.

But we’re not in Jersey anymore.

Faith hadn’t been something central to my life for a long time. On my Sundays, I sat in my church and examined the scar on my knee. I knew the facts of my faith to be true, but to say the words and ideas brought a stirring to my soul would be a lie.

Still, my soul was searching. I grew restless, wondering if there was something missing, if I was a bad person because my faith never brought me truth or joy.

As I wondered, I began to wander--away from the Catholic Church.

Initially, to my parents, it was unnerving to watch. I first began attending Athlete Impact, where the friendly way we addressed God so starkly contrasted the prayers I usually recited. I started going to a non-denominational church with my best friend. I started opening up a Bible ever so often, just to see what I could find, finding more than I had ever bargained for. I looked up to my best friend, and vowed to live my life the way she lived hers, with a compassion and kindness that came from her faith. We sat up at sleepovers giggling about boys, then talking about God. Everyone needs to go find their own truth. For me, that wasn’t happening in the Catholic Church. For you, it might. Or your truth might not be Christianity at all. But I hope you find it. It’s an incredible moment. Mine went like this: Staring at the Virginia countryside from a frosted car window, I watched the sun setting behind the craggy rocks and mountains, playing hide and seek around the windy roads. My chest swelled, and tears filled at the corners of my smiling eyes at the feeling, the thought that had just budded from the cracked earth in my brain.

‘God, your creation is so beautiful.’

Someone wise said that beauty is God’s handwriting. I could finally read it. Now that I’ve found it: it’s everywhere. In genuine people, the love of my friends, the wonderfulness of a stranger. There’s a lot of bad in the world, but it’s a bit more bearable now. I found my truth.

“Don’t [post] things that make others feel bad about themselves.”

Dani Weaver, sophomore

“Don’t post any inappropriate pictures and [no one] needs to know everything you’re doing, like brushing your teeth.”

Leah Ford, freshman

Too many parents woke up, raced to their child’s room, and prayed for the millionth time that December 14 was just a horrible nightmare. Too many children are trying to get the images of their school day out of their head.

Too many people can’t find the words to comfort their friends whose lives just fell apart. I don’t know any more of what happened in Newtown than most people do, but my heart is hurting for everyone affected by the shooting. Thank the Lord that I have never had to go through anything nearly as traumatic as the kids, teachers, and families of the victims are going through, but I can’t help but feel sorrow for everyone involved.

School has always been something that, for the most part, I’ve always enjoyed.

I wake up for school in the morning and my biggest worry is my teacher finding out that I didn’t do my homework. I’ve never had to worry about being safe. It has never crossed my mind of anything disturbing the safety of any school in Mason.

Sure, my mind wonders about what would happen when we do a lock-down drill but I typically see it as a nice way to waste class time. I rarely analyze what would happen if tragedy struck at Mason High School.

Mason is a big school, a fairly wealthy school. We have top notch everything, and I’d like to think our security is top notch as well. But if I really sit down to think about it, anyone could walk into our school, especially if they looked like a student. Who really takes the time to think about if the 17-year-old guy walking from the pool lot is carrying a gun? I’d like to think nothing like that would ever happen, but in the world we live in, it is 100% possible. If we’re not careful, the same thing that happened in Newtown could happen in the comfortable world of Mason, Ohio.

Now I hope and pray that this never happens again. Not in Mason, not anywhere. And my heart aches for everyone affected in Newtown and every other shooting, but I think there’s a lesson we can all take away from this. No one wants to think anything bad could happen in Mason, but there’s a very real possibility that it could. Maybe we should all take a second look at school security and the role we play in it. I know it seems ridiculous to sit around and talk about throwing textbooks at someone with a gun, but it very well could be the reason you and your classmates get out alive. It may not be the most pleasant topic to talk about and it seems a little far-fetched, but knowing what to do if something like a shooting ever happens is our best bet at survival.

So next time you hear Mr. Rice’s voice announcing a lock-down drill, maybe take your ALICE training a little more seriously.

C What You Think What do you think is “too much” to post on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites? compiled by Katie Hibner and Sheila Raghavendran

“All throughout Facebook, Twitter, even Instagram, people are just putting other people down just for their opinions. When I post things it’s usually not to put other people down.”

Emily Taylor, junior

“You should just post fun things.

If people take offense to anything, I would just stay away from it because it causes problems.”

Grace Woodward, sophomore

“I think asking for phone numbers is annoying because anyone can see the numbers and it’s not private enough.”

Sree Brahmamdam, senior

“People don’t need to keep drama, fights, and ‘lovey-dovey’ stuff on [Facebook].”

Brandon O’Shaughnessy, senior

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urning the page

Reading results could have major impact on third graders Emily Culberson | Staff Writer

More third graders than ever before could be held back next year.

Due to recent legislation that alters current reading level standards for the 2013-14 school year, third grade students who don’t meet the new requirements could be retained in the third grade.

According to John Charlton, the Associate Director of Communications for the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), the legislation ensures that students are on a positive track to success.

“This legislation [will] give a greater emphasis to reading instruction and intervention in the early grades and the goal is to [ensure] all children have the reading skills they need to be successful in school and in life,” Charlton said.

The “Third Grade Guarantee” is the new reading level guidelines outlined in Senate Bill 316. It states that students in the third grade must achieve a cut score of 390 or higher on a specific state approved test, such as the Ohio Achievement Test (OAA), or the child may have to repeat the third grade.

Charlton said that students who cannot read to grade level will have a lot of trouble later in schooling. “[How well you read] is going to affect how you do in social studies in ninth grade, how you do in history in twelfth grade, how you do in science in seventh grade,” Charlton said. “All of those things are affected by how well you read and that is why we need to make sure every student is on grade level.”

Students who do not meet the required cut off score will be given a Reading Improvement Plan.

According to the ODE’s “Third Grade Reading Guarantee Checklist,” the improvement plans identify the student’s specific problem, involve parents, monitors student’s progress, and includes a statement that a student could potentially be retained in the third grade.

With this legislation comes exceptions. Students who are Limited English Proficient, have a disability, or have recommendation by a teacher to still advance to the second grade may not be held back.

But according to the law, it is still possible for a student to be retained due to reading incompetency.

But Charlton said that the legislation isn’t focused on holding students back.

