chroniCle September 27, 2013
thecspn.com
Volume 11, Issue 1
the
Santos’ singers
Choir director doesn’t mess around, page 22
Sister Act Cepeda sisters are unstoppable as doubles partners, page 28
Time Crunch
Will shorter classes hurt vital programs? Adminsitration doesn’t think so. See page 10
Players come face to face with football’s violent reality Oak Hills players carted off field in ambulance after collision Sheila Raghavendran | Online Editor
Football games aren’t supposed to end this way. Competitors are supposed to shake hands and go their separate ways, but instead Dwire Field was hushed last Friday night at the sight of two Oak Hills players laying motionless on the soaked turf while emergency medical personnel prepared to load them into ambulances. With a little over a minute to play in the Highlanders’ win over the Comets, Oak Hills senior defensive backs Cary Jones and Khiren Beamon collided head on during a play reminding everyone of the violence of football. While the sport is currently trying to find ways to curb the rash of concussions and head related injuries, the fact still remains that football is a collision sport where severe and possibly catastrophic injuries are always a risk. It’s that risk that coaches and players are keenly aware of yet choose not to focus on in order to play the game they love. Mason senior running back Matt
photo by Sheila Raghavendran
Oak Hills’ player Khiren Beamon is attended to by medical personnel after being injured.
Stewart said that the he tries to block out the looming possibility of an injury from his mind, and doesn’t even pay attention to the ambulance on the side of the field.
“The reality is that it is a very violent game,” Stewart said. “We just try not to think about it...We just try to go through practice, play a... story continued on page
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Students stake their claim during zero period, see story page 20
STUDENTS HAND OUT THEIR GRADES see page 16
photo by Sheila Raghavendran
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news
Trending Now Feeling the Cuts View these and other stories and galleries at
thecspn.com
C Light the Night
See thecspn.com for coverage of last night’s Light the Night Walk to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
C Culver Invitational
Check out a wrap-up of this weekend’s cross country meet, the Culver Invitational on thecspn.com.
photo by Jesse Newman/Newsday/MCT
In order to get more hours to earn money for college many high school students are having to get multiple jobs. Samantha Schindler, 17, delivers food to a customer at Sonic.
Teens feeling the pinch as employers cut hours Changes in health care regulations forces employers to cut back on part time hours photo by Abbey Marshall
C Mason Women’s Soccer
Visit thecspn.com for highlights of tomorrow night’s game as the Comets take on at Ursuline.
C MHS Spirt Week
Spirit Week begins next week in Comet Country. Take a look at photos on thecspn.com throughout the week.
compiled by Sheila Raghavendran
Abbey Marshall | Staff Writer
President Barack Obama called, and the youth answered, voting for him at a rate just short of 70% in 2012. However, the effects of Obamacare on businesses around the nation may soon be making them regret picking up the phone. Chrissy Avery, the program manager of the Mason Community Center, is in charge of coordinating events and programming. She was one of the managers who had to break the news to their part time workers about hours being cut. “[Obamacare] has affected the way that the city structures part time positions,” Avery said. “Previously, part time employees could work up to 35 hours per week. With the changes that are coming up, employees that work—I believe is 30 hours
a week or an average of that—would need to be given health care benefits, which for the large amount of staff that we have, the city financially can’t afford that.” The reduction of hours has affected how the Community Center operates, according to senior Heather Smith who works part time at the Community Center’s daycare. “I think for the Community Center, [Obamacare] was a really bad thing; it was a hard blow because most of the people there are [employed] part time,” Smith said. Avery said that there are both pros and cons to working at the Community Center with this new policy, but the ultimate choice is up to the student. “Working at the Community Center is very convenient for the students,” Avery said. “But I think that the policy can maybe change the way they think about applying because maybe they want more hours and know that they can’t get that here, or they do want to work here and might have to get another job to make more hours.”
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Teen employees losing out on hours, money Story Continued
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New employees have been hired because of hour cuts, according to both Smith and her coworker, senior Leon Jiao. Smith said that sometimes it’s hard to get the job done with so many people. “It’s hard to have so many people doing one job when one person could do it; [but because of the new policy] they’re just not allowed to,” Smith said. Though the hours cut from the teenagers’ working schedules aren’t a problem during the school year because of a busy academic schedule, it’s difficult not being able to work throughout the summer, according to Jiao. “[During] the summer, I was kind of mad because I wanted to work more,” Jiao said. “[The policy] came into play right before summer and I wanted to work more during the summer to save up a lot of money.” As a senior, Jiao hoped to save money for college; the only obstacle was the restraint on working hours. Smith encountered the same problem during the summer. “Over the summer, I wanted to work more and I didn’t get the hours,” Smith said. The government-owned Community Center isn’t the only company taking a hit for part time employment because of Obamacare. Wendy’s is also reducing hours of part time employees, according to sophomore Tucker Welsh, who has been working at Wendy’s for a little over a year. “During the school year, we can work about 18 to 19 hours and over the summer it was 30. Last year it was 40,” Welsh said. The low amount of hours that Wendy’s offered was shocking, according to sophomore Nikki Giesel, who had just been hired in May. “A total for [the number of hours I have a week] is about 15 or 16 hours and that’s [drastically lower] than I thought it would be,” Giesel said. “At first, because it was my first job, I didn’t really put any thought into [the hours being cut] but then I realized that I’m not getting as many hours as I wish I would and I just wasn’t get paid as much.” Workers at Wendy’s experienced the same frustration as Community Center workers about not being able to work as much in the summer, according to Welsh. “Last summer, I was working about 36 hours with breaks, but this summer I was working only about 25 with breaks,” Welsh said. “If I was free and sat around doing nothing [during the summer], I would much rather be working and making money rather than just be sitting around.” Ultimately, no matter how teens are affected by Obamacare, the program is law. “It comes down to the law and the law says I can only work a certain number of hours a week,” Welsh said.
~50% of Americans currently get their health insurance through the workplace
~30% of employers are likely to stop offering insurance after 2014.
~80% of those in their 20s who earn more than $18,500 a year will have health insurance costs go up.
~16% of Americans under 24 face unemployment.
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Freshmen Homecoming Debut Homecoming first major event on freshmen social calendar Meghan Harris | Staff Writer
On October 5, freshmen will experience their first homecoming. As the big night approaches, freshman Meg Hubbard said she is unsure of what to anticipate for her first homecoming dance. “I just don’t know what to expect because I’ve heard so many different and crazy things about homecoming,” Hubbard said. “I’ve been told that freshmen just hang around the outside while they watch the juniors and seniors dance.” Freshman Julia Wirth said the homecoming hype is due in part to the events leading up to it. “Homecoming is sort of a big deal because there is so much leading up to it,” Wirth said. “Finding the dress, the pep rally. Also the homecoming game.” Although homecoming can involve all students, freshman Molly Kenney said homecoming is a much bigger deal to girls. “I think homecoming is more important to girls because we are the ones who spend more time getting ready,” Kenney said. “Also, I know every girl wants to feel pretty, and this is a special occasion where we can go all out and wear dresses and do each others hair.”
