The Chronicle, 5.6

WILLIAM MASON HIGH SCHOOL

FEATURES

Growing up a hockey fan in a non-hockey town

What it really means to be the Valedictorian

In SPORTS page 7 > >

PLUS: A conversation with Black Hole founder Lucas Long

Volume 5 Issue 6

MARCH 31, 2008

Construction causing major traffic hold ups Story on page 3 > >

NEWS

The price of AP Exams goes up Story on Page 4 > >

Fitness centers packed with high schoolers looking to tone up See Page 15 >>

WHAT’S

inside

Story on page 21 > >

The beginning of the

END

STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES CHANGE UPON RETURN FROM BREAK

center SPREAD

Students are under attack as Nerf Wars rage in Mason

photo by Shea Davidson, Patrick Lipka

The return from Spring Break is usually marked by a distinct attitude change by students as they begin to see the end in sight.

Story on page 2 > >

The Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason-Montgomery Road Mason, Ohio 45040

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404

The number of students taking AP Exams in May.

Story on page 4> >

In SPORTS: Softball team prepares for upcoming season

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March 31, 2008

School’s Out ...almost

but everyone knows that many high school students view their return from Spring Break as an early indication that their school year is over.

By JACKIE SWOYER Associate Editor

The soon to be

The soon to be

The soon to be

The soon to be

FRESHMAN

SOPHOMORE

JUNIOR

SENIOR

“I don’t want to be a freshman anymore.”

“I’m looking forward to being an upperclassman.”

“You can almost taste summer. It’s right there.”

Coming back from a relaxing Spring Break spent hanging out with her friends for the final stretch of her sophomore year, Sara Yawit said that schoolwork is the last thing on her mind.

"After Spring Break, everyone is over school and Sara Yawit just ready to go on summer break," Yawit said. "It's just two more months."

Yawit said the anticipation of summer is harder to bare at this point in the school year than any other time.

“It’s harder [now] because you know you’re right there, ready to be done,” Yawit said. “At the beginning of the year you still have the whole year ahead of you, [so you’re not as concerned with summer].”

While the promise of summer freedom is one source of Yawit's lack of focus, another source comes from the promise of being an upperclassman in the fall. With just one trimester left as an underclassman, Yawit said she is excited for the transition.

"I'm looking forward to being an upperclassman because I'm tired of all the upperclassmen this year using the 'you're an underclassman' excuse," Yawit said. "I think it's getting old."

Yawit said she is particularly excited to be an upperclassman because of all the added privileges. Apart from earning the title, upperclassmen are allowed to take early dismissals, participate in the Powderpuff football game, and attend both Prom and AfterProm.

"I'm excited to do all the upperclassmen [activities]," Yawit said.

Because she will no longer be an underclassman, Yawit said she is also eager to look back on next year's sophomore class and reminisce on this year.

"I really want to see what the freshmen this year will be like as sophomores, and see how they'll act towards the new freshmen," Yawit said.

In regards to Yawit's last few weeks of the trimester, she said that her ultimate motivation is the knowledge that good times are ahead.

"What gets me through these last couple weeks of school is knowing that I've accomplished freshman and sophomore year, and that there is the freedom of summer and being an upperclassman right in front of me," Yawit said.

With the illusion of being the senior on campus on its way to becoming a reality, juniors are beginning to take on the role.

Junior Aaron Brodie said that even though he isn't a senior, he is starting to feel the symptoms of senioritis, especially after coming back from Spring Break. "[Right now] is when you realize that [high school] is almost over," Brodie said. "That senioritis starts Aaron Brodie kicking in because you start thinking about how you are going to do things for the last time."

Most seniors tend to schedule easy classes for their last trimesters of high school, but this is also seen for juniors who find their focuses plagued by the upcoming senior year.

Brodie said he is lucky to have an easy schedule for this trimester.

"I have a lot of electives [this trimester]," Brodie said. "Electives are better [this time of year] because there is not as much homework, and you're there because you want to be."

Brodie also said he realizes that this need for ease at the end of the year is much more appreciated by today's seniors.

"Seniors have it ten times worse because they are just one step away from their senior summer," Brodie said. "They are really doing things for the last time."

Even though he is a junior, the prospect of looking forward to being a senior and then moving on into the real world is enough to keep Brodie focused on schoolwork. He said he can't wait until summer vacation.

"You can almost taste summer [right now]," Brodie said. "It's right there."

As for the last few weeks of school, Brodie said he knows it's important that he doesn't completely lose his focus.

"I'm not as motivated as I was at the beginning of the year, but the best thing is to just stay as focused as you can, even if it's hard," Brodie said.

“I’m excited for high school.”

For an eighth grader, the time left in school following Spring Break symbolizes the transition from middle school to high school.

Ian Howard One particular aspect of the high school that eighth grader Ian Howard said he looks forward to is that MHS is not structured based on clusters or teams.

"I'm excited to leave the middle school because you don't have teams," Howard said.

The transition from being surrounded by the same team of students and teachers in a given day to the many wings and pods of the high school could be intimidating to some upcoming freshmen; but Howard said he thinks he'll like the high school's layout better.

"I think the systems of how everything's run will be better at the high school," Howard said.

Furthermore, Howard said he is ready for the chance to have more freedom in school.

"I'm looking forward to the good lunches, that we don't have homerooms, [we'll have] way more freedom, and that [we won't] be on an exact schedule," Howard said.

Coming into the high school, the fourteen-year-old freshmen are at the bottom of the pack, and Howard said he thinks the ages of some of the bigger students will be one of the biggest differences compared to the middle school.

"I don't think [high school] will be that much different than the middle school, [except that] people there are way older," Howard said.

Despite the age differences of the students, Howard said that he is not worried about being a small freshman at the bottom of the food chain of older kids.

"I don't feel like there's that much of a food chain," Howard said. "It's not like we'll be alone even if we are picked on - there will be a whole grade of us."

With just two months left of school, Howard said he is ready to end the year with upcoming activities for eighth graders, including a team talent show, a field day, and a trip to Pine Hill Park. After that, Howard said he is ready for the future.

"I [am] ready for summer and excited for high school," Howard said.

At this point in the school year, most freshmen would say they are familiar with their surroundings in the high school - they know how to make their ways through the different pods without getting lost. Still, most freshmen can't wait until the end of the school year when they can officially call themselves sophomores.

As freshmen are the youngest students in the high school, and can often feel overwhelmed by upperclassmen, freshman Josh Anthony said he Josh Anthony is ready for this school year to end so that he can leave his freshman days behind at MHS. "I want to get the rest of the year over with, and not be a freshman anymore," Anthony said. "Since you're in a school with three grades higher than you, you just feel young and little as a freshman."

Sophomores may still be considered underclassmen, but Anthony said the slight distinctions between the grades will make a difference to him because he knows he won't be a freshman anymore. "[Being a sophomore] won't be much different, except your classes will be harder, [but] I can't think of any reason why anyone would want to stay a freshman," Anthony said.

With most freshmen under the same mentality, Anthony said he agrees that students are going to be unfocused during the third trimester.

"People come back from Spring Break and they just don't care," Anthony said. "I really don't want to work anymore either."

The third trimester offers promise for the future of freshmen everywhere, especially with the current seniors graduating.

Anthony said that even though he isn't sad to say goodbye to the immature seniors who have poked fun at freshmen throughout the year, he knows that everyone has had to go through the experience of being a freshman.

"The seniors had to go through [being] freshmen, so they have the right to [poke fun]," Anthony said.

The soon to be GRADUATE

“Seniors are over the whole ‘high school’ thing.”

This time following Spring Break is proving to be difficult for most seniors, who know what their future plans hold and are ready to finish off high school Erin Hammeran with fun memories with friends.

Senior Erin Hammeran said that at this point in the school year, her mind is set on enjoying the rest of the year's activities.

"My mind is not focused on school right now," Hammeran said. "It's more so that I'm trying to focus on other things -- like Prom, Powderpuff, and graduation."

Hammeran said she thinks most seniors feel the same way.

"A lot of people have the same sort of attitude," Hammeran said. "The seniors are over the whole 'high school' thing, and they just want to make these last few weeks memorable."

While she could have graduated through early completion at the end of last trimester, senior Allison Geiger said that she stayed in school for the third trimester so that she could spend time with her friends.

"I don't have any [academic] classes," Geiger said. "At this point I'm just showing up to see my friends. I'm tired of waking up early every day, but you only go to high school once."

Geiger said that she planned her easy third trimester schedule back in freshman year.

"I took continuous in a lot of my classes, and I worked hard all through high school so that I could have this opportunity," Geiger said.

Hammeran approached her third trimester schedule in the same way.

With one academic math class, three electives and an early dismissal, she said that she deserved to end high school with a relaxed schedule.

"My schedule is not that strenuous," Hammeran said. "I worked hard for the first two trimesters and I knew I would be burned out, so I took easier classes to finish the year."

As far as the underclassman attitude toward senioritis, Hammeran said it is best for them to stay focused until senior year.

"Senior year is something everyone looks forward to," Hammeran said.

"Everyone has to just wait their turn, because their time will come."