“It’s not about retention, but it’s about intervention,” Charlton said. “The idea is to identify students [who] may need extra help.”

Elementary Language Arts Curriculum Leader Shannon Homoelle said that the “Third Grade Guarantee” has only brought a few minor changes to the current reading standards.

“We were very much in line with the legisla-

tion [before], but have had to spend time changing paperwork [and] adjusting assessments to comply with the specifics in the state legislation,” Homoelle said.

Fourth grade teacher Laura Franz believes the new implementations will be beneficial in ensuring that fourth graders are performing at the level they should be.

“The reading expectation from third to fourth [grade] is a big jump,” Franz said. “[In the fourth grade] we start moving away from basic comprehension [and] the [new] expectation [is that fourth graders] are able to answer higher level thinking questions while they read.”

Mason School Board President Kevin Wise sees the benefits and potential of the “Third Grade Guarantee,” but doesn’t feel it is a necessary addition in Mason.

“Frankly I don’t believe our students [should be] required to follow [this particular state legislation],” Wise said. “We are already prepared to monitor the progress and take appropriate action for students that are falling behind in reading [and the new legislation] doesn’t provide any value for kids [in Mason].”

Homoelle similarly said that Mason has already put much effort in to creating programs for children with reading difficulties.

“Mason has had procedures in place to identify struggling readers for years now, and has done a great deal of work implementing these procedures,” Homoelle said. “[We have] always made it a priority to educate all students, whether they are struggling readers or avid readers.”

Mother of a current third grader, Lisa Zeuch, sees why legislation such as the “Third Grade Guarantee” is vital.

“I hate that the government has to get involved in our kids’ education but what I have seen [is that] somebody needs to,” Zeuch said. “My third grader reads just fine but that’s because we work with her and there are kids out there who don’t have that and they need the extra help.”

Despite the novelty of the legislation, Charlton believes that the addition will be beneficial in ensuring all young children can read up to grade level.

“These students deserve the very best,” Charlton said. “I think most teachers do a great job of educating their students and are willing to go [the] extra mile to help a student. But it’s more than just the teachers. It’s the parents, the additional resources that can be brought in…everything goes in to making sure these students are successful.”

photos by Emily Culberson

(Top): Western Row third grade teacher Diana Hillenmeyer teaches her students reading comprehension in her classroom.

(Left): Students in Hillenmeyer’s classroom take time for independent reading.

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Deadly Decision

Mason grad gunned down in failed robbery attempt Chloe Knue | Associate Editor

When Mayor David Nichols received a phone call around 7:00 A.M. on Monday, December 10, he was shocked to hear that the young man he was trying to help, was killed trying to hold up a convenient store. LaShawn Daniels, a 2012 graduate of Mason High School was shot to death while attempting to rob the Sunoco station in Springfield Township.

Nicholas first met Daniels a year ago outside the school nurses office when Daniels mistook Nichols for the governor.

“This young man comes up and introduces himself to me and asks me if I’m the governor,” Nichols said. “I said no, I’m just the mayor.”

From that short conversation a relationship began to develop between the mayor and the teenager who needed some help.

“He said he was glad to meet me and he started talking to me about some of his life dreams and what he wanted to do,” Nichols said. “I gave him my card and said if you ever need anything let me know.”

Time passed and to Nichols’ surprise, he received a letter from Daniels. The letter was addressed to a ‘wise man.’ Daniels did not ask for money. He just had one simple request. He want-

ed to know if Nichols would write him a letter of recommendation to Proctor and Gamble.

Daniels thought that it would be difficult for someone coming from his background to get his foot in the door at P & G. It was Daniels’ background that prompted Nichols to take action. Nichols learned Daniels came from a difficult family situation and even had been homeless for a while. So Nichols reached out to him.

At the time of his death, Daniels was supporting himself by working two jobs: one at Kings Island and the other at a local photo from Facebook United Dairy Farmer.

LaShawn Daniels, 19, attempted to rob a Suncoco Conve“He was riding his bike back and forth,” nient store in Springfield Township with a BB gun. He was Nichols said. “We were looking at options shot to death by two store clerks. [for Daniels], very quietly.” people in the corporate world. People all around According to Nichols, Daniels did not the community are inquiring not only as to what have a pattern of being in and out of trouble. The happened--but also, how people can keep this council members recognized Daniels need for an from happening. opportunity to prove himself. He was enrolled Emerging from the holiday season, Nichols said at the University of Cincinnati Raymond he urges people to stop and pause, and take a moWalters, and Nichols said he was speaking ment out of your busy lives, and reflect on what’s with Daniels on a regular basis. important.

“He had a great support group that’s why “What I want to focus on here is the same I continue to ask myself what went wrong, what happened, what did we miss,” Nichols man that wrote that letter and touched so many people,” Nichols said. “We want to focus on this said.

When he wasn’t working Daniels spent his tragedy and the ending of his life, and understand that good can come from it. This should remind time volunteering at Cedar Village Retireall of us that life isn’t always equal. We live in a ment Center especially during the holiday society that is judgmental. I would hope...we can months. Daniels enjoyed writing poetry pause, take the time, and realize that not everyand making music, and was also involved body has it as easy as you have it. ...[Daniels] in the Mason African American Students always said he was trying to break the chains of for Change club. English teacher Margaret Niederhelman said she encouraged Daniels his past family and to our knowledge he didn’t do bad things or take money. He worked, he asked to submit a poem to the MAASC spoken for clothing or a bar of soap. ...[His] tragedy bothword contest held at Mason each February ered me so much I have read that letter a hundred due to his interest in writing. times...and you ask yourself, ‘What if.’”

“He did and he won,” Niederhelman said.

“It was amazing to see his eyes light up with Nichols said although he does not understand or condone Daniels actions, what happened is such pride at his accomplishment. I remember a shame because he paid for his poor choice with how powerful it was to hear him perform his life. his poem, [and] the feeling behind his “Sometimes things that we take for granted rhythm and diction [it] was awe-inspiring.” really are someone else’s dreams,” Nichols said.

Nichols said that Daniels tragedy has not “Sometimes you can make so much of a difference only captured the attention of the MHS in some else’s life and all you have to do is take the administration but also the city council, photo by Chloe Knue time.” everyone in the school district and even

LaShawn Daniels unmarked grave at Rose Hill Cemetery.