From buying a dress to spending too much time getting ready, Kenney said homecoming is worth going all out for. “I do feel like I need to go all out for homecoming,” Kenney said. “I picture homecoming as a very fancy and formal dance, so I want to look nice for it. I’m not going to get too crazy, but I think it will be fun to go all out.” With all the rumors and stories past down from upperclassman, freshman Sophia Boden said that she hopes homecoming lives up to her expectations. “I’m hoping that homecoming’s really fun,” Boden said. “We’ve heard about it for so long so we’re just expecting it to live up to all that we’ve heard; the dancing and the loud music and just hanging out with friends and having a good time.” Wirth said that homecoming is important to freshmen because it is their first major high school event. “I think homecoming does affect freshman year because it is your first major memory of your high school years and it’s the first and only dance you get to go to as a freshman,” Wirth said. According to freshman Lakin Steedly, homecoming can define VINCE JACKSON “I think [homecoming] will be fun. But I heard there are some stupid things that go on… [I’m going to] go have fun and not worry about what everybody else is doing.”
your freshman year. “For freshman, homecoming is a big deal,” Steedly said. “Everyone’s going, and it’s our first year of high school, so it can determine who you are if you go.” Because homecoming is freshman’s first big social event, Boden said that the way you act at homecoming can mirror your involvement throughout high school. “I think homecoming’s going to show how you’re going to want to spend your high school years,” Boden said. “If you’re going to be reserved and more on the side or actually participating and having a good time.” Whether you’re taking it all in or number one on the dance floor Kenney said homecoming is an opportunity for all freshmen to get more involved with the school. “I think homecoming makes freshman year exciting,” Kenney said. “I personally have been looking forward to getting dressed up and spending time with my friends. It also makes me feel more like I’m part of the school.”
AMANDA GARVIN “I heard it’s really sweaty… I think it will be fun, just loud and crowded.”
KEIRA GARVIN “I’m going with my boyfriend and I think it will be fun because everybody is together and it’s a fun thing that everybody does. I can hang out with friends and dress up… I’m just excited.”
JESSICA SOMMERVILLE “I think [homecoming] is like a high school rite of passage. You kind of have to go; it’s part of the experience.”
COLE MARVIN “From people who have gone, I heard that it’s where you can hang out, be yourself, and have some fun with other people.” photos by Gina Deaton and Abbey Marshall
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Culture
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of kindess
Kindness goes digital with the new MHS Kindness Council Rashika Jaipuriar | Staff Writer
T
he Kindest School in America just got kinder. According to American History teacher Jerry Schrock, his homeroom students wanted to make kindness more habitual at Mason High School, especially after the Random Acts of Kindness and Sandy Hook Campaign during Freshmen Activities week last year. Schrock said, “Once [Freshmen Activities week] was over, the freshmen kept saying...‘We don’t want this to end. We want this to keep going.’” After much deliberation, Schrock said that he and his students decided to create the Kindness Council to extend last year’s oneweek kindness campaign to all grade levels in the school. The club is currently in its beginning stages, with about fifty-five members, including students and staff. It uses an online forum called Edmodo where members can post thoughts and ideas to “inspire through action.” According to Schrock, communicating primarily online is a good way to keep the group low-key and genuine. “We don’t [want to] walk around with t-shirts and say ‘We’re the kind students,’” Schrock said. “We just [want to] do kind things and hopefully with the whole mentality of pay it forward then somebody else will act with kindness, and then somebody else will act with kindness…we’ll really try to spread it that way.” According to Kindness Council member sophomore Danielle Morey, the idea goes beyond simply being kind in the name of a club. “Everybody’s just being kinder; even if you’re not in the club you can still strive to be a kinder person,” Morey said. According to Schrock, kids in the Kindness Council have defined kind, meaningful acts into three categories: Acts of inclusion (inviting someone to lunch), acts of assistance (helping a freshman that’s lost in school), and encouragement and support (posting notes of encouragement on lockers). “To really support the culture of kindness that our building already has, those three categories seem to be the ones kids thought were
the most beneficial for our school and for the other kids,” Schrock said. According to Schrock, the Kindness
Council is simply trying to create a better environment and live up to the “Kindest School in America” title MHS received last year. “We don’t want awards. We don’t want notoriety. We aren’t trying to win anything,” Schrock said. “All we’re trying to do is make Mason High School a welcoming high school.”
photo by Meghan Harris, photo art by Chloe Knue
Sophomore Daniel Morey promotes MHS Kindness Council
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Unrest
in
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Syria
Syrian teens worry about fate of family members caught in crossfire Fernanda Hurtado | Staff Writer
Two students at Mason High School are victims of the civil war in Syria even though they’re 6,000 miles away. Dinah Diab and Lujain Jamous worry every day whether members of their families are dead or alive. Syria is embroiled in a civil war, amid accusations President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons against civilians, allegedly gassing to death as many as 1,400 people outside the Syrian capital of Damascus. According to TheWashingtonPost.com, The United States and its allies are planning for possible “limited military strikes” against the Middle Eastern nation. President Obama is seeking Congressional approval, and if gets it, his military intervention will mark America’s first official involvement in Syria since the civil war erupted in April 2011. Freshman Lujain Jamous said she hasn’t been to Syria in six years because of the civil war. “It is very sad to see my family over there. I’ve lost a cousin in the war and it is very hard,” Jamous said. “Even though they are not [all] my family they are still people of my country so even though I am not related to them I still feel really bad for them.” Jamous said that her cousin was in The Free Syrian Army and got shot by a sniper. “We didn’t know that he was dead after two months actually because they didn’t find his body,” Jamous said. Diab said she believes America should not intervene in Syrian politics because of what has previously happened in the Middle Eastern countries like with Iraq. “The Americans getting involved just cause it to become a bigger war. I think that everything will work itself out,” Diab said. “The way the president [Bashar al-Assad] went about [the revolution] was really bad and how he contained things was really aggressive.” Jamous said she is unsure how she feels about the possibility of American intervention. “I want this war to end as soon as possible but then again I don’t know if the Americans helping us would be good or not,” Jamous said. “My family might die if Obama helps us.” According to Jamous the government in Syria sees and hears everything. “When we are skyping with my family we can’t say anything. If we ask them “How are you guys over there,” they won’t answer because [the Syrian government] will hear them and will come and do bad things,” Jamous said. “They are really scared.” Although her family back in Syria cannot say anything about events occurring, Jamous takes the advantage of living in a country with freedom of speech and the media. “I really don’t care what they see. I write everything on Facebook but my mom doesn’t really like it,” Jamous said. “[My mom] said just as long as I change my last name because if [the Syrian government] finds out they’ll do stuff to my family.” According to Jamous, what Obama is doing is wrong because he is telling everybody what he is going to do and letting Bassad hear. “Now Bassad knows where he is going to hit, if he hits, so he took all his weapons out and will put innocent civilians there,” Jamous said. “I can’t take anymore. We have to do something.”
Lujain Jamous at a rally for Syria in downtown Cincinnati.
photo contributed
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opinion Chronicle Policy 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
Tweets to the editor Paper towels have gone extinct at MHS. Thoughts? Let us know how you feel about MHS’ latest cut. #handdryers #Tweettotheeditor The Chronicle is looking to hear from you. Respond to our questions and send your opinions on recent articles, current news, and the latest news at MHS via Twitter @mhschronicle .
The Chronicle Staff Editor-in-Chief Chloe Knue Associate Editors Katherine Hansen Taylor Telford Layout and Design Editor Gabrielle Stichweh Online Editor Sheila Raghavendran Sports Editor Erin Brush Business Manager Emily Culberson Staff Writers Emily Taylor Katie Rojas Meghan Harris Jimmy Halpin Katie Herman Madison Krell Abbey Marshall Gina Deaton Matthew Marvar Will Leathers Monica Brucher Kelly Noriega Fernanda Hurtado Sonia Rayka Katie Hibner Lindsay McCalmont Rashika Jaipuriar Adviser Dale Conner
Staff Editorial
Obamacare forces many teenagers to cut back hours, makes paying for college more difficult The cost of a college degree has increased 1,120 percent since 1978. Those of us who get that degree can expect it to come with $26,000 in college debt. It’d be nice to start paying that off now and getting the hours we want from our part-time employment. But the implementation of Obamacare has forced many of us to accept a cutback on our hours, especially during the summer. Students are striving to get ahead. We see the college tuition rates -- we see the numbers that will very quickly encompass our lives. We want to prepare in any way we can, and a part-time job is one of those ways.