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March 31, 2008

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Speaker gives first hand account of genocide in Darfur

By SHEA DAVIDSON Editor With the Janjaweed militia group currently gunning down thousands of civilians in Darfur, refugees have started escaping through Egypt into Israel. Speaker Elisheva Milikowsky came to Mason High School from Israel to tell students about the genocide currently going on, and what they can do to help.

"It's hard to think that something like this can happen in this day and time," Milikowsky said. "It has been going on since 2003.

Currently up to 400,000 people have been killed in Darfur, and 2.5 million people have been displaced."

To put this into perspective Amnesty International President and senior Ashley Bruehl compared the deaths of Darfur genocide victims to people at MHS. "If you take every student at MHS and put them in a room and times that number by 150 then that is how many people have died so far in Darfur," Bruehl said.

Milikowsky, a 25 year old student in Israel who is training to become a social worker, has seen the oppression in Darfur first hand, and is dedicated to helping the refugees who have escaped Darfur to Israel through Egypt.

"Israel has no policies when it comes to refugees so they are put in jail," Milikowsky said. "Refugees started coming to Israel even though they knew they would be put in jail because being put in jail was better than Sudan or Egypt. Our goal is to help get them get out [of jail], and give them the most independent lives we can by finding them jobs and places to stay."

With about 6,000 refugees currently in Israel from Darfur or from other places in Sudan Milikowsky stresses the important role the United States could have in stopping the genocide.

"The United States can put more international pressure on Sudan," Milikowsky said. "The US has a lot of power to help by putting pressure on their government. They can also put pressure on China since China supports Darfur, because they have billions of dollars invested in Sudanese oil."

Bruel also shared ways that students here at MHS can help make a difference for the people in Darfur.

"We have one dollar wristbands students can buy at lunch as well as a donation box," Bruel said. "We have petitions and letters for students to sign. Students can write to their congressman, or president, they can keep Darfur in

mind when they choose who their going to vote for in the upcoming election, protest the Olympics in Beijing, China or donate to the various charities for Darfur.

By watching the video and listening to the speaker Bruehl said she thinks people responded well to what they heard.

"From the amount of people who came to the booth after watching the video and listing to the speaker, and donated and asked questions I would say there was a very good reaction," Bruehl said. "I think the speaker and the video helped bring a personal feel especially since the speaker's dealt with refugees first hand."

Senior Sarah Pagenstecher said that after listening to the speaker she is more inspired to go to more events to educate herself on the Darfur genocide.

"I felt so ignorant that I hadn't heard about it before, and it really made me want to make a difference," Pagenstecher said. "I think the biggest difference I can make is telling people what is going on and educating them, signing petitions, and going to the Greater Cincinnati Voices for Darfur."

After viewing the video and listening to the speaker senior Veronica Kopaygorodsky said that she was inspired to help first hand like the speaker Elisheva Milikowsky.

"I reacted more to the video, but the speaker was inspirational and made me want to go to Israel to help the refugees," Kopaygorodsky said. "It really inspired me and showed that I really can make a difference."

Kopaygorodsky said she understands the importance of taking action and feels that students should follow through with helping.

"Educating others is the biggest thing because when you educate people is when there is going to be change," Kopaygorodsky said. It is also important not just saying you're going to do something, but actually going and doing it. Once you've done something you can feel the gratification for it, but until then it's all talk."

Bruehl thinks another way students can help the cause is to go to more events and listen to speakers with fist hand knowledge. "[Students] can join Amnesty International because we go to events like two different Voices for Darfur events," Bruehl said. "Also, attending The Freedom Center, The Holocaust Center and Greater Cincinnati Advocates for Darfur since all of these places are constantly having speakers and events to help promote, educate and help the people in Darfur. We are the future leaders of the world we need to stand up and take action, we need to help."

Student traffic issues force Mason police to intervene

By MANDY CHIARA Staff Writer

photo by Shea Davidson

Traffic backs up on Mason-Montgomery Road at 2:20 p.m. as students head for home after school.

Mason High School students force the Mason Police Department to take action when they park illegally on Lakeside Drive in the residential neighborhood across from Mason High School.

Mason Police Department Traffic Unit Supervisor Sergeant Scott Doughman said citations and warnings have been issued to prompt students to discontinue parking in that area. Doughman said that the Police Department is left with no other choice when students blatantly park in a fire lane or in front of "no parking" signs.

"The road was recently marked with temporary 'no parking' signs [that] are becoming permanent signs," Doughman said.

Doughman said he believes that carpooling could prevent the situation, and might be financially wise for students due to the current gas prices.

"There's no reason to get a citation when it's easily avoidable," Doughman said. "If you know parking is limited, everybody has friends that drive through the same neighborhoods, [and] gas prices are $3.50 a gallon." Driving together would reduce the number of cars in the parking lots and ultimately eliminate the need for people to find parking spaces in prohibited areas.

Senior Sidney White said she believes the parking issue will diminish as the weather improves and students either begin to walk to school, or accept the walk from their car to the building.

"It'll be nice out soon, and it'll be better to walk,"

White said.

Distance proves the only difference according to Doughman, who has not seen any uncommon traffic due to MHS construction and parking.

Doughman said that the police "monitor the traffic flow to ensure that it doesn't start to cause problems" but that current high school traffic has not been any different than pre-construction traffic. No adjustments have been made to the traffic lights according to Doughman.

"You can't put that many cars on MasonMontgomery Road so quickly," Doughman said. But the reason that high school students get into car accidents is not because of traffic; the police have assured distance crashes are due to rushing either before or after school.

White avoids parking problems by coming to school early, and leaving after the after-school rush.

"I think that as long as people pay attention in the parking lot, there should not be any trouble," White said, "getting up a little early is not that bad."

White currently parks in the upper lot, but says she understands how drivers get frustrated and park in prohibited areas.

Doughman said that beating the traffic by coming to school early is a good way to reduce incidents that may occur on the way to school.

"If people just wake up a few minutes early and take their time, they'll find the parking spot, they won't be rushed, they won't be making hasty decisions on where to put their vehicle, and they'll reduce problems," Doughman said.

Stugo running into difficulties housing delegates for upcoming conference

By ALYSSA HOWARD Staff Writer The Mason High School Housing Committee for the Ohio Association of Student Councils' 55th Annual State Conference continues to seek Mason families to host participants from around Ohio.

Student Government is seeking hosts for roughly 700 delegates, but has a minimum goal of accommodating 500 students at the conference set for April 24 through 26. As of March 11, hosts had confirmed housing of about 415 students, leaving Mason short of lodgings for 85 participants.

To host delegates for the event, a family must attend one of three meetings April 3-5, provide breakfast, snacks, transportation for the delegates to and from the school and have a designated sleeping area for each student.

Any family choosing to provide housing for the delegates must house two students, but

may host more.

Senior Gwen Timmons, a Stugo housing committee chairperson, said she thinks that hosting will be a positive experience for Mason families.

"We really, really need housing," Timmons said. "It's a lot of fun. All of the delegates that come are really excited to be there and they're role models at their school."

Timmons, who has attended two previous student council state conferences, said that she has heard different reasons for hosting delegates.

"I talked to a woman that said she had hosted students when she was young," Timmons said. "She still remembers those kids‌and she [is hosting] to be able to help her son meet other high school kids."

Senior Tessa Xuan said that she could identify with this motivation for accommodating participating students as well as wanting to go to the dance hosted by Stugo for delegates

and MHS students hosting.

"I thought it was a good chance to get to know more people, and also, I'd get to go to the dance," Xuan said.

Despite these benefits of housing, Timmons also said that she has heard a variety of explanations as to why students couldn't host conference delegates.

"Some people think that their houses are too small," Timmons said. "Some have to work so they wouldn't be able to transport [students]; some people just aren't very comfortable letting [people they don't know] in their houses."

Sophomore Stugo member Prathima Cheeti said that she will not be hosting due to scheduling reasons, and partially due to the format of her house.

"I can't house people because my mom is most likely not going to be in town that weekend‌and my dad works all day; he leaves early in the morning and doesn't come

back until very late at night," Cheeti said.

"The timing doesn't work for us."

Despite her family's inability to host for the conference, Cheeti said she feels that the conference will be a beneficial experience for the whole community.

"It's really a big thing for the City of Mason because that's a lot of people to be here for businesses and restaurants," Cheeti said. "If they like it they'll probably come back [because] we have Kings Island."

Timmons said that if the minimum amounts of hosts aren't found, delegates from other schools will be turned away from participation in the conference this year at Mason.

Xuan said she feels that this is part of her incentive for hosting.

"Put yourself in their shoes," Xuan said.

"They really want to come to this. And if you don't host, that's three more people they have to turn away‌It's pretty easy, and it could even be fun."

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March 31, 2008

Students forced to adjust when faced with teacher absence

By RACHEL SCHOWALTER Staff Writer Junior Namratha Sandella had been looking forward to taking AP Composition with teacher Lori Roth ever since she had signed up for the class during her sophomore year.

Unfortunately, because Roth will be on maternity leave in April, Sandella will not get that full opportunity.

Sandella said that she was excited for the class because Roth seemed like such a "fun and likeable person." She also said that AP Composition would be useful for college and an overall good class to take.

"I signed up for AP [Composition] because I felt it would really help with my writing, and get me prepared for the SAT/ACT, English class and college essays," Sandella said. "I also felt it would be a pretty fun class to take, especially because Mrs. Roth teaches it."