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JANUARY 18, 2013

Missed them in print...

Erica Boden

Katherine Hansen

Rebekah Barnes

Read their columns online.

thecspn.com

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JANUARY 18, 2013

Feature

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wired in

Social media gives students an outlet to document everything Nicole Huser | Staff Writer

The use of social media sites such as Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, and Instagram is all the rage for the current generation at Mason High School.

And with this popularity comes the newfound need for MHS students to document every aspect of their day on the internet.

Junior Kailey Schneider said that the use of social media is so evident at MHS because the current generation walking the halls has grown up with technology.

“I think [the use of social media is] so prevalent in our generation because we have it, and that’s something that generations before us didn’t have,” Schneider said. “Our generation is just very technology based in the first place, but I feel like we communicate through social media a lot these days, and that’s a big part as to how we get to know other people. It’s how we interact with each other.”

According the senior and avid Tumblr user Martha Huot, the ability to post things to the internet is a good way for her to express herself. “…I like to get my thoughts out,” Huot said.

“They’re not usually personal thoughts, they’re more my witty thoughts per say. It’s nice to be able to put your thoughts out there, whether people regard them or not. It’s a cool way to express who you are.”

Junior Jack Howard said that many people use social media sites as a way to confirm their opinions about themselves.

“People like opinions; They like having good opinions of themselves,” Howard said. “Once that’s out there, everyone can see it. So if something good happens, it’s kind of like, ‘Well, you know, I got 50 likes on this status and that makes me feel good about myself.’ There probably are a decent amount of people who just put that out there to see what people think of them. But I feel like a lot of the times, people that post that stuff already think well of themselves, and seeing people respond well to that post makes them feel even better.”

Huot said that while sharing personal feelings on the Internet can be a great way to vent about daily trials, it is not always a smart idea to talk about all of the intimate details that occur throughout the day.

“I think [sharing personal details] can be a positive thing, but there are downsides to it,” Huot said. “It can be taken the wrong way, and could actually be used to take you down rather than help you vent. It’s a mixture of pros and cons.”

According to Huot, a negative that comes with displaying personal details on profiles and accounts on the internet is that reputations develop with those posts.

“We’re obviously going to perceive [a] person based off their profile, whether [our perception] is true or not,” Huot said. “We’re going to make stereotypes and make these perceptions of people, and I don’t think there’s really a way to work around all of that. At the same time, I think it opens a gate to become curious about the person and want to go past the profile and get to know

wthem.”

Schneider said that the internet is not always the best outlet for talking about personal problems. “...When you post something about your personal life I feel like you don’t need to put that out there, and I think that’s something you can talk about with your close friends not on the internet, or talk to your parents about it,” Schneider said. “…I feel like if it’s a matter that’s important solely to you, and it doesn’t impact others as much, that’s something you need to work out yourself or talk to other people about. You don’t need to mass media it.”

According to Howard, the constant use of social media as a means of interaction can put strain on a relationship. “…If people are constantly texting people about what they need to talk about, when they do need to have a face to face conversation,” Huot said.

“I’ve seen it before in relationships where it’s a texting relationship, [and] the people are just constantly texting each other and you never really see them hanging out with one another. And then when a problem arises and they come together to talk about it face to face, it’s kind of weird. And people can interpret things differently over text. If you’re feeling a certain emotion like anger, and someone texts you, you’re going to read that angrily. That could completely skew the perspective that they were trying to give to you.”

Huot said that ultimately, it is necessary to monitor how much information teens share on social media sites, because it can influence future employers on whether or not to hire them.

“I really do think we should be careful about what we post, because there’s a lot of inappropriate stuff [posted online] that could cross the line when it comes to your future dreams [and careers],” Huot said. “You have to consider, is it worth it to post this? If your dream is ruined by one petty post, that’s your own fault for choosing to do that. So you just have to be careful, and keep your goals in mind. Keep in mind that the internet can affect you.” photo art by Erica Boden

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JANUARY 18, 2013

Musical OBSESSION Justin Bieber pillow

Justin Bieber’s two fragrances: Someday and Girlfriend

Justin Bieber DVD: Never Say Never

Justin Bieber folders

Justin Bieber’s book: Just Getting Started

Justin Bieber notebooks Justin Bieber wrapping paper

“Fan-girls” take love for musicians to the extreme

photo by Erica Boden

Justin Bieber sillybandz bracelets

Corinne Hazen | Staff Writer

Leslie Philpot has spent over 300 dollars on One Direction memorabilia.

“I love their music and their songs are just really cute,” Philpot said. “I’m in love with one of their members. I have a cardboard cutout of [Niall Horan] and I have posters in my room and t-shirts.”

According to Philpot she is planning a trip across the country in order to have a chance of

seeing the band.

“I’ve talked to my sister and she lives in Los Angeles,” Philpot said. “Her apartment is not far from the base of their recording company. I’m supposed to go out and see [my sister] in the summer.”

Senior Maggie Etherington has a similar fascination with teen icon Justin Bieber. Etherington said she contacts Bieber via Twitter almost every

single day in hopes of one day being noticed by him.

“I like to follow him on Instagram because all of his pictures are him like on tour and stuff and he normally posts pictures of whatever he is doing,” Etherington said. “I like to know what he is doing.

I follow him on Twitter and I’m subscribed to his tweets so whenever he tweets I get [a text message] instead of having to look through them.”

Continued

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Etherington said she follows Bieber mainly because of his inspiring life story.

“He was a small town boy, his mom was a single mom and she raised him and it was his dream to be a performer and he actually fulfilled his dreams,” Etherington said.

According to Etherington, her daily tweets at Bieber have caused her follower count to dwindle.

“I’ve lost some followers because of it,” Etherington said. “He says he notices everyone so I believe that maybe he might notice me someday. I would love to meet him. It would be my dream to meet him and if I met him I would probably pass out and I wouldn’t know what I would do, it would be so great.”

Junior Molly Hough said the British band One Direction, is her fan girl band of choice.

“Well their looks are defiantly most attractive but their voices as well, especially their accents, get to me,” Hough said.

According to Hough she also chooses to follow the band on social media sites but her site of choice is Tumblr.

“I have my own One Direction blog and I get a lot of pictures there and I meet a lot of people that also have the obsession like me,” Hough said.