Just getting the job is hard enough. Now ‘teen jobs’ are being taken by adult part-time workers. Now our hours too are being taken. While a job is nice to slap on a resume and say we did it, we would also like to say we earned some kind of income off of it. We would like to think it’s somehow helping us for the financial future we silently fear. Not getting hours now means not having financial stability later. Perhaps it’s a little bit of a slippery slope fallacy, but every less hour we work now makes us feel that much more uncertain about our future. Just how will we pay for all the expenses - tuition, room and board, books, and other necessi-
ties - if we can’t work all the hours we’re willing to. Now is likely the only time we can direct all our income towards saving for college. After this there will be loans to pay off, mortgages to handle, and debt to avoid. We’re being held back from using this time as fully as we could be. While we’re likely not dependent on our part-time jobs to provide for us now, we’re anxious for them to provide for us later on. But with our newly cut back hours, we’re stuck waiting for inevitable debt to come along. We’re college-conscientious, and want to start saving. Let us.
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opinion Backpacks got your back
Growing with hippies Katie Hibner | Staff Writer
Katherine Hansen | Associate Editor
I don’t quite know how it happened. Or why. But backpacks, are back. I am in full support of whatever motion, notion, locomotion or potion, convinced administration to allow students to carry backpacks. And I’m sure that administration won’t be in full support of me making a production out of it, but hold on, I do have a point. Carrying around a backpack gets to the core of my day, of everyone’s day. It’s a new lifestyle. A new lifestyle which I did buy a new backpack for (I thought the occasion demanded the inevitable transition from my initialed L.L. Bean to a more collegiate suede leather bottom Jansport). No longer must I and my peers wrestle with a tangle of oversized purses, murses, cross-bodies, and other forms of towing necessities in everything just shy of a backpack. No longer must we carry binders and books in whatever way we fancy lifting weights (i.e. the onehanded clutch against the waist, the one-handed with a tentatively fashionable tilt to the side, and the two-handed ‘I won’t even pretend I have muscles as I scurry off to my next AP’ death grip). No more. No more I say! ...That’s not as rallying when we already have what we’ve wanted all along. But backpacks. Back to backpacks. They’re a thing now. And beyond all the selfish advantages and liberation coming with this new tote tolerance, I’ve noticed a lot more hands. Did you ever realize how little you actually used your hands in the halls? Bogged down with your almost-backpacks and books, free hands were largely unknown. But now, it’s like posing for a picture by yourself, with no one to embrace - ‘and just what am I supposed to do with my hands?’. While I’m all for jazz hands in the halls, I think there’s more we could begin to do. We could do what we haven’t been doing for so long: holding the door, picking up the fallen calculator and all its battery intestines. Enthusiastic, in between class high-fives anyone? It’s all the little things, but they reflect some subtle kind of understanding among us. And there’s no more excuse not to. They tell me Mason is the kindest school in America. With backpacks at our back, maybe we actually can be.
How do you think BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices) will help you in class?
compiled by Katie Hermann
Cwhat you think
Hippies enlightened me this summer. Bare feet, hemp-based hand lotion, shades of lipstick that resembled decaying moss and all. By the end of June, I felt nothing but delight when I stumbled upon a midnight drum-beating, riotous dancing circle to appease the goddess of the moon. Truthfully, I was only with the hippies for a week-long poetry camp in Massachusetts. My ultra-conservative father warned me of the “flaming liberals” that supposedly swarm New England; but I had no preparation for the twin Volkswagens sputtering up to the camp check-in desk two hours late; crawling like dogs exhausted by the tons of bird food and organic trail-mix they hauled inside. At the sight of the hippies’ star-chart skirts and flowered headbands, all I could do was roll my eyes. They had made the camp two hours late for dinner. The eye-rolling continued the following morning when the hippies swayed side to side, glued to their lime green Walkman. “Who are you listening to?” I entertained. “The National,” they cooed. The National. One of my favorite bands. This unraveled into conversations about music and anxiety and life and philosophy. We made plans to see a concert together. I wish my week with the hippies could’ve flowed on. They were the best poets at camp. They encouraged me with voices like candlelight. I grew open to writing about whales and clown children and whatever other abstract visions I’d previously ignored. My third poem will be published soon in “Teen Ink” magazine, and it bares me and all my idiosyncrasies without fear. Say hello to that kid locked in huge eighties-style headphones as he treks down the hallway. Or the one rocking risky, even ugly-colored lipstick. If you don’t, the tattooed, the greasy, the fantastically loving people in life may just pass you by.
“I think it can be very helpful in the classroom but it can be distracting with social networking.” -junior Allison Yan
“I like how we have a choice but I don’t like how people choose to react to it. It gives kids the opportunity to not pay attention.” -sophomore Megan Moyer
“I like it becase I like to talk to my friends but I dislike it because it doesn’t help you learn. It takes away from the lesson.” -junior Layton Halsey
“I feel more comfortable with my phone in my pocket during class. It’s convenient and useful.” -junior Maggie Cantor
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The Fourth Bell Debate Shorter class periods pose challenges for fourth bell programs Sonia Rayka | Staff Writer
The change to semesters next year will not have a drastic effect on student services that utilize the time granted in fourth bell, according to principal Mindy McCarty-Stewart. Adjusting to change may prove difficult, but McCarty-Stewart said she has confidence that students involved in programs such as Comet Savings & Loans and Comet Zone will continue to function at an efficient level despite the difference in period length. “When it comes to those programs, I would think it would be a disservice to say that they are only the quality of work because they are only during fourth bell; that is really an understatement to what our students have done,” McCarty-Stewart
said. “I think that if you contain it to ‘Well, we can only function during fourth bell,’ it really takes away the creativity of our students.” Although the shortening of bells next year seems as though it would have a negative effect on fourth bell classes, Associate Superintendent Amy Spicher said that the change in time may not be noticed at all. “There will be a little more time, in terms of minutes, over the eighteen weeks,” Spicher said. “I think the important part is structuring that time so that it’s effective.” Even though the bell time difference may not be as big of a problem as anticipated, Comet Savings & Loans advisor Cindy Donnelly said there are still apparent negative effects with switching to semesters for their program.
“Fewer kids are going to be able to be involved as far as actually running and operating the bank,” Donnelly said. “Right now with trimesters I get new students every trimester and I keep the managers the same, but with going to semesters there are going to be fewer students who are going to be able to work in the bank.” Spicher, however, said she sees the change as a way to show the capabilities of these students and staff members through the unwavering quality of their work despite the alterations to their schedule. “I wouldn’t say that the quality would change,” Spicher said. “I think we may have to do things a little differently but we certainly support those programs and we also have a lot of confidence in our staff. We
have a lot of confidence in our students that they are still going to be able to produce some great things.” Similarly, McCarty-Stewart said that based on the success of other schools with semester schedules, the members of these specialized bell programs are definitely capable of making the necessary adjustments to their work. “You can count minutes or you can talk about the quality of work,” McCarty-Stewart said. “We’ve researched some top performing school districts with award winning newspaper programs and art and music and they all operate and function very effectively on variations of semester schedules. Whether it is a trimester or semester, it shouldn’t dictate what the students do.”
photo by Sonia Rayka
Many career oriented programs like Comet Savings and Loan and the Comet Zone could face new challenges when class periods become shorter on the new semester schedule. Pictured above: Junior Jorydan Martin and senior Jack Clark work in Comet Savings & Loan during fourth bell.