Sandella said that she is most worried about having a long-term substitute teacher and preparing for the AP exam in May, which is shortly after the time Roth is leaving.

"My biggest concern with Mrs. Roth leaving

us this trimester is the AP Exam in May," Sandella said. "I am hoping that Roth will get us prepared, which I'm sure she will, before that day comes."

After Roth leaves, Sandella said that she will be missing a big part of the class because Roth is "so great."

"Although no one can ever replace Mrs. Roth, I have high hopes with whatever substitute we get," Sandella said. "I'm sure we will all be ready for the AP exam this year."

Assistant Principal David Hyatt hires permanent substitutes for teachers with leaves of absence, and said that hiring substitutes for AP teachers poses difficulty.

"It's a huge challenge for us to find that teacher, because we think we have some of the best teachers anywhere currently in this building already teaching,� Hyatt said. “To replace an AP teacher, it has to take it to that next level, and makes the challenge, again, even that much greater."

According to Hyatt, the administration looks through different names of substitutes provided by the human resources office. They also "network" to other schools that have used longterm subs, and look at retired teachers that have

taught AP before.

"Normally, we do a lot of talking with the teacher that's going to be leaving, with other assistant principals, and with curriculum leaders as far as what we're looking for that class," Hyatt said. "Obviously the first and foremost thing is that we need to find someone that has knowledge in that area. The second thing is that we try to find someone that is similar in teaching styles so it's not a big transition with students, and that's a challenge."

Hyatt said the students at MHS handle the transition from one teacher to another in a "mature fashion," and deal with it very well.

"We're really asking a lot of our students and the long-term sub in that transition period, and it takes a little bit to get used to that," Hyatt said. "It's a tremendous challenge for long-term subs, it really is. We do a pretty good job with that, and I think the ones that we've hired this year are doing a really good job, and it's one of those things we have to deal with."

Melissa Jurewicz, MHS's only German teacher, is preparing for maternity leave this trimester. Based on her maternity leave a few years ago, Jurewicz remains positive that her students will be "left in good hands" with the

permanent substitute.

"The first time that I left, things went extremely smoothly," Jurewicz said. "The teacher, if she ever had any questions, was welcome to call me or email me at home, which she did on a couple of occasions. She was very familiar with the textbook, and all of my notes, [and] lesson plans and worksheets [were] left for her, so she didn't have to do a whole lot of preparation on her own."

According to Jurewicz, the substitute gave variety and differences to the classroom that the students enjoyed.

"Even to this day the kids can refer to her and they speak highly of having had her as a sub," Jurewicz said.

Jurewicz said that if her students every have any questions during her maternity leave, they can email her and she will get back to them as soon as possible. Jurewicz doesn't have "many concerns," and is confident in the substitute the administration has chosen.

"At some point you have to put some trust into the substitute that they know what they're doing," Jurewicz said. "With my experience they have, and it's been great."

Taking Advanced Placement exams can be costly

By NINA BRESSAU Staff Writer The high cost of AP exams leads many students to reconsider taking the challenging college-level classes.

The cost to take an AP exam has increased to 84 dollars per test for Mason students. For many students, multiple tests add up to a large sum, which could influence their decisions of whether or not to take the exams.

According to Jennifer Topiel, executive director in communications for College Board, the College Board is a notfor-profit organization and the collected fees go directly in the AP Program's ongoing development and operations.

"Much of the costs of administering the AP Program are driven by the tremendously expensive scoring of the exams, which explains why AP Exams cost more [than] the SAT and PSAT/NMSQT tests," Topiel said.

Although College Board's Advanced Placement Program offers students with financial need a lower price for the exam and free lunch, one test would still be priced at 54 dollars.

According to guidance counselor Linda Kummer, the pricing plays an important role to many students.

"There is an issue and because we're in Mason, not everyone recognizes the financial aspect of it," Kummer said, "This year the number [of students taking the exam] has gone down a lot."

Senior Melissa Alkiewicz took two AP exams as a junior and will be taking five more this year.

"I want college credit," Alkiewicz said. "I don't want to get stuck in classes in college and relearn everything. I want to be ahead."

The five exams total an amount of 420 dollars, not including the two she took last year. However, Alkiewicz said that she will be actually saving money in the long run.

"It is expensive, but it's nothing compared to college tuition," said Alkiewicz. "I don't think [the price] is justified, because the school of my best friend pays for [their AP exams]."

The price of the test is not always the only cost that applies. In order to succeed on the exam, and thus earn college credit, AP Review books are often very helpful in and outside of class. The 5 Steps to a 5 series is available in eleven subjects and costs about nineteen dollars a piece.

Lower-priced review books start at eleven dollars, while The Princeton Review series costs twenty-five dollars, sometimes with a CD included.

According to guidance counselor Marty Zack, some schools pay for the AP exams because there may be more students with financial needs.

"We're one of the wealthiest school districts," Zack said, "Most of our kids can afford it. If there is an issue, I pay for [the exam]."

Zack said that MHS does not pay for all the exams because it would cost about fifty thousand dollars. photo by Kristen Yawit "We don't pay for college either," Zack said, "Wouldn't that be about the same?"

AP American History teacher Darin Little uses class time to help students review for the AP Exam in May.

Advisors have to complete mountains of paper work for trips

By SAMANTHA STULEN Staff Writer Clubs and extracurricular groups at Mason High School have to face a lot of paperwork and policies when it comes to taking both instate and out of state trips.

Social Studies teacher Steve Prescott could not attend the Regional Mock Trial Competition on February 22, a snow day, due to a Mason City School district policy against advisor attendance at competitions during school cancellations.

"The administration basically [said I] couldn't go to a morning competition when there was no school," Prescott said.

Prescott could not go as a staff member because his presence would have made it an official Mason event, violating the policy.

"If the students got there on their own [they] could go, but I as the advisor could not go because then it would make it an official Mason event even though we didn't have school," Prescott said.

The advisor was restricted in his participation of this event through paperwork.

For all outside-of-school activities at Mason, students have to sign numerous permission forms. The Mock Trial participants were not required to fill them out because it was not con-

sidered an official school event.

"There was no paperwork involved in [the Regional Competition] because it would have been parents just taking their kids," Prescott said. "But on a regular basis, when we do scrimmages, each student has to sign an acknowledgement form that basically says there isn't Mason transportation provided by the schools, and that they're getting in [other] people's cars."

Outdoor Club's advisor Language Arts teacher Kyle Warren also said he has to go through a long process of filing paperwork for his numerous out-of-state trips.

The Outdoor Club typically goes on five to seven trips a year, and most take the group out of Ohio. The next trip is to the Mammoth Caves in Kentucky on the weekend of Saturday, April 5.

A new, separate form is required for out-ofstate trips.

"There's another new form the board required," Warren said. "It's the extracurricular, out-of-state, overnight trip form which has to be approved by the fine arts council, someone in the district, by the board [and] by the principal."

Many steps go into filling out the form, including directions, lodging for students, payment and transportation.

"Especially for out of state trips there has to be some sort of educational value attached to the trip," Warren said. "What are the students going to learn besides just having fun? For example, the next trip for the Outdoor Club is going to be in Mammoth Caves in Kentucky.

One of the things we focus on is the educational value of that trip: going to the Mammoth Caves park system, exploring all the different tours, what you can learn about the area geographically, about the rock formations, about what they actually teach you on the tour. So there's an educational component to it."

Language Arts teacher and Speech and Debate coach Melissa Donahue also has to deal with the push of paperwork for her students to be able to go to their tournaments. "[The students] get the one page signed and they turn it in and don't have to worry about it after that," Donahue said. "At times, I feel more like the secretary of the club, having to maintain all of the paperwork."

Donahue said that she has to collect permission slips every time students need to get on a bus or participate in a Speech and Debate tournament. If a student does forget to bring in a signed form, the consequences are severe.

There have been some incidents this year and years previous where students were unable to attend because they forgot a slip or form.

"Sometimes I've literally had to leave [the student] on the curb when the bus is pulling away knowing that the parent is going to have to pick them up and drive separately," Donahue said. "Or sometimes we've had to make other arrangements at the last second, where other parents that are judging for us who are going on the trip, but are driving in their own cars, will have to drive the student. The student will have to get a separate transportation form filled out and have that signed."

Prescott, Warren and Donahue said that it is important for the safety of the students to have forms filled out and on record in compliance with district policies, even if it can be a hassle.

Prescott said he does agree with the strict regulations when it comes to letting students get on buses and go to places outside of Mason.

"I think the administration is well within its rights to have parents sign for their kids," Prescott said. "I think it's important for parents to realize that there is risk involved in going [on a trip] for such a long time."

Warren said that the new out-of-state form encompasses all components of trips taken by school-affiliated organizations.

"It's a standardized form for going on an outof-state trip," Warren said. "[When] you're taking students [on a trip] this is the form."

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March 31, 2008 STAFF POLICY

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Soundbytes

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

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

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As an open forum for students, letters to the editor are welcome, but are subject to be edited for length, libel, obscentiy, clarity and poor taste. Letters to the editor may be dropped off in room C110 and must be signed.