Senior Aditha Reddy said she discovered One Direction on social media.

“It was really kind of random because there were always random trends about [One Direction] on Twitter and my friends looked them up

and she was like, ‘wait their music is actually kind of catchy.’ So we looked up [the band]…we just kind of went from there,” Aditha said.

Reddy said her attraction to One Direction has taken her far from home as well.

“Over the summer my two friends and I went to Atlanta for a concert,” Reddy said. “It was an 8 and a half hour drive. The tickets themselves weren’t too bad but actually getting there was the bigger problem.”

Sophomore Blake Ellis said his enthusiasm for One Direction first sparked when he saw the band the X factor and immediately their ties to British culture stuck out to him.

“I’ve always been interested in other cultures and I really like to sing and stuff too and when I heard them on X Factor they were amazing,” Ellis said.

According to Ellis, the price of tickets and hotel expense wouldn’t stop him from seeing One Direction.

“I actually went to their concert last year in May in New Jersey,” Ellis said. “I paid 500 dollars for tickets to see them.”

Ellis said New Jersey will not be the last place he travels in order to see the group. He plans to expand his travels into even as far as Europe.

“I would do pretty much anything to meet them,” Ellis said. “I even want to go to London next summer just so I can go find them and meet them.”

photo by Erica Boden

photo art by Erica Boden

You listen to the occasional song by the band/artist (usually it’s on the radio)

Fan

You own at least one album and have found yourself jamming to a few of their tunes

You have been to a concert and proudly wear the t-shirt from it. You’ve thought about what it will be like when you first meet them

Fangirl Meter You don’t know the band or artist

How much do you love your favorite band/artist?

Not a fan

Fangirl

You own posters, every exclusive magazine and know 98% of their songs by heart. You have tweeted at them numerous times and already have the names of your children picked out

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JANUARY 18, 2013 | PAGE 17

FACES

-in the- CROWD Corynne Hogan | Photographer

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Capturing the emotion on someone’s face can truly tell a story.

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JANUARY 18, 2013

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lending into the foreground

Hipsters become more mainstream over time Meghan Harris | Staff Writer

“Your beard is fuzzier than the sweater you’ve taken to wearing every time you drop by the local coffee shop for a double-shot-vanilla-carmel-raspberry macchiato with a bay leaf on top” -Nick Riedell “When you have a nickname like ‘catepillar’ and you listen to killer music to get the vibe going” -Stephanie Garcia “When your glasses take up half your face, when you prefer vinyl music to digital music, and hearing your favorite artist on the radio is upsetting because you know it’ll become ‘mainstream’” -Andy Leon

Mainstream hipster is an oxymoron according to senior Nick Riedell According to Riedell, today’s culture has made the term “hipster” an oxymoron. Instead of sticking out from the crowd, a hipster blends into the background.

“Honestly, I've never heard the word hipster until it all the sudden became ironically mainstream in the past year or so,” Riedell said. “Basically nothing changed because there wasn't any room to change. Though society's perspective might have seen a ‘hipster’ go from something original and fascinating to maybe snobby and too re-creatable.”

Riedell said his version of a hipster is the artsy type.

“Let’s say if I’m imagining a superhipster-y guy, I see a man from say, Seattle or Portland who rolls up his jeans, wears V-necks, has a marvelously grown beard, though unkempt, and maybe wears beanies or thick rimmed glasses and scarves,” Riedell said. “That's sort of stereotypical, but in there you have to consider that he also listens to several ambiguous bands that three people in the world know of: him, the guitarist, and the background zither player in the band.”

Besides wearing dark-rimmed glasses and rocking the occasional beanie, sophomore Maeve Morris said hipsters are attractive people who can pull off what most people cannot. “[Hipsters] wear ugly things but still make them look good, because they’re that good-looking,” Morris said.

Although they may give off a hardcore vibe, Riedell said most hipsters are fairly likeable people.

“There are some not-so-charming hipsters but then others who might be considered hipster [that] are quite lovely,” Riedell said. “Hanging around in coffee shops because coffee is delightful, they have an affinity for literature and are usually warm and inviting, even when introducing you to their ambiguous band's music, or perhaps their own.”

Looking around MHS, it’s easy to spot girls in yoga pants and Ralph Lauren V-necks. According to junior Macie Cousineau, people consider her to be a hipster because she doesn’t dress like most high school girls.

“If people think I'm a hipster, its probably because I don't wear Victoria’s Secret sweats, and Sperry’s most of the time,” Cousineau said. “Going to the thrift store is just as exciting to me as going to Hollister or wherever

to someone else. It’s all personal preference I guess.”

Although the sudden fascination with hipsters may lead some to believe that they are a 21st century creation, Cousineau said today’s hipsters are trying to replicate the look of people from the 70’s.

“A while back I don't think they used [the term hipster] but I do think that it’s safe to say most people from the 70's were the original hipsters,” Cousineau said. “A lot of people today try to recreate that by using Polaroid cameras, wearing tube socks and shorts, which is now what people refer to as hipsters, but back then it was just being a person.”

Morris said that the attraction to hipsters is because of a growing appreciation for people who are different.

“I think [the definition of a hipster has evolved] because there are a lot of people who dress differently, and people admire that rather than shun them,” Morris said.

According to Morris, being a hipster is a part of you. “[Being a hipster] comes naturally,” Morris said. “It’s genetic.”

photos by Erica Boden

You Know You’re a Hipster When...

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JANUARY 18, 2013

High school cliques stay true later in life Katie Hibner | Staff Writer

Mean girls never retire. Ester Grishman, a 1942 against you if they [don’t approve of] a project exclusivity] is about the same. Cliques are all over Mason graduate can vouch for that. you’re working on.” the place.”

The Cedar Village Retirement Community resiAccording to Senter, the negativity of some According to Walton, the best way to combat dent says cliques of elderly people spread rumors workplace cliques can hurt the entire company or negative cliques is to stand up for what is right. at bingo games similar to teenagers gossping in employer.

“Challenge the status quo but do so in a prothe cafeteria.

“If a clique is formed by negative conversations ductive, positive manner,” Walton said. “Be an “[The cliques] want to sit together [at bingo],” and [complaints], it will work against the mission effective leader. Being a leader is hard and doesn’t Grisham said. “Don’t you dare break up their little [of the company],” Senter said. always make you popular. But doing the right get together. [They] talk behind [each other’s] Walton said that cliques often don’t consult oth- thing is more important.” backs, [and] some have got their noses into every- ers and create their own ideas for a company.