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feature
Comic
book craze
MHS comic book fans take on the world of evil and darkness
photo art by Gabrielle Stichweh
Kelly Noriega | Staff Writer
Comic book characters are setting an example. Sophomore Ri Moodie, who was introduced to the world of comics at the age of six and ever since she has be fascinated with the differing genres and the real life applicability of comics. “I always aspire to be like the [main characters] and to have those hero-like characteristics,” Moodie said. “I think it’s beneficial to read different genres, they can really help you learn life lessons, [after reading comics I believe] to be a hero, is to try and make a difference.” Moodie said that she started collecting comic books because her father had introduced her to it. Moodie said that later on it became a fatherdaughter bonding activity. “[My dad and I] always take days off to go to different comic book stores to try and find different gems,” said Moodie. Junior Nathan Carras said that his interest in comic books lies in the buying and selling aspect. The price of comic books can vary but knowing the audience to sell to, sellers can get a good price for the books, according to Carras. “I sell them to my friends for 10 dollars, and I buy about four for 28 dollars,” said Carras. According to Carras, comic book stores will only give sellers a couple dollars for books that are worth more, he said that that’s the reason he started selling them to his friends, and usually ends up with extra money for himself. Moodie and Spencer both attended the Cincinnati Comic-con. Comic-con is a place
for people to be able to dress up and find other people who are interested in the same comic books they are, according to Moodie, also to find other comic books that they are interested in. “[Comic-con] is a really cool experience, you meet some people who are into the same thing you are,” said Moodie. “You also find some collectables, [my dad and I] collect statues and it’s really cool.” Senior Hailey Spencer said that she had just started collecting comic books last school year; she attended comic-con this previous summer and the Ohio anime con. For both attendees have the option to dress up or to just go and browse the comic books, or magazines, according to Spencer. “Comic con is more oriented toward actual comics, anime con is more anime and Japanese stuff,” said Spencer. “Ohio con is actually one of the largest anime conventions in America.” Being a superhero isn’t all about having powers nowadays, according to Spencer. Spencer said nowadays with the rise of technology and other more intelligence based projects comic books are also starting to head to a different no-superpower direction. “With the Avengers you’ve got the rise of Hawkeye,” said Spencer. “Even though he doesn’t have superpowers he’s doing really cool things.” Sophomore Jake Ball said that he got into comic books because he developed an inter-
est for the new comic books the DC comic book company was releasing. There are different companies that make different comics, the two most famous are Marvel and DC comics. Marvel includes heroes like The Avengers and X-Men, DC includes heroes like Superman and Batman. “DC was rebooting all their comic books, they were starting with the first issue,” said Ball. “I hadn’t read them before but i knew what was going on so i thought it’d be a good start to get into them.” Ball said that in the superhero movies based off of comic books, such as the DC movies, they tweak and change things to fit the movies. Also with the coming of the new batman movie, fans of DC comics aren’t sure of their feelings toward the changes, according to Ball. “I like the movies but at the same time I don’t, when they change a lot it’s just very different from the comic books,” said Ball. Comic books are relatable to a wide range of people, according to Moodie and Spencer, they also apply to real life situations and can teach valuable ideas through their story lines. According to Moodie comics take you to a whole other realm of possibilities, and give people a break from the real-life pressures of the world. Moodie said, “I think [that comic books] are a really cool way to wind down and escape the actual world for a little bit.”
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Freaked Out About Driving
“
”
I feel so nervous trying to drive because it’s so dangerous.
While most young drivers can’t wait to get their license, there are others who fear taking the wheel
Katie Rojas | Staff Writer
Acceleration toward red lights. Fifteen miles per hour over speed limits. Blasting tunes and blundering basses. Say hello to the unpredictable actions of unidentified, but entirely typical teenage, Driver. It really is no wonder why senior Gabrielle Honda is afraid of getting her license. Honda said that her fear stems from the unpredictability of the cars on the road, and who is driving them. “Being behind the wheel…I feel so nervous trying to drive because it’s so dangerous,” Honda said. “It really sticks with me, these stories, of when people get hurt…they’re texting and driving, they’re not taking care of themselves, and they’re not caring about the people around them. It just takes a split second for everything to go wrong…I don’t forget about those things.” Sophomore Nathan Baumgardner said he isn’t necessarily afraid of the
other drivers, just the consequences of getting into an accident himself. “I’m afraid of wrecking and causing an accident and being held accountable for it,” Baumgardner said. “I feel responsible owning a car and driving a car, and I want my parents to know that I’m safe out there on the road, [and] that I’m responsible for my actions.” On the other hand, junior Elise Discher said she used to be afraid of driving because she was involved in multiple accidents. “I wasn’t driving personally, but my mom was driving, and we were in two or three car accidents, so I was really scared to get into another one. The car was totaled,” Discher said. According to Honda, people who drive and occasionally “break the rules” think they are just one in a large pool of people who follow rules, when in reality, they are not. “I was in class one time, and I was talking to this other student. He was
talking about how he had gone driving, and how he had gone so fast,” Honda said. “I don’t think people realize. You think you’re the exception to the rule when it comes to texting and driving, speeding, or following the rules of the road. When you think you’re the exception to the rule, you’re actually not. You’re actually the reason why those rules were in place.” Rather than begging to drive on the road as many teenagers do, Baumgardner said that his parents pushed him to start the process. “The first ten times I drove, we were in a parking lot,” Baumgardner said. “I finally got out on the road, but it wasn’t me who asked, it was my parents that told me, ‘We’re going to go driving,’ even though I hadn’t asked to go driving. They were sort of ‘forcing’ me to go driving since I didn’t take the initiative to ask that.” Discher said she remembers how she
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felt the first time driving in the car, and what happened. “The first time I got onto the road, and I started driving, a squirrel just ran out… and I hit it,” Discher said. “I was freaked out of course, and it was disgusting, but my dad was like, ‘Just keep going, it’s just a squirrel.’” According to Honda, because she is unable to drive, she has to know her schedule well. “Mostly my mom drives me around,” Honda said. “I guess the flipside to that is I don’t go a lot of places. There are a lot of times during extracurriculars where I have to be the kind of person who steps back and doesn’t jump in and say, ‘I’m going be there after school every day.’ Part of it is that I just step back and I try to do the most with being here at school. The other part of that is making sure I’m being nice to my mom.” Discher said she overcame her fear of driving in the end when she made a big realization. “[I overcame my fear when] I realized that I was a better driver than my mom, and when I became more confident,” Discher said. “Once I started driving, I didn’t even know why I was scared…I think [driving] is fun. I actually love driving now.” Honda said that she continues to practice driving now in order to motivate and prepare herself for the ultimate test: the driving test. “I’ve set a date [for my license],” Honda said. “I’m going to be eighteen so all of those things are going to come together for me. I know I need to get it as soon as possible and I’ve set my mind into getting it then, so I’m working on getting my hours and I’m still doing loops in Joann’s parking lot when there’s not a whole lot of people there. I guess knowing that I need to get it is what’s going to motivate me.” At the end of the day, Honda said that she, along with all other people who are scared to get their license, must move on with her life even if she struggles with her fear. “I know I need to be able to drive and I know I need to move forward with my life,” Honda said, “But there is so much responsibility with the people in your car and the people around you.”
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photo by Sheila Raghavendran
Mason football players look on as emergency medical personnel attend to the two injured Oak Hills players.
...game and just do the best that we can do and not really worry about anything.” In the past two months, five high school football players have died from sports injuries. Two of these deaths were due to brain injuries. Despite the attention on football and the long term effects of head injuries Mason head coach Brian Castner said that while the risk of an injury is present, coaches choose not to focus on this negative aspect of football. “When something happens like that we try to focus on the positive as much as possible, that they are going to recover, and we’re hoping for good health,” Castner said. Castner said that he teaches players proper technique to limit injuries. “During the season we teach them from day one to the last day of the season how to properly tackle somebody,” Castner said. According to Castner, Jones’ and Beamon’s technique when colliding prevented the injury from being even worse. Oak Hills head coach Dan Scholz said that football equipment is advanced, and while it cannot stop all injuries, it can lessen them. “With technology today, our equipment is state of the art, and incredibly protective,” Scholz said. “Accidents happen. Injuries occur. But if you train very hard in the off season, and during the season you can make your body ready for the physicality of the game, and reduce the amount of potential injuries.” Football players are driven by their passion for the sport, even though an injury could prove catastrophic, according to Stewart. “We play it because we love it, we play it because it’s fun,” Stewart said. “But the reality is that in one second, it all can change and it can be taken away from you.”