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CONTACT INFORMATION The Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Rd. Mason, Ohio 45040 398-5025 THE CHRONICLE STAFF E DITOR Shea Davidson A SSOCIATE E DITOR Jackie Swoyer S PORTS E DITOR Drew Allen D ISTRIBUTION / C IRCULATION M ANAGER Kirsten McCafferty B USINESS M ANAGER Amanda Miller T ECHNICAL AND G RAPHIC Patrick Lipka S TAFF W RITERS Nina Bressau Rachel Brockhage Mandy Chiara Ellen Duffer Duncan Fischley Nisha Giridharan Alyssa Howard Megan Roehm Rachel Schowalter Samantha Stulen Jeremy Powers Spencer Webb Kristen Yawit A DVISER Mr. Dale Conner

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Do you feel any pressure from school or at home to get A's?

“I get it from home, especially from my dad. He pressures me to do well because you have to get A's in high school to go to the college you want to go to, have a good career and live a long and fruitful life.”

Drew Reed Junior

“No, my parents are happy if I get B's or C's, they just don't want me to get F's.

This is my first year [in Mason]. At my old school they were worse [about grades].”

Megan Macke Senior

“Not really.

My parents don't really care, but I prefer not to get anything below a B.” Heidi Palmer Freshman

"Yes, because I get compared to my other siblings a lot."

Sam Mizener Sophomore

“Yes, from my parents.

They want my GPA to be really good so I can get scholarships for college.”

Jen Beckman Senior

"Yeah, I feel like I have to get A's because my parents say they're disappointed in me if I don't."

Katie Jurman Junior

"Yes, because my parents expect straight A's."

Alec Prusinski Junior

"No, because as long as I don't have C's or D's it's all good."

Siera Barrett Freshman

staff editorial Give the poor guy a break The Chronicle doesn’t always like to use this editorial space to preach or tell you how to act, or even how to think, because we all know you’re going to do, think, or say whatever you want. Especially if what you say will illicit the response that best fits your way of thinking.

But today The Chronicle editorial takes the stance of cutting a guy a break. Assistant Principal Tim Keeton has been begging students for weeks to park in their assigned spaces.

Everyone is tired of hearing it. But what else is he supposed to do?

Construction has taken away hundreds of spaces and Keeton has done everything within reason to accommodate those who want to drive to school. He’s even taken steps to provide a shuttle bus in some areas so students can still drive to school and be shuttled to the front door.

However, people are still complaining about their parking spot. This is going to be the state of affairs for another year. Construction is going to be continuing throughout next school year and drivers are going to just have to deal with it. At least you can drive to school.

Many schools in the area limit those who can drive to school. Some schools only allow seniors and juniors to drive to school or follow some sort of rotation plan, but Keeton has maintained that this is something he is trying to avoid.

So give the guy a break, park where you’re supposed to park, stop complaining so much, and if you have to walk a little further then consider the alternative. Pack up your book bag and stand on the side of the street and wait for the big that big yellow bird to stop and pick you up.

column Senioritis can be contagious Senioritis: it's a "disease" that guidance counselors hate, it's a "disease" that is widely covered by respectable news organizations, like The Enquirer or Time, it's a "disease" that has generally been limited to the

By Rachel Brockhage senior class . . .

Staff Writer until now.

Seniors have mostly finished their fight through all of the tough stuff: turning in applications, waiting for acceptance letters and are basically ready to coast through the rest of the year. Do they deserve their simple schedules? Guidance counselors, wary of the ways of college admissions officials, would argue no. Any burnt-out senior would argue, yes.

But here's a big question in everyone's mind: why are juniors suddenly catching it? Juniors, I myself being one, have worked hard (or at least somehow got through) for 12 years, from kindergarten to where we are now. We must ask ourselves, why make it an unlucky 13? We think it's time to cut out early; we start to real-

ize we've clocked in our fair share of hours.

When we do somehow find the motivation to work hard, its more for trying to figure out how we can take an early dismissal on top of a study hall, than working hard on our calc homework, due in a couple of bells.

It's really not that juniors are becoming lazy.

We have more responsibilities than what we've typically had with general academics and athletics: jobs, cars, college planning, to name a few. Of course, when we realize we haven't been doing as much as we should, like reviewing for the ACT or planning a few more college visits, we can naturally stress out, risking the early onset of Senioritis.

But how serious is this general lack of motivation-in light of Mason's graduation/college acceptance rates? Well, there's the tough argument that a light course load senior year, and junior year, especially, will not prepare students for what they will be required to take in college. No one wants to waste time and money on remedial courses, once there.

Of course, no one wants to stress. I guess the decision is ours-easy now, harder then, harder now: not-so-much harder then. Sure, juniors know there's always a light at the end of the tunnel . . . then again, it could be a train coming the other way.

-Compiled by Mandy Chiara

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SPORTS COVER STORY

Red Wings, Flyers, Bruins, Blues...Who’s that?

Growing up a hockey fan in a town that could care less As more people move into Mason from areas where hockey is more popular than baseball, football, and college basketball many hockey fans find it hard to follow their teams

By DUNCAN FISCHLEY Staff Writer There are Zamboni’s fixing the rink, loud shouts all around, you booing at the refs and guys on the ice attempting to knock the teeth out of each others mouths. These are a few things that create many hockey fans in the much northern areas of the country. But here in Cincinnati fans say it is hard to get people interested in this thrilling and rough sport. Even with fanbases for the Bengals, Reds and college basketball more prevalent in the Cincinnati area, a few students and teachers say there is still something about ice hockey that makes them go wild.

Sophomore Shane Carmichael is one of those students. He said he is in love with his Pittsburg Penguins. Though Carmichael never lived in Pittsburgh, he said he developed his love for the Penguins from his parents.

"My dad took me to hockey games and hockey lessons when I was three,” Carmichael said. “My grandpa, my dad and me are huge fans."

Hockey is different from most other contact sports. Players are whizzing around all over the ice shooting a small puck into a net. They crash into the walls and into themselves, picking fights with other players. According to junior Justin Avery that is what makes ice hockey so unique.

"It is one of the most exciting sports to play and to watch," Avery said.

Numbers show that the problem with being a hockey fan in the Cincinnati area is exposure. Last year the attendance at Paul Brown stadium was on average 65,983 people per game, and The Great American Ballpark averaged 26,351 people per game. But the minor league Cincinnati Cyclones, who have had a fifteen game winning streak since January 13, have an average attendance of 3,758 people per game.

"I think that it is because people in this area haven't really gotten a chance to play hockey or watch it that much,” Avery said. “It hasn't really developed into a huge sport yet. In Michigan and Canada [playing hockey] is all there really is to do because it is too cold in the winter to play football."

High school teacher Arlene Borock said she is an avid Philadelphia Flyers fan. She said she thinks that people in Cincinnati would rather see a National Hockey League team.

"It is because the Cyclones aren't a NHL team, they are in the [East Coast Hockey League,] " Borock said. If [hockey fans] want to see an NHL team they have to go all the way up to Columbus.”

Hockey fans here in Cincinnati aren't that common, and those in the area who are fans have migrated away from the team that they love. Some have had parents who took their passions for the sport and passed it on to their child. Others may have different reasons for their desire for the game.

"I got hooked onto hockey by an ex-husband in 96," Borock said. "He was from Pittsburg and he brought his love of hockey with him. I am just one of those people who loves sports, and once I got into hockey I couldn't let

go. The action, the fights, the ice; it is addicting."

When more and more fans from other places where hockey is more popular move down here, the amount of hockey fans may go up. As people convince others to come and watch ice hockey players brawl it on the ice, others may become addicted to the rush.

"I have lived here for five years and the amount of people that go to the Cyclone games is growing," Avery said. "[Howeve]. football just keeps overshadowing it."

Some hockey fans also play the sport, strapping up their blades and grabbing their hockey sticks and battling it out on the ice. They challenge their own physical skills in hopes to win, and model the players they follow.

"I have been playing hockey since I was three, [when] my dad started me off with skating lessons," Carmichael said. "Now I play for the Jr. Cyclones team here in Cincinnati. It is different than most sports [because] you are constantly moving, and it is a full contact sport."

With their teams so far away from them, fans have to find another way to watch their teams lose their teeth over the puck.

Whether it is spending money on gas or shelling out for Pay-PerView, money is still required for them to shout and yell for their team.

"I moved from Michigan, so it is kind of hard to go and watch the [Detroit Red Wings] in person," Avery said. "I have to pay to get the hockey channel, and even then they are not always on the TV. I try to go to a Cyclone game every week, but that usually ends up being every other week."

Borock said she shares similair views with Avery about the disadvantage of being so far away from the hockey team she loves.

"It is the toughest part of being a hockey fan here in Cincinnati," Borock said. "I can't always go to their games. And if I want to see it in person I have to drive to go see them."

When they are at the games, passion runs through their bodies as they cheer on their favorite teams. Rooting, shouting, banging on the Plexiglas; hockey fans have a burning feeling when near the ice. It is a tradition at the Cyclone games that the fans boo at the refs when they enter the rink. Hockey fans flock to the nearest rink in hopes of a good fight.

"I am a very passionate hockey fan,” Borock said. “My room is covered with the Philadelphia Flyer's stuff, [and] when I go to a hockey game I want the seats down near the ice, because I want the players to be able to hear what I am saying."