Fortunately, negative encounters with cliques thing.” “[Cliques] drive clarity because they know in high school may not affect one’s future. Senter According to Arizona Central news, Robin where [the company] is going and what it needs said that her cliques and high school drama don’t Bonifas, an expert on the science of aging, estito do to be productive,” Walton said. “[But] they have an impact on her life today. mated that 10 to 20 “I was a part of “[The cliques] want to sit together [at bingo]. Don’t you dare the ‘nerdy’ group, percent of nursing home residents were break up their little get together. [They] talk behind [each other’s] but I was also bullied in 2010. popular from being backs, [and] some have got their noses into everything.”

While Grisham has on the dance team,” not experienced Senter said. “I was such bullying, she said that clique members often tend to have a ‘Group Think’ [for ideas], and they active, so I was [in a lot of cliques]. But I probably lie to one another. don’t have the diversity of thought, experience, talk to five people I went to high school with.” “[Cliques] help some [people], but they do more and expertise that [would] allow them to function Walton said his greatest advice on dealing with harm than good,” Grisham said. “I don’t think at a high level.” cliques throughout life is to focus on your goals clique [members] are true to each other.”

One workplace that houses cliques is MHS and role models.

Grisham said that people never outgrow teenage itself. Senter said that teachers and administrators “Role model someone who you aspire to be “cliquey-ness.’” group into cliques by department. like,” Walton said. “And set goals, aspire to achieve Procter & Gamble employee Charles Walton “Departments are cliquish because they have them, and move onto the next goal. The qualities said he believes that adults who are in cliques are conversations about the same topics,” Senter said. of selflessness, acting maturely, and genuinely betrying to relive the past. “[For example] English teachers talk about what ing nice to everyone are what we all should aspire “Most people never grow up and they [re]live [books] they have read. Some teachers that have [to obtain]. Be yourself.” their ‘high school’ moments,” Walton said. “It’s graduated from Mason [also] form cliques with Grisham said she follows even simpler advice so easy to get caught up in what makes you feel their [former] teachers.” regarding cliques. secure [like a clique].”

Grisham said that MHS has grown since she “I mind my own business,” Grisham said. “As Mason High School assistant principal Joycelyn graduated, but she doesn’t think the size change long as [cliques] leave me alone I’ll leave them Senter said that cliques can be harmful to working affects the amount of cliques in the school. alone. Live the way you want to and [don’t] worry adults. “[Mason City Schools] have changed a lot,” about the cliques.”

“Cliques [can] be invisible in the workplace,” Grisham said. “When I went, there weren’t as Senter said. “Those ‘invisible’ cliques can work many people there. But I think the [amount of

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JANUARY 18, 2013

Breaking

FREE

Students struggle with breaking away from family religion to make faith decisions Taylor Telford | Staff Writer

It’s the separation of church and family.

Mason High School students are choosing to break away from the religions that they were raised in to pursue their own spiritual paths.

Junior Vineet Erasala grew up practicing Hinduism, attending a monthly worship with his family. Upon reaching high school however, he began to question some key aspects of Hinduism, as well as religion in general.

“The more I thought about it, religion as a whole didn’t really make sense to me,” Erasala said. “There were a lot of questions that I had that couldn’t be answered with religion and therefore I just thought that the whole religious experience wasn’t for me.”

As he began to question religion, Erasala said that he tried to educate him in as many religions as possible so that he could truly understand what he was dealing with. In his exploration, Erasala said he found several common threads that helped him decide where he stood.

“I started reading parts of the Quran, the Holy Bible, even the Bhagvad Gita and I realized that a lot of them had common roots,” Erasala said. “For me it wasn’t necessarily one religion over the other but that the point of religion is to put some kind of structure to various ideals and moral codes.”

With this perspective in mind Erasala eventually defined himself as an agnostic, a person who does not attach themselves to any religious beliefs.

“I feel that religion is more about a code of ethics, how people should live,” Erasala said. “And I feel like if I can do that without religion, than religion isn’t really as applicable to me.”

Erasala said that his parents were very photo by Rebekah Barnes

understanding of his decision to pursue a different spiritual path, something which he attributes to the individualized nature of Hindu worship.

“At first they were a bit resistant to it, but I love my parents in the sense that they were accepting of it eventually,” Erasala said. “I feel like they saw that, because … in Hinduism, individual spirituality is key in the culture I was raised in and overtime they became okay with [my choice].”

Although Erasala now holds a belief system contrasting to that of his parents, he still attends temple with them out of respect for their beliefs since they have chosen to accept his.

“In times of hardship my parents will still ask me to pray and I feel like I owe it to them and when they go to temple I do go along with them because they are here for me,” Erasala said. “I’m not going to be so arrogant as to say, ‘I’m never going to do this again’.”

Senior Tori Martin attended Catholic Church as a child and said that she never felt immersed in the doctrine and the experience, but went because her mother was Catholic and wanted to her daughter to share her beliefs.

“I really felt bad because I would go to try and please [my mom] but then I would turn around and not take anything away from it,” Martin said. “Sometimes I’d fall asleep, not on purpose, but because it was just so boring and none of it was interesting to me. It was like a bad history class.”

As Martin aged, she struggled more with her experiences in church and wanted to break away from the Catholic Church, despite her mother’s dedication to it.

“As I got a little bit older my sister and

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I would go to church and didn’t feel like it related to us,” Martin said. “We found ourselves not really wanting to go. It kind of frustrated my mom because she had grown up always going to church and being very religious but she understood our frustration that we just didn’t relate to it.”

It was at this point that Martin, who lived in Georgia at the time, convinced her parents to try out a non-denominational church recommended to her by a friend. Martin’s experiences at the new church greatly contrasted with the ones that she had previously, and transformed the way she felt about religion and faith.

“Church as I knew it when I was younger was very strict. I felt like I had to follow certain guidelines and rules and everything but when I went to this other church I felt like it was much more accepting of who you are,” Martin said.

In Martin’s case, her decision to follow a separate path than her mother as far as religion had a somewhat surprising result. Once they changed churches, Martin said that her mother really enjoyed the non-denominational church because she could take her Catholic roots and apply them in a new way.