Story Update
(As of press time, Monday, September 23, 2:15 p.m.)
According to Oak Hills High School head football coach Dan Scholz, Khiren Beamon and Cary Jones are doing well after Friday night’s collision. The players were transported to the hospital and both were home by early Saturday morning. “We hope our players are able to return this week,” Scholz said. “They have been cleared of any injuries and were taken for precautionary measures to the hospital.”
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MHS REPORT CARD
Blown away by bacteria
Monica Brucher | Staff Writer The Mason City School District’s 2012-2013 Ohio report card was released with Mason earning A’s in all areas with the exception of two B’s. This report card graded on performance index, 4-year graduation rate, 5-year graduation rate, value-added areas, and annual measurable objectives. In spirit of this high achieving report, we surveyed 450 students on how they would grade some perhaps “closer to home” aspects of MHS.
Category
Grade
september 27, 2013 | page 17
Comments
Heating and Cooling
C
“It’s ridiculous how some classrooms are like twenty degrees and the next classroom is on fire.” –Bridget Barnes, senior
Colors and Decoration
B-
“I think the hallway decorations are cool. They are very interesting to look at.” –Morgan Petrocelli, sophomore
Internet Speed
B+
“The internet speed is very slow; it takes a long time to get on my Good Reads page for language arts.” –Sam Owen, freshman
Chair Comfiness
C
“The chairs are really comfy, but if they had padding it would be awesome.” –Caleb Dimerling, senior
Lunch Table Size
B
“At times when it’s just me and [my friend] it’s too big. But generally, they’re probably too small.” –Katarina Schneiderman, sophomore
Hand Dryers
F
“One time I spilled my coffee and there were no paper towels to clean it up. I just left it there.” –Meghan Cook, senior
Hallway Traffic
C-
“I hate when people walk at a glacial pace.” –Brad Satterthwaite, senior
Clock Visibility
B
“Digital [clocks] would be easier.” –Juliana Discher, freshman
Stair Steepness
A-
“We should have escalators [instead of stairs].” –Hannah Than-Win, sophomore
School Smell
B-
“It smells really bad from A2 to Z2 for some reason.” –Sophia Meza, junior
MHS invests in hand dryers to replace paper towels in the bathrooms Gina Deaton | Staff Writer Bazinga! Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory thinks that ha nd dryers are incubators and spewers of ba cteria and pestilence. According to Sheld on, it would be more hygienic if they had a plague-infested gibbon sneeze his hands dry . Sheldon Cooper isn’t the on ly one with this distaste for hand dryers , according to MHS students and teachers , who have thought that the dryers actua lly put more germs on your hands than you just washed off.
Junior Keefer Kaneshiro sa id he doesn’t use the hand dryers for thi s reason. “[The hand dryers] just blo w nasty germs all over you,” Kaneshiro sa id. “I don’t use any of that nasty stuff…I’m a germaphob.” Science teacher Monica Sc hneider said she agreed that hand dryers grossed her out.
“I think that hand dryers are kind of gross,” Schneider said. “Yo u can hear them going and then you can im agine what all those little germs are doing . That kind of grosses me out.” Addressing the germaphobs , Nurse Christa Nichols said she doesn’t thi nk the hand dryers affect the amount of germs on your hands. “I think as long as your hand s are dry, it doesn’t matter which wa y you dry your hands,” Nichols said. “It’s the moisture that’s going to spread the germs.” Whether the hand dryers rea lly are more or less hygienic, Senior Ja mes Gao said we are just going to have to ge t used to them. “I bet we’ll get used to it,” Ga o said. “I’ve been to a couple other scho ols that do the [hand dryer] system and ev eryone there just has to put up with it.”
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“Bad” is good, science teachers admit Breaking Bad helps Science teachers bring their lessons to life Matthew Marvar | Staff Writer
“Breaking Bad” has turned chemistry teacher Walter White into an evil meth manufacturer— and because of this, chemistry students are absolutely fascinated with what they’re learning. Walter White, main character of “Breaking Bad”, lives a normal life as a high school chemistry teacher, with a family and a quaint home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When he finds out he has a few years to live due to stage three lung cancer, he decides to use his extensive skills in chemistry to produce crystal meth in order to insure his family’s financial security when he dies. According to Mason High School chemistry teacher Barb Shuba, “Breaking Bad” can make learning chemistry in the classroom more engaging. “Chemistry is very hard because it really involves things that kids can’t see,” Shuba said. “We talk about atoms, we talk about elements…and we can’t show them that. But I think shows like ‘Breaking Bad’ make science fun.” Senior Quinn McHugh also agrees that “Breaking Bad” makes chemistry more captivating for students. “I think it does add a good level of interesting chemistry because you can see how real-world applications of chemistry and other sciences are,” McHugh said. “Breaking Bad” offers kids a different perspective about science and can give them a foundation for learning about the material, especially to
kids who think that science is boring, according to Mason High School chemistry teacher Cody Kreager. “I don’t know if any teachers use it as a reference because it’s not exactly a good thing, but it kind of gets kids’ minds revolving around chemistry and science,” Kreager said. Kreager says that when students make connections with what they’re studying in science class and what they’re seeing on television, they think more deeply and they have fun. “When I reference some sort of chemical, like hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, they’re like ‘Oh yeah, we heard Walter White decompose some body in that!’, so kids have a foundation of material that they get from that show that they come in and get excited about,” Kreager said. “It’s just making connections between what they’re hearing in the classroom and what they’re hearing in their everyday life. It’s an easier way to remember stuff.” Science can play a huge part in crime and destruction but also for improvement and restoration, according to McHugh. “There’s tons of terrible things that have been engineered out of science, but it’s also got a variety of very good things,” McHugh said. “For example, this building; without science, we wouldn’t be able to have this.” According to Kreager, science is a tool for people to use in order to discover—good and bad.
“The purpose for science is to search for answers. Because you always go into a science experiment with a question,” says Kreager. “What science doesn’t explain are the morals of that person.” Kreager explains that even though there are awful things shaped from science, there are many great things as well. “[Walter White]’s using chemistry for the bad, but there’s also the total opposite,” Kreager said. “For every one bad story, there are about 15 good stories of science and it doing great things for people. It’s a great segue into other topics as well, like prescription drugs, medical uses, the good side.” Shuba clarifies that “Breaking Bad” isn’t just about the drugs, but also about the repercussion of them: how White’s actions influence the people around him and how the show relates to life. “The show is way beyond making meth. It’s all the different twists and turns and how it affects peoples’ lives,” Shuba said. Science is all about problem solving, according to Shuba. In the case of “Breaking Bad”, White gets into trouble many times and has to work his way out of his dilemma. “And that’s life,” Shuba said. “Even though it may be not a good positive message, the actual process [of problem solving] is a mere image of what anyone in their life would do.”
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Bell Zero
Time frame before first bell provides students with “warm up” period
Mason High School students stake out their territory in the minutes prior to the beginning of their first bell classes.