Whether they are watching their favorite team on the Hockey channel or if they are spending a hundred dollars on gas to see their team duke it out, hockey fans will find a way to come out and cheer on their teams, no matter where they are right now or where they were from. Avery said it is still difficult to attract hockey fans.

“It is hard to get other people excited about hockey they just don't seem to care about it enough,” Avery said. “But it doesn't matter I like it that is all that matters really.”

Photo credit: Florida Panthers goalie Craig Anderson keeps his eye on the puck as he stops a shot by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, Thursday, March 6, 2008. The Panthers defeated the Penguin 5-2.

(Joe Rimkus Jr./Miami Herald/MCT) Cover photo credit: Philadelphia Flyers' Riley Cote fights Tampa Bay Lightning's Andre Roy at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday March 6, 2008. (Jerry Lodriguss/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT)

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Getting to Know...Brad Langford For the common Mason High School student, swimming is usually a relaxing part of a hot summer day. For Brad Langford, a MHS senior, swimming is a lot more than just a summer activity, it's a lifestyle that is an important aspect to his future. The soon-to-be University of Cincinnati swimmer holds four Mason High School swimming records, which include two individual racing records and two relay records. Brad has brought determination to the natatorium this winter and is ready to let his name be known during the state swimming meets. In this month's Getting to Know, The Chronicle spent time with Brad to get an understanding of his mind and see what is really behind the swimmer with the bleached, green hair.

C C hronicle

onversation

Lucas Long

Black Hole Founding Father When did your idea for the Black Hole originate?

We were kicking around the idea for the Black Hole since last year. We always wanted to do it and be the best student section in the city. The actual Black Hole concept came up when myself and Pete Noxsel were talking about the idea in the Comet Zone.

Did you ever spend any of your own money on a Black Hole activity?

Definitely. I would say in total I spent around 50 dollars. I took a lot of trips to Party City and I bought a lot of newspapers. We also had weekly meetings at Larosa's.

As one of the Founding Fathers of the Black Hole, what was your favorite cheer?

I liked the Frisbee because myself and Kyle Raffle founded that. Along with surfing before the game, I think the game time stuff and the personal things were well embraced.

What game do you think was pivotal for the Black Hole's respect?

I would say the game at Lakota West was the most pivotal. When we had 350 kids at an away game, which doubled the population of the home side. No other schools in the city do that; not Moeller, not St. Xavier, and not Elder.

Do you think organizing the Black Hole will help you in future endeavors?

I would say so. Just the stuff I learned about networking and working with other people is a good experience. I also gained confidence for the promotional work I did.

Did you honestly think the Black Hole could be what it ended up to be?

At the beginning of the year our original goal was to be bigger than Eric Silverman's Dog Pound. Throughout the season we ended up setting three different attendance records.

What does a swimmer like you think about while under the water?

I think about what I need to do to beat person the next to me. I also think about my turns and my breathing patterns. You have to be focused, but when you take your breath, you can sometimes see or get the feeling that you're winning.

What does it take for a swimmer's talent to jump to the Olympic type level?

It really depends on your pesonal talent level. If you look at Michael Phelps, he has a lot of natural talent. Plus, you have to put the time in the pool.

Do you think your swimming abilities would be where they are today without Mason's swimming program playing the role it did?

Mason High School swimming has really helped me to have something to look forward to during the school day. The longest race is the 500 so it makes it a lot more competitive. It has given me a competitive edge.

Also training with new swimmers and morning practices is something you don't see in club swimming.

What is something that non-swimming athletes lack, but swimmers have?

What do you hope to get out of your up-coming collegiate career at Cincinnati?

A swimmer has to realize that [they] only have one chance at a certain race. A basketball player or football player can fail at a play but have a chance to redeem themselves on the next play.

Freshman year I hope to make it to the Big East conference meet.

Through my other years I hope to make it to the NCAA meets. I'll have to work harder because you need to scout your opponents in college and find a way to beat them. You never stop working hard when it comes to the next level.

Are you self-concious at all about your swimming attire?

I've [swam] for so long that I don't really think about it anymore. People think it's weird when I really don't care about it. People joke with me about wearing a speedo if I criticize them about something in their sport, but I just say [it's] whatever to people who joke about speedos.

- As told to Jeremy Powers

What do you have over all the other swimmers that makes you excel at the 100 and 200 yard freestyle?

My height really does help me in a race. The dedication I have really makes a difference too. I wouldn't say I have much more advantage over anyone else in either event as a whole though. Its really my determination to finish a race that helps me touch the wall first.

We all know your love for swimming, but what would you say is the worst thing about your sport?

When you wake up for morning practice and the next thing you know you're in the pool. You know you don't want to be there, but swimming teaches you so much dedication that you realize you have to be in the pool in order to be successful.

What’s up with that?

What’s up with The College Basketball Invitational? College baseketball has had the traditional NIT/NCAA tournament format for decades, yet the CBI shows up in 2008 looking for the scraps of tournament teams.

Whats up with that?

The COMET CULTURE Grid Favorite Dessert

Brett Favre is...

I’d never...

Titanic

Peaches n’ cream

The best quarterback ever

Play Lacrosse

August Rush

Cheesecake

#4

SARA RYE SR., SOFTBALL

Crash

Ice Cream

Hot

JUSTIN MAHONEY SR., LACROSSE

The Notebook

Strawberry Cobbler

Old

HOW DO THE COMETS FIT IN?

ALEX SMITH SR., BASEBALL

RACHEL WEBER SR., TRACK

Last Movie that made you cry.

see Lord of the Rings

Who’s your national champion?

Kansas

Duke

Is the Black Hole in good hands for years to come?

I think so. Patrick Koman and Taylor Craig will do all that they can. Also we have support from basketball players like Jordan Barnes which always helps.

Compiled by Jeremy Powers

Root for anyone outside the SEC

Play baseball

Arkansas

UNC

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Inexperienced Comets prepare for GMC test One starter returns from squad that recorded 25 wins in ‘07

By JEREMY POWERS Staff Writer

photo by Jeremy Powers

Senior shortstop Brian Apking works on hitting fundamentals during a recent indoor proactice. Apking is the only returning starter from last year’s 25-3 team.

With several big-name players gone, the Mason Comet baseball team will have to rely on the little things in order to attempt to match last season's success.

"The coaching staff thinks the details are going to be important this season," Assistant Varsity Coach Curt Bly said. "The little things win and lose games. We're replacing a lot of guys from last year so we will be focusing on the fundamentals."

The new Comets will be taking the field this spring after recording one of the best seasons in school history last year.

Mason was 25-3 and ranked as high as number two in the state before bowing out in the post season tournament.

The Comets have a whole new list of tasks in front of them this season. First and foremost will be the challenge of the Greater Miami Conference where they’ll go up against numerous strong teams including last year's state champion Lakota West.

Add to that a tough non conference schedule which includes the likes of Moeller and St. Xavier.

"I think we need to come in with a mindset that we are going to be successful," Bly said. "We need to be ready to compete and if we do that we will be successful."

According to Bly, the key players this season are still up in the air. Senior short stop Bryan Apking is the only returning starter

according to Bly. Last season Apking posted a .380 batting average to go along with 8 steals.

"Everything having to do with starters is up in the air right now, but Bryan Apking is our only returning starter," Bly said.

"We have a good group of seniors that played last year, but everything is still trying to be figured out."

The pitching rotation for the Comets isn’t set but according to Bly there are several players in the mix. "We have a lot of arms this season," Bly said.

"We graduated our top pitchers last year and at this point we have a lot of guys in the mix."

With the cold, stormy winter lasting longer than expected the team has had to remain indoors for their season preparation.

"We have been inside doing a lot of teamwork and fundamentals," Bly said. "We have been mixing a lot of throwing with team batting in our inside batting cages."

High school baseball critics aren’t giving the Comets much of a chance this season, especially after losing so many talented players from the 2007 season, but Bly is confident that the program will continue to stay strong.

"We graduated a lot of seniors last year so the consensus is we are going to be a little down," Bly said. "Even though we are down from last year people will not take us lightly. People around the city really respect Coach Gray's program. "

Track team hungry for state title Castner’s crew looks to build on Experience will be the key for Comet team Final Four run from last season

By DREW ALLEN Sports Editor After last seasons disappointing 28th place finish at the state tournament, the women’s track team is hungry for this year. A four year drought has transpired since their last title, and pieces seem in place to make another run at the state championship. The Affatato team returns nine state qualifiers, including every member of the 4x800 meter relay, which finished seventh at state.

“Our finish last year was disappointing, but understandable because of our youth.” Head coach Tony Affatato said. “We had some disappointments at regionals which affected us the next week at state. But this year with our experience and our big schedule, we’ll be ahead of the game.”

With nine of last year’s 11 state qualifiers returning, the Comets appear to be poised to improve their finish. Sprinters Rachel Weber and Stephanie Bohanon and hurdlers Rachel Harley and Erin Milner will anchor the sprint team. Several runners such as Stephanie Chaney and Emily Staresinic will also help in the distance events.

“We do return a lot of (state) qualifiers, but there’s a lot of other people coming back,” Affatato said. “We return nine of them, but we also return eight of our regional qualifiers, so we have 17 people back from last years team that have regional, district or state experience.”