Martin still keeps up with her church online once she moved.

“Initially my mom was intimidated by the change, and that’s understandable-- why would you want to change what you had known all your life?”

Martin said. “But when we switched she found that she could still believe the same things, but now the way that she practices and applies them and learns about it is different.”

Raised in a secular household, junior Jessica Cedrone was not born into any religion. Cedrone’s parents chose instead to allow Jessica and her sister to make their own decisions regarding religion, including whether they wanted to participate in any religion at all.

“When I grew up my parents decided that we weren’t going to do anything as a family as far as religion,” Cedrone said. “But that when my sister and I grew up they would support us if we chose something.”

While Cedrone attended church a few times as a child, initially it was not a positive experience. Her grandmother

was an extreme Catholic, whose radical viewpoints did not fall well on Cedrone and her sister.

“My [Grandma] is really religious in a ‘crazy lady’ kind of way,” Cedrone said.

“She kind of gave a bad view of religion to my sister and I when we were little because she was so intense.”

Cedrone said she remained fairly skeptical of religion until one of her friends encouraged her to go to her first YoungLife meeting.

“I went and I met a whole bunch of awesome people who were really nice and the talks that the leader was giving really interested me and opened my mind to things [I hadn’t consider before],” Cedrone said. “I knew about the Bible, I’d been to church a few times when I was younger and I never really listened or anything.”

Her experiences in YoungLife have led Cedrone to attend church at Crossroads with her friends and explore Christianity further.

Cedrone’s parents have also been accepting of her decision to become a Christian, however Cedrone said it is challenging for her to talk to them about the things she is experiencing because she does not think they can relate. “[My parents] think it’s awesome [that I’ve chosen to become a Christian],” Cedrone said. “They always want to talk about it and find out what I learned but I feel like it’s kind of awkward. I don’t know what they know or what they grew up with so I can only tell them what I’ve been told and what I’ve started to believe but I don’t really know where they stand.”

Overall, Cedrone said that she enjoys making her own religious decisions, particularly because it falls on her to further her own involvement in her faith.

“It’s self-motivating because my parents aren’t going to tell me, ‘Hey, you need to go to church’ because they aren’t going to go,” Cedrone said.

Although these students may be following different religious paths, they are bound by the common desire to choose their own faith.

“It was my decision to make,” Erasala said. “Spirituality is an individual thing.” photo by Rebekah Barnes

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102 68

16

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4.4

98

Counting Calories 54

21

88

19

12

45

33

72 96

According to Shape Up America!, 20 steps can burn one calorie. Using this conversion, staff writer Katherine Hansen took the amount of steps walked by three students during three typical school days to calculate just how many calories, rounding to the nearest half calorie, a student could burn--without even thinking about it.

Katherine Hansen | Staff Writer

Rachel Sette

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

2,232

3,017

3,019

steps

steps

steps

112

151

151

calories

calories

calories

On Average...

the the average average dd student burns

senior

student burns

4.25 calories 4.25 calories by walking from

Day 1

1,836 steps

92

James Flurer junior

calories

Day 1

3,157 steps

157.5 Sonia Rayka sophomore

calories

Day 2

1,788 steps

89.5

calories

Day 2

3,217 steps

Z3 Z3

1,803 steps

on average, a on average, a C2 MHS student A2 MHS student 90 burns 128.67 the calories burns 128.67 calories a dayc a l o r i e s average dd calories a day student burns 1 from walking walking 4.25 caloriesfrom during1 school by walking from 1 during school

6.75

the 3rd floor to the 1st floor

1

1

Day 3

steps on average, a 161 MHS student 154 burns 128.67 calories calories calories a day from walking during school

1

bythe walking from 3rd floor the to 3rd the floor 1st floor to the 1st floor

Day 3

3,084

dd

Z3

C1 graphic art by Erica Boden

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Person of Interest Alex Kelsey, Senior

R C ‘Les Mis’ challenging popular eal life musicality

music culture with raw emotion Sheila Raghavendran | Staff Writer

Alex Kelsey is upcoming lead in the winter play, Fools, and a varsity athlete. Some may get confused, is he a modern-day Troy Bolton?

Quick Facts: Favorite Color: Red Favorite Musician: Michael Bublé Favorite High School Musical Character: Zeke Baylor Favorite Thing to do in Free Time: Practicing Singing or Tumbling Wanted Superhero Power: Teleportation Favorite Place: Gulf Shores, Alabama

Do you feel like you could be described as a Troy Bolton?

“I’m going to say [we’re] half and half [alike] because I don’t have the self-confidence he has, [but] Zac Efron’s character and the traits he has [similar] to mine. He did the play and he [played on] varsity [basketball], except he was really good and I’m not. I haven’t done plays in a very long time and he hadn’t ever done [them] before.”

How do you balance all of these activities?

“I have absolutely no idea. Luckily, soccer ended [in the fall]. I wanted to do Macbeth [for the school fall play], but it’s my senior year and I need to do [soccer]. So I did. It all worked out, but now the struggle is…[balancing] Student Government and I’m a gymnastics coach, so it’s trying to fix rehearsal around work, Student Government and school. It’s kind of crazy.” compiled by Corynne Hogan

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Anybody can be a singer these days, according to Choral Director Elaine Santos. Lip-syncing and auto-tuning covers up the message of the music, according to junior Logan Peele.

“I think lip-syncing and auto-tuning takes away the meaning of music and what the musician is trying to get across,” Peele said.

New technology makes all music sound the same, Peele said.

“Nothing’s different [and] nothing’s setting a musician apart from another musician,” Peele said. “Nowadays, people don’t really have to have talent--it’s all technology.”

Not only is music similar, but modern musicians are also alike because society expects a certain look, according to Santos.

“Many popular culture singers have been manufactured in the studio because they have the right look,” Santos said. “Put them on a live stage, and that’s not the person [in the studio]-unless they play a track for them to lip-sync to.”

Able to escape the difficulties of performing live, most movie-musicals utilize lip-syncing.

Tom Hooper, director of the film Les Misérables released on December 25, 2012, recorded the film’s vocals live. Hooper said that it was difficult to eliminate sounds on set when filming songs --particularly the falling of rain. “…We had to do lots of innovations to get the rain quieter so that we could record the vocals well,” Hooper said in an interview with Jackson Truax from Awards Daily.