Photo by Sonia Rayka
Katherine Hansen | Associate Editor
Senior Jacki Miller doesn’t do homework at home. “I get all my homework done before first bell and don’t do any the night before,” Miller said. “It’s great.” Senior Jacki Miller goes to Bell Zero. “I get here at 6:20,” Miller said.“I walk down and get let in by a teacher. I’ll sit down in A1 and do my homework.” Because Miller gets here so early and focuses on homework, maintaining her morning territory is of great concern. “It’s a place where I essentially do all my homework,” Miller said. “So I have to be comfortable. I’ll be sitting there for a half hour.” She’s not the only one. According to senior Julia Hendley, getting to school early is important to many students. “I think a lot of people make it a priority to get here early,” Hendley said. “There are a ton of people who are here at 6:45.” And here to claim benches, ac-
cording to Hendley, who’s group had to settle for less in their Bell Zero territory this year. “We always try to go for benches,” Hendley said. “But we’ve got a nice part of the wall in B1 instead. We’ve been sitting there ever since day one.” But getting to school earlier than necessary isn’t just for location, according to Miller. “There is this thing about socializing in the morning,” Miller said. “It’s time to see the people you don’t have classes with. It’s starting your day with people you like, as opposed to people you don’t like. It sets the tone for your day.” According to junior Josh Reddington, being able to rely on that unchanging territory gives him a sense of routine. “It’s nice to never have to worry about where everyone can meet up,” Reddington said. “To just know you have that place. To have that consistency.” Despite the precious minutes of sleep sacrificed, attending Bell Zero
has multiple purposes, according to Hendley. “In the morning you’re really tired,” Hendley said. “But you have these 15-20 minutes, at least, to catch up with friends, maybe do your homework, visit a teacher, or talk to your counselor. You have the time to do that.” Students also have to time to relax, before an intensive day of academics, according to Reddington. “It’s downtime before school starts,” Reddington said. “Time to recollect and talk to people. A warm-up.” But some have already warmedup. According to Miller, she comes to Bell Zero not so much to ease into the day with friends, but rather utilize her morning concentration. “I don’t do a lot of socializing in the morning,” Miller said. “I’m more like, ‘prepare for the day!’. It’s the time I’m the most productive because in the mornings I’ve gotten myself up, I’m showered, I’m dressed, I’m ready. I can concen-
trate.” No matter how the time is used, having a spot to call home can be uncertain, according to Miller, especially with the start of a new school year. “In the beginning of the year, nobody knows what’s going on,” Miller said. “Your lockers change and it’s all very new -- trying to figure out where you’re going to sit. So you just scout it out until you find somewhere.” Even with the intimidating task of asserting territory, having this time before first bell is always beneficial to students, according to Hendley. “It’s always a good thing,” Hendley said. “It’s really just having that time to do anything leisurely. You don’t have to go right to class. You have time.” According to Miller, having that time isn’t just about the sense of leisure, but about the sense of community. “In the morning our school just kind of hangs out,” Miller said. “We are a friendly school that way.”
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STAKING YOUR CLAIM
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[6:54 a.m]
1.
Pick the right floor: “If you’re a senior, you don’t want to go to floor two or three,” Hendley said. “That’s just asking for pain. Seniors should pick somewhere on floor one.”
2.
Pick the right pod: “Go somewhere in the middle,” Hendley said. “A pod or B pod. That way it’s easier to get to your classes when the bell rings.”
3.
Have a big group: “Get a big enough group so it’s not just you by yourself or one other person,” Hendley said. “At least four people.”
Students enjoy the comforts of a coveted bench in Z3.
Photo by Sonia Rayka
[7:02 a.m]
4.
Designate a person to get there first: “You have to depend on the friend that’s there first,” Reddington said. “You have to know that one person can always be there. Someone to secure the spot.”
5.
Be consistent: “Be there everyday so people know,” Reddington said. “People will just know that that’s where you are. Especially as the year goes on. But in the beginning of the year there’s a lot of doubt that you’ll get the spot you want. It can be scary.” IN CASE OF INVASION The Patient Approach: “The best you can do is sit next to them and day by day try to edge them off,” Hendley said.
Photo by Sonia Rayka
Students in A2 claim the margins of the hallway before class.
[7:05 a.m]
Wait and Attack: “If someone took my spot I would just move areas,” Miller said. “The next day I’d try to reclaim it but I’m not going to make a big deal out of it right then.” Make an Ally: “If someone takes your spot you just ignore it,” Reddington said. “But you don’t just let them have it. You go over there and talk to them – sometimes you make new friends that way. You sit around them.”
At the tail end of Bell Zero, students congregate in C1.
Photo by Sonia Rayka
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september 27, 2013
the g R n o i of s i
Elaine Santos runs a tight ship in her choir classroom but when the curtain rises her students are...
Ra
Emily Taylor | Staff writer
T
eaching music was not the only thing Choral Director Elaine Santos had in mind when she decided to pursue a career in education. While Santos has always had a love for music, she said that her desire to help people accomplish their dreams is just as strong. Santos said that teaching was where she felt she could combine these passions and utilize them to make differences in the lives of her students. “I felt a very strong pull towards education,” Santos said. “With teaching I thought, ‘this is where I can combine my passions’.”
photo by Emily Taylor
Elaine Santos directs the Honor's Concert Choir in preparation for their upcoming fall performance.
Junior Holly Stokely, who sings in the Honor’s Concert Choir, said that while Santos’ passion for music is inspiring, it’s her passion for the students that makes her such a great teacher. “You can definitely tell she is passionate about music,” Stokely said. “But even more, she is passionate about us. She calls us her family and that’s what is truly special about her.” Santos has been teaching music classes to high school students for over 20 years now with 14 of those years being at Mason. “I still love it every single bit as much today as I did the first day because those passions are still strong for me,” Santos said. According to Santos, her teaching style is unique compared to that of other music teachers because her goal is not only to teach her students how to sing the music but also to teach them how to read the notes and interpret the meanings behind the text. “The idea is to create literate musicians,” Santos said. “We (learn how to) process poetry, we learn how to read music, and we learn how to read rhythms.”
Santos said that by learning how to sing, read and interpret the music, the students are able to make connections to the music which enables them to perform the songs to the best of their ability. “As musicians, our quest is for perfection,” Santos said. “We know that perfection is unattainable, (but) that’s our quest.” Sophomore Sean Reid, who sings in the Men’s Choir, said that while Santos is both friendly and welcoming, the students know that she isn’t there to mess around. “She’s extremely welcoming when you walk in,” Reid said. “But she definitely wants to get work done. She is very persistent with always getting better.” Although Santos admits that her class does get intense, she said that her primary goal as a teacher is to teach music but then use that music to develop relationships with her students and help them to achieve their dreams. “At the end of the day, that’s the biggest goal for me,” Santos said. “Through music, helping people to achieve their ultimate goals for themselves.”