Despite the myriad of returning experience, Affatato also expects newcomers to perform

well in both distance and sprint events. Several freshmen and sophomores are looking for a starting spot.

“In sprints, freshmen Chelsea Vanhook, Sarah Hunter and Brittany Betts should help us out,” Affatato said. “In distance events, new faces that will help us are Alyssa Ross and Brenna Hallum.”

While the team does return several members from last year’s team, they also lost senior shot putter Catherine Earl. Earl finished third at state and set a school record in the shot put, however, Affatato does not believe that the field events will be lacking this year.

“In our field events, we bring back state qualifer Tiwa Akomolede, Kiersten Wones in the pole vault, regional qualifier Sam Templeton in shot put and state qualifier Lindsey Ossim in Discus,” Affatato said.

“Ossim placed ninth at state last year. And Carmen Bizarri, sister of the Angela Bizarri, should also help us in the long jump.”

Besides the state meet, Affatato is also looking forward to their first season in the Greater Miami Conference. The Comet’s have claimed five straight conference titles, and have no intention on ending that streak in their new division. While Mason has routinely placed ahead of GMC teams the past few seasons, GMC veteran Colerain has dominated the conference for nearly the last decade. No team since Middletown’s repeat championship in 1999 has another team besides Colerain claimed a GMC title.

“In the GMC it’ll be us, Oak Hills, Colerain and Princeton,” Affatato said. “I feel good because we’ve faced these teams a lot over the past few years, but no one since Colerain has won it in [eight] years. I think we stand atop the conference, but it’ll be a dogfight.”

By DUNCAN FISCHLEY Staff Writer Softball coach Brian Castner’s teams seem to always turn it on at the right time. Last season the team caught fire in the state tournament and made it all the way to the state’s final four.

However, as the team prepares to battle in the Greater Miami Conference, the team hopes to overcome some large losses to graduation to get off to a fast start this spring.

With every new year the loss of seniors affects high school teams. Six of the players from last year were lost and now Castner is looking for players from all classes to fill those varsity spots, a task which has been difficult.

"This year has been the most competitive I have ever seen for the varsity position,” Castner said.

Because of their success last year, it would be normal for them to experience pressure from the school and themselves to better this year. However, Castner does not forsee an issue.

"I don't think that the coaches are feeling it and I don't feel as if the girls are feeling it at all,” Castner said.

After dominating the FAVC during Castner’s tenure, now the focus turns to a much tougher GMC schedule.

"Our expectations are always high, going into the GMC will be tough, there are some really great teams in that league. Either the GMC is either gonna smack you in the face or you're going to smack it,” Castner said.

As always, Castner has been putting the team through some intense off-season and preseason work outs to prepare for the season.

These workouts have proved to be very successful in the past.

Senior third baseman and Ashland

University bound Katie Wills has been participating in intense offseason workouts with the rest of the team.

“For two months we’ve been doing intense weight training and conditioning for an hour and a half, four days a week,” Wills said.

Castner believes the off-season training will pay off on the field this spring.

"If we stay on the course in everything that we do and we can go hard for two and a half hours, we can get the things done that need to be done,” Castner said.

The ever-important team chemistry is also a key to both past and future sucesses.

“Our team chemistry is wonderful,” Wills said. “It may be weird for a girls team, but there’s no drama. I think that’s why we got so far last year.”

Even though several starters have graduated, Wills does not forsee an issue with experience.

“The only thing that is different [this year] is we’re reloading but not rebuilding,” Wills said.

“We’ll miss the seniors, but we’ll come back twice as strong. We’re just going to take it one game at a time though, because a lot of GMC teams are mad we made it to state last year.”

While the team has the title of a state fianl four team, they’re not overconfident with their status.

“It gives us more confidence, but we don’t want to dwell on it because it’s a new team, year and conference,” Wills said. “Last year was great, but it’s a new season now. We have more competition than we’ve ever had.”

Despite having to fill some huge shoes that were vacated by graduation, Castner remains optimistic about his team’s chances this season. "I know that this sounds like coaching jargon, but after what we did last year anything can happen,” Castner said.

Former Comet wrestler finishes junior year season as three time All-American After coming up short at national tournament Center seeks national title next season

By DREW ALLEN Sports Editor While many wrestlers don’t continue their careers to wrestle in college, even fewer maintain the same level of success that they had in high school. An even smaller number continue to Center improve once they begin their college career.

However, University of the Cumberlands wrestler and former Mason wrestler Dustin Center has continued to acheive a high level of success in college. He finished fourth at the

Following a trend National Association for Where is it?

Intercollegiate Athletics he set his redshirt College: University of the freshman season, national championship, his Cumberlands third time acheiving AllCenter advanced to Location: Williamsburg, Kentucky American status. He was the NAIA national Affiliation: National Association of also named to the Allchampionship in Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) American first team.

Sioux City, Iowa.

Center won his first Since his first year on the UC varsity lineup, he has improved his placing three matches to advance to the quarterfinals of at the national championship. In his freshman the tournament. His bid for his elusive first year he was an honorable mention with an national title, however, was cut short by Byron eighth place finish, and in his junior year he Kuylen of Montana-State University Northern. acheived first team honors by placing sixth. All He then won three more consecutive matches to wrestlers who place sixth or higher at the advance to the third place match, where he national championship are named Allagain wreslted Kuylen. Center ended losing the Americans, while seventh and eighth place are match and claimed fourth, his highest ever finawarded the title of honorable mention. ish at the NAIA national championship. He was

one of 10 national qualifiers and two AllAmericans this season for UC. WIth his placement, he became UC’s 54th All-American.

With eligibility remaining for next season, Dustin is expected to make the national finals for the first time. He was only two matches away this year.

Center graduated from Mason in 2004. He was a three time state qualifier during his career at Mason and is second all time on the Mason wins list with 116. After his senior year, he finished in both the top five his junior and senior season for most wins in a season. Upon graduation, he was Mason’s alltime wins leader, and has only since been surpassed by 2006 graduate Brain Porter.

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A THLETE

S TATS

OF THE

M ONTH

2008

J OSH K LINE

H EAVYWEIGHT STATE CHAMPION

V ARSITY W RESTLING

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Neighborhood game has turned friends into enemies in an all out civil nerf war

By SHEA DAVIDSON Editor With nerf guns in hand students at Mason High School are memorizing their classmates’ schedules, making spreadsheets of players’ information and stalking opponents before and after school, looking to make a "kill".

With an 800 dollar cash prize for the winning team girls are seen around Mason wearing stained extra large t-shirts and boys in pink sleeveless shirts cut off at the chest in order to render themselves "invisible" to fellow players.

A game started in Mason by Juniors Patrick Koman and Derrick Cox has turned into a phenomenon that has students obsessed with getting a "kill" or shooting opposing teams, and has even gained some unwanted attention from the Mason police.

Senior Tara Buesking, a participant in the nerf wars, said that it has turned into more than just a game, and has even caused paranoia in everyday activity.

"It's become really intense and almost like an extra curricular or a lifestyle," Buesking said.

"I've never been so scared to workout. Last night when I worked out I wore my stained shirt, which was embarrassing.

You get paranoid at every car that goes by -you never know what car the other team's in because they could be in their parent's car."

Nerf war participant senior Brittany Taylor said that some people take the game more seriously than others.

"People take this way out of control, but my team's definitely taking it out of control," Taylor said. "We go to the extreme measures to shoot people, and we don't care what time it is. We just go and try to shoot people."

Buesking said that there are multiple reasons students may be taking the nerf wars so seriously.

"There are a couple of teams that are really into it," Buesking said. "I don't know if it's because of the 800 dollar prize or if it’s personal. If you’re playing a team you don't like you’re more inclined to beat them, but our groups just out there to have fun."

With 800 dollars for the winning players, teams are coming up with creative tactics in order to win each week.

"I hid inside the office where you clock in at Sweet Sensations, and Tabby and Christina were waiting outside, but she had her shirt on so I didn't get her," Taylor said.

Taylor said that with the intensity of game rising chasing opponents in hot pursuit has not become uncommon.

"We followed someone home from school and then she turned around," Taylor "There was no way we were going to let her go back to the school because that's the safe zone so I jumped out of the car on MasonMontgomery Road opened her car door and shot her."

Buesking said that now that nerf wars are going on most people choose to "stalk" their opponents hoping to ambush them and make a "kill".

"We went out one night because one girl was supposed to be coming home from cheer practice and we stood out waiting at her house in the snow for an hour," Buesking said. "The team we played last week all lived in the same neighborhood. I felt like I lived in the neighborhood all week, and we didn't even know these girls we were playing, but we have spreadsheets of information like what cars they drive or who they’re dating. Some people get pictures of people on Facebook."

According to one of the creators of the nerf wars Patrick Koman a warning

"Anytime you create a situation where someone simulates or gets people to think that a dangerous situation is real then you could get in trouble," Nelson said.

"With people yelling 'shooting' and 'guns' it could induce panic. [Players] should be smart and do it at home and not in public where it could easily be mistaken."

Officer Nelson said that so far there have been calls made to the police station involving guns and shooting which have turned out to only be the nerf war.