The quality of the vocals also depended on the actors, and Hooper said that he was determined to find people with true talent.

“In particularly because I was committed to doing the film live, I knew that [I] had to find people that had the singing ability for real,” Hooper said.

According to Santos, this was difficult for some of the actors, particularly Hugh Jackman, but she said she finds the honesty admirable.

“I give Hugh Jackman a lot of credit for taking on this challenge. It’s his honest voice-therefore I can accept that,” Santos said.

Not only do live vocals add an element of honesty, they also incorporate strong feeling, according to Senior Kaylea Dykes. She said she hasn’t seen the film yet, but has watched a clip.

“I saw one of the clips [of Les Misérables] and Anne Hathaway is crying when she’s singing,” Dykes said. “That’s more emotional for the audience.”

The emotion in the vocals enables Les Mi-

photo by Shelia Raghavendran

JANUARY 18, 2013

‘Les Mis’ is now showing in theaters, offering real, live singing in it’s musical numbers.

sérables to have a well-developed relationship with the audience, Santos said. “[Live vocals] add a quality that draws the listener in even closer in the telling of the story,” Santos said. “It heightens the emotional connection.”

Providing a more authentic experience, Les Misérables closely resembles a theatrical production rather than a film, according to Dykes.

“Instead of being scammed out of something, it’s a lot closer to seeing a Broadway musical because we know it’s real and it’s not like something they just recorded and tweaked to show us,” Dykes said.

After viewing the film, junior Julia Marchese said that the strong emotional aspect blew her away.

“It was amazing how they could just portray so much emotion with one movie,” Marchese said.

Dykes said that she noticed that many people were pleased with Les Misérables. She said the popular approval was partly due to the liverecording that created a theatrical feel.

“In a musical, personally I think you have to be a better actress or actor,” Dykes said. “...You have to be more passionate about it, especially your singing.”

The live vocals made a huge contribution to the overall take-away, according to Marchese.

“I was impressed by [the live vocals],” Marchese said. “I thought [they] brought more meaning – it wasn’t scripted.”

The audience can expect to be hear the truth in Les Misérables, according to Santos.

“If you are singing with an authentic voice, it will be the same voice [as on the recording],” Santos said. “It won’t be a surprise. [The audience] won’t [be] lied to.”

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Sports

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Despite injuries and setbacks gymnasts still stick with the sport they love Emily Faas | Staff Writer

Staples in the skin and scary surgeries sure do put the “nasty” in gymnastics. The love that gymnasts have for this sport is what keeps them hopping back up on the beam. Even though some injuries can be detrimental, Senior Heidi Soltis said that she could not imagine her life without the sport.

“I just love it,” Soltis said, “It’s just part of who [I am], my teammates are my best friends, they are like my sisters and my coaches are like [my] second parents. You feel like you’ll let everyone down if you quit.”

Senior Maggie Fewel said that she once even had a staple in her skin.

“Last year I was vaulting and a springboard staple got [wedged] into my toe,” Fewell said, “Over the summer I was vaulting and ripped my toenail [off].”

Soltis said that on her club gymnastics team, serious medical procedures are done often due to the damages of gymnastics.

“My [teammate] had a twelve-hour surgery on her neck,” Soltis said, “She can’t do gymnastics anymore though . . . she was almost paralyzed, and this [other] guy on our team just broke his neck, two people just tore their ACL’s. I’m pretty sure everyone on my [team] has had a surgery.”

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photo by Corynne Hogan

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Story Continued From Page 27 Soltis, who tore her ACL in December of 2011, is just now beginning to fully recover from her injury, and said that the journey it took to get back into gymnastics was tough.

“I’m just now doing full routines,” Soltis said, “So it’s taken a full year for me to get back in to where I was before. [I] have to go to rehab three times a week, [I] constantly have to be strengthening it and I still have to be in the gym because I still have to stay in shape.”

Junior Brook Middleton suffered from a concussion during gymnastics and said that she now needs assistance in school due to the severity of the injury.

“My concussion [has caused] me not to focus in school,” Middleton said, “I have to go [get help] from special people for it because it impacts me in school.”

Soltis, who was a junior during her recovery, said that since colleges evaluate the potential for athletes to gain scholarships during their third year of high school, she may have a hard time receiving one because of her injury.

“It [will] be really hard to get scholarships because there are none left,” Soltis said, “Junior year is the prime year [for scholarships], you are supposed to be recording everything . . . but when I got hurt I had no new footage [to show to colleges].

Fewell’s college plans as well did not go as planned due to her injury.

“I was out for six months [because of an

injury] which is when I quit the collegetrack gymnastics,” Fewell said, “and a lot of my injuries have carried over from gymnastic season to track season.”

The chances taken in this sport are what Middleton blames all of the injuries on.

“Everything we do has a risk,” Middleton said, “Learning new skills every day and not knowing what you have to do when you learn it [makes it] a very dangerous sport.”

Junior Audrey Harpen said that the risk is what makes the competition worthwhile.

“It wouldn’t be fun if you didn’t take a risk to do it,” Harpen said, “It wouldn’t be a cool sport if everyone took the risks that we take. Anybody can play soccer, and kick a ball, but not everybody can do flips on a 4 inch board.”

To Fewell, the life lessons learned in gymnastics outweigh the risk and costs of her injuries.

“Gymnastics is one of those sports [where] you learn a lot,” Fewell said, “you learn how to deal with injuries, with pain and pushing through [it].”

According to head gymnastics coach Kelly Wones, one of these lessons helps to build her gymnasts self-esteem. “[Gymnastics builds] general self-confidence,” Wones said, “[not many people] can do the things that [gymnasts] can do, when [my girls] get frustrated [I ask them] ‘Can your best friend get up on that beam and do what you are doing?’” photo by Corynne Hogan

C The Numbers

253.80 10 Senior diver Maddie Sewell leads the GMC with a point total of 253.80. Sewell, junior Sydney Carr and freshman Nicole Wendeln are three of the top ten divers in the conference.

Sophomore Patrick Kearney has 10 pins through nine meets. He leads the GMC with a record of 21 wins and 6 losses.