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Smartphone Envy Students have new excuse to convince parents to buy smartphone Katie Hibner | Staff Writer
Students are giving their parents a new reason why they need a smartphone— schoolwork. Smartphoneless senior Laura Forero said she is considering the persuasion tactic. “I’ve thought about telling my parents that I need a smartphone [for school purposes],” Forero said. “I feel like I’m at a disadvantage in my classes without one.” Forero attributes this to more frequent mobile device use in her classes. Assistant principal William Rice said this occurs because of the new high school policy called “Bring Your Own Device” or BYOD. “We’re encouraging all faculty members to fully embrace all platforms of [students’] technology such as smartphones, iPads, and Netbooks,” Rice said. “We chose to implement it this year because the ninth graders have been doing [BYOD] since they were in
seventh grade.” Although MHS faculty is encouraging the usage of smartphones, they are by no means suggesting that smartphones are a necessity for any MHS student. While Social Studies teacher Joseph Hammond said integrating technology into the classroom can mislead or embarrass students. “When I tell students to research [on their smartphones], they can get misinformation,” Hammond said. “I also wonder if the students who don’t have smartphones feel bad about it.” English teacher Lauren Gentene said she faces a similar problem but with a different device. Gentene was granted a class set of iPads to engage students without smartphones, but she said students unfamiliar with Apple products are still at a disadvantage. “[Students have] a learning curve with the iPads,”
Gentene said. “I mistakenly assume that all kids know how to use [Apple products], but when they don’t they feel embarrassed that everyone else does.” While some are ashamed of their smartphone-less status, senior Johnson Thomas said he and two other friends call themselves “Team Slide-phone,” a group that embraces their lives without smartphones. “Those with smartphones used to be the minority, but now [those without smartphones are] the minority,” Thomas said. “It’s a huge blow to ‘Team Slide-phone’ when we lose a person to ‘Team iPhone.’” According to Thomas, members of “Team iPhone” can be difficult to communicate with. “Last year, I was the only one at my lunch table without an iPhone,” Thomas said. “An app like ‘Angry Birds’
came out and I tried to initiate a conversation but my table was just a whole circle of people [on their iPhones.]” According to Thomas, issues communicating with “Team iPhone” gave him perspective that will prevent him from ever becoming too attached to technology. “Because I’ve been ‘Team Slidephone’ for so long, even if I eventually got [an iPhone] I wouldn’t be on it all the time,” Thomas said. “I have an iTouch but I’m not always Snapchatting when I’m with my friends [in-person.]” Although some Mason students may use technology correctly, Gentene said she believes those in surrounding communities incorrectly assume that Mason students have wealth and therefore smartphones. “Even kids who live in nice homes don’t necessarily have resources to [buy] phones or parents who would let them,” Gentene said. “We need to foster an environment where there’s nothing wrong with not having a smartphone.”
MHS students Johnson Thomas, Valerie Smith, Johnathan Betrams and Mason Bush make use of their cell phones during school
photo by Gabrielle Stichweh
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all in your head
Online brain games claim to improve brain performance Sheila Raghavendran | Online Editor
It’s all in your head. Online brain training sites, such as Lumosity.com, claim to help people “improve your brain performance and live a better life”. But according to Psychologist Intern Martin Dobson, these sites only benefit a select group of people. “For typical young adults, for typical adults, and for typical children it doesn’t do a ton, because those brain functions are already sort of working and they’re working pretty well,” Dobson said. Dobson said that while brain training is not helpful to everyone, people with problems in certain areas can see an enhancement. “With folks that struggle with that to begin with, it can definitely be beneficial,” Dobson said. “For folks that are already starting with a pretty full plate--that already have a lot of these abilities, it doesn’t do a whole lot for them.” Junior Harrison Walsh said that the creative part of his brain is strengthened by working with a Rubik’s Cube. “I think it helps me find new ways to think,” Walsh said. “…Because in school you’re taught…what to think and not how to think.” According to Dobson, most of the successful studies on brain training pertain to narrow subjects known as working memory--like short-term memory and attention span. A sharp working memory helps people pay attention and multi-task, he said. AP Psychology teacher Angie Johnston said that keeping the brain active is the key to a healthy life.
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“Whether [you are] reading a book or looking at Sudoku puzzles…I think it’s definitely good on a daily basis to make sure something is going on in there,” Johnston said. Lumosity emphasizes brain stimulation, and Johnston said the concept is similar to the perks of physical exercise. “It’s almost like if you compare it to other parts of your body where if you go on a run every day your body is going to train well and be more active,” Johnston said. “…And I think that’s probably what they’re trying to say with this is [that] your brain works in the same way: you have to keep it active to keep it at its best.” For people who have limited executive functions--the system that manages cognitive processes such as thinking and understanding--brain training can assist them by compensating in other areas, Dobson said.
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In an interview with The New York Times, Massachusetts Institute of Technology neurologist Earl K. Miller said brain training can transform an older person’s tired brain. “[Research] shows you can take older people who aren’t functioning well and make them cognitively younger through this training,” Miller said. Cogmed, an online program tended to improving attention problems, helps kids with attention deficits and ADHD, according to Dobson. As Cogmed activities reinforce the attention span, Walsh said the Rubik’s Cube helps his organization skills. "It helps me arrange my thoughts a little bit better and know what I need to do and how to get things done,” Walsh said. According to Dobson, brain training does not necessarily improve health. In a British study of about 130 people, Dobson said that some
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people received brain training while others received a different task that gave them a break from work. After six months, the control group had a better well-being than the tested group because they were able to take a break from their days, he said. Johnston said she takes a break from her day by starting with exercise. “I get up every morning, I work out, come to school and I feel like it helps me focus,” Johnston said. “I’m more ready for my day.” Brain training is tailored to taskspecific activities, Dobson said. “If you’re trying to study for an SAT but you’re doing [brain training] instead, it’s probably not the best thing to do,” Dobson said. “But if you’re having problems paying attention in class, this could definitely help. So in the end you want to engage in activities that will help you get where you want to get to.”
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Never-ending
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scavenger hunt
Geocaching grows in popularity with Mason students Lindsay McCalmont | Staff Writer
Every second of everyday there is one big scavenger hunt going on all over the world. It’s called geocaching. According to the official geocaching website, there are 2,209,679 geocaches and over 6 million geocachers worldwide. Geocaching is something that anyone can do as long as they have access to the website or the iPhone application, according to Ethan Valentine. “Online there are Global Positioning System coordinates to a small box or container of some kind usually in the woods or somewhere,” Valentine said. “You get your GPS and put in the coordinates so you can get the general location of where it is and it’s up to you to kind of bushwhack and find where the actual container is and it has cool stuff inside of it… usually.” According to senior Andrew Schwitzgebel the cool things inside of these geocaches are usually random knick knacks. Each geocache usually has a log book in it as well to keep track of everyone that has found it so far. “They will hide like small items in them like Happy Meal toys and [other random collectables],” Schwitzgebel said. “And they will put a piece of paper in there for people to sign their names and the date of when they found it.” Most of the geocaches in Mason are located throughout the woods in Pine Hills Park. Although these geocaches are placed by popular running paths, most people are oblivious to them. According to sophomore Audrey Adkins, she and the cross country team run by geocaches every day and never notice them. “One of my friends showed me while we were running a long run,” Adkins said. “So she comes up to this tree and then you had to look around and find it.
We have no idea that they are there, they are really well hidden.” Geocaching is still fairly unknown in Mason but more students at MHS are considering it as a unique and exciting thing to do with their friends. Although Adkins has never tried geocaching before, after hearing about it from a friend she said that it might be worth a shot. “I think that it would be fun,” Adkins said. “[It’s] something to do on a day when you don’t have something to do because it’s outside and you’re exploring and it would be fun.” According to Valentine, it’s the unique, outdoor placement of geocaches adds to the adventure and makes geocaching so appealing. They are usually placed in hard to reach places such as in hollow trees, holes in the ground, or rock crevices. “I like how it makes you go outside,” Valentine said. “You can go through the woods and stuff and it’s just like a nice way to enjoy nature while you are still trying to find something so there is a point to it as well. You’re not just walking around the woods.” While some people enjoy geocaching for the adventure others do it to leave their mark around the country, according to Schwitzgebel. “A lot of times we will go on vacation and my dad will want to go out and find one to say like ‘Yeah I found a geocache in the Bahamas’ or something,” Schwitzgebel said. “We found a couple in Central Park in New York and that was cool. It’s mostly cool because you have to find new places and it’s like you can leave your mark in places that people don’t know about.”
photo contributed from http://www.geocaching.com/
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Double Photo by Kelly Noriega
CEPEDA SISTERS ARE WREAKING HAVOC ON THE TENNIS COURTS, SEE PAGE 28
Trouble
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Highlight Senior Matt Allgor forces a fumble during the football season opener against Springboro.
Double Trouble
Cepeda sisters serving up trouble on the tennis courts Jimmy Halpin | Staff Writer
Photo by Erin Brush
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The girls’ golf team has won back to back conference titles the past two years. This season’s victory took place at Weatherwax golf course last week.