"A lot of people have called in and complained," Nelson said. "Last week there was a call at a bus stop [because] someone yelled 'shoot' and pulled out their nerf guns. Someone got scared and called the police and that ended up being nerf wars."

Buesking said that she can see that some of the tactics students are using to shoot each other could induce panic in the community.

"If I just saw a car sitting outside my house then I would be scared," Buesking said. "It is inducing panic if you're just sitting outside of a house. It can make neighbors nervous."

Buesking said that she even felt awkward about running with her team into a store to shoot an opponent.

"I felt weird when my team ran into Kohl's because we knew a girl was in there," Buesking said. "If I saw five girls running in to Kohl's with those guns and shoot someone with them when they came out of the fitting room then I would be like 'what is going on?'"

Taylor said that people should realize that students are just playing a game and that no actual harm is intended.

"People don't see it as a game and as something that's threatening even though its not," Taylor said. "It's just a game."

was issued to participants about police involvement after he was searched and frisked by the police.

"I was sitting outside Sunspot Tanning behind a pole, waiting to shoot Natalie," Koman said. "I had my nerf gun in my pants and a lady walked by and looked at me funny then she got into her car and called the police. We were still waiting for Natalie when a cop car pulled up and a police officer got out and told us all to get our hands up and he searched and frisked us. He told us that if he saw anyone else out with nerf guns they would get in arrested for inducing panic."

Koman said the police officer let him go without confiscating his nerf gun but warned him that it could have been mistaken as a real gun and to keep the nerf wars out of public places.

"The police officer told us that if it were a black handled nerf gun his gun would have been in my face and to try to stay out of public places because he would arrest us," Koman said.

According to school resource officer Troy Nelson nerf wars are an activity that could easily be mistaken for an actual dangerous situation, and the maximum sentence for inducing panic would include six months in jail and a $1000 fine.

photo by Shea Davidson

"I've never been so scared to workout. Last night when I worked out I wore my stained shirt, which was embarrassing. You get paranoid at every car that goes by -- you never know what car the other team's in because they could be in their parent's car."

Senior Tara Buesking

Brittany Taylor aims in on her opponents hoping to make a “kill.” .

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What you’ll find on page...

Addicted to working out With the sudden rise in fitness centers in Mason, students are working out more and joining the workout craze

15 fiftee

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n

Students who have become addicted to working out, and the latest trends in fitness.

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seve nteen What’s in a name?

Students endure endless mispronunciations.

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photo by Megan Roehm

The real difference between American and International schools.

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What the title of valedictorian means after high school.

Working out becomes routine for MHS students

By MEGAN ROEHM Staff Writer Whether it's getting a job at a fitness center, working out for sports and activities, or just doing it because it feels good, high school students have jumped into the trend of getting fit, giving local fitness centers more business.

Senior Erin Flannery said she has been working out for a long time, a lot of it being for lacrosse conditioning.

She has been working at a local gym for about a year and a half, but Flannery said the free membership isn't the only reason she works out there.

"Sometimes I just have to push myself to work out so I can stay in shape for lacrosse, but it really makes me feel good about myself after I do it," Flannery said.

During lacrosse season, Flannery works out with the team during the week, but also keeps up with it on weekends and over the summer.

Senior Melanie White also started working out to stay in shape for sports, but said she decided to maintain a fit-

ness regime for herself, on her own time.

"I started working out with the track team, but I decided to keep it up," White said. "I feel better about myself when I am in shape."

White said she thinks of exercising as more of a hobby.

"I usually try to make it to the gym five days a week," White said. "It is really just a hobby because I enjoy doing it, but I can go days without it."

Senior Rosalyn Ballato said she has always been active and athletic, but she started working out a lot more since she got a job at Lifetime Fitness.

"I work out for about two hours everyday," Ballato said.

Ballato said she considers working out both a hobby and a bit of an addiction.

"I would consider it an addiction because when I am working, I see people working out and I just want to be working out as well," Ballato said.

"But it's a hobby because I look forward to doing it and I enjoy it."

Ballato said she works out because it

makes her feel good and she likes the results of working out and keeping in shape.

Membership statistics at Body Masters however, do not show the rising fitness trend at Mason High School.

According to Body Masters employee Amy Hershey, only about 10 percent of their members are high school students.

"We mostly just see high school students that are athletes conditioning for an upcoming sports season," Hershey said.

Hershey said that even the high school students that work at the gym and have a free membership don't take advantage of those privileges.

With spring and summer on the way, some students are continuing to work out and stay in shape, while others are not following this fitness trend.

"We have not noticed any kind of increase in the number of high school students even though spring is coming," Hershey said. "We really just see the same students that have been working out all year."

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uh . . . m m m u . . .

Kriz w... o n . . . m m m u . .. .? . . e e k s . . . m umm ?

Chrzanowski

I hope I didn’t just butcher that kid’s name!

Teachers and students struggle to pronouce difficult names

By ELLEN DUFFER Staff Writer

Duffer y Ellen photo b

Imagine your teacher taking attendance at your first class of the new trimester. Immediately you think of how interesting it will be to hear the teacher, unfamiliar with the students, try to pronounce the inevitable batch of unpronounceable last names.

Honors Geometry teacher Amy Forsythe said that she sees students with last names that are difficult to pronounce in every class that she teaches.

"On the first day, I go through all of the names," Forsythe said. "If I don't know at all how to pronounce it, I just say, 'Tell me your name,' and let them do it first."

After Forsythe learns how to say the students' names, she makes sure that she will continue to correctly articulate them by jotting down pronunciation instructions.

"If it's not obvious to me how to pronounce it [from the spelling], I'll write it phonetically on my seating chart."

Sophomore Srichandhana Rajamouli said that she has one of those oft-mispronounced names. Her long first name is derived from the Hindu Goddess Saraswati and the word "chandhana", meaning "sandalwood", in which Saraswati bathed.

Rajamouli said she first realized that her name was difficult to pronounce early in her primary education.

"The first day of first grade, my teacher was like, 'Do you have any nicknames that I can call you?'" Rajamouli said. "I [could] tell I [was] going to have this [problem] through school."

With 21 letters and eight syllables, Rajamouli said that her full name is difficult to pronounce for students and teachers alike. However, after she corrects those who mispronounce it, they usually get it right.

"They're always conscious and always asking me [if they are saying it right]," Rajamouli said. "Some of my friends emphasize it [incorrectly], but that's about it."

Sophomore Alex Chernyakhovsky said he has the same problem with his last name, originating from the Ukraine.

Chernyakhovsky said that he has never heard someone correctly say his name from the start.

"No one has ever pronounced it perfectly on the first

David Chrzanowski Day-vid · Kriz-uh-now-skee

Veronica Kopaygorodsky Ver-on-ik-uh · Koh-pay-gor-od-skee

Geometry teacher Amy Forsythe attempts to call out difficult names from her student roster.

try," Chernyakhovsky said. "There are people who have gotten extremely close, but never perfect."

Senior Veronica Kopaygorodsky said that she lets teachers try to say her long last name, despite the fact that they don't usually pronounce it satisfactorily.

"Most of [the teachers] butcher it, but I do [let them try to pronounce my name]," Kopaygorodsky said. "Most of them give up, though."

Chernyakhovsky has heard a variety of incorrect pronunciations, so he tries to ease their attempts by telling them his first name.

"Every teacher has [his or her] own different way [of saying my name]," Chernyakhovsky said. "Usually, I tell them [to] just call me Alex."

Because her name has been mispronounced for so long, Rajamouli acquired the nickname "Sri".

"Even [between] all my friends, no one could say 'Srichandhana," Rajamouli said. "They'd just be like, 'Can I call you Sri?' I didn't think of it, [but] I stuck to it."

Kopaygorodsky decided to reduce her long last name to its first couple of syllables for her Facebook username, simply to make it more effortless.

"I put 'Kopay' [on my Facebook]," Kopaygorodsky said.

"It's just easier for me."

Even though her name doesn't often get spoken correctly, Kopaygorodsky doesn't get angered by those who mispronounce it: they'll eventually come across the appropriate pronunciation. "[Mispronunciation] is not really that big of an issue," Kopaygorodsky said. "I just correct [people] or they'll say it until they say it right."

Rajamouli said that she is not irked by the common butchering of her name, because people have been mispronouncing it for over ten years.

"It doesn't really bother me," Rajamouli said. "I'm kind of used to it, so I just help [people] say it."

Chernyakhovsky said he is also unaffected by people incorrectly pronouncing his last name because it has happened so often.

"I'm used to it," Chernyakhovsky said. "It's probably been mispronounced at least 20,000 times."

Alex Chernyakhovsky A-lex · Cher-nuh-hoff-skee

Srichandhana Rajamouli Shree-chahn-dahn-ah · Rah-ja-moo-lee

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International Living

What makes American and International lifestyles so different?

By JACKIE SWOYER Associate Editor

Language When current junior Rachel Lambert moved from Mason to Germany in late 2004, she didn't expect that her lifestyle would change as much as it did. Yet after over three years of living as an expatriate, or someone who lives in a foreign country, Lambert has seen the differences between American and International life firsthand.

One difficulty that arises for expatriate families is the language adjustment; in Lambert's case, she has now learned enough German to get through day-to-day life.

"I can't honestly say that I'm fluent in German," Lambert said. "It's a tough language but I can definitely get by in conversation."