3 The girls’ varsity basketball team is ranked third in the state in the January 7 OHSAA Associated Press poll.

0:22.17 136 Senior swmmer Eric Chen leads the GMC in 50 yard freestyle with a time of 0:22.17.

Boys’ varsity basketball player Connor McVey has scored 136 points for the team as of January 11.

results as of January 14.

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Last year’s competition brought competition from across the state to benefit the JVH foundation.

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photos from thecspn.com

Wrestling tournament in honor of James Horning to feature area’s best talent Corinne Hazen | Staff Writer

He was captain of the wrestling team and on track to graduate from Mason High School in June of 2005. But James Vincent Horning never walked across the stage to receive his diploma.

His life was tragically cut short after he was killed in an automobile accident in October of 2004.

According to jvhmemorialfoundation.com, James’s father and those closest to him created the James V. Horning Memorial Foundation in his memory. The goal of the foundation is to reach out and assist students and families that are dealing with similar grief.

On January 19, the Mason wrestling program will hold the 9th annual James V. Horning Memorial Wrestling tournament at the Mason Middle School arena. Jerry Schrock, a Social Studies teacher and former wrestling coach of James said this tournament in particular will give fans mul-

Chloe Knue | Associate Editor Kate, hold on a second while I google AJ McCarron’s girlfriend’s name...OF COURSE AJ is more well-known than his “pageant queen” girlfriend. He is going to be the number one quarterback in the country next year, he has won two national championships, Alabama won the SEC and is clearly the best team in the country. Yes, that girl is hot but who would she be without her star quarterback boyfriend...

NOBODY.

tiple opportunities to see a wrestler they might be cheering for.

“This tournament is actually what’s called a pool tournament, which means everybody who wrestles in it will wrestle four to five times,” Schrock said. “So if there are any fans that are looking for someone they actually want to watch, they get plenty of chances to see it.”

Schrock said a goal for the tournament this year was to bring it back to a pure Cincinnati event.

“Now in the past years we have actually brought teams from farther away,” Schrock said. “This year we have, kind of, come back. We want it to be a Cincinnati tournament because when teams come to Cincinnati they want to wrestle Cincinnati teams, so we have actually added a few other teams. Glen Este is a good addition this year. They are going to be a new team we haven’t had in the

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Who’s more famous: AJ McCarron or his girlfriend?

past and so is Colerain.”

Sophomore Patrick Kearney said that this tournament changes the wrestler’s attitudes.

“We just go out and wrestle different, different mentality just because it’s for something that is in Mason and something that we want to wrestle for,” Said Kearney.

According to Ann Toohey, an MHS teacher and coordinator with the event, the foundation has future plans to continue to expand its outreach.

“The James V. Horning Memorial Foundation is hoping to work with the City of Mason Engineers and Scarlet Oaks construction program to create a playground in the Frank Hosea Woods Park,” Toohey said. “We think it would be a great way to bring more kids to the park very near to the home where James lived with his family.”

Katelyn Cain | Sports Editor If you checked twitter, Chloe, you’d know that it doesn’t matter how many national championships you win...from being on ESPN for a of couple seconds, Katherine Webb, the now famous girlfriend, went from 2,000 to 200,000 twitter followers...which is about 100,000 more followers than AJ himself. She caused more buzz and talk from one clip than AJ could ever dream of. Not to mention, when you google “AJ McCarron,” Katherine is the first thing to pop up. So she didn’t need her boyfriend to get the attention, she just needed some camera time.

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Ready to Pounce

Boys’ JV White gains large following for basketball

JANUARY 18, 2013

#JV W

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Erin Brush | Staff Writer

Home games used to mean empty stands and a quiet arena for the JV White boys’ basketball team. This season, however, ticket sales have exploded and the bleachers are filled with wildly cheering fans that call themselves ‘Peters Pouncers’.

The group is named after head coach Kyle Peters and was started by the team to gain support, according to sophomore JV White player Joseph Metzger.

“There were two kids at our first game and we decided the electricity wasn’t there,” Metzger said. “The crowd wasn’t going crazy and we needed a crowd to make us play better. We needed the fan support, so we hyped it up.

According to Metzger, word spread about their games primarily through a twitter profile named @peters_pouncers. The account tweets about upcoming games, with a fair share of trash talking.

“You just have to have a certain type of fake confidence to make people laugh,” Metzger said. “We say ‘Oh we’re the best’ but [everyone] knows we aren’t because we’re on JV White. But we hype it up to get a bunch of people to come and then they bring more people.”

Within a week, ticket sales jumped from 2 to 72 students at home games.

According to sophomore JV White player Perry Grammer, the fans have had a positive effect on the team.

“I love all of the support,” Grammer said. “Usually there’s no one [at our games] besides parents.”

Metzger said that although the Pouncers can be distracting, they add a little excitement to the games. “[Coach Peters] tries to get us to focus and ignore it, but we really can’t help it,” Metzger said. “We’re on JV White so we weren’t expecting a group like the black hole to show up and start cheering for us. When you have a group of that many people it’s hard not to look up [in the stands] and get a little excited.”

The cheering section typically dresses completely in white, but more and more costumes have begun to appear in the bleachers as well.

“It’s kind of fun to see all the signs in the stand and see how weirdly people dress,” Metzger said. “Erick Meza wore a wrestling singlet. Just a tiny wrestling singlet. Ryan Traut wore a fairy princess costume.

Jake Liddic wore a fisherman outfit.”

Metzger also said he plans to double their ticket sales by the end of the year to reach their goal of 150 student tickets.

“Eventually we’re going to

photo by Emily Faas

try to surpass the black hole,” Metzger said. “But we’re friends the black hole. say. JV White nected together.”

Werst said he dents have started

with Allies, I would and Varsity, we’re conBlack Hole member John thinks it’s great that younger stutheir own version of the Black Hole.

“Every year when one class graduates you’re always scared there’s not going to be a student section the next year,” Werst said. “It’s really cool to hear that kids are already taking pride in their student section at a young age. It makes me proud of my children.”

Despite the support from many upperclassmen, the Pouncers have received constant criticism from other students, especially via twitter.

“We have a lot of haters,” Metzger said. “There are a lot of people that think it’s stupid and annoying, but we don’t care. We have a saying that goes, ‘Haters equal motivators’. We’re going to keep tweeting about it and telling more people come.”

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