48
Junior volleyball player Paige Meyer leads the conference with 48 blocks over the course of the season.
145
Junior Scott Purvis was the GMC medalist in boys’ golf scoring a 145 at the conference championship.
15:38.90
Junior cross country runner Nick Grismer placed 13th at the Trinity Valkyrie Invitational with a time of 15:38.90, the fastest time on the boys’ team this season. results as of September 23.
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Williams’s sisters move over, you have some new competition for the best sister duo in tennis. Their competition; Mason High School sisters Isabel and Nina Cepeda who are playing doubles together on the varsity tennis team for the first time. “We haven’t actually played doubles together formally,” Nina said “I mean of course we played with each during practice every now and then. Other than that besides playing together we practice together a lot.” According to Isabel, their relationship with each other gives them an advantage on the court. “I feel like there’s more chemistry because we know each other better,” Isabel said. “You need to like your partner. I think if you have more chemistry you play better.” Nina agreed with her sister and said that a bond with your doubles partner is vital to working well together.
“There have been lots of instances when I played with a person I wasn’t that comfortable around,” Nina said. “If I just don’t know [my partner] that well; I don’t know their game that well.” According to Nina, they still get frustrated with each other on the court, but they know how to let those frustrations go and focus on winning. “Sometimes during points I’ll scrutinize how she is doing in the point itself,” Nina said. “Then after the point, I’ll try to give her tips on how to improve and what she could’ve done because we have to work as a team.” The sisters may be on opposite sides of their high school careers, but according to Nina, they know how important each of their roles is to the team. “I have this slight mindset when I play during matches. When we play, I am an example of how you should play doubles,” Nina said. “I try to play my best so she can improve her game by watching me.”
MVP: Alyssa Sinchek, Water Polo #12 Class: 2014 Favorite Position: Flat Pregame Meal: Pasta Number one fans: My mom and dad Toughest opponent: Upper Arlington Pump up song: “Roar” by Katy Perry Role Model: Rebecca Soni What I’ll miss the most: My team Best thing about water polo: Away tournaments with my team Worst thing about water polo: Morning practices Most embarassing moment: Passing to the wrong team in a game Common misconception about water polo: Some people actually think it’s played on a horse Photo Contributed
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Just Kickin’ It Junior “Suters” up for two teams
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Senior led soccer team welcomes pressure that comes with success
Thomas Suter sheds shin guards for helmet on Friday nights Madison Krell | Staff Writer Thomas Suter is the new Bo Jackson of Mason. While Bo may know football, Suter knows kicking and it didn’t take long for head football coach Brian Castner to notice. In the beginning of August, head soccer coach Paul Reedy told Suter that he had recommended him to kick for the football team. “As a junior he has one of the stronger legs on the team, I thought he would be a good fit,” Reedy said. “We took Thomas out to kick a few balls, and I think that’s all that it took for Coach Castner to see that he had potential,” According to varsity football coach Brian Castner, be“We took ing a soccer player he already has all Thomas out to kick a few balls, of the muscles necessary to be a good and I think that’s football kicker. all that it took for “We still have to practice (with Coach Suter), don’t get Castner to see me wrong,” Castthat he had ner said. “As a two sport guy, being a potential.” star on the soccer team as a defender is his number one priority.” Twice a week, Suter goes from soccer practice straight over to football practice on their specialized team’s days. According to Suter, the time commitment and pressure during the games took some time to adjust to. “Playing Friday nights is a bit nerve racking,” Suter said. “But once you get past that first kickoff, it feels a lot better—just being out there having everyone watching.” Reedy said the best thing about Suter’s football career is the potential for improvement. “He’s only a junior, so he’s going to get better,” Reedy said. “Thomas, at least on kickoffs, has emerged as the guy they’re looking to have kickoff every time And next year, who knows.”
Photo by Emily Taylor
Josh Grant and Sam Conkright go in for the ball in the Comets’ shutout victory over Princeton. Erin Brush | Sports Editor
They’re back. With a strong and experienced senior class to lead the way, the boys’ soccer team has returned stronger than ever according to senior captain Josh Grant. “Honestly I think we’re better than last year,” Grant said. “Last year was the first time we made it to the semis in the state tournament so we broke that record. This year we want to push it further.” According to Grant, the Comets are already aiming for the postseason and their goal is clear: to win the state title. “Our expectation is always to win state,” Grant said. “We ended the season last year earlier than we wanted to last year. The seniors that are returning have that bad taste in their mouths. We want to get back.” With ten starting seniors this year, seniority is a major factor to the team’s success according to senior captain Jack Clark. “Our seniors are really strong this year,” Clark said. “Most of us have been playing together since we were eight years old. Even as freshmen we thought we could win state. I think we’ll win the conference again and make it just as far as last year if not winning the state final this year.” According to Clark, the team is already highly ranked on a state and national level.
“We definitely look at [rankings],” Clark said. “They boost our confidence but we don’t look at them as something to be cocky about. There are a lot of good teams that could beat us. Anybody could beat anyone on a given day.” According to senior forward Sam Conkright, one of the keys this year has been the depth of their bench. “Our team dynamic is different than last year,” Conkright said. “We have ten seniors starting, but we’re a deep team. There’s a lot of leadership out on the field.” Clark said that the younger players have also added a lot to the team atmosphere. “We have some really good underclassmen that have moved up,” Clark said. “This is one of the years that we’ve had the most depth on our team. Our coach feels he can put anybody in at any time and get the same production.” Grant said that there’s an added pressure for his team to perform. “This year we’re expected to be good,” Grant said. “There’s pressure on us not to lose and to make it far this year. But I think it just motivates us.” According to Conkright, going far this season will mean that the Comets will have to perform beyond their expectations. “Last year’s team set the bar pretty high,” Conkright said. “Basically our mindset is that every game we’re looking to win. Anything to win, anything for the team.”
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Backseat Blues
Would-be varsity athletes forced to take a seat on the bench Will Leathers | Staff Writer 5:1. That’s the ratio of all Mason high school athletes to actual starters. This number spells out an uncomfortable reality for many Comet athletes who are now being forced into the backseat after starting and starring their entire careers. Players once accustomed to being indispensable to their teams now face the reality of being replaceable. Senior goalie Kelsey Harris is one such person. After starting her entire soccer career up until high school, she has been forced to take the backup role for 4 years. While she does get playing time, Harris said it’s typically for the final minutes of the game. “When we’re in a tournament they’ll put me in if we’re up by a decent amount,” Harris said. “But I think it looks bad if I go in for like the last two minutes of the game. It looks like I’m horrible.”
Head coach Andrew Schur said that it’s tough walking the line between giving a backup playing time without looking like it was given out of pity. “I think you have to talk with them openly about, you know [if] I’m putting you in for 15 minutes at the end of a game that seems like it’s under control, well this is your 15 minutes of opportunity to prove to yourself and prove to the coaches that you deserve more [time] than you’re getting,” Schur said. Another problem facing these starters-turned-backups is the agitation of knowing that they would be the stars of other programs around the area. In no sport is this clearer than in cross-country. In a sport based solely off of time, it’s easy for runners to know exactly where they would stand were they at another school. Senior Jesse Zhan knows this all too well. At the conference championships last year, Zahn’s open race time would’ve made him the second man for Colerain and third for Sycamore. But at Mason, Zhan may not even make the varsity squad. He is one of eight runners with P.R.s within ten seconds of each other who are vying for spots four through seven on the team. Zhan said that he has entertained the thought of running in a higher spot at another school, but that being a part of a winning program is more important than his personal goals. “I would much rather be on this team…there’s a lot of potential to win state,” Zhan said. “Being a part of a good team as opposed to being good individually is a lot more fulfilling.”
Photo by Emily Taylor
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