Junior Mike Venere, whose family is considering a move to Paris, France over the summer, said that learning a new language is one of the drawbacks that makes him uneasy toward the potential experience.

"I've taken three years of Spanish [at MHS], so with my background I think it will make [learning French] easier," Venere said. "But the language barrier would make life difficult."

Food Beyond the language barrier, another cultural adjustment that comes with an International move is the transition to eating different types of food. Lambert said she dislikes the lack of variety among German foods.

"If you go out to one German restaurant, basically you've been to all German restaurants, because there is absolutely no variety between them," Lambert said. "All restaurants serve practically the same thing."

Germany specifically is known for schnitzel, a breaded cutlet of veal, pork, or chicken, sauerkraut, delicately-sliced cabbage, and bratwurst, a seasoned German sausage.

Lambert said she would rather eat different American foods that are hard to find in Frankfurt.

"Germany isn't big on American imports, meaning that if we can get our hands on them, it's like getting gold." Lambert said.

While she said that it is mostly American snack foods, including Cheez-Its, Wheat Thins, and granola bars, that she misses, Lambert said she has been able to find substitutes.

"After three years [of being in Germany], you can find substitutes, but of course these substitutes are way more healthy, and not the same," Lambert said.

Venere said he hoped French grocery stores would offer his favorite snack foods.

"If they don't have Oreos in France, I will

School probably go crazy," Venere said.

Apart from cultural differences, attending an International school can be a very different experience compared with attending Mason High School. Unlike MHS, which offers Advanced Placement classes as an accelerated curriculum option, the Frankfurt International where Lambert attends offers the International Baccalaureate program.

Through the IB Diploma Program, students pursue a few subjects to in-depth lengths over a two-year curriculum. Lambert said the program encourages deep understandings of the subjects.

"The IB encourages picking a few subjects and getting really good at them," Lambert said.

According to Lambert, the program's intensity often leaves her with very little free time.

"The IB is very demanding aca-

demically," Lambert said. "I'd say on average I have about three to three and a half hours [of homework each night]."

Another day-to-day difference between the two types of schools involves the vacation schedule. Students at Mason spend three months on summer break, with limited days off throughout the school year beyond national holidays. Lambert, however, is in school until late June, but experiences more breaks during the rest of the school year.

"As an international school, we have a pretty wacky schedule," Lambert said. "Instead of a three-month summer, we have about one and a half to two months, but then [we get] a month at Christmas and plenty of two-week, oneweek, four-day, and three-day breaks in between."

Lambert also said that attending a school whose students represent over 50 countries is a great opportunity.

"It's really cool to be able to say that over 50 countries are represented at my school," Lambert said. "Just walking to a class I can hear at least five or six different languages going on in the halls."

Venere said that if he does move to France, he will attend the American School of Paris. He said he thinks going to an American school with other American expatriates, as well as other students from around the world, will make his transition go more smoothly. "[Other students] would be coping with the same thing, trying to meet new people and

Social Events make friends in a new country," Venere said.

As far as looking for fun things to do, social opportunities in Europe are a little different than in the United States. For one thing, high school students can't obtain drivers' licenses until they are 18. Lambert said it is also very expensive to obtain a German license.

"It is incredibly too expensive to obtain a license here - [it would cost] a couple thousand Euros at least," Lambert said. "But I figure if I have to wait to get my license, I might as well wait to get it in America."

So when

it comes to getting around town, Lambert said she and her friends find other means of transportation. "[I get around by] walking or by the U-bahn train," Lambert said. "[On weekends], usually the routine is that we take the train into Frankfurt, and hang out at an Australian bar."

Another significant aspect of social life in International schools is being involved in athletics. Most sports games against other schools involve weekend trips to other countries.

Venere said this experience is one thing that he looks forward to about possibly moving to Paris.

"Their tennis team will travel to Germany or Austria for a weekend, and you actually stay with a host family," Venere said.

"When you're not playing, you can travel and tour around.

It seems like it would be really fun."

Lambert said she

agrees with the advantages of playing for a sports team, even though it can be time consuming on the weekends.

"Sports take up pretty much Friday through Saturday," Lambert said. "[But it is still] really interesting [to stay at a host family's house], especially for people who find other cultures intriguing, as I do."

Lambert said she sees her international time as a significant opportunity. She said she wants to pursue international relations in her future, even after she has moved back to the United States.

"I hope to study international relations [in college], because living [in Germany] has been such a great experience and has really inspired me to look into a career within this field of study."

Chronicle staff writer Spencer Webb contributed to this story.

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With class rankings a thing of the past, and universities rejecting top students, the title of valedictorian may not mean as much any more To some, the title is the reason that many top students choose not to take elective art and music classes because it will not carry the same GPA weighting as an Advanced Sixty-two percent of the 1,035 high school Placement or Honors level course. This sysvaledictorians that applied to the University tem of choosing valedictorian based on GPA of Pennsylvania this year were rejected, has come around to penalize some students according to Lee Stetson, the Dean of for taking an elective course while others Admissions. replace that portion of their schedule with Valedictorian, the time-honored tradition another weighted class. Shao said she agrees of selecting one student among a graduating that, in a sense, the GPA system is flawed. class to represent the student body in leader"As anyone who has compared the workship and success, is a title that many strive to load for Honors Wind Symphony and AP receive and others feel to be obsolete.

Calculus BC knows, our GPA-weighting sysTo be valedictorian at Mason High School tem is a little quirky," Shao said. "In this in the year 2008 is much harder than many sense, using GPA to find class rank is students expect. With GPAs over 5.0, the flawed. But basing valedictorians "I think valedictorian, as a title, valedictorian on class of MHS have rank and GPA is, ultiproven themis something that will be mately, still fair since selves in terms immortalized in it shows as accurate of academic yearbooks [and] graduation of an academic porachievement.

To many colprograms. But I think for most trait as we know how to measure." leges today, of the senior class, there's The race for the however, the title of valedic- already a distinction of who the title of valedictorian torian carries smart, bookish, hardworking has created a buzz less weight than types are, so valedictorian and among many students hoping to claim the may be expectsalutatorian are pretty much position of which ed. Guidance they've always foregone conclusions."

Counselor, dreamed. This need Lindsay Kearns Yibo Shao to be number one has said that the Senior stimulated cut-throat title may not competition among mean as much very talented seniors and created stress for a to some colleges. position that students may not remember "I think for the more elite colleges, they after college. Sohn said that college really is still look at it," Kearns said. a fresh start.

"I don't think that it definitely means "I have never had a reason to tell students everything like it probably used to because a and faculty [at Yale] about my grades in high lot of schools have gotten rid of [class] rank, school," Sohn said. "If you were to ask me and a lot of schools are getting rid of valewhich of my friends in college were valedicdictorian." torians and which were not, I honestly couldAndrea Sohn, a freshman at Yale University and the Class of 2007 valedictori- n't tell you."

But still as students seek that coveted top an at MHS, said that it is hard to know title, teachers and administrators argue that whether valedictorian really matters to colthe educational value of enriching classes is leges. lost. In the quest to become valedictorian, "The college admissions game is a tricky students have transferred to less competitive one; nobody ever completely knows what schools just to appear to be more successful. these colleges are looking for," Sohn said. "I Kearns said that some students probably take think that being valedictorian and getting AP classes to get the good grades put “Once you move on to weighted GPA. me on the same "I would hope that playing field as college you start with a fresh kids are taking AP a lot of applislate. I guess it stays with you, classes to learn and to cants, but that you were challenge themselves, grades, alone, but I feel possibly don't do the valedictorian of your trick." graduating class, and people there are some kids taking those classes Ten years definitely recognize it, but it's to hold that position ago, the honor of being chosen not something that defines you [as the valedictorian]," Kearns said. the number one in college and beyond.�

"Whether it be numstudent in a Andrea Sohn ber one or number graduating class MHS Valedictorian 06-07 two or even number would have seven or number ten, been enough to I do think that there is score an applisome unhealthy comcant a seat into petition." the top colleges around the country, but with So the argument still rages on among growing competition among students, a high GPA and good grades are not enough to set a administrators and teachers on whether to keep the old system of selecting a valedictostudent apart. Although the title of valedictorian based on class rank. High schools in rian may mean to many students just another Washington, Minnesota, Maryland and award, to some highly competitive high schoolers, the title is everything. Senior Yibo Vermont all have decided not to name valedictorians in high schools across their states, Shao, one of the top students in the Class of but as for MHS, the title of valedictorian is 2008, said that the honor associated with the sure to stay. title still exists, but doesn't create any new "Being valedictorian is really what you distinctions make of it," Sohn said. "Once you move on "I think valedictorian, as a title, is someto college, though, you start with a fresh thing that will be immortalized in yearbooks slate. I guess it stays with you, that you were [and] graduation programs," Shao said. "But valedictorian of your graduating class, and I think for most of the senior class, there's people definitely recognize it, but it's not already a distinction of who the smart, booksomething that defines you in college and ish, hardworking types are, so valedictorian beyond." and salutatorian are pretty much foregone conclusions."

By NISHA GIRIDHARAN Staff Writer

?

Everyone forgets you when you’re gone and nobody cares when you get to college.

Has the title of valedictorian lost its luster?

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